Tag Archives: Ken Bailey

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Layered sky above, swaying life below. With the surge from each passing wave, all things not fixed move first to and then fro.

Getting ready for a dive by Roger Rude

Feet up, head down, two kicks and I begin my flight to the bottom in a state of totally alert relaxation.

I glide through the columns of kelp, over rippling sea grass in a crevice, I descend. Around me a menagerie of colorful life forms, fish cleverly camouflaged seem to appear magically. I pass through a silvery wall of small fish as they part around me.

Abalone diver in kelp by Ken Bailey (Small)

To the task at hand - a quest - light on I peer in cracks and holes, illuminating the mysteries they conceal. In the back of one cave an Abalone clings to the ceiling, a large one worth measuring. As it senses my presence it clamps down on its rock perch.

I slide the ten inch gauge around it, feeling the surge of water from a wave above press me into the hole as I measure the shell - just shy of the mark. Nine and seven/eighths of an inch spell reprieve for this Abalone. I'll leave him for another year.

Forty-five seconds have passed and my body reminds me I'm terrestrial; it is time to return for air. As I fly upwards I look at that layered sky above, under the undulating reflective surface of the sea, pressures change, efforts cease as I cross the buoyancy barrier and float to the surface.

As I draw my first breath, I can feel the surge of oxygen infusing every cell in my body. Resting there, I'm in a meditative state, eyes watching the world below, my soul being rejuvenated. I am where I should be, where I need to be.  By Roger Rude.

Roger Rude with a 10.05 Abalone by Jack Likins (Large)

Here is a photo of Roger on a day that he did find a ten inch Abalone - this one measured 10.05 inches, a trophy Abalone.

Thanks to Ken Bailey for the underwater photo - to see much more of Ken's wonderful underwater photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

Thanks to Jack Likins for the photo of Roger. And a big thank you to Roger for the photo of the early morning ocean and for this beautiful essay.

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Roger Rude with big abalone

This is what it is like to dive for Abalone off the Mendonoma Coast as told by Roger Rude.

"I was just finishing up a spectacular dive in a new area for me along The Sea Ranch. I had been in the 46.8 degree water for 2½ hours, having a hard time making myself leave such a splendid magical place. The visibility in the water was near 30 feet, which is remarkable for this coastline. In my quest for a trophy-sized abalone of more than 10 inches I had measured at least a dozen that were a fraction of an inch short.

"It didn’t matter to me as I was mesmerized by the beauty of the sea. Purple sea urchins occupied every available nook or hole in the rocks. Red, orange and blue star fish were on their slow patrol looking for food. Blue rock fish darted around me. Algae of every color intermingled with sea grass and kelp. Light danced off of everything refracted by the ever undulating surface. The sounds of sea life popping and clicking beneath the surface provided the soundtrack. “Beautiful” falls far short as a description of what I was experiencing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA                            Photo by Ken Bailey
"Alas, reality began to force its way back into my awareness. I was cold, tired, and my muscles were beginning to rebel at the constant exertion, warning me with the first hints of cramping. Reluctantly, I head toward our exit point in the rocks, a place where deep water touches a shallow rock ledge where I can wait for the right wave to lift me up and out of the sea.

"As I swim, I continue to marvel at the sights below me, though tired I occasionally stop to lower my abalone iron, on the end of a float line, to measure a large abalone on the bottom 20 feet away, while I am still on the surface. Rare conditions indeed.
"When I reach my exit point, I begin to stow all of my gear back in the dive bag on my dive board. While I am doing this, a small form, about the size of a cat, appears next to me and begins to climb up on my board. Startled at first, I recognize it is a baby harbor seal. I sit motionless and watch as it climbs half way up, looks around with curiosity and slides back into the water. I watch it under water as it comes over to explore me. I see mom about 15 feet away, keeping her eye on her pup but not appearing alarmed. The pup nuzzles me, and I cannot resist gently stroking the top of its head. After a few moments, the pup rejoins its mother as if excited to report what it had discovered.

"Enchanted by the encounter I forget the camera in my dive bag.
Leaving them as they watch me, I catch my wave onto my ledge and climb out of the water, not unlike a seal, lying in a spot sheltered from the wind to warm myself in the sun. When I look up, a mother whale and her calf surface just off shore, so close as if to say 'are you sure you want to get out now?'

"I love the sea and all that it encompasses. This is why I abalone dive. Occasionally I take one and feed family and friends, but that is secondary. It is the experience, an experience I can only liken to spiritual."

I thank Roger for telling his story so we can vicariously experience what is like to dive when conditions are so wonderful. And thanks to him for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Abalone season opens up August 1st.

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Ken Bailey photographed a Gray Fox, noticing that its ears were very tattered. I do not know how this could happen and I've never seen it before. Perhaps you have a theory.

Gray Fox with tattered ears by Ken Bailey

Perhaps this is a very old fox and has been through a battle or two.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Ken's photography, especially his underwater photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

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Two Bald Eagles have been making  numerous appearances at the Gualala River. They've been seen perched together on two logs and flying over the river. Ken Bailey photographed them this past week. In the first photo, one of the Bald Eagles takes flight, reflected in the river.

And below is a photo of the pair. This photo appeared on page one of this week's Independent Coast Observer, the best small town paper around. (I may be a bit biased...)

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photos with you. To see much more of Ken's photography, including underwater photography, here is his website: http://www.seadreams.org/

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Osprey calls still fill the air but it seems like some have already left for points south. Watching an Osprey fish is thrilling. Ken Bailey was on the bluffs at The Sea Ranch when he got this series of photos.

In the first photo you will see the Osprey has its talons ready to grab its dinner.

And this photo is titled "Got it!"
The Osprey stayed low to make sure it had the fish tight in its grip.

With the large fish secured, the Osprey begins to fly off.

Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his wonderful photos with you here. To see some of Ken's underwater photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.seadreams.org/