Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Solo Diving

I got to Long Point about 8:30 AM; No other divers were around.

Cardiac Hill “killed” Nick last week. He’s still sore.

I went in around 9:30 AM; I did the one fin on entry. It worked perfectly. I had my spear with me.

The visibility was absolutely spectacular, maybe up to 30 feet.

I swam to the rocky point just outside of Pigeon shit cave, not the Point.

I was so awed by the scenery that I didn’t hunt until I had about 2000 psi.

I saw some really big sheephead, some males. Those fish are so stupid, and these were really big. I was scared to shoot them — they looked really big.

I got down to 1200 psi and thought, “I really need to catch something.”

I speared a sheephead and ripped part of its back off; it escaped. I felt sorry for the creature.

I went looking for the bigger fish and saw one of those shovelnosed guitar fishes. It scared the shit out of me because they look really big underwater and similar to a shark, but it swam by with no problem.

I eventually speared a 12 inch sheephead with only 800 psi left. I started to swim back, but saw more. I chased after them, but at 300 psi, I had to surface. I was about 100 yards North of Pigeon Shit Cave, totally off track.

I swam back to the cove and made an easy exit.

When coming up with my fish, a chick who was standing on the beach with her dike girlfriend said, “look at him, how macho. I bet that fish didn’t have a chance.”

Oh well, especially not in my frying pan.

In with: 3000 psi
Out with 300 psi
Maximum depth: 30 feet
Waves: 3 feet and calm
Visibility: 30 feet
Water Temperature: warm
Total Bottom Time: 40+ minutes

Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

I checked out Long Point around 9 AM; the conditions looked crappy.

Like last week, I couldn’t see the second kelp bed – indications of a strong current.

I went to Redondo Beach instead.

I entered the water around 10:30 AM.

I went to 60 feet over the shelf and swam North, then back.

I then went to 80 feet.

Visibility really sucked; 10 feet at best.

It was overcast when I started, but the sun had obviously come out when I was under.

This was an uneventful, pure exercise dive.

It looked like some kids were on a field trip to Veteran’s Park.

It was sort of a challenge getting out.

The waves always pick up when I get in the water.

In with: 2500 psi
Out with: 600 psi
Maximum depth: 80 feet
Waves: 4-5 feet
Visibility: 10 feet and soupy
Water temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: About 30 minutes