South Of Margate, Off of Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA

Southern California Buddy Diving with John and Ron off of John’s Zodiac

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Annoying chop, 2 foot surge
Visibility: 10 feet at best
Water Temperature: Warm of top, 55 degrees F below 25 feet
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes

My girlfriend was giving me a rash of shit earlier in the week, so I had the brilliant idea of getting really hammered last night.

I was sort of “out of it” in the morning, but managed to pick up Ron and meet John at the dock about 10 minutes late.

We geared up and headed out.

I had to focus on the horizon line as the boat bumped over the swells; I didn’t realize how much I drank the night before until I almost lost the bile in my stomach.

I don’t get seasick, but I was not very comfortable on the ride over.

I decided to go and hunt for some Scallops.

I descended; it got really cold past 25 feet.

I had trouble equalizing and the visibility really sucked.

Once down, I spent the next 20 minutes looking for scallops.

Of course, since I was looking for Scallops I didn’t find any, but when I’m not looking I come across a few.

I made it back to the boat first and drank water to try and ease my stomach.

John came back and then Ron, who handed me a small scallop that we split.

John smiles as Ron splits a scallop – John’s smiling because he thinks our love for sushi is disgusting.

Off of Margate, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
Southern California Buddy Diving with John and Ron off of John’s Zodiac

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Minor chop
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes

We moved just a tad North, parallel with the “Margate storm drain.”

I thought to myself, I’m going to look for Scallops, but if I can’t find any, I’ll get a few Sea Urchins.

I thought about continuing with my tank from the last dive; I had 1500 psi left.

John and Ron both convinced me to switch out tanks just incase.

I jumped over and put my BCD on.

I started to pee in my wetsuit and must have made a funny face because Ron asked, “Are you OK?”

I replied, “Yeah, I’m just peeing.”

I submerged and looked for Scallops, but couldn’t find any.

So, I started looking for some really big Sea Urchins for lunch.

I pried a Sea Urchin off the rocks and looked up – I saw two big fucking eyes staring right at me!

It was a seal looking at me eye to eye and it startled me so much I almost swallowed my regulator.

For the entire rest of the dive, this thing was fucking with me.

It bit and pulled my fin, dive bombed me several times and would come up and sniff my urchin bag.

No wonder there’s no fish around here, the seal was fatter than me!

I have no experience defending myself underwater against a huge blob of blubber, which sort of concerned me.

But I knew he was just out to play.

This was the same spot that I went lobster hunting off the Island Diver and almost freaked out for some unknown reason.

I think the thing that kept hitting me was this seal or one of his friends.

I collected a total of three Sea Urchins and made it back to the boat.

John followed and then Ron.

I split the Uni with Ron; John is not an Uni fan.

A few beers and some great conversation about diving, we were done for the day.