Logged SCUBA Dive #321

Secret Location: 54 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 2c 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 61 72 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 73 20 70 69 70 65 73 2e, Redondo Beach

Solo Diving/SoCal Buddy Diving

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 400 psi
Max depth: 80 feet
Waves: Mild chop with a steady current going North
Visibility: 15+ feet!
Temperature: 56 degrees at depth
Total Bottom Time: About 22 minutes

Seven divers boarded the Island Diver hoping for the best in this year’s lobster season; the eighth spot was not sold.

The Captain discussed with Bob the crappy lobster locations and the really crappy lobster locations.

It was decided that we should go deep.

After a twenty minute ride from King Harbor, we arrived at our secret spot; I was the first one over and the second to reach the ocean floor at 80 feet.

I went South West and ran across an interesting man-made reef structure, I saw one small lobster hiding in it.

I combed the sand and gravel and caught a few shorts.

I think I might have been a little narced as it was a little hard to navigate; I had “brain farts” whenever I looked at my compass and tried to remember which direction the boat was in.

Heading back, I came across my usual “500 pound bug” – so called because I always see a lobster when I’m low on air.

Get it? 500 psi of air?

I pinned it and headed to the surface slowly.

During my safety stop, I measured it and it was short; I released it unharmed.

After a short swim back to the boat, I awaited the results from the other divers…

Bob brought up a nice sized bug that’s two inches over legal.

Dan was extremely lucky on this dive by catching five.

Mirek caught two, the rest got skunked!

Seven divers caught a total of eight lobsters.

Dan said, “All the lobsters are South of here, let’s move the boat closer.”

Move the boat closer?

That’s a sure sign that the next dive will be even worse!

After a ride through dense fog coming from the ghetto of Long Beach, I arrived right on time to the overcast conditions at the Old Marineland.

The group of regulars checked the conditions out.

Two things you don’t want to see – foam and green water!

A brave couple were the only divers that went in; the rest went to go check out Honeymoon Cove…

Honeymoon Cove was getting pounded by waves.

Honeymoon Cove looked worse than anyone could remember.

We walked to check out Christmas Tree Cove…

Cyber the Attack Dog disapproved of the conditions…

…Everyone else agreed!

Christmas Tree Cove looked as rough or rougher than Honeymoon Cove.

Most of the group headed back to Long Point for the final dive report and debriefing.

Reports from the two divers that emerged were “12 feet at best in some places.”

With the diving called, a short debriefing session ensued.

One of the topics brought up for debate was how ghetto this blog makes the local diving community look.

Some agreed, some said, this blog just shows “The good times.”

I have to agree with the latter.