Long Point, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Solo Diving

In With: 3200 psi
Out With: 300 psi
Max depth: 60 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet, mellow
Visibility: 15-20 feet
Water Temperature: Cool, maybe 58 degrees Fahrenheit
Total Bottom Time: 57 minutes

I showed up at 7:55 AM; the Divevets crew was waiting at the gate for security to open it.

I geared up with my lobster bag and went off The Point.

Easy entry, slight surge, but almost as flat as a lake.

I was planning on coming in on The Point, so I went to the right and explored around the bend.

There are many old pipes and anchors and reefs and rocks full of lobsters.

I came across something at 40 feet – it was like a triangle metal anchor with a life preserver at the end of it on a rope.

I swam back and surfaced to get my bearings.

I submerged and hung around near The Point.

Having 1200 psi left, I decided to exit on the cove.

I came across a huge lobster the size of a small dog.

I tried grabbing it, but my hand got caught on a stick and, trying to dislodge the stick from my hand, accidentally ended up hitting its ass from behind.

The lobster flew out of the hole.

I tried to grab it, but it flew back into another hole.

I got down to 300 psi and surfaced half way between the point and the cove.

I had a long surface swim back.

Out with no problem.

I hung out with the usual crowd – Reverend Al, Drysuit Greg and Jake.

Old Marineland has changed quite a bit…

The round building we used as a toilet has been torn down.

The Catalina room, abandoned buildings and the shrubs have been removed from around the parking lot.

Looking out, they have flattened what was left of old Marineland.

Not much to cover our partying from the street.

Long Point, Palos Verdes, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Solo Diving

In With: 2400 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 30 feet
Waves: 2-4 foot rolling waves – high tide
Visibility: 0-5 feet
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: About 15-20 minutes

I got there about 8 AM; The Divevets were debating whether to call the dive.

The Point looked insane, it had big rolling swells – it was high tide.

Nick and I walked down fully geared for our entry.

I entered and made it through the surf zone; Nick called off his dive at the shoreline.

I proceeded on my own.

I submerged and headed for 120 reef.

The vis sucked – zero to five feet; I hit the bottom before seeing it.

I think I made it to 120 reef because it became really dark.

I headed West, but I soon came to the realization that this dive was pointless.

I heard waves crashing against the rocks, which is a scary sound when you know you have to go ashore eventually.

I swam back in while two other divers were making their entry.

It took several attempts to get back in.

The swells kept rolling in and rolling out; I wasn’t about to grab on to a rock and get maytagged as I did on other dives.

I crawled up to the dry rocks.

I briefed Reverend Al and his crew on the zero to five feet conditions and choppy seas.

Al said they would go to the right, off The Cove.

I fired up the barbecue and hung out with Nick and Lars – talking politics.

Al and his group eventually got back and reported 5 to 15 feet vis to the right.

A group of bikers and a tourist bus visited the parking lot during our debriefing.