I need to get back into the swing of things.

I need to start diving at least a couple times a week, otherwise I see myself just getting older and withering away.

The sun really didn’t come out this morning, so it was hard to get up, but I was determined.

Not many regulars appeared – Dr. D (aka Dennis G.), Kenneth and a couple others, but mostly new faces; at least new faces to me.

I accompanied Dr. D., with Pinky and New Dry Suit Chris to 120 reef.

Logged SCUBA Dive #425

Dove with Dr. D, and “Pinky” and New Dry Suit Chris
Terranea Resort. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 900 psi
Max depth: 43 feet
Waves: Pretty flat, maybe two foot swells
Visibility: Up to 20 feet
Water Temperature: 64 degrees
Air Temperature: 65 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 39 minutes

For whatever reason, I had a hard time keeping my footing on entry.

Visibility sucked in the cove, but cleared to 20 feet of visibility further out; we could see the bottom.

We swam to the rocky finger outside of pigeon shit cave and descended.

We followed Dr. D. who lead us to places of 120 Reef that I forgot existed.

This was a pretty routine, uneventful dive.

The other two divers apparently had only a dozen dives after certification, but did extremely well.

A perfect dive with a perfect exit, too – no casualties!

Debriefing was with Budweiser and ghetto grill cooked spicy sausages.

I was talking to yet another Bob about the differences between Divets and the now defunct “Sandeaters” dive club.

“The Sandeaters would meet once a week at a different location, but nobody knew who was part of the club… different people would show up and some you would never see again…”

“…and as soon as the dive ended, people would get in their cars and leave; you never got to debrief or get to know anybody.”

If it wasn’t for the post dive debriefing, I probably would just dive solo.

Dr. D and Pinky were so macho, they did a second dive.

Even though the beach “Re-nourishment” barge was still ruining visibility off of Redondo Beach, the annual Under Water Beach Clean Up went forward.

This is the event where they stop fishing for two hours off of the Redondo Pier so divers can pick up trash underneath.

In previous years, an artificial leg, a human skull and a few pistols were found.

This year’s top find was by Chris G., who found an M16 Military Assault Rifle.

After surfacing to tell the Dive Masters of the find, the Police asked him to bring it in.

“It looked like someone had smashed it against a pole; only half of it was there and it looked like it had been down there for a while,” Chris told me.

The Police took it and Chris “gave them a statement.”

I am so glad that I didn’t find it – I try to avoid talking to the Police; I figure, the less I make contact with the Police, the better off I am.

While we dove, volunteers cleaned the beach and surrounding areas.

Once again, Dive ‘N’ Surf provided the Dive Mastering and after event.

I entered the fairly calm water with TwinDuct and TwinDuct’s buddy Paul; unfortunately, Twinduct had to return to shore to get the proper amount of weights – he was not able to stay down.

Logged SCUBA Dive #421

Dove with TwinDuct’s Friend Paul
Redondo Pier
Redondo Beach, CA USA

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 600 psi
Max depth: 65 feet
Waves: Pretty flat with an occasional roller
Visibility: Up to 15 feet, but only at depth
Water Temperature: 56 degrees
Air Temperature: 83 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes or so

Paul and I submerged and swam towards the pier.

Visibility sucked ass, but at least I could see my hand and gauges.

Amazingly, there wasn’t quite the amount of trash as in previous years.

A dead Pacific Electric Ray is food for local conch.

After collecting a few fishing knives, a pair of scissors and some potato chip bags, we headed South and down the canyon.

The Canyon just South of the pier does have some life to it.

Paul found an Orange cone that had “Wet Floor” written on it – get the irony?

We collected mostly the remains of plastic bags, but a few beer bottles and a fishing pole added to our trash heap.

We surfaced to get a bearing to our exit point.

We swam in when I was down to 800 psi; Paul had a 120 cubic foot tank, so he had plenty of air – I hope he didn’t feel cheated.

We made an easy and uneventful exit.

The after clean up dive party – Anchovy-less pizza, beverages and a raffle.

I scored a pressure gauge from the raffle!

It was good to see some old diving friends again, I must get out more often!

Diving keeps me young, so no wonder I am aging.