Leo Carrillo State Beach, CA

Dove with Nick

9 AM, Saturday

It was raining a few weeks ago for a couple of weeks straight.

Then I was sick last week after taking three days off to go diving; I was too sick to dive.

After a slight miscommunication in where we were suppose to meet in Torrance, we left in the Duster to Leo Carrillo around 07:30.

We arrived at Leo Carrillo around 8:40 AM — day use parking is $5.

The waves were up to five feet but intermittent.

I gave Nick Ed’s advise on getting out in such conditions.

Basically, deflate your BCD, put your mouthpiece in and dive into the wave.

It was rough going out.

Many waves hit us — one right after the other.

Nick handled himself really well.

Visibility inland (near the shore I should say) obviously sucked.

We swam to the second kelp bed.

I heard a leak coming from my rig.

I took my BCD jacket off to investigate.

It was a small leak coming from my first stage.

I wasn’t too concerned, but in the mean time, I lost my lobster gauge and flashlight.

We went down to look for them, but I soon gave up.

Nick had his underwater digital camera.

Without the lobster gauge, I couldn’t go lobstering.

We swam around the kelp beds, surfaced, found them again and re-submerged.

We surfaced with about 900 psi each. Coming in was tough — six foot swells.

 Nick did perfect.

In with: 2900 psi
Out with: 600 psi
Max depth: 35 feet
Waves: Up to six feet
Water temperature: Cool
Visibility: 20 feet

The Underwater Park
Casino Point
Avalon, Catalina Island, CA

I refilled my tank for a second dive.

Nick came out; I asked how he liked it.

 “Awesome,” was his response.

Nick’s instructor, Mike, suggested that Nick and I pair up for the next dive since the other student has problems equalizing.

I had 3300 psi, Nick had 2500 psi.

We entered the water at about 12:45 PM.

We went toward the North side, but is was surprisingly dead.

Nick preferred to follow me.

We went South, toward where Ed and I originally went.

The visibility was getting a little silty — the waves were picking up.

Nick was following right behind me but about 10 feet above.

I was told by Ed not to go deeper than 60 feet.

I reached 60, looked back and signaled to Nick to come down.

We traded consoles; both said 60 feet.

We started back up and I wrote on my slate to surface at 500 psi.

We climbed back up to 25 feet and surfaced fairly close to the stairs.

For Nick’s second dive ever, he did fantastic! I congratulated him.

Nick had 500 psi left.

In with: 3300 psi
Out with: 1200 psi
Max depth: 60 feet
Visibility: 45 feet
Waves: 2 feet
Temperature: Cool

Group shot: The father is in front, his kid to the left, Instructor Mike, Nick and myself.

Me and Ed.