Avalon Underwater Park
(aka Casino Point)
Catalina, CA

Dove with Instructor John, Ron T. and John’s Open Water student Jack* as part of our Dive Master class.

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 2000 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet, insignificant
Visibility: 20 feet or so
Water Temperature: 58 degrees Fahrenheit
Total Bottom Time: About 30 minutes
*Student name has been changed.

We did the traditional skin dive first – we saw a HUGE black sea bass.

Jack was a little freaked and yelled to us, “What is that? Is it going to hurt us?”

We swam after it.

The free dive sort of reminded me how I sometimes don’t like free diving.

I think I almost passed out coming up from 25 feet; I was dizzy for a bit.

On the actual SCUBA dive, Jack slipped on the stairs leading to the water; he was all right.

We all made it out and met at the life preserver/ buoy.

Jack took a while getting down.

John fed the fish frozen peas.

The fish swarmed – Jack tried catching a few.

We headed over to the Jacques Cousteau memorial.

John had Jack adjust his BC jacket – something must have happened, like diver malfunction, because as soon as we left the memorial, Jack started to float up.

Ron chased after him, I went to get John.

We all surfaced, swam to where it was shallower and continued our dive.

Jack took his time getting down, which was okay.

We all made it back and up the stairs without incident.

Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Dove with Instructor John, Ron T. and John’s Open Water student Dr. Smith.*

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 800 psi
Max depth: 100 feet
Waves: 1-4 feet
Visibility: 10 feet, maybe 15.
Water Temperature: Sort of cold.
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes
Notable Event: My regulator started free flowing at 90 feet.
*Open Water Student name has been changed.

Ron and I “Dive Mastered” (on shore) the first dive and sent Jake (A rescue student) out to rescue an orange signal sausage.

Jake went out for a swim before his “rescue” so he was too tired to make the second dive.

So for the second dive, Instructor John, Ron T., Dr. Smith and I submerged around 10:30 AM – I’m guessing.

John gave Dr. Smith his basic skills checkout.

When Dr. Smith did his emergency exit, everyone surfaced except me.

I was congested and was surprised that I didn’t have a problem getting down – I did take some Sudafed.

John and Dr. Smith went in, Ron came back down and I motioned to him that I would follow.

Annoying a few local crabs on the way down, I followed Ron to 100 feet.

Ron’s computer didn’t work; I think he forgot to turn it on.

We just took it slow, trying to find anything worthwhile.

All of a sudden, I heard this “Pop! pssst….pssst…”

“Oh fuck!,” I thought.

It sounded like a broken hose; I looked at Ron, he was OK and oblivious to what I had heard.

I looked at my gauges, they were fine – we were at 90 feet.

I was afraid to take a breath because I feared inhaling water – my cheeks kept inflating – my rig was free flowing!

I pressed the purge valve a few times and that stopped it.

My heart was about to jump out of my chest.

The rest of the dive went along pretty uneventful – that’s a good thing!

We slowly made it back up the shelf, spending more than enough time as a safety stop.

I walked ashore, slipping on the sand step; I picked myself back up.

We met John and Dr. Smith back in the parking lot.

Dr. Smith passed his OW class and invited us all out for a few drinks to celebrate.

We politely declined; that’s not something I would usually do, but I could not cut this day short.

We sat around and talked about how working for Hollywood sucks.

I believe Dr. Smith works as a grip.