Logged Dive #312

Secret Locaton: 34 30 30 20 79 61 72 64 73 20 4e 6f 72 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 4d 61 72, Palos Verdes

Solo Diving/ SoCal Buddy Diving

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 300 psi
Max depth: 55 feet
Waves: Pretty damn flat!
Visibility: 15 to 25 feet – Spectacular!
Water Temperature: About 56 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 25 minutes

After almost two weeks of taking a break from lobster hunting, I’m back in the water to look for more bugs.

The commercial trappers haven’t been having a great season and divers have been coming back with only a few – a recent boat with eight divers came back with only 12 bugs total.

Was I going to pay $60 to get skunked tonight?

The Island Diver left dock at 7 PM with Captain Alec in charge of the boat!

Captain Alec knows where to drop us once we tell him where to go, so I had a good feeling about this trip!

We anchored in 45 feet of water off of our secret location; I was the third off the boat and the first to submerge down the anchor line.

The visibility was spectacular!

At 25 feet I shined my light downwards and saw the ocean floor that rested at 45 feet; I swam to the anchor and spotted a bug!

I pinned it… it was like grabbing a beer can, so it was legal and I bagged it.

The thrill of victory!

I thought, “This is going to be easy, one bug in two minutes, I’m sure to limit!”

In the kelp, just off the anchor was another big-ass bug; I turned my light to the side so I could just see the outline of the bug, exhaled, moved my left arm back into “liberation mode” and pounced!

The lobster shot back and hit me in the nuts, on reflex action I closed my legs and pinned something… I grabbed it!

I shook my bag down and was about to open it when I realized I had caught my console instead of the lobster!

Fuck! The agony of defeat!

I continued on, actually swimming 10 feet above the floor so I could scout more territory – vis was that good.

I spotted another one that charged my light… too short, that young punk was only alive because of the legal size limit.

But, just to my left, another one… I pinned it, but for what ever reason, I grabbed the tail and it closed; one of the spikes tore through my glove and gave me my first scar of the season.

I am so macho, it didn’t even phase me.

Another lobster soon followed; I now had three in my bag!

There was a long “dry spot” towards the end of my dive when I didn’t see any lobsters.

I peaked on the surface when I was down to 1200 psi to spot the boat; it was not far.

I submerged and headed back to the boat, still hunting.

I grabbed for, but missed, maybe two more when I saw the anchor chain; I started ascending, still keeping my eye on the floor in the great vis…

I spotted a bull!

OK, with 600 psi left, I decided to just go down and pin it and bag it on the way up.

I exhaled and lunged toward the bug; I shot to pin the carapace, but only grabbed the antennae.

It wigged free and shot into some kelp, I pursued it and checked my air gauge… 400 psi.

“Forget it,” I thought; I have to make it to the surface.

Without a safety stop, I slowly ascended to the surface with my three bugs…

I posed with more lobsters than I caught in my last three trips combined!

I was the first one back on the boat, other divers soon followed as planned…

Mike C. brought up a five pound bug.

This was a great and plentiful dive; I only have four more lobsters to get before I limit for the night!

Logged SCUBA Dive #311

Old Marineland (aka Long Point, Terranea Resort)

Dove with the (not) New Chris

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 62 feet
Waves: Pretty flat with minor surge
Visibility: mostly 15 to 20 feet
Water Temperature: 58 degrees Fahrenheit at depth
Total Bottom Time: About 45 minutes

Arriving at the “public access” lot a little after 8 AM, I met a bunch of the regulars pulling out.

“Follow us and meet us at the main Terranea gate, there’s no access trail now,” Reverend Al said.

Like a sheep, I followed.

Apparently, just like last week, the guard had no idea that they were suppose to let us in for beach access.

After a few well connected calls from Max BottomTime we were allowed in.

No passport checks, no cavity searches… it’s nice to be with the “connected” crowd.

Don’t worry about me taking a photo while driving, I’m wearing my seat belt.

The good part is, the walk is a lot shorter, as we got to park in front of the new hotel.

A new diver by the name of Jordan joined us, in addition to the not so new Chris, Steve, Reverend Al and a few others.

Entry off the Point was easy – the waves were flat, with only a few two foot swells; even Jordan, the Old Marineland virgin, made it in with no problems.

My spring loaded fins made entry for me even easier!

We swam about 100 yards out to where the pinnacle is and submerged.

It took me a few minutes to equalize as we descended, I sort of fell behind.

We descended upon the statue at the pinnacle and did a five minute tour.

A diver squeezes between a Long Point Reef.

A starfish gets a tan on a shallow part of the reef.

A starfish tries to hold on to the reef.

My fish identification is not 100%, but I think these are “sea blobs.”

Chris examines part of the reef.

Realizing that we were no longer following Reverend Al, Chris and I went out on our own and headed for an exit at the cove.

An enormous lingcod!

I also saw huge white sea bass that swam away really fast as I approached….

… and a huge Sheephead headed for the hills, too.

Darwinism at it’s best!

Coming in, we found the famous fishing net that was lying just off the cove in 15 feet of water.

We surfaced and made a very short swim in; with my new spring loaded fins, I made the easiest exit here that I can remember!

The walk back was easy compared to the walk of the last year or so.

The new accommodations include toilets and a sink!

Max Bottomtime poses with his new license plate.

The debriefing continues as usual, but in a different and more secluded area.

This is where Marineland Of The Pacific’s entrance gate used to be.

The debriefing circle from afar.

One beer too much knocks Cyber The Attach Dog out of commission.

This is over looking the cove from our debriefing spot.

Another perfect day of diving and debriefing at the Old Marineland in Palos Verdes!