Long Point, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Solo Diving

In With: 2500 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 45 feet
Waves: Long, swooping 3 to 4 foot swells
Visibility: 10 feet and silty
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: About 40 minutes

I had to stop in at work early, so afterwards I headed over the bridge and to Long Point.

The Point looked sort of hairy – calm but a few big waves.

The cove had sweeping, but manageable waves.

I geared up and walked down.

My plan was to put my fins on first, but a wave came and knocked me down, and again.

I floated out and began to sink.

I gulped a mouth full of water before inflating my BC jacket.

I clumsily put both fins on as I bobbed up and down in the surf zone.

I hoped nobody was watching, but I know I had a few people looking at my shitty entrance.

Then, I realized that I lost my knife in the surf zone.

I was wondering when I would lose my first knife.

I swam towards 120 reef and submerged.

Vis really sucked swimming out.

Once I got to the reef, vis opened to 10 feet, put it remained pretty silty – but enjoyable nonetheless.

I saw a lot bigger fish than usual.

I ran across “my” lobster trap at the end of 120 reef; it’s turning in to a pile of rust and no longer usable as a clandestine lobster trap to whomever has kept baiting over the last couple of years.

I trolled around and headed back after burning down to 1000 psi of air.

As I was exiting, Reverend Al, Dennis and a lot of Divevets were entering the water.

I tried to take my fins off first, but was washed up on the rocks and crawled out – sort of a non-glamorous exit.

Al inquired on the conditions.

He said that he “can live with 10 feet vis.”

I noticed someone ran her car into a ditch near the driveway.

Maybe a drunken teenager out on a joyride who was looking for a short cut?

Afterwards, a few beers, lunch with Ed, lunch with my parents and brother, more beer and then dinner with my girlfriend Jane, and more beer – I think I must have gained 20 pounds today.