Logged SCUBA Dive #334

Terranea Resort (aka Old Marineland, Long Point), CA

Dove with Angelshark and Not So New Chris

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 400 psi
Max depth: 52 feet
Waves: Pretty flat with minor swells at the shoreline
Visibility: 8 to 15 feet
Temperature: 59 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 52 minutes

With losing an hour because of Daylight Savings Time, initial turnout was thin.

Looking at the calm conditions, it was a no-brainer “let’s go dive”… after we sit here and watch the dolphins and whales go by.

Angelshark got stood up by her buddy, so she decided to tag along with us; seven divers made an uneventful boulder entrance off the Point…

Angelshark remarked, “Nobody got hurt today on the entrance.”

“I guess we’re a lot better than we thought,” I replied.

We descended and followed Reverend Al to the Newburn wreck area; I asked him to point out the two masts that are left of the ship, if we came across them.

Chris and I split off from the group; Angelshark tagged along with us after she lost Reverend Al.

Today’s nudibranch picture!

Conditions were a little too green to get some really good pictures.

Angelshark has a good eye for spotting sea life, especially lobsters!

We came across a reef at 25 feet on the way to the Cove, that was full of bugs!

Unfortunately, all the bugs were too far back to dig out; once I tried grabbing for the bugs at one end, they would move to the other… back and forth.

It was very frustrating and we eventually gave up on the futile effort.

A small arch off the Point – this is not the arch at 120 reef.

We came across an empty, but freshly baited commercial lobster trap.

A Sunstar lounges amongst some sea urchins.

Not so new Chris takes up the rear.

We made an uneventful and easy exit at the cove.

We were missing one diver who separated and exited the Point; his buddy was concerned until walking up and finding him at his car.

While we started to debrief, other divers showed up.

Today’s menu was Italian sausage, shrimp fajitas and an assortment of beer.

Professional debriefers Brother Paul and Flagger Matt showed up for the festivities.

Matt was inquiring about SCUBA certification for a Mexico cruise he is going to be taking with his wife.

We told him what was involved and how much it would cost, but the idea is only talk at this point.

The cars were parked pretty tight, and as someone was leaving, his car backed into a tool cart that started to roll down the hill ready to crash into our debriefing area.

Cyber the Attack Dog, sensing the imminent danger, ran in front of the runaway cart and threw himself under the front wheel…

The cart skidded to a halt!

And I though Lassie and Rin Tin Tin were bitchin’ dogs!

Debriefing lasted in to the afternoon.

Next week, I’m planning a trip up to the Kern River, so I won’t be able to make it next Sunday.

Hopefully, I can catch a few lobsters between now and the few days until the end of lobster season.

I woke up at 7:30 AM, after recovering from last night’s lobster dive; I figured I could still get to Old Marineland by 8:30 AM to dive.

Throwing my still wet gear back in the mighty Duster and calling Instructor Ed to be ready when I picked him up, I headed from the Long Beach ghetto in to San Pedro.

The mission expanded when Ed had me diagnose a wireless connection problem with his computer… then he got a call that someone had been stabbed at his bar and that the Police were on their way.

Ok, screw it, I guess we’ll show up for the debriefing at least.

We come to find out, that a crazy man from the insane asylum next door was refused service at Ed’s bar last night and left within two minutes – that’s what the surveillance tape showed.

Sometime during the night or next morning, the crazy guy got stabbed and told the Police that it happened in the bar.

After that was taken care of, it was finally off to our destination.

Without any hassle or lecture, we were waved through the main gate at Terranea Resort.

The cove was very calm; the regular band of divers were heading up, finished with their dive.

The condition reports were, “Fifteen feet, 57 degree water and a great dive.”

Too bad I missed it, but I at least got my weekend fill last evening.

We broke out the ghetto grill to cook some Korean ribs; cooking was assisted by Catherine No Nickname – a diver or at least a diver’s girlfriend.

Turnout has grown since the “Trail Of Death” has been shortened.

We debriefed with Korean ribs, Kim Chi, a lobster that Jimmy The Bagman caught, hamburgers, pork chops, garlic bread and an assortment of beers, featuring Budweiser – “The King Of Beers!”

Jimmy The Bagman caught a lobster in 40 feet that he dug out of a shallow hole and carried it for 50 minutes as he didn’t have a bag; is that macho, or what?

I think he should be called “Jimmy The Bagless” from now on.

The wind started picking up; a storm is apparently headed our way.

We saw whales go by and a feeding frenzy of dolphins just off of 120 cove – sorry, but my ultra-high-tech camera was too slow to catch any of that.

The shore was so clear, we could actually see the rocks in the shallows.

Instructor Ed vowed to get wet next weekend since the trail to the water has been shortened on the weekends.

Debriefing wrapped up around noon.