For the last several weeks, huge waves have been battering the coast from two hurricanes in Mexico.

I had checked on conditions two weeks ago, and the dive at Terranea Resort was quickly cancelled.

The only diving around was at Veterans Park – so, I went home.

Today is another day, and the swell maps gave promise to some good diving.

Nice Bob and Mike had checked out the conditions and reported, “The Point is do-able as long as you time it right.”

As long as I time it right?

Dennis G. asked if I would join him for a dive at the cove.

I accepted.

Huge waves rearranged the rocky beach, pushing many rocks further up, and taking out the staircase.

I also heard that the path to the Point was washed out.

There is now a great sandy beach for entry and exit.

We made an easy entrance and swam out.

The new face of the Cove.

We swam to the rocky finger off of Pigeon Shit Cave and submerged.

Logged SCUBA Dive #473

Dove with Dennis G.

The Cove off of Terranea Resort

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 750 psi
Max depth: 42 feet
Waves: Pretty flat
Visibility: 10 to 15 feet
Water Temperature: 64 degrees
Air Temperature: 85 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 44 minutes

Visibility sort of sucked – like five feet initially, until we got to 120 reef where it opened up to 10 to 15 feet.

I looked at my camera and noticed a few drops of water inside may case.

Hmm, it is a little warm for condensation… fuck, my camera housing was flooding!

The camera was already wet, so turning back would have been useless.

We surfaced, I opened my camera case, emptied the water and resealed it; that didn’t help any.

We circled around 120 reef; Dennis broke open several sea urchins to feed the fish.

It’s nice to see the fish coming back – it was getting real barren a couple of years ago.

After 35 minutes, we started heading back.

The water was pretty warm except for a strange cold blast that hit us as we were coming in; it only lasted a few moments.

There was a group of people at the Cove cheering a swimmer that was approaching the beach.

“You can do it! Go! Go! You can do it!,” they were cheering.

A large boat followed; there was a kayaker beside the swimmer.

We came to find out that the guy had swam all the way from Catalina and had been swimming for the last 11 hours.

Well, if he started from Catalina and made it this far, I think he’s going to make it.

He crawled up on the beach and made it to the dry rocks.

And to top that off, he was 47 years old and fat – I have hope for myself now.

Thank you Chipper for the following photograph:

Today’s diving group – Randy is kneeling, from the left is Chipper, yours truly, Mike, Eric and Dennis G.

I dried my camera on the dashboard of my truck during debriefing.

A couple of people almost got into a fight over parking – I still prefer watching M.M.A. though.

At home, I washed my camera in 90% alcohol to wash the salt residue out before putting it in instant rice to leach all the moister out.

The battery and memory card is still good; if my camera works again, it will be a miracle.

This is the 3D camera that I have used to document my diving for the last three years – I’m sad to see the probable end to it.

I posted on Divevets.com that I was showing up to dive and bringing my ghetto grill and some Korean cuisine.

That’s usually enough to pack the house, however with persistent rumors of lingering crappy vis, a swell model that would freak out the most hard core surfer and predictions of an approaching storm, only three regulars showed up today – Reverend Al, Eric and me.

The Cove looked really calm, like it didn’t eat it’s Wheaties this morning.

The Point looked good too, so we took our traditional route – entering off the Point and exiting the Cove.

Reverend Al and Eric prepare for a boulder entry.

Eric expertly makes his boulder entry.

We swam out under the kelp and surfaced to find the landmarks that hopefully would drop us on the statue.

We submerged.

Logged SCUBA Dive #472

Dove with Reverend Al and Eric

The Point off Terranea Resort

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 400 psi
Max depth: 63 feet
Waves: Pretty flat
Visibility: 15 to 20 feet
Water Temperature: 58 degrees, colder at depth
Air Temperature: 82 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 55 minutes

We landed right on the statue!


Visibility was really good!

Did I leave my flash on?

There was a hell of a current going the opposite direction.

A camouflaged sea snail blends into the background.

Starfish.

A fish waits for us to pass.

A mini-arch.

A sea cucumber.

An orange Starfish.

A spotted starfish.

A well starfish comforts his shriveling friend.

Fish photo-bomb.

A Sheephead!

A – I do not know?

A snail makes its way.

Like an aquarium!

Al and Eric had steel 100s; I was on an Aluminum 80.

At 400 psi, I waved to Reverend Al and signaled that I was going up.

I was fully prepared to see the half way mark and ready for a surface swim in.

I broke surface…

… I was right outside of the Cove.

We headed in to shallow waters earlier in the dive to try and avoid the current that was going the opposite way; that gave me enough air to get to the Cove.

Reverend Al teaches Sunday School.

Some kids asked Al about diving as he passed out sea shells.

“How deep did you go?” a kid asked.

“We got as deep as 60 feet,” Al said.

The kids gasped in amazement – “WHOA!”

3D Group Shot – Me. Reverend Al and Eric.

Korean marinaded pork was on the ghetto grill.

Lunch is served – Marinated barbecued pork, kimchi, rice, potato chips and beer.

SCJoe made an appearance for the debrief!

Debriefing continued until a little bit after noon.

Instructor Ed called me later in the day and wants to do some boat trips – I’m sure my four readers will want dive reports other than Terraea Resort, so stay tuned.