Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates, CA
(aka The Nursery)

Solo, Night Time, Lobster Diving

In With: 2700 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 15 feet
Waves: 1-4 feet
Visibility: six feet
Water Temperature: Cold, but warmer than the air temperature
Total Bottom Time: 45 minutes
Lobsters Caught: 0

Neither Nick or John H could make it; so, being so macho, I went anyway.

Nobody was around Malaga Cove.

It was dark, the parking lot was pretty much deserted.

It was low tide so I went in on the sandy side of the coast.

It seemed darker than I remember it being.

I had been there earlier to check out the conditions – it was flat as a pancake, but the waves were picking up.

I had a slight problem putting my fins on.

I swam out where Rossler pool is, well, I don’t know what it’s called now.

I submerged to 15 feet.

It was a little spooky – nighttime solo diving; kelp looked like lobsters, sharks and the boogie man.

I caught three lobsters, all too small.

There’s something to say about Darwinism.

The really big lobsters that I saw fled as soon as they sensed the light.

Some really small lobsters – who I felt like screwing with, actually charged my light.

I hereby declare Malaga Cove, “fished out” of lobsters.

I had taken my main light’s strap off my hand to measure a lobster.

I forgot about this and had to dive for it when I let go of it coming onshore.

Out with little problem, other than the above.

It is very shallow for a long way in the sand.

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

Solo Diving

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 400 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet
Visibility: 20 feet but silty
Water Temperature: Sort of cold
Total Bottom Time: 50 minutes

I got into the water around 9:30 AM.

No divers were around until two showed up and introduced themselves as “Ollie and Mark.”

They had to leave shortly afterwards for air.

I went off the cove and followed the last dive’s instructions on how to get to the trap.

The instructions are perfect!

I swam out and aligned myself with the rock and indentation.

I submerged to 30 feet and went the opposite of 140 degrees; I ran right in to it!

The sea urchins and peanut butter were picked clean… and no lobsters!

Visibility started to get really silty.

It was high tide, starting to get lower.

I searched around for more lobster, or even just a lobster!

I ended up going towards the shore almost running a ground on the other side of pigeon shit cave.

I looked where I was – in 15 feet of water.

I made it ashore with no problem.

A father from Alaska was on the trail with his two sons who were there fishing.

I gave his kids some fishing weights that I had found on the bottom; the father is interested in snorkeling.

I think I’ve had enough of the lobster hunting thing for a few days.