North 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: 1500 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Minor chop
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes

Wow, it’s great to have a friend with a boat!

It was the same routine; I picked Ron up, met John at his boat and we were off.

I took my spear gun just in case I needed to look macho in front of some chicks, but I had no intention of shooting anything unless I knew the ocean was crawling with White Sea Bass.

During the ride to Margate, we hit a swell pretty hard and heard a big “wooshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” like an inner tube leaking, or something.

My stomach sank; it would be a long surface swim from where we were if the boat was sinking.

It ended up being the fire extinguisher spraying into the storage bag.

CO2 was everywhere, but at least that’s what it was and not an inner tube.

We anchored just North of Margate.

I jumped over, fumbled with putting my BCD on and eventually submerged.

It took a while for me to get down; I was sort of cold and my ears didn’t clear immediately.

I trolled for scallops and Uni.

I thought if there’s one thing that I can get, it is Uni, and being a fan of Sushi, I really would appreciate such a lunch with my post dive beers.

I couldn’t find any scallops.

I was the first one back to the boat.

John complained that a seal was following him around on his dive.

Ron came back shortly thereafter.

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

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Minor chop
Visibility: 5-10 feet
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes

The fishing boats had left our preferred spot, so we pulled anchor and moved over there.

Since I sort of felt guilty about the ease of shooting the Sheephead, I decided to only shoot White Sea Bass.

I searched and searched.

The visibility was noticeably siltier than the last dive and I saw considerably less fish.

I started to get cold and frustrated that nothing big was around to shoot.

But, I guess that’s why the fishing boats had left the area!

I got caught a few times going through the kelp, but it broke off easily and I freed myself.

John was back in the boat first, I came in…

…and Ron followed about 10 minutes later.

We cracked a few beers and enjoyed the nice first day of July.

I pose with my trophy – holding the fish closer to the camera makes it look bigger!

I drank so much beer, that I had to go for a swim to the toilets.

Gee, where are the toilets again?

Maybe Ron has the same idea?

John fired up the engine and we were soon on our way back.