Solo Diving, spear fishing

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1000 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet
Visibility: 8 feet, but pretty silty
Water Temperature: Sort Of cold
Total Bottom Time: 42 minutes

I’m in the process of buying a condominium, so I must practice spear fishing to save money.

I made it down to Long Point after dealing with the traffic from the Palos Verdes Marathon.

There were four other divers in the parking lot; I think it was a class.

A woman diver who I can only assume is an instructor, came over and asked, “Do you mind if I check your equipment?

“It’s just a habit of mine.”

I replied with a smile, “You can check out my equipment any time you like.”

She sort of smiled, not getting what I had meant at first.

Anyway, it was sort of foggy, but I thought it would surely burn off as it got warmer.

I decided to enter from the cove.

The waves were calm and it was easy getting it, however I was fumbling with my spear while trying to put my fins on; I almost lost it.

Visibility over the sandy cove really sucked – zero feet.

As I submerged and went deeper, visibility got to be about eight feet.

I trolled around looking for halibut, but couldn’t find any of legal size; not even close!

I soon went over some seascape that I didn’t recognize, so I started heading toward the North-West, closer to shore.

I surfaced to get my bearings and found myself in the middle of a fog bank, unable to see where the land was.

I was shocked!

It was a strange feeling and the movie plot from “Open Water” sprang to my mind.

I looked at my compass and figured land was North-West, as it always is at this location, but I had no idea where I was along the shoreline.

I could hear the waves break against the shore, too.

As it turns out, I was way the hell South.

I swam back very shallow just South of Pigeon Shit Cave.

I made it back as the fog was burning off.

Other divers were making there way down to the shoreline; so were some displaced fisherman who were thrown out of Cabrillo beach.

“Geiger”, Catalina, CA
Diving off the Bottom Scratcher Boat

Solo Diving

In With: 2700 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 50 feet
Waves: Insignificant
Visibility: 20 feet
Water Temperature: Cold
Total Bottom Time: 50 minutes

We were treated to a bagpipe concert.

Tim and Reyna didn’t have air by the time we reached this spot.

This was the last dive, so I didn’t care if I got banned from diving for going solo.

“Same day, same ocean,” is “Southern California Buddy Diving.”

I jumped off the boat and submerged to 40 feet.

I went towards the shore and found many reefs with the biggest lobsters that I have ever seen.

I mean, one must have been at least 10 pounds!

I just couldn’t reach them.

My hand got caught on a piece of sunken bamboo (it really was bamboo!), as I tried to free myself, the stick went in to the lobster hole.

Luckily for the lobsters, they did not jump out in to my hands.

I looked up as a class of divers passed by.

It must have been a sight for the students to see a solo diver accidentally prodding a lobster hole with a stick; purely by accident of course.

I dove around toward the end and ran across the anchor line.

A few more feet further, I went over an underwater cliff that went down to 50 feet.

I swam around until I got to 500 psi and then I ascended to the top, right under the steps, right on target.

For a Dive Master that was sooo concerned about people diving solo, he never cared that I always came up alone.

I kicked it with Captain Greg most of the way back.

There was a severe lack of single hot chicks on this boat.

Captain Greg explained to me the nature of the Dive Boat business.

You could have $400,000 invested in the boat, but might only make $50,000 a year as the owner and Captain.

The crew basically makes minimum wage plus tips.

At the end of the trip, Bobby the deckhand gave his usually good bye, “You’ve cheated death another day.”

Another great day of diving aboard one of my favorite boats!

Reyna, Tim and Me on the way back.