Page 233 The Farallon Islands lie due west of the Golden Gate Bridge, and are comprised of four islands: Southeast, North Island, Noonday, and Middle Farallon (affectionately known by local fishermen as "The Pimple"). Southeast is the largest, roughly one mile across by a half a mile, and has the most diving area. It is twenty-five miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, twenty-seven miles from Half Moon Bay, and thirty-eight miles from Bodega Bay. The terrain is rough and barren, with no trees and little vegetation. Birds however, cover the island. There is a large population of harbor seals, elephant seals, California sea lions, and steller sea lions. The Farallones are also a feeding ground for the great white shark. The south side of the island, as we had hoped, was protected from the northerly winds. "Drop it!" I shouted. Doug let the anchor go in the shallows near Mussel Flat. "Good news." He said, as he ducked back into the cabin area. "The anchor's on the bottom at twenty feet, and I can see it perfectly." He was right. The last time I had seen water this clear was at San Miguel Island, almost two years ago. We took in our surroundings. The boat gently bobbed about three hundred feet from the island, which looked like a series of huge boulders and rubble. There was no color, but for a nondescript tan, with a small amount of vegetation scattered about. Rising straight up from the island was a large hill with an old lighthouse on it. Birds were everywhere, and they were loud. The pungent smell of their droppings permeated the air.

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