Photo Of The Day and Natural History Commentary

Sunny and offshores, beautiful morning. Got to a spot I have wanted to try for a while but just never got around to it before. There was some size this morning. As I checked the surf from shore it seemed that most of the larger barrels went empty (perhaps they were closeouts). This waste of good waves was quite upsetting to me, so I went home, got my water camera, and went back to get in the water and take advantage of things. The guys in the water were kind enough to give me a few snaps. All in all a fun morning.

Jetties, Carlsbad, morning surf. Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17905   Location: Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA

Kyle Cannon, Jetties, Carlsbad, morning surf. Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17906   Location: Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA

Jetties, Carlsbad, morning surf. Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17921   Location: Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA

Jetties, Carlsbad, morning surf. Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17927   Location: Warm Water Jetties, Carlsbad, California, USA

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I had a request this morning for a bubble ring photo. Bubble rings are cool. Dolphins are the best at making them (seriously), having had eons to hone their skills. However, if you are a blowhard and willing to spend some time upsidedown underwater learning this amazing skill, you too can impress your friends at pool parties with fantastic floating twisting toroidal blown bubbles.

A underwater bubble ring! Similar to the rings created by smokers, an underwater bubble ring can be made by exhaling just right. When done correctly, the ring will rise toward the surface keeping its perfect toroidal form until it reaches a state of instability and breaks up. Image: 07751

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Heaving tube-lets in South Carlsbad this morning:

Carlsbad morning shorebreak, heaving little 6 tube. Image: 17901

Carlsbad morning shorebreak, heaving little 6 tube. Image: 17902

Surfline picked up my shot of Carson Smith getting barreled at Ponto for their latest slide show about the swell that hit last week.

Carson Smith, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Image: 17828

Another nice morning in North County, surf was still strong and fun. Thanks to the surfers who let me poach some shots on their waves.

Mike Thomas, Cardiff, morning surf. Cardiff by the Sea. Image: 17877   Location: Cardiff by the Sea

Cardiff, morning surf. Cardiff by the Sea. Image: 17878   Location: Cardiff by the Sea

Cardiff, morning surf. Cardiff by the Sea. Image: 17883   Location: Cardiff by the Sea

Cardiff, morning surf. Cardiff by the Sea. Image: 17884   Location: Cardiff by the Sea

More photos from today or all sessions.

Another nice morning in Carlsbad. Full sun, ocean was not too cold, glassy and calm, and a few big bottlenose dolphins swimming in the lineup. However, the water was full of sand from the lagoon so it looks sort of dingy in the photos, and there was a longshore current the whole time.

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17854   Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA

Don Gaunder, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17855   Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA. Image: 17856   Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA

More photos from today or all sessions.

I took the channel-shooter setup out for some practice this morning.

Swamis morning surf. Swamis, Encinitas. Image: 17837   Location: Swamis, Encinitas

Swamis morning surf. Swamis, Encinitas. Image: 17838   Location: Swamis, Encinitas

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Can God create a wave so big that even He couldn’t surf it?

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Image: 17833

Waxing philosophical today.

Got out this morning for a three hour session in some fun surf, first time in the water in about a month. A solid NW swell, light offshore winds, full sun, water not too cold, occasional freight train barrels – empty. All the surfers were packed at the jetties so I had the barrels at the south end to myself for quite a while. The lines were shifting alot and it was tough for me to position properly, so today’s haul of photos is not too impressive. The surf should be a little larger tomorrow, hoping that the sky stays clear for good morning light and another try.

Carson Smith, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Image: 17828

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf. Image: 17827

More photos from today, or all the sessions.