Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In with: 2800 psi
Out with: 800 psi
Maximum depth: 87 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet, negligible
Visibility: 20 feet/crystal clear
Water Temperature: warm, but cold at 87 feet
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes

It’s Friday and I’m taking vacation.

I did a solo dive off of Veteran’s Park around 11:15 AM.

It was a hot day and a lot of people were at the beach.

The waves were so calm and the visibility was great.

Maybe 20 feet, but it was crystal clear.

Two other divers were around.

Some small kids asked about what was under the water.

“Trash and small fish,” was my answer.

I went down the shelf and followed it to 87 feet.

I turned around, and was still at 87 feet.

Something was wrong I thought.

I ascended about 10 feet and the needle on my gauge dropped to 75 feet instantly.

I guess it was stuck.

I was a bit lonely down there.

What if I saw a shark?

Oh well, mind control is the key.

Easy Out, no problems.

There’s a lot more to see there when it’s clear.

Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove With Nick

In with: 3000 psi
Out with: 700 psi
Maximum depth: 40 feet
Waves – 2 feet or so
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Cool; cold in some places. 55 degrees F
Total Bottom Time: 50 minutes
Notable Event: Long Point invaded by a film crew; dealing with the bitch from hell at the Catalina Room.

I met Nick at 8:15 AM.

There was a security guard telling us that we had to park next to the Catalina room because they were going to film a Weight Watchers commercial.

Once we moved, we suited up only to have the bitch-from-hell Catalina Room manager tell us to leave.

She basically threatened to tow us.

One of the film crew told us to park on the other side of the parking lot.

“Hell no!” I said.

Cardiac Hill would have been only slightly more difficult than that trek.

Anyway, we entered the water probably around 9 AM or so.

Easy in; there were only mild waves.

We submerged and went just to the other side of the rocky jetty and then East to a set of reefs that I probably haven’t seen for a couple of years — back in the old “diving with Ed and Sergeant Miller” days.

We swam back at 1000 psi.

We saw the same stuff as before, but the environment changes from reef to reef at Long Point.

We exited; I tried to do the old “fins off in the water” trick, but I was so close to shore so I rode a wave in and crawled up.

The camera crew had made a sandy beach where there used to be rocks and grass.

Someone from the Fire Department watched our exit.

There were so many people at Long Point – all this for a 30 second commercial.

We degeared and took a walk down.

The crew had tents and cameras set up all along the trail down.

The cameras.

The scenery has changes quite a bit.

Nick at the sandy Long Point Beach; Cowa bunga, dude!

Looking up the trail from the rocky beach.

The parking lot is packed with cars and catering trucks.