Logged SCUBA Dive #339

Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Dove With Reverend Al

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 1500 psi
Max depth: 21 feet
Waves: Slight rolling waves, but pretty flat on the surface
Visibility: 5 to 10 feet in some spots but silty
Temperature: 56 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 40 minutes

I checked out Honeymoon Cove expecting the displaced Old Marineland divers to be there, but the only one who showed up was Reverend Al.

Conditions apparently sucked all along the hill yesterday, so maybe word had gotten out?

Al and I checked Christmas Tree Cove; both Honeymoon and Christmas Tree looked descent and diveable, but the question was posed, “How much work do you want to do today?”

Both coves have long goat trails leading to the water.

Considering the trails down and the fact that Malaga Cove has more sea life, we headed over there.

Malaga Cove was pretty flat and you could see the submerged rocks in the shallows – it was a no brainer, “Let’s do the dive.”

After an uneventful entrance and surface swim, Reverend Al and I submerged in 15 feet of water.

We headed towards Flat Rock before turning around to head back for a beach exit.

A deadly horn shark off of Malaga Cove.

Reverend Al collected a perfect rock for his aquarium.

The specimen is bagged and tagged.

There were some patches of decent visibility today.

A horn shark patrols Malaga Cove.

The sunlight and the shallow depths made for an OK dive, despite the silt in the water.

As we got closer to the sandy beach, the visibility went down to only a few feet and the surge was tremendously annoying.

We ascended right by a fishing boat and made a surface swim to the beach to avoid the underwater surge.

We finally met FrankPro1 and SPKelpDiver from the Divevets’ board; they were heading in, as we were coming out.

Not So New Chris had finished his dive and was in the parking lot; he remarked, “Those horn sharks must have an awfully good night life because all of them were sleeping.”

Low key debriefing ensued for a bit.

I have my diving fill in for the next few days.

Logged SCUBA Dive #338

Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 111 feet
Waves: Breaking on shore, but pretty flat once out
Visibility: 5 to 8 feet
Temperature: 56 degrees, colder at depth
Total Bottom Time: About 35 minutes

Having not been in the water since the end of lobster season, I needed to test my diving skills to avoid a refresher course.

I met my friend Nick; I though he was going to dive with me, but he just came to collect money and drink beer.

Reports from returning divers didn’t get my hopes up that conditions were spectacular, but I did hear the key words – “It’s diveable.”

I made an easy entry into the water

A lot of diving students were at Vets Park.

I submerged in 18 feet of water and hit the bottom before I saw it.

I headed West to go over the shelf and look for better visibility.

A crab smiles for the camera.

A second crab muscles in on the shot.

Vis I would have to admit, really sucked.

Actually, to put it in divers’ technical jargon, visibility really sucked ass.

I headed down to 111 feet and got a little narced; and what do narced divers do at 111 feet when they’re solo diving in bad visibility?

I started practicing my singing – singing through my regulator.

After all, who was I going to annoy?

I hummed the theme song to Gone With The Wind, Hawaii Five-0, and sang my rendition of El Rey and I Walk The Line; I really have no idea why I chose those titles.

I made my way back to the edge of the shelf and slowly ascended the canyon wall.

I was heading back in, slowly swimming, accomplishing my safety stop at the same time when I came across something that scared the shit out of me.

What is it?

I couldn’t recognize what it was…

… it’s just sea junk!

I surfaced in 10 feet of water just steps away from where I went in.

Debriefing took place in the parking lot with Nick and the Saturday morning Divevets crowd.