I am on-call at work all of April, so diving will be impossible next month.

The swell map looked good, the weather was nice and I said, “Psycho, this is your last chance to get in the water for a while.”

I arrived at Terranea Resort at 7:30 AM and checked the conditions; they were pretty damn flat.

Making it back to the parking lot, I discovered that this was a dive reunion – Reverend Al was back, after a year hiatus, Nice Bob was back, Ben, Dennis, Giles… it is hard for me to remember everyone’s names, especially when everyone’s wearing a mask.

Most decided to head off the Cove for various reasons – testing new equipment or wanting the ability to call the dive, if need be.

Everyone made an easy entrance.

Logged SCUBA Dive #522

So-Cal Buddy Diving. Solo Diving

Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 42 feet
Waves: Pretty calm with occasional light surge
Visibility: 5-10t, silty.
Water Temperature: 52 degrees
Air Temperature: 75 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 36 minutes

The decision was to head right, to “The Garden.”

I never saw much interest in The Garden, it was always just something I passed through on the way to the Cove, from The Point.

We submerged.

I got down to the bottom at 20 feet, and then started to float back up.

I exhaled, and sank to the bottom, but as soon as I took another breath I was headed back up to the surface.

I fit into my wet suit, but I must have put on some fat during these last months – fat floats.

Since I like to breathe, I decided to go looking for a rock to hold on to, so I could stay below and continue my dive.

When you need a rock, they are hard to find, so I did my best to stay down, sometimes pulling on the kelp, until I came across the perfect rock

Now, with rock in one hand, I pulled my camera out with the other and almost ripped the regulator out of my mouth; I discovered that the camera lanyard had wrapped around my hose.

I put the rock between my legs, took the regulator out of my mouth, untangled the lanyard, put the regulator back in my mouth and cleared.

By this time, everyone had left, so I was on my own; I needed to go deeper so I headed away from shore – makes sense, right?

This dive got off to a great start, now I was diving on scenery that resembled Veterans Park in Redondo Beach.

When I got to 40 feet, I made a 120 heading and kept swimming over sand until I came to the outline of a reef.

Ah Ha! This is 120 reef!

I followed along to try and find “The Dude” and sure enough, my suspicions were correct.

It looks like the dude is getting some Summer growth.

I looked around 120 and then headed back for an uneventful, but non-macho exit.

Topics discussed during the debriefing was the dive, lobster season, financial fraud, pyramid schemes and federal prison.

Conditions weren’t great, the vis sucked, but I have absolutely no regrets – I loved every minute this morning.

Until next time!

It’s Dive Day Sunday again!

I checked the swell map before leaving…

If the visibility sucked, at least I shouldn’t have to deal with the waves.

I headed to my favorite spot, Terranea Resort.

Ben’s diving group was already checking conditions out.

Ben’s group decided to take a dive off the Point.

I decided to go off the Cove and find that diver’s torso that I saw last time.

Randy said, “It’s easy to find, just get to 120 reef, go to the end and make a left – it’s right there.”

I made an easy and slow entry, being careful not to slip on the rocks.

Logged SCUBA Dive #521

Solo Diving

Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 53 feet
Waves: Pretty calm with occasional light surge
Visibility: 15-20 feet, silty.
Water Temperature: 54 degrees
Air Temperature: 75 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 46 minutes

I thought visibility sort of sucked, but I didn’t realize at first that my mask had fogged over; I cleared it.

I got to 120 reef and followed it away from the shore.

Out of nowhere, a seal dive bombed me; I looked back and he was heading to the surface.

I kept an eye on my back.

That seal kept following me, preparing to attack, but he eventually left after realizing that he no longer had the element of surprise.

I got to the end of the reef at 40 feet and made a left.

I swam and swam and swam, and no torso.

I had a feeling I was going the wrong way, so I turned around to head back.

I reached the very end of the reef, and there he was!

He needs a name, I’ll call him The Dude.

So, I sort of misinterpreted Randy’s directions.

When you first hit 120 reef, follow along side of it going away from shore.

When you get to the end of the reef, in 40 feet of water, make a left.

It is right there.

I made an easy, but non-macho exit.

Ben’s group had a great dive.

They reported 20 feet visibility at depth but also 52 degree water.

We discussed who could have brought The Dude to 120 reef.

Only one name came up consistently – Max Bottomtime.

But, nobody has heard from him for at least two years.

That conversation lead into reminiscing about the “Good Ol’ Days” when Terranea was abandoned Marineland, Divevets was an active and fun dive group and the people from way back when.

We’ve lost some divers along the way – Shanon Wesserling, Dennis Gunn, Dan Rood all died, some divers moved away, others just disappeared from the scene.

In 2022, I will have been diving for 20 years.

To quote Bob Hope, “Thanks for the memories…”

Until next time, stay safe my three readers!