Long Point, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove With Nick

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 600 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: 1-3 feet
Visibility: 10 feet
Water Temperature: Cold
Total Bottom Time: 45 minutes

We met at 7:40 AM.

Nobody except the security guards, who were guarding the movie set, were there.

A few fishermen showed up as we were gearing up.

We went off the cove.

We had an experimental lobster hunting kit with us to study whether or not some urban legends about lobster hunting are true.

If we were to catch a lobster using this kit, we would turn it lose and record our findings.

We were determined to find the abandoned lobster trap.

We ran across a few lobsters backed in to some crevices, but Nick had lost the peanut butter.

What we were supposed to do with it, we weren’t sure.

We concentrated our lobstering efforts in 35-40 feet of water slightly East off of Pigeon Shit cave.

Nick came across a lobster and grabbed it freehand!

It was legal size!

Nick’s first legally caught lobster!

The “second kelp bed” has long since disappeared.

But, we did run across the lobster trap!

It has become a corroded pile of rusted wire; it’s not usable.

We exited with no problem; fins off, walked ashore.

Arch Point
Santa Barbara Island, CA off of the Sundiver Boat

Dove with Nick

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 900 psi
Max depth: 50 feet
Waves: 3-4 towards shore, strong current and surges
Visibility: 30 feet
Water Temperature: Cool to cold
Total Bottom Time: 45 minutes

The Captain said there’s lobsters in the rocks.

I traded my camera for my lobster bag, but realized that once I jumped over that I forgot my lobster gauge.

Realizing that I haven’t even seen a lobster on this trip, I didn’t sweat it.

I almost got swept into a crevice by a strong surge.

Nick and I followed toward the arch; I reached as deep as 50 feet.

It’s pretty barren here, sea urchins and small fish – well, I saw a big Sheephead here.

Coming back to the boat we encountered a strong current.

We swam down over a ledge where the current was weaker.

Around the boat, Nick aggressively dug out a lobster that was wedged in the rocks, ripping off both of its antennas.

After measuring it, it was indeed short, so we set it free.

We were supposed to do a fourth dive; I’m glad we didn’t.

I had completely lost track of where I am on the dive tables.

Boat Review Of The Sundiver:

The Sundiver is an OK boat, but there’s three things that I didn’t like:

1. They strap your gear bag to a ledge that dangles over the side.

2. They had double bunks. SO if you’re alone, you may be sleeping with some dude.

3. They charge for everything! $4 air fills, $1 coffees, etc.

4. It is note worthy to realize that you can stumble onto the deck and be a drunken dick the night before a dive and, probably won’t be thrown overboard.

After a five hour boat ride back, we all safely arrived back at port.

A great weekend of diving!