{"id":819,"date":"2007-12-25T17:49:46","date_gmt":"2007-12-26T00:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/?p=819"},"modified":"2008-01-26T20:46:57","modified_gmt":"2008-01-27T03:46:57","slug":"logged-dive-268-pagan-dive-at-the-old-marineland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/?p=819","title":{"rendered":"Logged Dive #268 – Pagan Dive At The Old Marineland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long Point, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
\n(aka The Old Marineland)<\/p>\n

Solo Diving, So Cal Buddy Diving with the Divevets<\/p>\n

In With: 2700 psi
\nOut With: 1000 psi
\nMax depth: 45 feet
\nWaves: 2-3 foot swells, high tide
\nVisibility: 20-30 feet
\nWater Temperature: Cool
\nTotal Bottom Time: 35 minutes<\/p>\n

This was the Christmas “Pagan Dive” that was suppose to be held at Malaga Cove.<\/p>\n

We all met at the Gazebo that overlooks the proposed dive spot.<\/p>\n

As we looked down and saw big rolling chocolate milk colored waves, people started saying “O-M-L, O-M-L,”<\/p>\n

Ah yes, the dive was moved to the Old Marineland.<\/p>\n

This was the first time I actually dove Old Marineland since they closed the parking lot and opened the “temporary public access lot” over by the apartments.<\/p>\n

I geared up and walked down with Reverend Al and his son.<\/p>\n

The walk wasn’t bad, but the swells looked a little bigger up close than when we stared down from the cliff.<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

The shoreline looked a lot different than previously; it was high tide and most of the rocks that I have used to previously lean against to put my fins on were underwater.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

I dawned my fins and rode a swell out over the submerged boulders.<\/p>\n

The water was cold, but nice for December.<\/p>\n

\"\u2018The<\/p>\n

I swam out, submerged and headed to 120 reef.<\/p>\n

I had my camera and my game bag with me.<\/p>\n

Since I had my bag with me, I was sure not to see any lobsters.<\/p>\n

\"Spectacular<\/p>\n

The visibility was spectacular!<\/p>\n

The reefs were full of color and varieties of fish…<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

I ran across a small arch that I think I had only seen once before…<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

It’s in about 40 feet of water off of 120 reef.<\/p>\n

In the distance, I saw a huge sheephead that out swam me – avoiding a picture.<\/p>\n

But a smaller Sheephead posed for a picture…<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

I could have stayed under for another thirty minutes, but I wanted to conserve my energy for the walk back up the hill.<\/p>\n

I started in; giving divers coming out a stellar report on conditions.<\/p>\n

I rode a few swells up on to the rocks.<\/p>\n

Ken was onshore giving exit support – he helped me out by holding my camera.<\/p>\n

After a brief rest, the first wave of divers began the long walk up…<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/p>\n

Looking back towards the Cove.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/p>\n

But we still have a ways to go.<\/p>\n

\"At<\/p>\n

At the top of the hill it switches back.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/p>\n

Looking back at the top of the switchback.<\/p>\n

\"And<\/p>\n

And around another turn, the parking lot is straight ahead.<\/p>\n

The wet wetsuit kept me cool and, being so macho, the walk back up wasn’t as difficult as I had anticipated.<\/p>\n

The Old Marineland tradition continued with world class parking lot debriefing.<\/p>\n

\"It<\/p>\n

It feels great to be back at the Old Marineland!<\/p>\n

\"Oh<\/p>\n

But after a nice Christmas conversation with a Sheriff, he decided to hassle people somewhere else…<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"Party<\/p>\n

The party has just begun.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/p>\n

I show off my bling bling to impress the chicks.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The party continues for a few more hours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Long Point, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (aka The Old Marineland) Solo Diving, So Cal Buddy Diving with the Divevets In With: 2700 psi Out With: 1000 psi Max depth: 45 feet Waves: 2-3 foot swells, high tide Visibility: 20-30 feet Water Temperature: Cool Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes This was the Christmas “Pagan Dive” that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9,3,6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychosolodiver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}