Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove with Nick

The shore has been getting tossed the last few days.

I was suppose to go free diving with Ed yesterday, but Malaga Cove and Long Point was too turbulent.

I woke up this morning and scouted Redondo and Long Point.

I called Nick and reported that Long Point looked manageable.

We met at Long Point at 9 AM; went out about 9:35 AM and submerged a little before 10:00 AM.

I fell back trying to get in.

I put my fins on after walking out.

We swam to where I submerge usually.

I took Nick on my usual hunting route around the kelp bed off the cove.

Visability really sucked, 10 feet and soupy.

I broke open some sea urchins to attract some fish — I was hunting only for sheephead.

Nick was cameraless following me.

We surfaced after losing the kelp bed.

Nick had a hard time equalizing going back down.

Visability was really bad.

I hunted a little bit more and then we headed for shore.

We surfaced directly where we went out, but way out!

We swam in and made it to shore.

Nick had no problem getting ashore.

In with: 3100 psi
Out with: 500 psi
Max depth: 45 feet
Waves: 2 feet
Water Temp: 56 degrees F
Visibility: 10 feet and soupy

I met two free divers, Theo and Jason.

Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA

Dove with Instructor John

It’s time for me to finally get an “official” C-card!

Nick hooked me up with his original instructor, John.

John said that if I had “lost” my C-card, he would give me a refresher course for $100.

If I could demonstrate my diving skills and pass the written test, he would cut me a C-card.

I met him at the American Diving pool — at the owner’s house in Palos Verdes at 9 AM.

He gave me a 30 question multiple choice test; I got 85% correct.

I wasn’t sure about the dive tables.

Then, we went in the pool and spent about 12 minutes clearing our masks, taking our BCDs off, replacing our weight belts, etc.

We then met at Veteran’s Park in Redondo Beach at 11:15 AM.

The waves were atrocious – 12 feet or more; coming in for about 50 yards.

John was almost going to cancel, but told me later, “If you can solo dive Long Point, you can handle this.”

We fought the waves out.

This was the first time in a long time that I needed air to get out.

Instructor John had me do the same things that I did in the pool, in addition to an emergency exit — blowing bubbles to the surface simulating an out of air emergency at 30 feet.

We then went down the shelf and explored around 60 feet.

Technically, I just followed Instructor John who has a fetish for annoying spider crabs.

When I had 1000 psi we started back, again fighting the waves as we came in.

Instructor John agreed, “You are the easiest student that I’ve taught.”

In with: 2900 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Maximum depth: 60 feet
Waves: 12+ feet
Water Temp: 54 degrees F, according to John’s Computer
Visibility: 15 feet at best!