Old Marineland, (aka Terranea Resort, Long Point) CA

Dove With IceJon

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 700 psi
Max depth: 64 feet
Waves: Minor chop, tricky entry
Visibility: 10 to 20 feet, better off the Point
Water Temperature: 64 degrees at depth, warmer on top
Total Bottom Time: About 40 minutes

The conditions looked sort of green and we considered calling it, but decided to go for it anyway because at depth looked like it could be good.

Six in our group geared up and walked to “The Point.”

Conditions were sort of rough and I considered walking to the cove.

The trick was to put your fins on, sit on a rock, wait for a swell to come in, push off and kick like hell before the next wave.

Bob made it out.

IceJon, for whatever reason, spent too much time in the surf zone and ended up getting pounded by another wave; he earned a scrape on his chin.

I lunged out on a swell, the water receded and I landed on a shallow reef – basically it kicked me in the balls – which sort of winded me, before another swell picked me up.

It was a struggle to get through the surf; the other three made it out.

We met about 40 yards from the surf zone and I buddied with IceJon.

We submerged to 60 feet…

…and did a tour of the surrounding reefs.

A Sun Star attacks a starfish.

We started heading North East after about 10 minutes at the Point; the idea was to exit at the cove.

A fish is camouflaged against the reef.

A self portrait with IceJon in the back.

Some kind of Brain plant?

We weaved through a kelp forest before going through a sandy patch.

A reef oasis in the middle of a sandy bottom.

We ascended about 20 yards from the cove and swam in.

Just as I touched bottom and took my fins off, my right leg cramped.

I rode a few swells to a big rock and crawled behind it to prevent getting pounded by a rouge wave; IceJon made it out with no problem.

An excellent dive!

We broke out the barbecues; today’s menu has a German twist to it – Bratwurst, sauerkraut and Chris brought some marinated steak.

Oh yes, we had plenty of beer, too!

We devalued the neighborhood; a new diving chick named Aly hung out with us and partied.

Cyber the attack dog seemed to have drunk too much beer.

Now, with Ron Paul effectively out of the presidential running, who is the local diving community endorsing for President?

A scan of the parking lot shows which candidate is preferred among SCUBA divers:

If the election were held today, it is obvious that Max Bottomtime would win, at least locally!

The Avalon Wreck, Palos Verdes, California

Diving With Mike C. from the Divevets.

In With: 3000 psi
Out With: 700 psi
Max depth: 70 feet
Waves: Pretty calm with some sporadic chop
Visibility: 15 to 20 feet
Water Temperature: Sort of cold at depth
Total Bottom Time: About 40 minutes

I dried my camera housing out and spit on the lens to hopefully prevent it from fogging up on this dive.

Mike and I descended down a marker that was placed over some part of the wreck.

At a depth of 70 feet, my camera housing fogged up again.

Vis was not as good as the last dive.

Mike strung a line from near the anchor line and we swam to the crane; we ended up touring the whole wreck.

During the safety stop, my camera defogged; this is the only underwater picture that I took today that’s worth a shit.

One of the divers told me, “Just put your camera in the microwave for about 20 minutes – that’ll dry it out!”

A suggestion that I got from Mike was to put those silicon packs that absorb moisture in the camera case.

We broke out the deco bottles.

Mirek tries to hand Dan a beer, who went for a swim to collect some markers.

Mike C. and macho me.

Debriefing on the way back to Redondo Beach.

A passing shot of the beautiful Palos Verdes Penninsula as Mike flashes his tit for the camera.

Seagulls launch a deadly poop attack on an innocent boat.

Once back at the dock, Dan took off and some others went out to eat; I had to leave and attend to some work.