Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

I dove as a safety diver with Instructor John’s Open Water class of five and returning students Bonnie and Clyde, who were there for “more experience.”*

In With: 2100 psi
Out With: 1900 psi
Max depth: 20 feet
Waves: 1-3 feet
Visibility: 10 feet but getting shittier
Water Temperature: Warm
Total Bottom Time: 10 minutes or so
Notable Event: Dealing with a diver near panic, unable to swim against a current.
*The names of students have been changed, probably because I don’t remember them to begin with.

So now the students get to SCUBA dive.

Leeza turned back in because of nerves.

There was a strong current going North towards the pier; it usually goes the other way.

All but Leeza made it through the surf zone.

I was the first to submerge; the rest were suppose to follow.

Lurch, Young Hottie, Bonnie and Clyde made it down.

John was having problems getting Pedro and Green Horn down.

We were all waiting in pretty crappy visibility that was getting worse because the students were stirring the bottom up.

After ten minutes of waiting, I signaled for everyone to surface.

John called the dive because of the current; we were getting closer and closer to the pier.

Pedro was trying to dog paddle against the current.

I told him that I would tow him; he rolled over on his back; I grabbed his tank and started towing him.

After a minute, Pedro yelled, “Stop! Stop! I can’t breath when you do that!”

I let go.

Pedro started to dog paddle against the current, floating towards the pier.

I said, “I need to tow you if you can’t beat the current, you’re going in to the pier.”

I grabbed his tank again and started towing him.

Pedro yelled, “Please stop that! I’m having trouble breathing when you do that!”

By this time, John had made sure everyone else was on shore and dove back in the water and swam over to Pedro.

John grabbed Pedro and started towing him.

Pedro did his, “Oh, stop please I can’t breathe!” routine.

John held on to him and yelled, “God damn it Pedro! Don’t you dare panic on me! Do exactly as I say.”

John continued to tow him.

Once close to shore John yelled instructions to Pedro, who was sort of combative.

I was exhausted.

I think it was a combination of no breakfast and a hang over.

John later told me, “When someone who is near panic won’t respond to a calm and rational voice, just start cussing at them.

“Maybe they’ll be more afraid of you than drowning.”

Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove with Nick

Nick and I met at the Point Vicente Fishing Access to check out Cardiac Hill.

The conditions looked like crap, so we headed to Long Point.

There was a large number of other divers there – apparently a diving club called the “Sole Searcher” or maybe “Soal Searchers.”

Supposedly they’re out of Pasadena.

The couple that parked next to us later introduced themselves as Anastasia and Jeff from the dive group.

A little after 9 AM, Nick and I headed down to the cove and went in.

The conditions were absolutely horrible.

Visibility was five feet at best and very soupy; there was a STRONG current pulling North-West.

We tried swimming to the second kelp bed, but the current wore us out.

When we submerged, we tried heading East to the kelp beds, but we ended up going in circles fighting the current.

Visibility was sometimes nonexistent.

We called it off and headed in.

We warned Anastasia and Jeff about the conditions; they later called off their dive.

The rest of their group – at least the majority — headed off the point.

It was low tide – not a very bright thing to do as the rocks are covered with slime.

We were all concerned about how they were going to make it back; divers rarely head back and go on shore at The Point.

They usually swim to the cove, but the current today was a major concern.

After de-gearing, Nick, Anastasia, Jeff and I walked down to The Point.

Three divers came in on The Point after getting tossed by the increasingly large waves.

I tried to help one of them ashore, but was declined.

“Where’s the dignity in that?” he asked.

The other divers were scattered trying to swim to the cove against the current.

Three got tired and headed in mid-way.

Everyone made it to shore eventually, the last made it to the cove.

The diver- possibly the leader – who made it back in on the point, jumped back in the water to help the others.

I stayed on shore pointing out who remained.

I don’t think a lot of these divers were not experienced beach divers.

At least one dropped his weight belt.

Everyone made it back alive.

In with: 3000 psi
Out with: 2500 psi
Maximum depth: 30 feet
Waves: 4+ feet
Visibility: 0-5 feet – It really sucked
Water Temperature: About 55 degrees F
Total Bottom Time: About 10 minutes.