September 20, 2019*

It’s time for a vacation.

I have been slaving away at my new job, pretty much done liquidating my Father’s estate and am done with a bad business decision.

What fit my budget was the super two-night, two-day dive package to Santa Barbara Island, Sutil Island and Catalina Island offered by ECO Dive Center.

Even though their website stated that there were 11 spots left, I had to call to reserve.

I called and was told that I just got the last spot; I guess these trips go fast.

I was asked if I was an Advanced Diver and if I had night diving experience.

I started to brag about how macho I am – lobster hunting, almost two decades of diving… I guess I passed his interview, as he shut me up pretty quickly to get my credit card number.

Amazingly enough, my card was not declined!

One part of their website stated that we would meet at the Pacific Star at 8 PM, another page said 9 PM and that we would have a “social hour” at the bar until 11 PM.

I was anxious after getting all my dive gear together; I could not rest, so I ended up arriving at 22nd Landing around 6 PM.

After figuring out the difference between The Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club and the 22nd St. Landing Seafood Grill and Bar, I arrived at the cheaper place to slam a few back and wait for the boat to open.

For maximum annoyance and to torture their accountant, their Budweiser beers were priced at $6.02.

I sipped on two King Of Beers until 7 PM and went to the boat.

Showing up early had no consequence on what bunk I was to get as they were already assigned, but the guy from ECO was not there yet.

I was told that I could load my gear in the boat, if I hauled it down, but I did not have a bunk as of yet.

That’s exactly what I did.

Around 8:30 PM, Jake from ECO arrived, and I checked in, was given a lower bunk at the bow, signed my life away and decided to kill the rest of the evening hanging out at the bar to get properly plowed so I could get some sleep on the way to Santa Barbara Island.

I ordered some Calamari and Cape Cods – the Calamari arrived faster than the drinks.

I came to find out, that the bar closes at 9:30 PM; that was a good thing, otherwise I would be broke if I sat there until 11 PM.

Around 9:45 PM, they threw me out and I made my way back to the boat.

There was a briefing given by … I think it his name is Elwood.

The hot topic was, NO CHARGING BATTERIES IN THE BUNK ROOM!

NO CHARGING BATTERIES AFTER 10 PM.

If they find a device plugged in, unattended after 10 PM, they will unplug it and give it to the Captain.

If you want your device back, you have to go and talk to the Captain and explain why it was plugged in.

I partied with my fellow divers, who brought some sissy craft beer; nobody wanted Budweiser – the King Of Beers.

Around 11 PM, I was well ready to pass out and wake up at our destination.

I made it to my bunk, and passed out next to my Spare Air.

More to come, a lot of dives, and too much to post all at once, so stay tuned!

This is a preview of the first Dive on Santa Barbara Island: Training Tiny The Sea Lion To Attack

*Due to lack of internet access, and too much to do to write while it is happening, there has been a delay in these posts. Pretend you are in 1990.

My life is slowly starting to come back to normal; I looked at the swell maps this morning and it was all dark blue around Palos Verdes.

There was no way I could talk my way out of a dive, so I arrived promptly at 8:00 AM at Terranea Resort.

I’m still trying to get used to my order of operation with my new car and the fact that I can’t get my key wet.

I need to take all my diving gear out, and then lock my car before putting my keys into a waterproof case and then into my pocket.

I forgot my mask, so I had to un-wetsuit (that is a word, right?) and fetch my mask from the car.

Well, when I realized I left my hood in the car, I said, “Fuck it, I’m macho and going anyway.”

Chipper, Nice Bob and Joe R. were in attendance, along with about two dozen other divers from various clubs and groups.

I forgot how pleasant the walk to the beach is from the parking lot.

After tripping on some rocks and making the most ungraceful entrance into the water ever, I dawned my fins and headed towards the finger outside of Pigeon Shit Cave.

Logged SCUBA Dive #510

Solo Diving

Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1500 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Flat as a lake, pretty much
Visibility: 15-20 feet depending on where you were.
Water Temperature: 61 degrees at depth
Air Temperature: 74 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 36 minutes

I submerged and headed towards 120 reef.

My camera lens fogged over with condensation – I should have put a “do not eat” in it; My pictures were fucked.

I reached 120 reef; vis was 15 to 20 feet, but a bit silty.

I looked up, and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw another diver.

It was a great white shark!

Well, I think.

It was probably three or four feet in length and looked just like Jaws, except for an incredibly big, disproportional back fin.

I honestly, don’t know what else it could be, but what a shitty time for my camera to be screwed up.

I made an easy, slow tour around 120 reef.

I saw a lot of small fish and the Sheephead are definitely coming back.

I have extreme guilt for shooting all the sheephead that I did back when I started to hunt.

Yeah, their meat is really good, but there is no sport in the hunt – shooting a Sheephead is like shooting your own dog.

After a little over a half an hour, I headed back in to a sort of macho exit.

Debriefing consisted of Budweiser – the King of beers, some Russian beer, someone’s homemade ginger ale and some chips and dip.

There was a bottle of Russian “non-alcoholic beer” that was given to me.

I politely declined, but was later told, “It’s Russian beer, of course it has alcohol in it, it’s just made for non-alcoholics.”

It’s great to be back!

More diving soon!