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

Dove with Nick

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 1200 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: 1-2 feet, calm, except upon exit
Visibility: 5-10 feet at best, silty
Water Temperature: 47 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Nick; cold!
Total Bottom Time: 47 minutes

I met Nick around 9 AM; I sort of had a hangover from last night.

We went off the cove.

It was fairly calm going in with only a slight motion of the one to two foot swells.

The water seemed very cold.

When we submerged, my head felt like it was freezing.

Since Nick is out of shape and I had a hangover, we both agreed to go slow.

There was a seal swimming around us for a while; I don’t know if Nick saw it or not, but I think something spooked him.

The vis was very silty.

We traveled East, up the coastline, never getting deeper than 40 feet.

We had plenty of air after 30 minutes, but we headed back because we both were cold.

We swam back to the cove, avoiding some fishermen.

As we were approaching the surf zone, we were pounded by maybe three or four large swells.

Nick hurt his ankle, or was it his knee(?), coming ashore.

I took my fins off, but ended up diving back into a swell trying not to get smashed against the rocks.

I would was up, then fight the undertow – I crawled out and got pushed several times hoping that no really big wave would hit.

By the time I was on shore, Nick was already out.

Looking back at the water as we walked up, the surf zone was calm.

Just my luck!

Veteran’s Park, Redondo Beach, CA

Dove with Instructor John, Ron T. and John’s Open Water student Dr. Smith.*

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 800 psi
Max depth: 100 feet
Waves: 1-4 feet
Visibility: 10 feet, maybe 15.
Water Temperature: Sort of cold.
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes
Notable Event: My regulator started free flowing at 90 feet.
*Open Water Student name has been changed.

Ron and I “Dive Mastered” (on shore) the first dive and sent Jake (A rescue student) out to rescue an orange signal sausage.

Jake went out for a swim before his “rescue” so he was too tired to make the second dive.

So for the second dive, Instructor John, Ron T., Dr. Smith and I submerged around 10:30 AM – I’m guessing.

John gave Dr. Smith his basic skills checkout.

When Dr. Smith did his emergency exit, everyone surfaced except me.

I was congested and was surprised that I didn’t have a problem getting down – I did take some Sudafed.

John and Dr. Smith went in, Ron came back down and I motioned to him that I would follow.

Annoying a few local crabs on the way down, I followed Ron to 100 feet.

Ron’s computer didn’t work; I think he forgot to turn it on.

We just took it slow, trying to find anything worthwhile.

All of a sudden, I heard this “Pop! pssst….pssst…”

“Oh fuck!,” I thought.

It sounded like a broken hose; I looked at Ron, he was OK and oblivious to what I had heard.

I looked at my gauges, they were fine – we were at 90 feet.

I was afraid to take a breath because I feared inhaling water – my cheeks kept inflating – my rig was free flowing!

I pressed the purge valve a few times and that stopped it.

My heart was about to jump out of my chest.

The rest of the dive went along pretty uneventful – that’s a good thing!

We slowly made it back up the shelf, spending more than enough time as a safety stop.

I walked ashore, slipping on the sand step; I picked myself back up.

We met John and Dr. Smith back in the parking lot.

Dr. Smith passed his OW class and invited us all out for a few drinks to celebrate.

We politely declined; that’s not something I would usually do, but I could not cut this day short.

We sat around and talked about how working for Hollywood sucks.

I believe Dr. Smith works as a grip.