The Underwater Park
Casino Point
Avalon, Catalina Island, CA

Dove (most of the time) With Ed

I was invited to come diving in Catalina by Nick’s instructor.

We took the Catalina Express out at 9:15 AM.

The Casino Point Dive Park entrance.

We got in the water about 11:30 AM.

Initially it was Ed and I.

The rest of them — Instructor Mike, Nick and a 12 year old and his father — went snorkeling at first.

From the top, the underwater park looks very small, but the edge, marked by buoys goes down to 100 feet.

Ed and I went down to 40 feet ininitially.

The visibility was excellent — 50 feet or more.

Kelp, big fish were everywhere.

This is a game preserve so no hunting!

I saw a 20 pound sheephead that was making me hungry.

We continued to go down to 75 feet and accidentally went past the boundary of the park.

Ed surfaced; me right behind him.

Ed complained that he couldn’t equalize at depth.

I got a little dizzy coming up, but I stopped and regained my equilibrium.

We swam back to the stairs; Ed went on shore.

I tried looking for Nick since I had my camera.

I had 1000 psi left and couldn’t find him; I decided to go back in.

While on my way in, Nick was coming out with his instructor.

I waited until he was in the water.

He submerged and I followed, taking the first pictures of him SCUBA diving for the first time.

I had a hard time sinking and followed one of the buoy lines down.

At 500 psi I went back to shore.

I with: 3100 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 75 feet
Visibility: 50 + feet
Waves: 1 foot
Temperature: Cool

Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Solo Diving

The weather was nice, the waves were only four feet.

The regular beach divers Dennis, Fred and Al were there; Nick also came down to watch.

Nick’s going through NAUI classes right now.

Always make sure your air is on.

Entering the water, the waves declines sooner than I thought and I was beached until a wave picked me back up.

The water was cool, the visibility was 10 feet and soupy.

I swam around the kelp bed at the tip of the point.

 Under that kelp bed is a bunch of small caves and big rocks.

I saw a huge lobster backed into one of the caves.

I rode a huge wave coming back in.

In with 3100 psi
Out with: 1200 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
water cool
waves 4-6 feet
Underwater 45 minutes

Carrying all my crap back up.