Lobster hunting off the “Island Diver” boat with the Divevets Group

Secret Location: 41 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 72 69 64 65 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 53 70 61 6e 69 73 68 20 52 6f 75 6e 64 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 61 72 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 69 70 65 73 20 61 72 65 20 67 72 6f 77 6e 2e

Solo diving/night diving

In With: 2700 psi
Out With: 1000 psi
Max depth: 90 feet
Waves: Small, shaky swells
Visibility: 15 feet plus
Water Temperature: 61 degrees Fahrenheit
Total Bottom Time: About 20 minutes

I went with the Divevets group: Reverend Al, Bob, “Ax,” and four other divers – all way cool.

The boat hauls the Captain, two Dive Masters and six divers.

Everyone dives except the Captain, who helps with the reboarding.

Divers jump over however they want to manage, at their leisure.

I believe I was second or third overboard.

I swam to the anchor line and submerged.

I had some trouble equalizing, but once down I went North.

Something really big was down there.

I thought it was another diver, but the reflection of its eyes glowed back at me with the reflection of my light.

My imagination told me it was a shark, but it ended up being a really big sea lion that followed me around the area.

I caught one lobster, but it was short.

I trolled around, but then realized that I had lost my bag.

Back to the boat I went, the Captain helped me out.

Bob followed with a bag of bugs.

I dug out my reserve bag for the next dive.

My “water resistant” non-diving watch is holding up.

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

Solo Diving

In With: 2400 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 30 feet
Waves: 2-4 foot rolling waves – high tide
Visibility: 0-5 feet
Water Temperature: Cool
Total Bottom Time: About 15-20 minutes

I got there about 8 AM; The Divevets were debating whether to call the dive.

The Point looked insane, it had big rolling swells – it was high tide.

Nick and I walked down fully geared for our entry.

I entered and made it through the surf zone; Nick called off his dive at the shoreline.

I proceeded on my own.

I submerged and headed for 120 reef.

The vis sucked – zero to five feet; I hit the bottom before seeing it.

I think I made it to 120 reef because it became really dark.

I headed West, but I soon came to the realization that this dive was pointless.

I heard waves crashing against the rocks, which is a scary sound when you know you have to go ashore eventually.

I swam back in while two other divers were making their entry.

It took several attempts to get back in.

The swells kept rolling in and rolling out; I wasn’t about to grab on to a rock and get maytagged as I did on other dives.

I crawled up to the dry rocks.

I briefed Reverend Al and his crew on the zero to five feet conditions and choppy seas.

Al said they would go to the right, off The Cove.

I fired up the barbecue and hung out with Nick and Lars – talking politics.

Al and his group eventually got back and reported 5 to 15 feet vis to the right.

A group of bikers and a tourist bus visited the parking lot during our debriefing.