Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 400 psi
Max depth: 54 feet
Waves: 1-3 feet
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Cold in some places
Total Bottom Time: About 45 minutes
Notable Event: Lost a fin going out.

Due to a hangover, I didn’t dive last week.

I’m taking an Advanced Diving Course from Instructor John.

Anyway, I got down to Log Point around 7:30 AM.

I met two divers, one named Mike(?); they were asking about the local dive spot and where they should go out.

I told them it was high tide and I was going out on the point; they said that they would follow.

They were two “GQ” looking guys.

The guy Mike decided to push their weight belts down using a baby carriage.

It was a funny site and I wish I had a camera.

I went off the point after putting my fins on.

I started to kick and I felt something strange; I looked down and noticed that my right fin had come off!

Shit!

I have learned looking for lost equipment is usually a waste of time, but I saw it a few feet away in 12 feet of water.

I tried free diving for it but I kept floating back up, so I tried using my regulator, but kicking down with one fin is nearly impossible.

So, I followed it around as the waves kept crashing against the rocks.

One wave lifted the fin up and I managed to grab it!

Phew!

I swam out after looking like a flailing dork and rested.

I watched the “GQ guys” go in.

I swam out to the South-East and went down.

There’s a lot more fish here than off the cove, or so it seems.

I went down to 54 feet where the reef seems to end; it was cold.

There didn’t seem to be much of a current.

The environment is very similar to that off the cove’s rocky point; kelp, sheephead, sea bass, uni, etc.

At 1500 psi I started North to beach at the cove.

It was deeper than I remembered, so I surfaced and found myself way off course!

I had been down to 30 feet.

I submerged, followed my corrected course and surfaced at 15 feet.

I almost got hit my someone casting a fishing hook from the rocks, which I think was done on purpose.

Oh well, fuck him; I be back for him and kick his ass.

With not much air left, I had a longer surface swim than I would have liked.

I exited with no problems, walking ashore and tripping only once.