Click Here To Go To Psycho Solo Diver
  • HOME
  • You are currently browsing the archives for the Posts With Photos category.

  • Categories

  • Next Page »

    March 28, 2021

    Today Feels Like It Is Getting Back To Normal!

    I am on-call at work all of April, so diving will be impossible next month.

    The swell map looked good, the weather was nice and I said, “Psycho, this is your last chance to get in the water for a while.”

    I arrived at Terranea Resort at 7:30 AM and checked the conditions; they were pretty damn flat.

    Making it back to the parking lot, I discovered that this was a dive reunion – Reverend Al was back, after a year hiatus, Nice Bob was back, Ben, Dennis, Giles… it is hard for me to remember everyone’s names, especially when everyone’s wearing a mask.

    Divevets reunion!
    Sunday Services again!

    Most decided to head off the Cove for various reasons – testing new equipment or wanting the ability to call the dive, if need be.

    Everyone made an easy entrance.

    The Cove at Terranea Resort.
    The Cove at Terranea Resort.

    Logged SCUBA Dive #522

    So-Cal Buddy Diving. Solo Diving

    Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

    In With: 3000 psi
    Out With: 500 psi
    Max depth: 42 feet
    Waves: Pretty calm with occasional light surge
    Visibility: 5-10t, silty.
    Water Temperature: 52 degrees
    Air Temperature: 75 degrees
    Total Bottom Time: 36 minutes

    The decision was to head right, to “The Garden.”

    I never saw much interest in The Garden, it was always just something I passed through on the way to the Cove, from The Point.

    We submerged.

    I got down to the bottom at 20 feet, and then started to float back up.

    I exhaled, and sank to the bottom, but as soon as I took another breath I was headed back up to the surface.

    I fit into my wet suit, but I must have put on some fat during these last months – fat floats.

    Since I like to breathe, I decided to go looking for a rock to hold on to, so I could stay below and continue my dive.

    When you need a rock, they are hard to find, so I did my best to stay down, sometimes pulling on the kelp, until I came across the perfect rock

    A rock for proper buoyancy.
    A rock for proper buoyancy.

    Now, with rock in one hand, I pulled my camera out with the other and almost ripped the regulator out of my mouth; I discovered that the camera lanyard had wrapped around my hose.

    I put the rock between my legs, took the regulator out of my mouth, untangled the lanyard, put the regulator back in my mouth and cleared.

    By this time, everyone had left, so I was on my own; I needed to go deeper so I headed away from shore – makes sense, right?

    Self portrait
    Self portrait.

    This dive got off to a great start, now I was diving on scenery that resembled Veterans Park in Redondo Beach.

    Off of Terranea Resort.

    When I got to 40 feet, I made a 120 heading and kept swimming over sand until I came to the outline of a reef.

    Ah Ha! This is 120 reef!

    I followed along to try and find “The Dude” and sure enough, my suspicions were correct.

    The Dude.
    The Dude.

    It looks like the dude is getting some Summer growth.

    Close up of The Dude.
    Close up of The Dude.

    I looked around 120 and then headed back for an uneventful, but non-macho exit.

    I think I'm starting to look old.
    I think I’m starting to look old.
    The others followed shortly after.
    The others followed shortly after.
    We are back!  Things are starting to feel normal again!
    We are back! Things are starting to feel normal again!
    Traditional debriefing ensued - but at least six feet apart.
    Traditional debriefing ensued – but at least six feet apart.
    The only thing we missed are the communal snacks and ghetto grill.
    The only thing we missed are the communal snacks and ghetto grill.

    Topics discussed during the debriefing was the dive, lobster season, financial fraud, pyramid schemes and federal prison.

    Conditions weren’t great, the vis sucked, but I have absolutely no regrets – I loved every minute this morning.

    Until next time!

    February 28, 2021

    Promising Conditions & Retro Ocean Defenders

    Sunday Morning's swell map.
    Sunday morning’s conditions.

    February’s weather was mostly crappy, but it looked like it was getting better this morning.

    However, for various reasons I was not able to dive.

    I’m hoping to get back in the water this Friday or Saturday.

    On another note, I have been going through my vast collection of VHS tapes and digitizing the best.

    I found an old SoCal Connected episode that features the Ocean Defenders Alliance.

    Dive Bum Don and Dry Suit Greg appear in this episode.
    Dive Bum Don and Dry Suit Greg appear in this episode.
    SoCal Connected – Ocean Defenders (Circa 2010)

    As important as the Ocean Defender’s work is, it is interesting to note that the producers of this episode are obviously not SCUBA divers.

    In one part the narrator says something like, “The dive is so deep that the tanks are filled with a special mixture of Oxygen and Nitrogen.”

    And of course, for dramatic effect, Don has never been this deep before and is a bit nervous.

    This was an interesting retro-find.

    Next Page »




    RSS Subscribe
    Subscribe!

    Blog Search: The Source for Blogs

     

     

     

    ©Copyright 2002-2021 Psychosolodiver.com. All Rights Reserved. However, if you are going to steal anything from this site, please give me credit and link back.