This is probably going to be one of the easiest posts that I have made.
Brother Paul, aka Professional Debriefer Paul, made an excellent video of this event; I did the underwater portion of the video and ended up loaning him my camera to transfer the footage – my upload speed is too slow and we wanted the video done within a day.
I carved a small pumpkin and then proceeded to find other groups of divers making their masterpieces for the exciting video footage.
Logged Dive #359
Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA
Solo Diving/SoCal Buddy Diving
In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 1500 psi
Max depth: 35 feet
Waves: Pretty flat
Visibility: 15 feet
Water Temperature: About 58 degrees, I think
Total Bottom Time: About 35 minutes
Having a legal appointment in the morning in Palos Verdes, I had to miss the Sunday services dive, but managed to show up for the debriefing and dive conditions report.
The regular crew was there, including an appearance from Dry Suit Greg and a cameo from Wrinkles, which I missed.
A few went off The Point, others off The Cove to 120 reef; reports were 20 to 30 feet visibility, depending on who you asked.
I was told, “It was good, but not as good as yesterday.”
A biker pulled up and indroduced himself as Francisco; we offered him a beer and he accepted.
I kept thinking, “Someone must know him, because people around here seem like they do…”
Nobody knew him, and in actuality, I realized later, this group is so cool, you are welcomed as a long time friend once you accept a beer.
His bike was a Russian made Ural Military motorcycle, complete with a sidecar and…
… a hand grenade hood ornament.
“I ride this bike everywhere, except to the airport,” Francisco said.
A few years ago, someone in the group found an unopened Keystone Light on the trail; it had been in Reverend Al’s cooler ever since.
Even if we had run out of beer, that can stayed unopened.
“If someone gets really desperate for beer, we’ll give it to him,” was the saying.
Reverend Al, had an announcement today, “Guys, this is an historic day, Dive Bum Don was nice enough to drink that Keystone Light that’s been in my cooler for the last few years.”
“I wondered why it tasted so nasty, I thought it was a Bud Light,” Don said.
Don did not want to know what the experation date was.
We talked to Francisco at length; he came from Cuba in 1977 and told us how much Cuba sucks.
“It’s like a big jail,” he said.
So a Cuban, riding a Russian Motorcycle with American flags plastered all over it – only in America!
He continued, “I was originally planning to immigrate to Spain, but I like the United States a lot better.”
I asked why.
“One of the many things that’s good about the United States, is that no matter how old you are, you can do anything you want; in other parts of the world, especially Europe, once you are 40, it isn’t appropriate to roller blade, or wear shorts or do a lot of the things the younger people do,” he said.
Professional debriefer Paul captured amazing, stunning and breath taking video of today’s debrief…
