Margate, Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Dove off of John’s Zodiac

Southern California Buddy Diving With John and Ron T.

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 50 feet
Waves: Rough Chop; 2 foot swells
Visibility: 15 feet; silty
Water Temperature: Cold at 50 feet
Total Bottom Time: About 35 minutes; my “water resistant” watch has finally stopped working.

I picked up Ron at his home is Redondo Beach at 7 AM and met John at the Redondo Marina.

We too a bumpy ride out to the massive kelp bed off “Margate” in Palos Verdes and dropped anchor.

John said the trick is to inflate your BC, throw it overboard, jump over and put your gear on in the water.

I was the first over board.

I swam down to 40 feet and explored from there.

There’s an interesting set of reefs, kelp and abundant life.

There was quite a slight surge, even at 40 feet.

I came across an old anchor that was caught in the kelp.

It I could have cut the chain, I would have kept it.

I ascended to 20 feet a few times to warm up.

I surface to get my bearings and made it back to the boat.

John was already on board.

I took my BC off, hooked it to the side of the boat, threw my weight belt in and climbed in the boat.

It was a task easier than I could ever have imagined.

Lobster Hunting Off The Island Diver With The Divevets

Secret Location: 4f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 74 72 65 65 73 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 4e 6f 72 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 61 72 2e

Solo Diving/night diving

In With: 3200 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Choppy
Visibility: 10 feet or so
Water Temperature: 53 degrees Fahrenheit
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes
Notable Event: My mind was messing with me, I think.

Dan and his buddy brought back bugs last dive, so it was decided to move the boat where they had the luck.

We kept it shallow because Jim P’s computer didn’t turn on last dive.

I was the first overboard and immediately submerged.

It was a kelp forest and I searched and searched.

I was pretty fucking cold.

I saw a few obviously short lobsters.

I came across one – it looked good, so I pinned it and bagged it.

The bug kept swimming in my bag, really fighting!

I think it knew how to crawl out of a bag; it was waiting at the top for me to open it.

It was starting to look grim for another catch, so I surfaced to look for the boat.

On the surface, I felt something tug on my leg, hit my leg.

I thought it was a seal, or sea lion.

I thought I saw something swim by and then I felt something hit me.

I started to freak out.

What the fuck?

Nothing had ever hit me before in the water.

I secured my lobster bag as I swam to some kelp and got caught.

My snorkel slipped off, but I caught it and put it in my bag.

I swam towards the boat, breathing off my regulator.

I was scared, but to this day, I don’t exactly know what happened.

My lobster could have been fighting; I could have been hit by kelp or even a shallow reef.

Maybe it was a sea lion?

Who knows?

After regaining my composure, I submerged for one more try.

No more lobsters, but my mind was fucking with me and I was getting cold.

I surfaced and swam back to the boat.

Bob caught a total of five, Dan a few.

Captain Alec hauled up two anchors this night.

It was a cold, but sort of short ride back.

I pose with my monster catch of the night.

We had a good debriefing in the parking lot.