Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove with Nick and some “Sandeaters.”
Photos By Nick

Notable Event: Maytagged On The Rocks

I met Nick at 8 AM. I was talking to “Melvin” from the Sandeaters Diving club previously.

Nick and I went out (or tried to) around 8:30 AM.

Nick left the rocks first and swam out.

The waves were mild, about two or three feet.

I went down to the rocks and put one of my fins on.

About to put the other one on, I looked up and saw this huge 12 foot swell approaching.

Nick was on top of the wave pointing his camera down at me.

I put the second fin looped around my hand, held my spear and grabbed on to the rock that I was sitting on.

I was scared shitless.

Just like the hand of God, the wave just picked me up and threw me.

I had no idea where the rocks were.

I put my arms over my head and smashed into a rock.

Apparently, Nick told me later, there was a second wave.

I was okay, but my elbow was a little sore.

I gathered the spear and quickly put my other fin on and coasted out.

Several other divers looked on in amazement.

I was shaken.

It was a long swim to the second kelp bed.

We were fighting a current pushing us the other way.

I took inventory of my gear and checked my equipment before we submerged.

My compass was lost in my accident.

We got tired of swimming on the surface, so Nick took a compass bearing and we submerged to about 30 feet and headed East to the kelp bed.

I heard the waves crashing against the rocks — a more terrifying sound than anything.

We approached the kelp bed.

The kelp was practically laying flat in the strong current.

The floor started moving; silt came up.

We surfaced to see what the hell it was.

The waves were two to three feet on shore; it was just a strong current.

We submerged again.

I had no idea where we were going since I had no compass.

Nick motioned that he wanted to follow me.

I just hung around the kelp bed.

A few times, we ran in to other divers.

I almost followed the wrong person.

I did the typical hunting thing, Nick photographed.

Towards the end, just like White Point, I found some big sheephead hiding in a small cave.

I shot and hit one fish, but the current was extremely strong.

I didn’t hit the fish square, so it wiggled free.

I motioned to Nick to head in.

I followed but had to correct him once in the cove.

We were heading West and had to go North-West after a while.

We both made it to shore without incident.

Once up in the parking lot, I discovered that my left elbow was split wide open.

Melvin from the Sandeaters said, “Do whatever works for you, but most of us walk out and put our fins on in the water – you really got tossed.”

No shit!

I’m going to follow his advice!

We talked with Melvin at length about diving and how not to get old.

His advice – exercise and sex three times a day.

Wow, I need a girlfriend!

In with: 2800 psi
Out with: 600 psi
Maximum depth: 35 feet
Waves: 2-3 feet, except for one big ass wave
Visibility: 15 feet/ soupy water
Water temperature: 60 degrees F ??

Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA
Night Diving

Notable Event: First Night dive, narced, confused and didn’t realize that my buddy was on the brink of panic.

Dove With Nick

I had the urge to go night diving.

There was a group going night diving last Wednesday, but today is payday and I couldn’t buy a flood light until now.

I met Nick and Instructor Ed at Veteran’s park at 7:20 PM.

Ed was concerned about the wind.

Two divers coming up the stairs rated the environment as “visibility is good but it’s really dark.”

We suited up and entered the water probably around 8:30 PM.

Some onlookers watched us enter with bewilderment.

The waves were up, about four feet, but the swells were really big once out.

I had my new light cannon, Nick had my flashlight; Ed had his own light.

Once out, Ed had problems with his BCD jacket — it kept inflating uncontrollably — and had to turn back.

There’s me, sort of exhausted from making it out.

Nick and I rested a bit, riding the swells — which bothered Nick.

We submerged and descended to an initial 26 feet.

We stayed side by side; Nick gave my the “OK” sign.

We followed the floor — visibility was 10 feet and really dark.

We saw small horn sharks, local crab and a fish I had never seen before.

I think this is a rock fish.

We went over the shelf and in to the canyon.

It got really cold.

The visibility didn’t improve.

Is Nick frightened or nervous here? I think he would signal if he was?

It got to the point where the only thing I could see was sediment that was floating in the water.

This freaked Nick out and he gave me the predesignated “I’m scared let’s go up” sign.

I looked at my compass and started going West.

I felt my ears pinch, looked at my gauge — we were at 75 feet and going the wrong way.

I made this mistake before — and was pissed at myself.

Nick gave me the “up” sign. I acknowledged.

I swam up to surface, but Nick didn’t go anywhere.

I was starting to get concerned about Nick panicking.

He signaled to ask which way was shore. I looked at my compass and took a while to get my bearings — which further frightened Nick.

I pointed in the direction of shore, he swam, got to the shelf and darted up.

I followed, but became extremely dizzy — I had to slow down.

In warmer water at 30 feet, Nick calmed down.

We swam toward shore; Nick finally signalled to “go up.”

We ascended.

The first thing Nick said to me was “I didn’t like that, let’s go in.”

We made it to shore without incident.

Nick swam in really fast.

Nick later told me that he wasn’t upset at me, but at himself.

He just wasn’t ready for a dive like that.

I should have detected his concern earlier — I have doubts that I could ever be an instructor.

I think I really like solo diving.

In with: 2800 psi
Out with: 1400 psi
Max depth: 75 feet
Waves: Four feet (big swells)
Visibility: 10 feet/soupy
Water temperature: Cold at depths.