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

Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 55 feet
Waves: 1-3 feet swells
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Warm, for “cold” water
Total Bottom Time: 50 minutes

Nick called yesterday inquiring about diving – he slept in.

My girlfriend didn’t want to go “waiting.”

Reverend Al, Dennis and Bob from the Divevets were there.

I was trolling their message board about cutting the Long Point Gate lock.

They are wondering if it was me.

Al asked, I admitted, but I was only joking about cutting the lock.

I went in off the Point – easy entry for me.

The swells of course picked up as I touched the water.

There were actual dive boats anchored off the cove.

I got down to 55 feet and swam against a mild current to exit the cove.

Half my dive was sand navigation.

I was coming ashore as Reverend Al and his group was; Al helped me out by holding one of my fins – I sometimes put my fins on too tight.

Casino Point, Catalina, CA

Night time, Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 50 feet
Waves: Insignificant
Visibility: 15 feet, maybe 20
Water Temperature: Warm
Total Bottom Time: 45 minutes

After a great dinner at Steve’s Steakhouse and a walk down the pier with my family, I did a night dive.

I carried all my crap from the hotel to Casino Point; my brother Paul, sister Kate and my father followed.

There was a class in the water already.

The eerie green glow of all their lights was predominant.

Once in the water I descended near the buoys.

It was really spooky – spookier than I thought it would be.

I’ve dove Casino Point a lot and at night it looks totally different.

Yes, fish do sleep – either that or a fish – a White Sea Bass – was dead at the bottom.

Bigger fish kept following me around.

Lobsters were all over the ground – none legal size, but it’s a game preserve anyway.

I made it down to 50 feet and decided there was just as much to see at 30 or 40 feet.

It was like touring a haunted kelp forest.

My light hit kelp, rocks, and fish, with a pitch black background.

I ran across the buoys again, but couldn’t find them on the way back.

I surfaced, got my bearings and submerged again.

I found the two buoys and swam to the staircase.

My “safety crew” greeted me with a beer.

We humped all my gear back to the Hotel and went out and partied with my brother and sister.