Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Dove with Instructor John, Ron T. and John’s Open Water student Dr. Smith.*

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 800 psi
Max depth: 100 feet
Waves: 1-4 feet
Visibility: 10 feet, maybe 15.
Water Temperature: Sort of cold.
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes
Notable Event: My regulator started free flowing at 90 feet.
*Open Water Student name has been changed.

Ron and I “Dive Mastered” (on shore) the first dive and sent Jake (A rescue student) out to rescue an orange signal sausage.

Jake went out for a swim before his “rescue” so he was too tired to make the second dive.

So for the second dive, Instructor John, Ron T., Dr. Smith and I submerged around 10:30 AM – I’m guessing.

John gave Dr. Smith his basic skills checkout.

When Dr. Smith did his emergency exit, everyone surfaced except me.

I was congested and was surprised that I didn’t have a problem getting down – I did take some Sudafed.

John and Dr. Smith went in, Ron came back down and I motioned to him that I would follow.

Annoying a few local crabs on the way down, I followed Ron to 100 feet.

Ron’s computer didn’t work; I think he forgot to turn it on.

We just took it slow, trying to find anything worthwhile.

All of a sudden, I heard this “Pop! pssst….pssst…”

“Oh fuck!,” I thought.

It sounded like a broken hose; I looked at Ron, he was OK and oblivious to what I had heard.

I looked at my gauges, they were fine – we were at 90 feet.

I was afraid to take a breath because I feared inhaling water – my cheeks kept inflating – my rig was free flowing!

I pressed the purge valve a few times and that stopped it.

My heart was about to jump out of my chest.

The rest of the dive went along pretty uneventful – that’s a good thing!

We slowly made it back up the shelf, spending more than enough time as a safety stop.

I walked ashore, slipping on the sand step; I picked myself back up.

We met John and Dr. Smith back in the parking lot.

Dr. Smith passed his OW class and invited us all out for a few drinks to celebrate.

We politely declined; that’s not something I would usually do, but I could not cut this day short.

We sat around and talked about how working for Hollywood sucks.

I believe Dr. Smith works as a grip.