October 25, 2014

This is the annual Divevets Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest.

It gives participants a chance to do something fun and productive when they aren’t admiring the sand and trash.

The event was lightly promoted this year, and ECO Dive Center, having kicked our butts last year, did not participate this time.

Participation was rather low, comprising less than a dozen divers and shore support.

Dan gave several dive briefings as divers showed up.

TwinDuct has reappeared after his trip to seek riches in Alaska; he was paired up with a diver named – I hope I’m right – Carmella?

Me, TwinDUct, Carmella and Walt are ready…

Visibility from the surface sucked ass, we went further out before submerging.

Logged SCUBA Dive #478

Dove with Walt and Dennis G. the first part; solo on the second half.

Veterans Park, Redondo Beach, CA, USA

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 900 psi
Max depth: 80 feet
Waves: Annoying shore surge, but good once out
Visibility: 8-10 feet
Water Temperature: 68 degrees
Air Temperature: 76 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 25 minutes

We chose a nice spot in 30 feet of water.

I started taking pictures…

Then, I noticed my camera case leaking again!

FUCK! This is getting to be too expensive!

I shut the camera off immediately.

I showed Walt what was going on and immediately surfaced, with an eighth of an inch of water in my case.

I went ashore and wrapped my camera in paper towels and set it in the sun.

Donna The Hot Biker Chick made a non-diving appearance.

I asked her if I should stay up there and drink beer with her, or go back in and finish my pumpkin.

She said, “Go back in and finish your pumpkin.”

So another trek down the stairs and in to the surf, I was off to finish my task.

I spent a whole one minute on my creation before heading down the shelf to 80 feet.

I headed in and exited without incident; seeing other divers struggle in the surf zone made me feel macho.

My entry.

More entries…

Having taken longer than most, by the time I de-geared, the winners were already announced.

I won for “Worst Pumpkin.”

Chis From Detroit won Best Pumpkin with this creation – it fumed dry ice.

A UFO buzzed us – it looks like the same one that stalks Terranea Resort.

For some reason, not many people have been going out lobster hunting this season.

Maybe it’s because they are harder to get, or maybe because of the weather lately.

My old friend and original SCUBA diving instructor, Instructor Ed, called me a few days ago wanting to dive.

Ed in 2002.

He is now pretty much retired, but doesn’t want to sit around and let his arteries harden.

He brought a potential future student with him by the name of Jo.

Sunday is usually my dive at Terranea Resort, however, Ed wanted an easier dive just to practice and make sure he still knew how to dive.

We decided on Veterans Park in Redondo Beach.

When I first began to dive, Redondo Beach was part of my training – diving Veterans Park and then heavy debriefing at the pier.

There’s nothing like trying to relive the past – when I remember life as being better.

Instructor Ed and I get ready for our first dive together in many years.

I also needed to test my underwater housing that leaked a few weeks ago and ruined my camera.

I am now down to my reserve camera that I bought for a backup on dive trips.

I got a lot of compliments and comments on my custom wetsuit…

I have a rip in my wetsuit to allow pee to escape.

I don’t normally have people take pictures of my butt, but I just wanted to see how bad the rip really is.

At least my swim trunks sort of match my wet suit.

The waves were sort of annoying, but manageable; we were off.

I made it out, but Ed apparently dropped his snorkel upon entry.

I swam back into the surf zone in a futile attempt to find it.

Ed waved me on; I swam back out and waited for him.

Ed entered and immediately went under.

I waited, and waited… 10 minutes later I realized that the reason I learned to solo dive was because of Ed.

I didn’t see any bodies floating around and nobody was yelling for help, so I continued the dive on my own.

Logged SCUBA Dive #477

SoCal Buddy Diving With Instructor Ed; a.k.a. Solo Diving

Veterans Park, Redondo Beach, CA, USA

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1000 psi
Max depth: 100 feet
Waves: Some annoying waves, but good once out
Visibility: 15-18 feet
Water Temperature: 68 degrees
Air Temperature: 72 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 30 minutes

I swam West and down the canyon; I pressed the buttons on my camera housing – all was fine.

I got as deep as 100 feet and then turned around.

I had thoroughly washed and resealed my camera housing prior to this dive – it was obvious to me that my camera got flooded due to my lack of housing maintenance.

I made a perfect exit and once ashore I saw Instructor Ed.

He was not comfortable surface swimming without a snorkel, so he just went under and continued on his own.

I wish he would have told me first.

He also forgot Vaseline to oil down his mustache, so his mask was constantly leaking.

The waves started to pick up.

I saw a rouge wave toss an exiting class.

I saw a lot of people who I have gotten to know over the years, but haven’t seen in a while because I don’t dive here regularly.

Joe R. and his diving crew – Penni and Sam.

I offered Joe and his group a beer, but Sam is on the wagon, so they all declined in a token of solidarity.

Here is a shout out – Hi Joe, Penni and Sam!

I now officially have seven readers of this blog!

Now, it was on to debrief at Quality Seafood on the pier.

Quality Sea Food at the Redondo Beach Pier.

Local lobster is $33.90 a pound!

We debriefed with local crab, sea snails, mussels and oysters… oh, and beer.

We haven’t been here for a long time and things have certainly changed.

You now have to pay in advance to park, and the beer prices at Quality Seafood are now outrageous.

Back in the day, a large bottle of Pacifico went for $2.50; since the founder Pete retired, the price is now $10 a bottle.

Instructor Ed, Jo and me.

When we used to hang out there years ago, it was predominantly a Mexican crowd, complete with a mariachi band that would travel from table to table.

Now, it seems like a younger crowd of European and Asian descent.

Another perfect day of trying to relive the past!