Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

In with: 3100 psi
Out with: 800 psi
Max depth: 70 feet
Waves: 1-3 feet
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Warmer than usual
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes +/-

Solo Diving, My Labor Day Solo Dive!

Ed and Nick are busy today, so it’s Labor Day solo diving!

I checked out Long Point around 8:30 AM; it was way too rough!

Large swooping waves – forget it!

I was told it might be rough because of “Hurricane Harold” down in Mexico.

Florida is being hit by a Hurricane right now, so I haven’t heard about Ivan.

Redondo was starting to get crowded when I got there at 9:15 AM.

A half an hour later, I was in the water.

Several other divers were around; the beach was more crowded than usual – Yep, labor day.

I went down the shelf to 70 feet, then up to 60 and slowly swam North and South a few times.

I saw another diver going over the shelf.

As you go North, there’s some small sea life and struggling kelp.

The shelf also starts to turn West.

There was a huge spider crab trolling around; I saw some small bat rays and, believe it or not, an octopus.

Also, a dead bird’s skeleton and the same trash, too.

I came out with little problem; I did fall but picked my self up after tripping.

This was a good exercise dive with no problems.

Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In with: 3100 psi
Out with: 800 psi
Maximum depth: 82 feet
Waves: 4 feet
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water temperature: Warm, cooler at 80 feet
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes or so.

I entered the water around 9:15 AM.

As usual, a lot of other divers were there.

I dropped down to 25 feet and went West over the shelf.

I almost ran in to another diver who was hovering at 60 feet – just practicing buoyancy, I guess.

Coming out I saw an unusual number of Bat Rays, many more than on previous dives.

At 50 feet, there were a lot of very small fish hanging around what looks like a budding reef or wanna-be kelp bed.

I went down to 70 feet and started getting dizzy, so I went back up to 60 and felt better.

After getting used to the depth, I proceeded to 82 feet.

I went back and at 60 feet went North.

It’s either not as dead as I thought, or the environment is coming back — slowly.

There were a lot of fish down there.

At 1000 psi, I headed in and surfaced when at 15 feet.

Coming out, I lost a fitting for one of my fins, but recovered it.

The waves were four feet. but breaking close to shore.

I walked up, but almost fell.

My nose was bleeding more than usual.