East Side, West Side, All Around the Bridge

14 Active Divers arrived early to beat the Saturday crowds at the Blue Heron Bridge. One group went East, the other went West but all had a fabulous time. The water was a balmy 86 degrees and the weather was hot and sunny. 

^{Bridge divers (from left): John Wall, Vicki Maggiulli, Mike Lessly, Angelica Cookson, Federico Quintana, John Davis, Hilda Balbi, Jean Gruss, Antonella Gonzalez, Rachel Davis, Rudy Lopez, Maria Zarzalejo, Juan Merino.} 

West Bridge: In the shallow water ranging in depth from 3-16 feet we saw so many unusual creatures. One thing to love about the Bridge (besides being a free dive in a public park) is the abundance of marine life, much of which you never see anywhere else. This dive was no exception. Large cushion sea stars were everywhere along with crabs of all shapes and sizes, including the spider-like arrow crab. Upon closer inspection, you can see it feeding itself with its bright purple claws, pulling up food from bits of sand on the ocean floor and bringing it skillfully into its mouth.  

We were treated to sightings of a flying gurnard with a blue iridescent wingspan, and sea robins - the fish with wings and legs that crawl around "tasting the sand" looking for morsels of food. We visited the Baby Lobster Hotel in the middle of the Red Wall "buffet" on the west side, while there was an enormous school of fish underneath the Fishing Bridge. Many of us hung motionless at 8 feet in a meditative state while they swirled all around us. 

^{Photos by John Wall.} 

Several of our divers continued the dive to visit to the Phil Foster snorkel trail. On the way we were treated to a school of rainbow parrotfish, flounder, sharptail eel and clouds of tropical fish. 

^{Photo by Hilda Balbi}

East Bridge: A small group ventured to the east side of the bridge in search of nudibranchs and seahorses. Although they had no luck in finding those creatures, they were treated to schools of spade fish, a passing school of jacks, a free swimming spotted eel and numerous crabs and shrimp. One was lucky to find the sea robin in the grass as well as filefish and numerous blennies popping in and out of their holes. Overall a pleasant dive that showcased all the bridge has to offer and why it should remain a protected area.

With a 10:50 high tide, knowing the divers would be getting out around noon, we decided to have a cookout after the dive. It's always wonderful to make the walk back to the pavilions after the dive and be welcomed with the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill! Heartfelt thanks to John and Machelle Wall for preparing the delicious BBQ. A fine time was had by all!

^{Photos by Rudy Lopez}

^{Photos by Jean Gruss}

^{Three generations of divers keeping it in the family: Antonella Gonzalez, Hilda Balbi and Maria Zarzalejo.}