Casino Point, Catalina, CA

Dove with Instructor John, his friend Jim, and John’s Open Water students* Archie, Gloria and Young Biologist.

In With: 3200 psi
Out With: 2000 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Insignificant
Visibility: 10-15 feet
Water Temperature: Cool, maybe 60 degrees Fahrenheit
Total Bottom Time: 24 minutes
*Student names have been changed.

Here’s a breakdown of John’s current Open Water students:

1. One student couldn’t clear his mask in the pool, so he wasn’t allowed to go to Catalina – he cried.

2. One student is on mental medication, but “not while diving;” this student is not on this Catalina trip.

3. Brother of Young Biologist got sick the day before and couldn’t make this trip.

4. Young Biologist, student of Marine Biology; probably 18 or 19 years old.

5. and 6. Archie and Gloria, a father and daughter team that didn’t realize that setting up their gear is “hard work” – or so they said.

Jim’s wife and his kid came along for the ride.

John found a knife during the free dive; Young Biologist’s BC leaked from the inflator hose.

When the students were setting up their rigs, Gloria remarked to her father that “diving is a lot of work.”

He responded by saying, “Don’t worry, in Hawaii they do all this stuff for you.”

Young Biologist’s mask leaked, and kept leaking.

John had me bring her in and rejoin the group.

I got back down as they were heading off to the Jacques Cousteau memorial.

Jim and I kept an eye on the two students Archie and Gloria; I had to replace Gloria’s fin because it had fallen off.

Archie was doing a Stairmaster kick and crawling on the bottom.

Gloria was more buoyant, but had a lame kick.

We washed up with little problem.

The stairs were visible to the end of the rocks; it was extremely low tide.

Young Biologist as it turns out had her mask strap on lop-sided.

John took her out for a dive while we took a lunch.