Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove with Nick

Nick and I met at the Point Vicente Fishing Access to check out Cardiac Hill.

The conditions looked like crap, so we headed to Long Point.

There was a large number of other divers there – apparently a diving club called the “Sole Searcher” or maybe “Soal Searchers.”

Supposedly they’re out of Pasadena.

The couple that parked next to us later introduced themselves as Anastasia and Jeff from the dive group.

A little after 9 AM, Nick and I headed down to the cove and went in.

The conditions were absolutely horrible.

Visibility was five feet at best and very soupy; there was a STRONG current pulling North-West.

We tried swimming to the second kelp bed, but the current wore us out.

When we submerged, we tried heading East to the kelp beds, but we ended up going in circles fighting the current.

Visibility was sometimes nonexistent.

We called it off and headed in.

We warned Anastasia and Jeff about the conditions; they later called off their dive.

The rest of their group – at least the majority — headed off the point.

It was low tide – not a very bright thing to do as the rocks are covered with slime.

We were all concerned about how they were going to make it back; divers rarely head back and go on shore at The Point.

They usually swim to the cove, but the current today was a major concern.

After de-gearing, Nick, Anastasia, Jeff and I walked down to The Point.

Three divers came in on The Point after getting tossed by the increasingly large waves.

I tried to help one of them ashore, but was declined.

“Where’s the dignity in that?” he asked.

The other divers were scattered trying to swim to the cove against the current.

Three got tired and headed in mid-way.

Everyone made it to shore eventually, the last made it to the cove.

The diver- possibly the leader – who made it back in on the point, jumped back in the water to help the others.

I stayed on shore pointing out who remained.

I don’t think a lot of these divers were not experienced beach divers.

At least one dropped his weight belt.

Everyone made it back alive.

In with: 3000 psi
Out with: 2500 psi
Maximum depth: 30 feet
Waves: 4+ feet
Visibility: 0-5 feet – It really sucked
Water Temperature: About 55 degrees F
Total Bottom Time: About 10 minutes.

Indian Rocks, Catalina, CA

This is dive #3 off of “The Bottom Scratcher”

Dove with Nick

Nick had to repair the strap latch on one of his fins with tie wraps.

Close to 2 PM we had to enter the water — probably closer to 2:30 PM.

My regulator started free flowing.

I banged on it – it stopped (I actually had been using Instructor Ed’s rig this trip.).

I noticed that the exhaust vent on Ed’s secondary was loose; I took my knife out and tightened it while I waited for Nick.

Dive Master Sean yelled, “Are you using your knife to work on your rig?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“I thought so,” he replied.

Nick jumped in shortly thereafter.

My primary second stage was OK, but my secondary second stage was free flowing slightly.

I used my secondary second stage for this dive.

I thought it might conserve air since my primary secondary didn’t leak.

This is pretty much a shallow dive with lots of kelp and an interesting assortment of reefs and rocks.

One turn you may be over grass, and then fall down into a reef covered with kelp.

It’s like an underwater maze.

Quite interesting scenery.

We surfaced beyond the front of the boat, went back under and swam to the back.

I was a little concerned about the depth of this dive.

The tables said that I was good on this dive at 35 feet for 35 minutes.

I ended up at 45 feet for 45 minutes.

In with: 3100 psi
Out with: 800 psi
Max depth: 45 feet
Waves: 0 – not a factor
Visibility: 45 feet
Water Temperature: Warm
Total bottom time was about 45 minutes

The Bottom Scratcher is a great boat – we partied all the way home.

I made it a point to drink lots of beer — I thought it would displace the residual Nitrogen in my blood with Carbon Dioxide.

Captain Rick of The Bottom Scratcher

“Rick” was the Captain, “Sean” the Divemaster, “Bobby” the deckhand who filled the tanks and “Debbie” was the cook.

Hot chicks sun themselves on the bow of the Bottom Scratcher.

Hot chicks rest on the second level of the Bottom Scratcher.

I also met Karen – a hot chick who’s been diving for two weeks AND has a boyfriend.

Sonya – from the Netherlands – is a blonde hottie that parties with the Captain.

Basically, this is a cool boat with cool people.

The Divemaster wasn’t a babysitter; there was no problem with people solo diving.

I will be back!