In With: 3000 psi Out With: 700 psi Max depth: 80 feet Waves: Waves at the shore, very manageable Visibility: 15 feet, some places more. Water Temperature: 52 degrees Air Temperature: 74 degrees Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes at most
TwinDuct and I made an easy entry into the cool ocean water.
A self portrait off of Veterans Park.
We submerged in 35 feet of water.
TwinDuct gives the OK sign.
We hit the shelf and descended down, reaching a maximum depth of 80 feet.
A crab poses for a picture.
A crab challenges TwinDuct.
After about 40 minutes of scoping out sand, crabs and trash we headed in; both of us making macho beach exits.
Traditional parking lot debriefing ensued with the King Of Beers.
I keep telling myself, “I am getting rusty. I need to dive more.”
It’s been a hell of a month, and I know this post has been sort of delayed, but at least I have something for October.
We made our way to our final dive for this weekend.
The Cee Rey was spotted going to our next dive.The quarry…Keep Out Quarry.Captain Dave of the Pacific Star.
After careful consideration, Captain Dave anchored at a place he called “KO quarry” – or “Keep Out Quarry.”
Again, I believe I was the first one off the boat.
Logged SCUBA Dive #518
Solo Diving, SoCal Buddy Diving
Keep Out Quarry, Catalina Island, CA
In With: 3000 psi Out With: 700 psi Max depth: 86 feet Waves: Pretty calm with light chop Visibility: 15-30 feet depending on where you were. Water Temperature: 63 degrees, 56 at depth Air Temperature: 79 degrees Total Bottom Time: 42 minutes
Another diver off Keep Out Quarry.Interesting reef structure.An abundance of fish, looking towards the surface.
Again, there was a noticeable thermocline going from 50 to 60 feet.
I thought I scored an anchor, but it was the ship’s.Blocks of rocks.A sleeping shark.A Garibaldi.A kelp forest.Vis was pretty good.A shark and a Garibaldi.A strange looking reef.
After 40 minutes or so, I made my way back to the boat, eager to have my first sip of the King of Beers, Budweiser.
Lunch time! Chicken, rice and vegetables, with the King of Beers.
I was talking to Nick about diving all over the world.
Nick said, “Southern California diving is unlike any diving in the world.
Anywhere else in the world, everyone hops off the boat in a group and you follow a dive master around.
Here, you just jump off a boat and you’re on your own; that’s what makes California divers so skilled.
You can go anywhere in the world, and when they find out that you’re an experienced California diver, they relax because they know you won’t be a problem.”
I went to the galley and realized, I was the only one drinking Budweiser, The King of Beers.
I grabbed one, cracked it open, and announced to my fellow divers that there was plenty of Budweiser for everyone to enjoy.
My offer was declined with slight hostility, not for the offer of the beer, but that fact that my beer was hogging all the space in the refrigerator.
Nick continued, “Also, most dive boats will set up your gear and do everything for you, except the dive.”
Good bye, Catalina!Until the next adventure!
The Pacific Star is a great diving boat with an absolute amazing crew; the food is spectacular.
The Pacific Star is a top notch local dive boat – I will be back again.
Does anyone still read this blog?
*Due to lack of internet access, and too much to do to write while it is happening, there has been a delay in these posts. Pretend you are in 1990.
