Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA

Dove with Instructor John, his friend Jim, and John’s Open Water students Archie, Gloria, Young Biologist, and Young Biologist’s Brother.*

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 1900 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: 1-3 foot ankle breakers
Visibility: 5-10 feet
Water Temperature: 62 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface, 54 degrees Fahrenheit thermocline.
Total Bottom Time: About 25 minutes
*Student names have been changed.

We geared up rather quickly compared to last weekend.

I was the first one through the surf zone.

I told the group, “I’ll make it past the line of death first;” Gloria found the humor in that.

Archie was tired and had to rest, Jim tank towed Gloria, unknowing to her at first.

This was the “check out” dive.

John was congested, so he had me go up with three of his students during their simulated emergency swimming ascent; I pointed out to Gloria that she needs to exhale as she ascends.

We did a little touring once the basic skills were done.

Coming ashore, I tried helping Archie out, but he was too tired to get up.

He crawled up on to the shore and I helped him take his fins off.

Casino Point, Catalina, CA

Dove with Instructor John, his friend Jim, and John’s Open Water students* Archie, Gloria and Young Biologist.

In With: 2000 psi
Out With: 1000 psi
Max depth: 60 feet
Waves: Insignificant
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: 20 minutes
*Student names have been changed.

I about flipped when Gloria took her wetsuit off during the surface interval.

We were trying to take an early boat out and I thought very early that this group was going to drag ass.

After John and Young Biologist had their surface interval (lunch) we all went down to do the second dive of the day.

We submerged and followed John.

John was his typical torpedo self.

The students tried to follow the best they could, dragging across the bottom and doing their “stairmaster” kick.

I paid attention to Young Biologist as she was my “buddy.”

Nothing really out of the ordinary to report on this dive.

We exited as the tide was coming up.

We all packed up and left Casino Point with the hope of getting an early boat back.

We ended up being on standby for the 2:05 PM boat.

The students paid $10 more to get on the “Commodore” class – you sit on the middle deck and get a free drink and bag of chips.

The rest of us were able to wait and get on the same boat, Economy class.