Veteran’s Park
Redondo Beach, CA
Night Diving

Notable Event: First Night dive, narced, confused and didn’t realize that my buddy was on the brink of panic.

Dove With Nick

I had the urge to go night diving.

There was a group going night diving last Wednesday, but today is payday and I couldn’t buy a flood light until now.

I met Nick and Instructor Ed at Veteran’s park at 7:20 PM.

Ed was concerned about the wind.

Two divers coming up the stairs rated the environment as “visibility is good but it’s really dark.”

We suited up and entered the water probably around 8:30 PM.

Some onlookers watched us enter with bewilderment.

The waves were up, about four feet, but the swells were really big once out.

I had my new light cannon, Nick had my flashlight; Ed had his own light.

Once out, Ed had problems with his BCD jacket — it kept inflating uncontrollably — and had to turn back.

There’s me, sort of exhausted from making it out.

Nick and I rested a bit, riding the swells — which bothered Nick.

We submerged and descended to an initial 26 feet.

We stayed side by side; Nick gave my the “OK” sign.

We followed the floor — visibility was 10 feet and really dark.

We saw small horn sharks, local crab and a fish I had never seen before.

I think this is a rock fish.

We went over the shelf and in to the canyon.

It got really cold.

The visibility didn’t improve.

Is Nick frightened or nervous here? I think he would signal if he was?

It got to the point where the only thing I could see was sediment that was floating in the water.

This freaked Nick out and he gave me the predesignated “I’m scared let’s go up” sign.

I looked at my compass and started going West.

I felt my ears pinch, looked at my gauge — we were at 75 feet and going the wrong way.

I made this mistake before — and was pissed at myself.

Nick gave me the “up” sign. I acknowledged.

I swam up to surface, but Nick didn’t go anywhere.

I was starting to get concerned about Nick panicking.

He signaled to ask which way was shore. I looked at my compass and took a while to get my bearings — which further frightened Nick.

I pointed in the direction of shore, he swam, got to the shelf and darted up.

I followed, but became extremely dizzy — I had to slow down.

In warmer water at 30 feet, Nick calmed down.

We swam toward shore; Nick finally signalled to “go up.”

We ascended.

The first thing Nick said to me was “I didn’t like that, let’s go in.”

We made it to shore without incident.

Nick swam in really fast.

Nick later told me that he wasn’t upset at me, but at himself.

He just wasn’t ready for a dive like that.

I should have detected his concern earlier — I have doubts that I could ever be an instructor.

I think I really like solo diving.

In with: 2800 psi
Out with: 1400 psi
Max depth: 75 feet
Waves: Four feet (big swells)
Visibility: 10 feet/soupy
Water temperature: Cold at depths.

Long Point, CA
(aka The Old Marineland)

Dove with Nick

I met Nick at 8:15 AM.

There were about nine other divers there.

According to Nick, who had talked to them, they were a SCUBA instructors club.

They convinced Nick that we should go off the point.

 I brought my spear, Nick was a spectator.

Going out I got tossed by the waves.

The best place to go out on the point is between two rocks.

The water fell, I landed between the crevice and was thrown back up when the next wave hit.

Nick took his time getting in.

Once out, we rested as the instructors went in.

They were about 10 minutes behind us.

Visibility was 10 feet and soupy — about the same as last week.

I broke open a couple of sea urchins to chum the water; fish came to eat very quickly.

The kelp bed off the point is the place to hunt.

There were many fish, many intricate reefs.

I shot a couple of big looking fish; but when I measured them they were not as big as I had hoped.

I brought them in.

We basically swam around in circles at the reef off the point.

Nearing the end, we swam in underwater until Nick had 500 psi, then surfaced.

We swam to the cove to exit.

Entering the point is easy.

Nobody (from what I’ve seen) exits the point.

I banged my leg coming out.

I shot two sheepheads on this dive.

In with: 3100 psi
Out with: 400 psi
Max depth: 42 feet
Waves: 2-3 feet, high tide
Water Temp: 58 degrees +/-
Visibility: 10 feet and soupy.