The Palawan Wreck, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 700 psi
Max depth: 120 feet
Waves: Sort of choppy
Visibility: 40 feet plus, but sort of dark
Water Temperature: 62 degrees on the surface, 53 at depth
Total Bottom Time: About 22 minutes
Notable Event: This is my 300th dive and I am still alive.

There were two cancellations from a deep diving class on the Island Diver; I took one of the vacancies.

It was the typical stag boat except for a newer member of Divevets – “Hollywood” a blonde hot chick.

After a short ride to the wreck, I realized that the entire boat, except for me, was part of the class.

I made sure my spare air was filled, and was the first one overboard.

I went down the anchor line; the anchor rested in 130 feet of water with the Palawan in sight.

I didn’t realize at first how good the vis was; the Palawan is 44 feet across and I could see from one side to the other.

Even though I put in one of those moisture absorbing packets in my camera case (aka “Do Not Eats”), I still had a slight problem with condensation forming on the lens.

I did a tour around the ship and descended into the hull; the top deck is off, so this was not a penetration dive.

This is what I look like, sort of narced, at 120 feet; sort of too dark, I know.

After 15 minutes at the wreck, I easily found the anchor line and started the journey back up; stopping at 50 feet for two minutes, then four minutes at 15 feet.

During my safety stop, I saw a tank, without a diver pass by.

I thought, “I’ve found fins and knives before, but I really scored today!”

As it turns out, it was safety and training equipment being lowered for the class; their dive was just starting.

I hung out with Captain Dick…

… and observed what I could of the class.

I figured I would be the first to out-gas for the second dive and the first one finished for the day; if all worked out, I could drink most of the beer before the class finished their second dive.

Secret Location: 4f 66 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 53 70 61 6e 69 73 68 20 62 65 61 63 68 20 6c 69 65 73 20 61 20 66 61 72 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 69 70 65 73 20 61 72 65 20 67 72 6f 77 6e 2e

Southern California Buddy Diving With The Divevets off the Island Diver

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 100 feet
Waves: Minor chop, Current going Eastward
Visibility: 15 feet +
Water Temperature: 56 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 20 minutes
Notable Event: I limited for the first time!

We made it a point not to “move the boat closer.”

That’s usually a curse that the second dive will yield nothing.

We were all sitting around and the new-to-diving deckhand asked us, “Why isn’t anyone going back in the water?”

“We have about an hour to out-gas,” someone responded.

Too bad there’s a no beer rule between dives.

I was the first one in on the second dive and headed South West again but didn’t see any bugs for the first ten minutes.

I then came across a set of pipes and cement boxes at 95 feet that was crammed with lobsters the size of small dogs.

I grabbed one and bagged it.

I grabbed for another one and missed – it shot out the other side of the pipe.

I swam to the other side, high beamed my light just in front of it and grabbed it.

I could have stuffed my bag here, but I was deeper than I had planned to go and I had caught my day’s lobster limit of seven in a 24 hour period.

I ascended and did an open water safety stop in probably what was a current that had picked up.

When I broke surface I was way the hell East of the boat and had to make a 100 yard surface swim back.

The rest of the divers made it back to the boat; some caught a couple bugs while others got skunked.

I’m glad I brought an extra large bag!

The beer started to flow freely on the way back and the traditional parking lot party ensued for about an hour.

Do I look macho with all my bugs, or what?

The parking lot party crew.

Another great and plentiful night of Southern California lobster hunting and SCUBA diving!