The Palawan Wreck, Off Of Redondo Beach, CA
Diving off the Island Diver

Solo Diving

In With: 2700 psi
Out With: 1000 psi
Max depth: 130 feet
Waves: Minor chop
Visibility: 20 feet or more
Water Temperature: Cold
Total Bottom Time: 12 minutes at the wreck, 12 minutes coming up; about 24 minutes total.

We were 20 minutes late leaving the dock.

Dan was waiting, hoping that Josh wouldn’t show up, so he could take his place.

Dan seemed a little pissed when he finally made it.

My wetsuit ripped at the seams in the back; I really need to start thinking about acquiring newer equipment.

Two tech divers went over and were going to run a line to the boat.

Captain Alec said that, if we wanted, we could just go down the anchor line and find the boat because, “we are pretty close to the wreck.”

I jumped over and swam to the anchor line and followed it down; I touched bottom at 130 feet.

I swam in the direction of where the boat was suppose to be and then the port side came in to view, about 20 feet from the anchor line.

It is covered with strawberry anemones; the top deck has been removed, so you can view the interior of the hull without actually doing a penetration dive.

I was getting really narced, really fast.

It’s like feeling the effect of drinking 10 beers all at once, so I really enjoyed the feeling, but I had to keep my composure because the only one who could help me was me.

I started to feel better once I got used to the pressure.

However, this deep I didn’t have much bottom time without going in to decompression.

I swam back towards the anchor line, but couldn’t find it; I started my accent slowly.

Not having a reference point to check the current makes me nervous; but I knew there was not much current, so I took my time.

The water coming up felt warmer and warmer and I felt better and better.

Breaking the top, I had to surface swim about 60 yards to the boat.

There was a debate when most of the non-decompression divers were on board as to where the next dive should be.

According to my tables, I had seven minutes of bottom time for a second dive at the Palawan; if we chose the Avalon Wreck, I would have 44 minutes.

We all agreed on the Avalon.

The tech divers were done, so they didn’t care.

Shanon was nice enough to take a marker and outline the increasing hole in the back of my wetsuit.