Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Early morning dive with Nick looking for lobsters

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 20 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet but pretty calm
Visibility: 10 feet
Water Temperature: Warm
Total Bottom Time: 70 minutes

We met at Malaga Cove at 4:50 AM.

Other divers were already there, parked on the street as there is no parking between 9 PM and 5 AM.

We suited up and entered the water just under the pool.

It was very shallow and silty towards shore, but the visibility got to 10 feet further out.

It was dark; we obviously had flashlights.

We spent the better part of an hour chasing lobsters.

At night they literally walk around trying to find food.

We swam up on many and caught several – all too short.

Nick at one point said, “If I run out of air, I’m going to start free diving for lobsters.”

We came across several lobster holes, but it was getting light and they were literally wedged in there.

Nick caught a few and even put one in his bag, until we brought it to the surface and figured that it was short.

It was getting pretty light when exited; easy exit.

Apparently, real lobster hunters consider Malaga Cove the “lobster nursery.”

Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Dove With Instructor John as part of an Advanced SCUBA diving class

In With: 2700 psi
Out With: 800 psi
Max depth: 103 feet
Waves: 1-4 feet
Visibility: 15 feet
Water Temperature: Cold at 100 feet
Total Bottom Time: About 30 minutes

I met John at 7 AM; we made a plan and entered the water at 7:45 AM.

The dive watch that I bought yesterday leaked the minute I entered the water.

“Freestyle” watches suck; this was my first dive with the watch.

We submerged to 25 feet and did a checkout:

Buddy breathing
Emergency swimming ascent
mask clearing
weight belt off/weight belt on
regulator ditch and recovery

John then had me take my mask off, hold his hand and swim with him for what seemed to be about 20 yards.

It didn’t bother my eyes, but the water and compressed air going up my nose was annoying.

We then went over the shelf and out to 96 feet.

John stopped me – his gauge read 103 feet.

For this record, I’ll go with John’s gauges.

It’s pretty much barren at 100 feet.

John had me release all the air out of my BCD jacket and try and ascent.

I had no problem and John later said that I was properly weighted.

I re-inflated my BCD and we started in – me leading the way.

The bottom is uneven when it starts going up to higher ground, but I just headed East; John followed.

We came up the shelf and ran into a trash marker – a bucket of cement.

I knew I was right on target.

John was impressed that I hit it right on the mark; it was some luck, too.

We surfaced at 10 feet and I walked ashore.

It was a little rough.

I had trouble taking my fins off since I put them on so tight; I fell walking out.

John advised, “The dive went really well, just blow bubbles when you have the second stage out of your mouth and ‘tighten up’ to reduce drag.”