I heard that diving Malaga Cove yesterday was pretty decent, and with the air temperature in the Long Beach ghetto being in the 90’s, I decided a nice cold dive at Long Point would be appropriate.

The sure signs of low vis – foam on the water.

The air is hot and the water cold – it’s that time of the year again – RED TIDE!

Some free divers stopped by to check the scene and informed us that the whole peninsula looks like crap… Malaga Cove, Honeymoon Cove, etc.

Chris, Reverend Al, Dive Bum Don, Cyber the killer guard dog and myself walked down to check out the Point – I had already canceled today, so I had beer in hand.

This is where the bar will be when Terranea opens in 2009.

We checked out the Point – not much to see here either.

We just started to debrief early.

Don sparked up the outdoor stove and we started to consume mass quantities of beer.

Once the word that free beer and hot dogs were in the parking lot, someone carelessly rushed in and ran over Cyber the attack dog.

Luckily, everyone there knew CPR and mouth to mouth resuscitation, so we traded off until Cyber revived.

I walked in to the resort to find a nice tree to water and took the following pictures:

Terranea Resort is coming along.

The public access parking lot from above.

No diving, but the ocean air and good company made the trip worth it.

I made it down to Long Point at about 8:30 AM; the initial report from the divers who were there was “conditions look green.”

I snuck to The Point to see if conditions there were any better than the Cove.

Foam covered the water, the Point was rough.

I told Reverend Al and his group that if they were going to go off the Point, I was going to bring my camera.

They opted for the Cove; I chose to stay dry and start debriefing early.

I walked down with my mini-cooler and sat on the rocks, drinking Cheladas, beer and watching the ocean.

The day was gloomy, the water had a few rough spots, but Al and his group made an uneventful entrance into the water.

Kayakers also launched from the cove.

Two spear fishermen from Lancaster drove all the way here to do some hunting; they were determined to dive no matter what.

They asked, “Which way did the other divers go?”

“Towards 120 reef,” I said.

“OK, we’ll go the other way.”

I guess they shoot at anything that’s big and moves?

They made a safe rock entrance…

…and swam out a ways, almost getting run over by a boat…

A B-17 flew overhead searching for Al Qaeda submarines off our coast.

Since most of our newer planes are overseas liberating other countries and keeping the world safe for democracy, the government needs to dust off the older planes for domestic use.

Al and his group made it back in with reports of six to eight feet visibility with a lot of silt; I’m glad I stayed dry today.

Here’s a better view of the foam on the water.

The foam apparently is some sort of microorganism that tends to ruin the visibility.

Nice and relaxed from my seaside meditation, I attended the diver debriefing in the parking lot.

By the way, do you know how to pronounce “Terranea” as in the Terranea Resort?

I always thought it was Terr-AYE-nee-ah.

Apparently, it is Terra-NAY-ah.

One of our topics of conversation was how crappy the conditions have been lately; even the East side of Catalina has been reporting 20-foot visibility when 50 is common.

The Kayakers made a safe return, followed by the spear fisherman who had empty hooks.