Patches of Colour - A Skin Cancer

For veteran divers/photographers who have observed and recorded all manner of Pacific Northwest marine life, it becomes increasingly difficult to find “something new or different”. Jan Kocian, “Mr. Keystone Jetty” and accomplished cartoonist, is a prime example of just such an individual. He recently sent along these photographs of lingcod Ophiodon elongatus which he encountered at his favourite dive site on Whidbey Island that featured a strange patch colouration. Only once before, in September of 2010 had he seen a somewhat similar pattern on a copper rockfish Sebastes caurinus – also at his beloved Keystone Jetty.

A Piece of the Action

By Andy Lamb, Critter Writer, Dive News Network

Our subject this month arrives courtesy of Joe Melberg of Seattle, Washington. He, along with his buddies Tony Collins and Alex Williams was snorkeling at “Golden Gardens”, a beach site in the Ballard district of Seattle on July 3rd. The accompanying photograph was taken by Joe as he moved along near the adjoining marina and noticed a creature about two ft. beneath the surface.

And You Think You Are Stressed Out?

Stress is a part of everyone’s life.

A Piece of a Mystery

By Andy Lamb

The featured image was taken by Jeff Castor, of Edgewood, Washington during a dive April 21, 2011. Jeff was diving with James Gutholm (Tumwater) who spotted the mysterious creature and Keith Carpenter (Lakewood) on a very low tide, at the Les Davis Pier, near Tacoma, Washington, southern Puget Sound. Cruising along at a depth of 40 ft., over the sandy bottom that provided the photographic background, the threesome realized they had found something very unique.

Green Sea Urchin

Where ever a diver may take the plunge in the cold temperate or boreal marine waters of North America, he or she is likely to encounter the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Okay, so few if any of us will dive in the frigid Arctic. However, for those of us exploring the Pacific Northwest or the Atlantic seaboard, it will just be a matter of time until you become “mask to spines” with this ubiquitous species. As sea urchin spines can puncture both diver’s protective covering and the skin beneath, be cautious, especially if handling a specimen.

Variation Confirmation

By Andy Lamb

As most "critter" divers know, the colour of an animal is not usually enough to determine what species it is. Other less variable and more definitive characters, some of which may be difficult to observe, are generally more important. Such is the case with this month's submission by veteran diver John Rawlings of Mill Creek, Washington.

Primary Disappointment, Secondary Delight

Generally when a goal is set and is not realized, the protagonist is disappointed. Sometimes though, while pursuing the initial objective, the goal setter is pleasantly surprised when an unexpected bonus occurs as a result of the effort.  Kathy and Larry Collison of Arlington, Washington recently experienced just such a scenario.

Very early on the morning of September 1st, 1012, they travelled to Redondo Beach, just south of Seattle, Washington. Their quest was to see a bluntnose sixgill shark, a deep dwelling species known to lurk there and most likely encountered during hours of darkness in the summer. Slipping into the water at about 0500 hours, they descended to about 100 ft and waited, and waited. Alas, they saw no shark in spite of at least 30 ft of visibility. Finally, they were forced to abandon their goal in favour of some shallow time and a safety stop.

Moving into the shallows as daylight was breaking they arrived at depth of approximately 17 ft. At that point, Kathy noticed a strange looking fish, with ferocious looking teeth, partially buried in the sand and somewhat obscured by surrounding seaweeds. Kathy was able to take several images – two of which are featured here. With the assistance of chief REEFer Janna Nichols the Northwest Dive Club website, Kathy and Larry determined that this 12 inch/30 cm long fish was a Pacific Sandfish Trichodon trichodon (pages 89-90, in Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest).

Very rarely seen due to its penchant for burying, the Pacific Sandfish is likely more common at sandy bottom dive sites than sightings would explain. Congratulations to Larry and Kathy who are among only a few divers to have seen and photographed this elusive species. Hopefully, this amazing encounter makes up for their disappointment of an early morning shark-less dive. ■

Tiny Bonus

Every season for the past 23 years, I have participated in the annual lingcod egg mass survey and event now sponsored by the Vancouver Aquarium (google lingcod egg mass survey for detail on how you can participate). Keeping with tradition, our foursome visited Mayne Island on the weekend of February 11/12 to maintain our streak and gather the usual data from two established sites.

New Experience, Old Suit

It was my second dive of the day and I planned it conservatively. Due to my distraction with fish and lack of attention to detail, the first, at Pulali Wall, had concluded with a ten minute decompression stop (please see Something Fishy in Hood Canal, on page 32, for the rest of the story). I alerted my agreeable dive buddy, videographer Tom Heineke, that caution would be my by word this time.

Having visited the south corner of the Pinnacle the day before, Tom and I decided to explore its north end. We descended the mooring line and made our way across to a level spot strewn with boulders at 66 ft. I stopped to check depth and noticed two vermilion rockfish Sebastes miniatus hovering nearby. Tom slowly moved off looking for other video targets but I stayed put as the pretty red shapes approached. Captain Don Coleman of the Down Time had mentioned this curiosity behaviour as part of his detailed dive briefing.

Almost magically, a steady stream of additional vermilions, all between 12 and 16 inches (30 and 50 cm) long, drifted towards me. Determined to avoid a repeat of the first dive’s finish, I was closely monitoring my no deco time. But I was equally determined to enjoy as much time with these marvelous rockfish. More and more arrived. Closer and closer they huddled. Eventually time had run out. By then, at least 15 surrounded me – well within arm’s length. They seemed to slowly circle me. One at a time, many even peered into my mask.

I had spent twenty minutes virtually stationary, save for stretching my neck and survey 360 degrees to see the panorama of vermilions. On the way back to the mooring line, I suddenly developed a theory about why this special event had occurred. My old looking 1997 Brooks neoprene suit – often the target of good natured teasing – was primarily a faded gray and red. Installed a couple of years ago, a new zipper panel was still a bright red. These colours correspond to those of vermilion rockfish, particularly younger ones. Was I perceived by these curious specimens as the “mother of all vermilions”? Perhaps.

Regardless, this magical experience will be a very special memory for years to come. ■

Do you know Andy Lamb?
B Sc., UBC - Zoology, 1969; Vancouver Aquarium 1966- 1974 - Aquarist/Collector
Department of Fisheries and Oceans 1974 - 1996 - Fish Culturist; Vancouver Aquarium 1996 - 2005, School Program Co-ordinator; Co-Author - “Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest” and “Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest”; 40 years of SCUBA diving with over 2,500 Pacific Northwest Dives

Hood Canal: Something Fishy About This Place

While researching material and preparing for the re-release of Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest, I routinely found that Hood Canal, in Washington State, was mentioned by divers as a place where they had observed fish species that are not commonly seen elsewhere – at least at recreational-friendly depths. This month's mystery critter feature is the latest such report.

Moulting: Part of a Growth Industry

First, some brief biological background. Crabs and shrimps belong to a large group (phylum, for you technically inclined readers) known as Arthropods. One of the key features shared by all Arthropods is the fact that each individual of every species possesses an exoskeleton – what is commonly called a shell by most folks. Unlike we divers who have an endoskeleton upon which the rest of our body (and dive gear) hangs, a crab or a shrimp’s body support surrounds its form like a suit of armour.

Creature Teacher

For the last several years, the "Mystery Critter" segment has appeared each month, in Northwest Dive News. It has usually featured an animal encountered by a diver or beachcomber who was uncertain as to the creature's identity. Although the monthly choice is made from submissions either directly to me or to Northwest Dive News, all inquires received are answered. Not only does a photograph or sketch assist with providing an answer but it provides an optimal addition for the monthly selection.

Erratum - A Continuing Process

By Andy Lamb

Some marine creatures are very easy to identify. A simple glace at an image or a specimen of a grunt sculpin or a sunflower star provides confirmation. Their distinct shapes and body structures are readily recognizable.

A Little Mystery A Team Effort Find

By Andy Lamb

Although Karlista Rickerson of Vashon-Maury Island, Wash., actually sent this inquiry along, she insists finding this little creature was a team effort. Her dive buddies, Mary Kelly and Pete Wojcik, were instrumental in this discovery.

A Most Common Beauty

by Andy Lamb and Stephen Bigelow

Among the most beautiful creatures commonly encountered by divers along both temperate coasts of North America are the plumose or frilled anemones. Wonder and amazement are the reactions from virtually every rookie diver’s initial encounters. As the dive totals mount, these powder-puff structures become familiar, providing a welcome underwater panorama for the veteran undersea explorer.

Second Coming

Since my monthly critter contribution became a regular feature in the Dive News, this is the first instance that a species has appeared for a second time. By design, the monthly ‘mystery corner’ is meant to solve an identification question posed by someone who contacts me about an organism they have encountered. In this issue we make an exception. Again featured is the Pacific spiny lumpsucker – it first appeared in Volume 11, Issue 10, October 2007. Rather than representing a mystery, this time two contributors found the species in reproductive mode. Besides, as we critter-folk likely all agree, the Pacific spiny lumpsucker is so cute and endearing it deserves a second look.

Another Sighting?

By Andy Lamb

During the preparation of the second edition of Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest, Phil Edgell and I were most pleased with all the assistance we received from the dive community, particularly from the many excellent photographers of the region. One of these image makers is Richard Zade who produces the outstanding critter oriented website www.underthesound.com. Rich contributed several images including the one featured on page 131 that illustrated the segment about the red gunnel Pholis schulzi. As discussed in the text, the identity of the specimen in Rich's photograph is uncertain.

Out of Its Depth

The primary reason divers encounter “new” critters is simply participation. The more one looks the more one sees. It is very simple. However, one of the reasons that veteran “critter” divers encounter a marine organism for the first time is that the particular specimen viewed is noticed at a depth shallower than the species normally resides. The following story Betty Bastai relayed is an excellent example.

An Oak Harbor resident, Betty and her dive buddy Sam Osteen had originally planned a December 10th, 2011 dive for the very popular Whidbey Island locale called Keystone. Encountering major beach grooming activity there, they moved a few miles east to Driftwood Park Beach. This dive site is littered with bottles, tires and other man made debris – features that provide ready habitat for many creatures. Encountering 10 ft visibility, Betty and Sam eventually arrived at a depth of 58 ft., and a small group of brown rockfish huddled with one other Sebastes that was very different. At first Betty though it was a Puget Sound rockfish, but after looking closer, realized it was quite different. The approximately 8 in. (20 cm) long specimen was most approachable and consequently Betty was able to obtain the good quality image presented herein.

After later reviewing the image and noticing that this slender rockfish had a noticeable pale pink stripe along its lateral line, rather large eyes and a definite knob on its protruding lower jaw, Betty correctly identified it as a redstripe rockfish Sebastes proriger (page 180, Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest 2). Betty’s sighting occurred very shallow for this species which is seldom seen by divers at all. When encountered, the redstripe rockfish is usually lurking below 100 ft (30 m.).

A Potential World Record

While not likely to appear in the Guiness Book of World Records any time soon, Karin Fletcher's giant tunicate specimen potentially rates as a noteworthy find. Karin correctly suspected the "monster" individual obvious in the accompanying image to be a sea blister -- CH15, page 347, Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest. However, at approximately "8 to 10 inches across", it seemed far too large when compared to the listed maximum recorded size of 2 inches.

For the record, Karin and her husband/dive buddy Doug Miller found the giant specimen November 10, 2010, during a dive in Rich Passage, Puget Sound, at a depth of approximately 50 ft. Karin and Doug often dive this site. While cruising along the rubble and small boulder substrate of this site, they have frequently noticed sea blisters of more routine proportions, but never one nearly this size.

Intrigued by Karin's find, I decided to contact tunicate expert Dr. Gretchen Lambert for her thoughts about this magnificent beastie. Indeed, she verified it as Ascidia columbiana, the species of sea blister found in Washington State waters. Gretchen also mentioned that older specimens become darker and 7 to 8 cm (3 to 3.5 in) specimens are periodically encountered.

Even allowing for some "over estimating" possibilities for Karin's sighting/photograph of the giant specimen, it would appear to be a record setting individual. Unfortunately, to be officially documented, an actual measurement is required. Camera and ruler in hand, Karin is planning to re-trace her fin kicks in hopes of finding the potential record setter. ■ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. '; document.write(''); document.write(addy_text57673); document.write('<\/a>'); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lingcod Cleaner - Additional Species

By Andy Lamb

In the December 2009 (Volume 13, Issue 12) edition of Northwest Dive News, the scalyhead sculpin was featured as a ‘cleaner’ species. Jan Kocian’s excellent image photo-documented this small fish in the open maw of a co-operative lingcod at popular Keystone Jetty, on Whidbey Island. Since that time and at the same location, photographer Jan has also verified via that the longfin sculpin Jordania zonope (image G, page 217 in Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest) also spends time removing parasites from the apparently oft infested lingcod.