Black Cormorant

Cruise Ship at Avalon

Catalina is the only one of the Channel Islands visited regularly by cruise ships. They anchor at Avalon 2 to 6 times per month, and drop off a small fraction of the several thousand passengers on board, who  do not travel far into the island but tend to crowd the parts they do reach.  The majority of the passengers remain on board.   cruisecritic.com describes one of the most frequent visitors: "Monarch of the Seas can best be described as a floating Las Vegas, complete with shows, gambling, drinking and fun. Think party, spring break and happy hour. Cocktails have names like "Sex on the Beach" and "Love Connection." Michael, a winner of the International Mr. Sexy Legs contest, summed up the atmosphere in his acceptance speech: "I'd like to thank my mom and everyone on the boat who came to paaaarty!!!"

Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

Sapnish shawl nudibranchs have complicated and varied skin textures.  Internal organs seem to be visible, or perhaps those are some eggs.  Their world is defined by touch and what we would call smell.

Blackeye Goby

This Blackeye goby was sitting on a shelf at Blue Caverns on Catalina.  His deep-yellow coloration is unusual; the more common colorations being beige, beige-and-white, or ivory.  Like some other blackeye gobies I've seen, he had his mouth open: was he singing?  Blackeye gobies certainly live in loose groups and communicate quite a bit: mostly by body language rather than song, however! 

Lobsters in a Crevice

Lobsters like to stay together in crevices.  They are curious about visitors, and will advance and explore an intruder with their antennae.  If they perceive a threat, they retreat instantly.

Night Shrimp

Small shrimp were plentiful on the sand plains hear Hen Rock.  When illuminated, they would quickly dig themselves into the sand.

Catalina Goby

Catalina gobies are shy and retreat quickly to the shelter of urchin spines when a diver approaches.  They are hard to photograph because of their shy nature, as well as because they have very bright blue markings and dark eyes and mouth; and a long, fine dorsal fin that has little contrast with a dark background.

Blood Sea Star

Blood star amid hydroids at San Clemente. Humans (and other vertebrates) resemble the juvenile stages of sea stars and other echinoderms, suggesting that we are descended from them: an offshoot clan that never grows up.  But, the axis that corresponds to the human backbone runs vertically through the center of the sea star. Resemblance of a 5-pointed human to an adult sea star is as much of a  coincidence as resemblance to a mandrake root.

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish at Hen Rock, on Catalina.  The faces of scorpionfish suggest a complicated and engaging, but not particularly pleasant, mental life.  As they lie in wait for prey, relying on excellent camoflage, they have plenty of time for contemplation: perhaps too much.

Turban Snail

This turban snail found me worth a look, but not worth a pause in the journey. The snail was proceeding rapidly (for a snail) across sand flats near Hen Rock at Catalina.  It was just after dusk.  I guess life can be busy for some snails, with places to get to on time, and other important snails to network with there.

Avalon

Catalina (or, originally, Santa Catalina) is said to be the only permanently inhabited of the Channel Islands, with Avalon being the main settlement. After a few days in Avalon it seems to have a more tenuous existence, suspended by tourism and exiles from Los Angeles. A case of island fever, only a short boat trip from one of the largest cities in the world, seems to become a definite possibility.