I’ve been taking a mini-vacation since Wednesday.

I might as well because unless I can come up with $10,000 fast, I won’t be able to afford an out of country diving trip this year.

I fired my accountant and headed up to Leo Carrillo State Beach to camp the night with an old female friend of 20 years.

No, I didn’t do her and literally, it was a trip; we both realized how strange this world really is.

Friday, I went out to lunch with my original SCUBA Diving Instructor, Ed; I haven’t seen him since 2012, at least.

At 65, he’s taken up long distance hiking and is now planning on getting back in to SCUBA diving.

We spotted the Mr. C at Berth 55.

Saturday, I rode my bike to Lona’s City Limits Cantina for breakfast – which killed the rest of the day, since my breakfast consisted mostly of beer.

The good thing is, I woke up Sunday morning at 5 AM and told myself, “Self, you need to go diving today, you’ve been mighty lazy lately.”

I actually arrived a little before 8 AM to a pretty empty parking lot.

After checking the conditions, a total of five divers had shown up – Reverend Al, Nice Bob, Randy, Ben and another Mike.

Conditions were doable, but the visibility question remained.

My plan was to dive 120 reef; that way if visibility sucked, I could head back anytime, instead of being trapped swimming to the cove from an entry off the Point.

It was low tide, and we made an easy entry off the sandy portion of the Cove.

The cave at the beach.

We swam out and submerged.

Logged SCUBA Dive #466

Dove with Reverend Al, Nice Bob and Another Mike

Terranea Resort (a.k.a. Old Marineland)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 700 psi
Max depth: 42 feet
Waves: A few annoying waves, good if timed right
Visibility: 10-12 feet
Water Temperature: 62 degrees, 54 degrees at depth
Air Temperature: 74 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 55 minutes

Visibility initially didn’t look that great.

Reverend Al scored a golf ball!

Visibility was spotty, better at 20 feet where there was more light…

We made an easy exit at the sandy part of the Cove.

I was surprised to see Instructor Ed at the beach, waiting for our arrival.

We saw a couple getting married…

I yelled, “Sober up and think about what you’re doing man! Don’t ruin your life!”

Someone gave me the finger; I continued walking.

Looking down at the Cove.

Today’s group of divers.

Instructor Ed and I.

We debriefed with a few beers and talked about diving, only to be interrupted occasionally by the passing motorist asking, “Are you leaving?”

We must plan a Summer diving event… ideas?

February 23, 2014

I have a couple of diving buddies that seem to take a while to recover from a dive at Terranea Resort, so I suggested a change in venue for this Sunday’s diving – an easier walk without a rock entry or exit.

As you can tell from the title, the place chosen was Shaw’s Cove in Laguna Beach, and a really hot young diver named Holly decided to go along with me, unescorted.

We took the scenic route from the Long Beach ghetto, along Pacific Coast Highway to Shaw’s Cove – a 28 mile, 40 minute journey; I doubt the freeway would have been any faster.

We geared up as quietly as possible in the residential area, but amongst the car alarms and the yelling of other beach patrons, our respectful efforts went unnoticed.

The stairs at Shaw’s Cove.

Student Divers At Shaw’s Cove

We walked down to the beach and past the four foot deep part of the shoreline, where the waves were breaking.

Holly and I off of Shaw’s Cove.

We swam out and submerged in 25 feet of water and swam toward the reefs.

Logged SCUBA Dive #463

Dove With Holly

Shaw’s Cove
Laguna Beach, CA, USA

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 1100 psi
Max depth: 38 feet
Waves: Ankle breakers at the shore line, annoying surge underwater
Visibility: 15-20 feet, some silt
Water Temperature: 61 degrees
Air Temperature: 72 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes

Either my navigation sucked, or we had a hell of a current to fight, but it seemed it took us forever to reach the reefs.

Looking up at the surface – visibility was pretty descent.

A Garibaldi swims past a part of the reef.

Big Assed Sheephead!

Holly underwater.

There was this annoying surge that was constantly present; as we swam in between the reefs – sort of like underwater valleys – sometimes we would get smashed against one of the sides.

Having plenty of time and plenty of air, we headed back after 30 minutes because we were getting cold.

We encountered three baby electric rays in the sand – so small I wasn’t in the slightest bit frightened.

Holly makes a perfect exit.

I forgot to mention in my last post, that Chipper found my dive knife and returned it, after it had apparently slipped off during my dive.

Thank you again Chipper!

However, the latch must have really sucked, as getting thrown up against reefs on this dive must have dislodged my knife…

…The diving Gods have another sacrifice, and a lucky diver will score a nice knife.

Debriefing consisted of In N Out Burgers in Long Beach – thank you Holly.

Yes, that is a dog ordering at the drive through window!

I got some good advice over debriefing – “You are still single because you try and go out with women you already know; you need to meet new people…”

That’s it!

Find someone who doesn’t know me!

But where?