<\/p>\nHoly crap! <\/p>\n
I haven’t been SCUBA diving since mid-April!<\/p>\n
I was certain that I got in one dive a month, but personal shit just keeps interfering with my diving.<\/p>\n
Determined to get a July SCUBA dive in, I headed down to Veteran’s Park in Redondo Beach.<\/p>\n
I was hoping I’m still in shape for beach diving, but as it turned out, my equipment was what was in disrepair.<\/p>\n
My spare air leaked through the pressure gauge, my backup second stage free flowed and I discovered a lot more problems during the dive.<\/p>\n
I wasted about 500 psi just attempting to fix my problems.<\/p>\n
The entrance was easy.<\/p>\n
Logged Dive #369
\nVeteran’s Park
\nRedondo Beach, CA<\/p>\n
Solo Diving<\/p>\n
In With: 2500 psi
\nOut With: 500 psi
\nMax depth: 70 feet
\nWaves: Calm – one foot at most
\nVisibility: 15 to 20 feet
\nWater Temperature: About 55 degrees
\nTotal Bottom Time: About 30 minutes<\/p>\n
The water was very clear – probably even more than 20 feet in some places, but the 55 degree water made me cold; I’m sure all the holes in my wetsuit didn’t help either.<\/p>\n
I swam down the canyon to about 70 feet; I got one of the cold headaches, like the kind you get when you eat ice cream too quickly.<\/p>\n
I had to use my machismo to ignore the pain and push forward with the dive.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A yellow crab – I get so exicited when I see sea life here!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Don’t let anyone tell you there is no kelp off of Veteran’s Park.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A starfish tries to make a meal out of a conch pile.<\/p>\n
I trolled around the bottom of the shelf for a while before heading back up to 35 feet, just a little South of where I remember the “blocks” or “monument” to be – I haven’t found that thing in over a year.<\/p>\n
I had a buoyancy problem when I was in 35 feet and soon discovered that my inflator hose was stuck on; I had to keep dumping air to stay down.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A baby Pacific Electric Ray.<\/p>\n
I came across a submerged hoola hoop, that was anchored in 35 feet of water…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Maybe divers are suppose to swim through it?<\/p>\n
When the dive was over, I was able to walk ashore with no problems – I guess my muscles haven’t atrophied as much as I thought.<\/p>\n
I am so glad that I am still in decent shape to dive, however I need big time service on my equipment.<\/p>\n
I also saw a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in a while.<\/p>\n
July Recap:<\/strong><\/p>\n Sorry for being such a posting slacker; my internet access is spotty at times.<\/p>\n I’m still trying to get an unwanted house guest out – this shit has been going on for a year right now and I’m tempted to just move out of my own condo and turn off all the utilities.<\/p>\n I’ve been warned that I could get in trouble for that, but I understand it would be more of a civil matter, not criminal.<\/p>\n Since I have nothing to sue for, it is very tempting.<\/p>\n Imagine living with a paranoid nut-job, that is unemployed and has no friends, (which wasn’t always the case) and then serving eviction papers to her.<\/p>\n Yeah, you can imagine that going home is just going to be wonderful, especially since it could take months to get her out.<\/p>\n It was a long time in coming, but I finally put together the 4th of July video that answers the question, “If you work as a pyro on the 4th of July, why are you gone for 16 hours?”<\/p>\n There’s a lot that goes on to prepare for that 20 minute show…<\/p>\n