Driving from the Long Beach Ghetto to Palos Verdes, I noticed a tremendous amount of wind.

I thought that we probably wouldn’t be diving, but I had to check conditions myself.

At exactly 8 AM, I pulled up to the main gate of the Terranea Resort; the wind was howling, not one diver was around, the security guard was not in sight and the front gates were locked.

I drove to the old “public access” lot and walked to the cliff side…

AngelShark, Reverend Al, Chris A and Not So New Chris were checking the conditions.

Reports from all over Palos Verdes were that conditions sucked!

Waves pounded against the Point; we walked to the other side, over looking Abalone Cove…

The other side of the cove revealed ocean water that resembled mud.

Waves pounded against the cliffs near the nude beach.

Reverend Al said it best… “I didn’t even bring my gear, I just came down here to see how bad the conditions were.”

Later posted on the DiveVets’ message board indicated conditions even at Redondo Beach were “some of the worst conditions… ever seen there.”

I think the lobsters are going to be pushed ever deeper.

I’m on a chartered lobster boat this coming Friday and have an opportunity to go zodiac diving sometime before; hopefully, conditions will improve.

Old Marineland Beach Access

According to Max BottonTime’s post on Divevets, the Old Marineland (aka Long Point, Terranea Resort) “temporary Beach Access Trail … will be intermittently closed for construction purposes beginning Friday, October 10, 2008 through Wednesday, November 12, 2008.”

“During the temporary closure, escourted trail access will be provided to the public between sunrise and sunset.”

“Escorted” trail access?

Redondo Beach Pier

I’ve been trying to pull myself together and get over the shock and depression of catching a total of four bugs over seven lobster hunting trips – an over all horrid dive-to-bug ratio.

What better therapy than to take the day off and head down to the International Boardwalk for some seafood and beer?

Instructor Ed and I made that today’s mission.

Quality Seafood on the International Boardwalk at Redondo Pier is a good choice for an honest, fresh, no frills seafood meal.

They steam everything right in front of you, unlike some other places where they switch a dead for live crab in the back room.

Local fresh lobsters are now being sold; notice the sign above the lobster tank that reads, “Price increase due to bad weather and high demand.”

I asked our employee friend Bobby how the commercial lobster fishermen are doing.

“It’s a horrible season, they’re barely catching anything,” bobby said.

That is why lobster is now almost $30 a pound!

Green muscles and sea snails make a great appetizer before our dungeness crab is ready.

Some really hot looking young women were eating a few tables down and kept staring at me; they probably either thought I was someone famous, or maybe they just wanted me?

It looks like I’m taking a picture of Ed, but I’m actually checking the chicks out.

We finished up at Naja’s, drinking a few Murphy’s Stouts.

Where to dive this weekend?

I’ll know where when I get there.