Veterans Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 78 feet
Waves: Minor chop and surge at the shoreline
Visibility: 10 to 15 feet over the shelf, worse towards shore
Water Temperature: 68 degrees until over the shelf, then it dipped to 58 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 35 minutes

Being invited to a party Sunday, late in the day, I decided to get my dive fill in on Saturday.

My brother met me to video tape a scene for a commercial contest he is entering; details remain a secret.

I made an uneventful entry through the surf and submerged in 10 feet of water.

I swam North, hoping to find a reportedly lost spear pole, before swimming West and over the shelf; the temperature dropped significantly.

I tried to locate the “monument” but I think it must be covered with sand; I could not locate it and the scenery looked “different” than I remember.

The John Holmes of the star fish community.

The extremely slow decay of a dead plasticus bagus.

Another cinder block!

An man eating attack crab prepares to pounce!

I thought that if I just swim by and mind my own business, he would leave me alone, but the crab leaped up and tried to pinch off my air supply.

Using my advanced Jiu Jitsu and cage fighting skills, I put the crab in an arm bar and ripped his arm off; he retreated.

The aftermath of the crab attack.

A spectator fish takes cover in a nearby shell.

I made my way back up the shelf and did a slow swim in.

The surf pounded a bit upon my exit, but I made it out with no problems.

A lot of SCUBA students were at Redondo Beach today.

Luckily, my brother didn’t drink all my beer while I was underwater.

Old Marineland, (aka Terranea Resort, Long Point) CA

Dove With IceJon

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 700 psi
Max depth: 64 feet
Waves: Minor chop, tricky entry
Visibility: 10 to 20 feet, better off the Point
Water Temperature: 64 degrees at depth, warmer on top
Total Bottom Time: About 40 minutes

The conditions looked sort of green and we considered calling it, but decided to go for it anyway because at depth looked like it could be good.

Six in our group geared up and walked to “The Point.”

Conditions were sort of rough and I considered walking to the cove.

The trick was to put your fins on, sit on a rock, wait for a swell to come in, push off and kick like hell before the next wave.

Bob made it out.

IceJon, for whatever reason, spent too much time in the surf zone and ended up getting pounded by another wave; he earned a scrape on his chin.

I lunged out on a swell, the water receded and I landed on a shallow reef – basically it kicked me in the balls – which sort of winded me, before another swell picked me up.

It was a struggle to get through the surf; the other three made it out.

We met about 40 yards from the surf zone and I buddied with IceJon.

We submerged to 60 feet…

…and did a tour of the surrounding reefs.

A Sun Star attacks a starfish.

We started heading North East after about 10 minutes at the Point; the idea was to exit at the cove.

A fish is camouflaged against the reef.

A self portrait with IceJon in the back.

Some kind of Brain plant?

We weaved through a kelp forest before going through a sandy patch.

A reef oasis in the middle of a sandy bottom.

We ascended about 20 yards from the cove and swam in.

Just as I touched bottom and took my fins off, my right leg cramped.

I rode a few swells to a big rock and crawled behind it to prevent getting pounded by a rouge wave; IceJon made it out with no problem.

An excellent dive!

We broke out the barbecues; today’s menu has a German twist to it – Bratwurst, sauerkraut and Chris brought some marinated steak.

Oh yes, we had plenty of beer, too!

We devalued the neighborhood; a new diving chick named Aly hung out with us and partied.

Cyber the attack dog seemed to have drunk too much beer.

Now, with Ron Paul effectively out of the presidential running, who is the local diving community endorsing for President?

A scan of the parking lot shows which candidate is preferred among SCUBA divers:

If the election were held today, it is obvious that Max Bottomtime would win, at least locally!