After much debate on a second dive and searching for a parking spot for 20 minutes (we went kayaking between dives with friends for Karla's birthday) we finally lucked out and got a spot spitting distance from the stairs. We took this as a sign that we should go back in the water.
After another lengthy surface swim (did I mention 20 minutes, ooof), we got to the kelp forrest for the second time that day. Immediately upon dropping in I saw a 3 foot Leopard Shark. Cute little guys and a nice treat, I've seen a ton snorkeling but never one on scuba gear.
We went back in the forrest and waited and watched. We'll at about 20 minutes into the dive it paid off as we saw a Sevengill swim by us about 20 feet away. Visibility was low, maybe 10 foot clear. So all we got was the outline of it's body, but it was amazing and I felt quite fulfilled!
We surfaced about 10 minutes later, both of us being tired from the day, we decided to set our compasses back to shore, drop down and head back in under water. This is when things got awesome.
About 5 minutes into our swim back (funny enough, literally 1 minute after my video camera's battery ran out) I looked down and saw an 8ft Sevengill in touching distance. Jenni thought I was having a problem, because apparently I just looked down in shock. Jenni quickly realized there was a large shark that her fins were grazing and the shark began to swim away.
As any good diver would do if they run into a large shark, that is swimming away from them, we decided to follow it. We got to swim with this wonderful creature for about 20 seconds, before it decided it was done with us (the shark was underneath us, so we could see if it was a male or female).
This 20 second swim was on of the best moments of diving I have ever had. Such wonderful creatures right in our shallow bays, so cool!
*A little bit about Sevengills* They come to the shallows in spring/summer to give birth to litters of up to about 80. They birth live offspring, not eggs. They grow up to 10 feet living most of their lives at depths of around 450 feet. Often hunting in packs, their diet consists of fish, smaller sharks, sea lions and dolphins. They are hunted by great whites.
Dive Time: 53 minutes
Temp: 63
Depth: 35 feet
Sharks: Jenni 2, Nate 3
