The Palawan Wreck, Off of The Island Diver Boat
Redondo Beach, CA

Dove with “Scott” following Juan Twenty and “Chris” from the Divevets

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 600 psi
Max depth: 110 feet
Waves: Mild Chop
Visibility: 20-30 feet with a crud layer on the way down
Water Temperature: 55 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 15 minutes at the wreck, 10 minutes ascending from the wreck

The Island Diver, King Harbor (Photo By Juan Twenty)

A group shot before weighing anchor. (Photo By Juan Twenty)

After begging Juan Twenty for a spot on their next Palawan trip, and after being told there was a two year waiting list, a newly chartered trip had a spot for me.

After a 15-minute ride to the spot, we witnessed several rowing boats passing by filled with hot, young chicks.

Captain Alec found the wreck, Juan Twenty buddied me up with “Scott.”

We were to follow Juan and Chris.

(Photo By Juan Twenty)

We jumped over board and followed a line down to the wreck.

(Photo By Juan Twenty)

We passed through a crud layer that didn’t promise too much visibility, but it cleared right above the wreck and gave us a great view from port to starboard.

The Palawan was a World War II supply ship that only saw a year or so of service before being mothballed up North for 40 years or so.

In the 70’s, they stripped the Palawan of the engines, tore off the decks and then sunk it as an artificial reef.

Our group took a “Divevets” group photo and trolled around for the short amount of bottom time we had under no-decompression rules.

Everyone is impressed that my ancient equipment still works.
(Photo By Juan Twenty)

I followed the group up slowly, following Scott’s dive profile on his computer – cheaper than buying one of my own, I guess.

Captain Alec is well prepared to battle pirates and mutineers.

We did an hour and a half surface interval.

Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 1100 psi
Max depth: 80 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: 52 degrees over the shelf
Bottom Time: About 30 minutes

In an attempt to be social, I posted on the Divevets that I was diving here at this time and anyone was welcome to show up.

Well, nobody did.

I entered the water a little after 9 AM.

No other divers were around, at least from what I saw.

I made an easy entry, putting my fins on in the water.

The swells were very manageable and would have been easy for even a beginning diver.

I submerged to 20 feet and headed West over the shelf.

There it was, the black darkness over the edge that welcomes every diver here.

I started going down and it got REALLY cold; I had to pee in my wetsuit to enjoy the 15 seconds of spot warmth.

I slowly went North and looked at all the trash and many crabs that were sticking out of the sand.

There’s supposed to be some kind of an artificial reef that the local divers have been assembling brick by brick over the shelf.

I wasn’t able to find it.

Getting cold and sort of bored I headed back up the shelf to warm up and do my safety stop.

I practiced my buoyancy and slowly made my way back in.

Two divers were exiting just ahead of me.

I believe one was a student and the other was an instructor.

They had deco bottles and were wearing dry suits.

I’m assuming that they’re tech divers?

One of them confirmed the temperature over the shelf was 52 degrees.