After almost two weeks of freedom from Psycho Woman, I decided to get back into the water for a short dive to see whether or not I need a refresher course.

A number of Open Water classes were being taught, as usual, in addition to Rips, Rocks and Reefs having a course.

Logged SCUBA Dive #379

Veterans’ Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In With: 2400 psi
Out With: 1000 psi
Max depth: 50 feet
Waves: Some pain in the ass waves coming towards shore
Visibility: 10 feet above the canyon, better at depth
Water Temperature: 57 degrees, colder at depth
Air Temperature: About 70 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 25 minutes

The surf was up towards the shore, but I made an easy entrance.

I was cameraless and, having left my hood at the Santa Monica crash pad, hoodless.

I submerged in 15 feet of water and swam towards the canyon – the water felt fairly warm.

As soon as I started over the canyon, it got really f’ing cold – ice cream headache set in big time.

My stay at 50 feet was short lived – I was just too damn cold without a hood on.

Visibility was 10 feet at best above the canyon, but seemed to open up at depth.

I saw the usual assortment of sand, trash and crabs – my camera wasn’t needed at all on this dive.

After messing around above the canyon lip, testing my buoyancy while trying to sing Dean Martin’s Volare, I headed in – underwater is the only place I don’t get complaints when I sing.

Of course, as it always happens, the waves picked up on my exit.

I skillfully made my way, walking, to one feet of water when I slipped on the sand and got thrown by an incoming wave – right in front of the entire Rips, Rocks and Reefs class.

A couple of their Dive Masters came over to see if I needed help.

I stood up and thanked them for their potential assistance – they probably couldn’t tell how macho I really am.

It is nice to finally go home to the Long Beach Ghetto, but word about my new found freedom has been getting around.

I went to a local watering hole for a beer, and when I came out, four young chicks were hanging all over my car.

I don’t know if women like me for who I am, or if they just like my car?

With Psycho Bitch gone it is time to start anew, socialize and find my next ex.

I bought a ticket to the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber Dinner at the Divevets table – the cost was $90, and included dinner, raffle tickets and a free tour of the Aquarium of the Pacific.

All proceeds, over the cost of the meal went to the general operating fund for the Chamber; even though they charged $6.50 for a can of Heineken, the Chamber didn’t get any of that.

I’ve heard this has been a fun night in previous years – lots of women and lots of beer.

This year, the Divevets couldn’t fill their table, so half the people there were strangers.

Mike C. was working on Donna The Hot Biker Chick, even though she seemed thoroughly annoyed at first.

The entire main floor of the Aquarium Of The Pacific was made into a gigantic dinning area.

This is what I was served – I asked, “Is this an appetizer?”

The waiter said, “No this is the main course.”

This really hot chick from Arizona, Jill, sat at our table…

So now, cock blocker Mike has two chicks now swarming all over him.

And… I’m stuck sitting next to Dan who’s getting more drunk and telling me that he’s so horny that he would even do me.

So far for me, the night was sucking hard – if it wasn’t a charity event, I probably would have just left.

Sans me, here is our table.

One couple, Mike and Yoko, who we don’t know, seemed to be increasingly annoyed at our growing beeramid of Heineken cans – the Aquarium went cheap and decided not to serve Budweiser!

They showed an old episode of Emergency! that featured a diving accident and the use of the hyperbaric chamber.

It was quickly pointed out that they flew to the chamber on Catalina for the outside shots, but the interior scenes were done on a sound stage in Hollywood.

The announcer explained that the Catalina Chamber only receives 50% of it’s funding from LA County and the rest comes from charity events such as this dinner – OK, so I felt a little warm and fuzzy – probably from the beer – even though Mike was getting all the chicks and Dan was hitting on me.

The Aquarium was open for tour – it was really nice not to have thousands of screaming kids around, as is usually the case.

The world famous Bill H. won a raffle prize – I believe it was a BC system worth $900.

Our beeramid is complete – only because the bar ran out of cans.

I got burned not only with the women, but with the raffle prizes as well.

Oh well, at least the Chamber is there if I ever need it – I think next year I’ll just send them $90 and skip the dinner.