Veterans Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Solo Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 78 feet
Waves: Minor chop and surge at the shoreline
Visibility: 10 to 15 feet over the shelf, worse towards shore
Water Temperature: 68 degrees until over the shelf, then it dipped to 58 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 35 minutes

Being invited to a party Sunday, late in the day, I decided to get my dive fill in on Saturday.

My brother met me to video tape a scene for a commercial contest he is entering; details remain a secret.

I made an uneventful entry through the surf and submerged in 10 feet of water.

I swam North, hoping to find a reportedly lost spear pole, before swimming West and over the shelf; the temperature dropped significantly.

I tried to locate the “monument” but I think it must be covered with sand; I could not locate it and the scenery looked “different” than I remember.

The John Holmes of the star fish community.

The extremely slow decay of a dead plasticus bagus.

Another cinder block!

An man eating attack crab prepares to pounce!

I thought that if I just swim by and mind my own business, he would leave me alone, but the crab leaped up and tried to pinch off my air supply.

Using my advanced Jiu Jitsu and cage fighting skills, I put the crab in an arm bar and ripped his arm off; he retreated.

The aftermath of the crab attack.

A spectator fish takes cover in a nearby shell.

I made my way back up the shelf and did a slow swim in.

The surf pounded a bit upon my exit, but I made it out with no problems.

A lot of SCUBA students were at Redondo Beach today.

Luckily, my brother didn’t drink all my beer while I was underwater.

Looks like it was a busy weekend for rescues in California…

August 3, 2008

Coast Guard rescues 28 people from dive boat

LOS ANGELES – The Coast Guard says 28 passengers have been rescued after a dive boat lost its rudder and began taking on water near San Nicolas Island.

The 70-foot ship Vision, based in Oxnard, called for help Sunday morning. The captain reported the vessel had lost its steering and sprung a leak just north of the island, which is about 70 miles west of Los Angeles.

The Coast Guard cutter Blackfin reached the stricken ship and ferried passengers back to land. No injuries were reported.

Authorities say the Vision’s 7-member crew was able to fix the leak and motor the boat back to shore with its steering partially disabled.

The original article is here.

Woman Hospitalized After Scuba Diving

Lifeguard authorities said a 31-year-old woman was hospitalized Sunday after coming to the surface too quickly while scuba diving off Mission Beach.

The woman was diving from a commercial dive boat near the Ruby E. wreck around 11 a.m. when she surfaced too quickly and began suffering from breathing problems, Lt. Greg Buchanan said.

The diving boat returned her to shore at lifeguard headquarters on Mission Bay, where she was transferred to an ambulance, Buchanan said.

Scuba divers normally come to the surface slowly to avoid the bends, or an air embolism.

The original article is here.