2. Diving

Sund Rock - Low Dissolved Oxygen

September 2006 - Hood Canal is having its annual low oxygen event, but it appears to be even worse than previous years. Many critters were stressed, many were already dead. The invasive tunicate, Ciona savignyi, has taken a firm foothold in this location now. We did two dives at Sund Rock, and here is what we found. All photos by Janna Nichols, please contact me at pnwfishlady@comcast.net if you'd like permission to use.
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Heading down to the cove to get in the water we were greeted by the sight of many Ling Cod dead, washed up on the beach.
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Heading down to the cove to get in the water we were greeted by the sight of many Ling Cod dead, washed up on the beach.

  • Heading down to the cove to get in the water we were greeted by the sight of many Ling Cod dead, washed up on the beach.
  • We also saw a few Rock Sole washed up on the beach too, along with a good sized male Kelp Greenling.
  • As we descended to the bottom on our first dive at the North Wall of Sund Rock, we found a dead Lion's Mane jellyfish, upside down, no tentacles, not moving. We were in about 30 feet of water.
  • An unusual sight were many colorful worms, usually hidden from view under the sandy bottom, but laying out on top of the sand, not moving.
  • The small Blackeye Goby seemed to be the least affected. We found these at all depth ranges, as we usually do. However, some were looking a bit stressed, and we think we saw a few dead ones up on the 10 foot range. (hard to tell when they're dead what they are) This one was looking especially pale. Some were quite sluggish in their movements (usually very skittish).
  • The Ciona savignyi invasive tunicate that we'd been tracking at the North Wall, has exploded in population in areas. One rock we found was covered with thick colonies of the clear tubelike critters, standing about 5" tall. We found many areas in the 40-50 foot range where they had a firm foothold and were clearly spreading.
  • Clearly stressed and dying were many California Sea Cucumbers. They were belly up, tube feet exposed and shriveling up, with all 20 of their feeding appendages around their mouth extended. There was an abundance of them in the 20 foot and shallower range.
  • We hit a very bad section of visibility in the 20 foot and shallower range, with a thick cloud of yellowish goo passing overhead. As it cleared slightly, we realized we were in the midst of a very large school of Copper Rockfish. Rockfish usually inhabit waters 40ft and deeper, and it's customary to see small aggregates of Copper Rockfish together, like 5 or so. To see 75+ of them, slugglishly swimming in 20 feet and shallower, was very unusual.
  • On the way in from our first dive, we found this small sculpin, or perhaps Goby. Not sure.
  • On our second dive at Sund Rock, proper, we found many Wolf Eel, extremely lethargic, struggling to breathe, and up in very shallow waters. We had several sightings in only 15 feet of water. Wolf Eel usually inhabit areas around 60 feet or deeper.
  • Ciona savignyi, one of three species of invasive tunicates that Washington state is currently attempting to deal with, is now clearly taking a foothold on Sund Rock. Previously not sighted there, it's starting to appear in clusters in the 40-50 foot range.
  • Another critter in distresse were Sunflower Stars. These large sea stars usually are found all over. We found not nearly as many this time, and some of the ones we found were clearly dying - shriveling up, turning whitish gray. This one was in 60 feet of water.
  • It was very sad to see several Sailfin Sculpin dead in the shallows. These are usually a big highlight for divers to see.
  • Another Wolf Eel in only 20 feet of water, resting out in the open. If you see these critters during this low oxygen event, please do NOT disturb them or attempt to play with them. They are struggling to survive, and provoking them to move is using up precious energy and oxygen.
  • On our way in from the second dive, we found many more ling cod washing up on the beach.
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