February 16, 2014

Still sore from training to be a cage fighter, I was determined to ignore the pain and get in a Sunday Services dive.

I’ve been MIA with the Sunday group for a while, so I also thought I would fire up the ghetto grill.

The waves looked flat; even the Point entry looked easy for non-macho divers.

We geared up and headed for the Point.

I don’t know what it is with me hitting the water, but as soon as I put my fins on and flopped on the calm water to swim out, the water receded, landing me stranded on a boulder, only to have a wave pick me up and slam me against another boulder.

I shook it off and swam the retreating swell out.

Visibility looked really good in the shallows.

After a swim out, we descended.

Logged SCUBA Dive #462

Dove With Mike, Reverend Al, Eric & Chipper

The Point At Terranea Resort
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 100 psi
Max depth: 62 feet
Waves: Slightly choppy on entrance, flat otherwise
Visibility: 10-15 feet, but silty
Water Temperature: 62 degrees
Air Temperature: 77 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes

It’s a phenomenon that has yet to be explained, but the fact that Chipper and I are in the same water has an affect on the conditions – the deep water was dark and silty, with 10 foot visibility at best.

Reverend Al guided us to the statue…

It is nice to see the marine life coming back.

Lobsters just stare as we swim by, knowing that they are protected.

Mike saw a shark, but other than that, this was a nice and uneventful dive.

The water was so calm getting out, I didn’t even power up my camera to catch a potential wipe out on the rocks.

Traditional debriefing ensued.

Polska Kielbasa and Beer Brats were on today’s menu.

Today’s group.

February 2, 2014*

We slowly chugged from the Eureka Oil Rig to the Ellen and Ellie Oil Rigs.

We were to dive Ellen after an hour surface interval.

I was one of the first divers over board; I jumped off, into the water and popped back up very buoyant.

I felt around my waist… Fuck, I couldn’t feel my weight belt. I yelled to the Dive Master, that I forgot my belt.

“Where is it, and what does it look like?” the D.M. yelled.

“It’s in the middle of the boat… black weight belt with the frayed edges!”

How could I have forgotten my weight belt?

I wasn’t that rushed.

I made a second feel around my waist, but a little higher… fuck, I was wearing it.

I tried yelling to the Dive Master, but he didn’t hear me.

Four minutes later, he came back empty handed…

I yelled, “You’re going to hate me even more, but yeah, I am wearing it!”

I believe he said a few words of relief, but I couldn’t really hear what he was saying; he waved at me to swim under the rig.

Bringing whole scallops on the boat, and now having him look for a weight belt that I was wearing… yeah, I should tip him at least an asshole fee.

I swam under the rig; the swells were big enough to where you could hit your head on one of the supports if you weren’t being careful.

I submerged.

Logged SCUBA Dive #461

Solo Diving/SoCal Buddy Diving

Ellen Oil Rig
Between Catalina and San Pedro, CA, USA

In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 600 psi
Max depth: 111 feet
Waves: Slightly choppy
Visibility: 40 to 60 feet!
Water Temperature: 59 degrees
Air Temperature: 69 degrees
Total Bottom Time: About 22 minutes

This was my first time diving the Ellen Oil Rig, but this rig seems bigger than Eureka rig.

Scallop hunting was over, so now it was camera time…

A seal bomber us for a bit.

Looking up from 50 feet.

It was a nice, 20 minute dive or so.

I made it back to the boat without problems.

I tipped the crew extra for being kind of a pain in the ass and enjoyed some beer and tequila on the short ride back.

*Posting has been delayed due to the Super Bowl, the Super Bowl Party and the needed recovery from the events.