New diver trying to determine divable conditions

[--tom--]

before I drive down I usually take a look at the swell model. here is one for most of California, just click on the San Diego area.

What it won't tell you is the plankton bloom, visability, but it will help you know if you can get in once you are familiar with the dive sites

http://cdip.ucsd.edu/?nav=recent&sub=nowcast&units=metric&tz=UTC&pub=public&map_stati=1,2,3

 

[DaFireMedic]

Sometimes another option is to ask people that are coming out of the water as you are gearing up. If they say that theres a lot of surge and the viz is 2-3 feet, then I go get breakfast.

The surf is also a good indicator. Where I dive, surf 3 or 4 feet high can be dangerous, and if the surf is that high, the conditions in the water usually suck. If I dont like the way it looks, I go get breakfast.

Notice the common denominator. I always have a breakfast place picked out for some good fellowship with my dive buddy if the diving conditions look bad.

 

[Lexy]

Hi Jim,
Noticed that you are from San Diego - there's a ton of divers from SD and OC counties on this board. The So Cal section is loaded with great folks.

Anyhow, first I'd say go with divers who have more experience shore diving. Dive a site on a regular basis.

Here's what I personally do -
1. Check the NOAA website pages, wet sand, scubaboard reports the morning of diving.
2. Then go take a looksie - sometimes things might look nasty on the NOAA website but turn out to be 1' ankle slappers.
3. Once at the shore dive site, take at least 15-20 minutes to watch the waves. Are they managable? Is there a long interval between waves? Do you see exposed rocks/reefs - what's the tide like? Absolutely ask other divers coming out of the water. Is there a rip tide? Where is the current going? Is there red tide patches? Any obstacles/dangers around the surf zone? Keep in mind, viz is a subjective unless you have a device for measuring. 4. Lastly, if you just have an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach - don't go dive.

Come check out the "Wrinkles" Monthly dive posted in the So Cal forum... it's a fantastic way to interact with other San Diego/OC divers.

 

[jwjkswanson]

Lexy:
Thanks for the response. I have met a bunch of great people from this site in SD and OC.
You mentioned in your answer number 1. info from NOAA, and wet sand, how can I access those??
I've been doing 2,3 and 4.
Let me know. Thanks.
Jim

Hi Jim,
Noticed that you are from San Diego - there's a ton of divers from SD and OC counties on this board. The So Cal section is loaded with great folks.

Anyhow, first I'd say go with divers who have more experience shore diving. Dive a site on a regular basis.

Here's what I personally do -
1. Check the NOAA website pages, wet sand, scubaboard reports the morning of diving.
2. Then go take a looksie - sometimes things might look nasty on the NOAA website but turn out to be 1' ankle slappers.
3. Once at the shore dive site, take at least 15-20 minutes to watch the waves. Are they managable? Is there a long interval between waves? Do you see exposed rocks/reefs - what's the tide like? Absolutely ask other divers coming out of the water. Is there a rip tide? Where is the current going? Is there red tide patches? Any obstacles/dangers around the surf zone? Keep in mind, viz is a subjective unless you have a device for measuring. 4. Lastly, if you just have an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach - don't go dive.

Come check out the "Wrinkles" Monthly dive posted in the So Cal forum... it's a fantastic way to interact with other San Diego/OC divers.

 

[jwjkswanson]

I do look at the swell models you mentioned but am not sure what I am supposed to be looking for, or what they mean. Are you looking for something specific?? Let me know.

Thanks.
Jim

before I drive down I usually take a look at the swell model. here is one for most of California, just click on the San Diego area.

What it won't tell you is the plankton bloom, visability, but it will help you know if you can get in once you are familiar with the dive sites

http://cdip.ucsd.edu/?nav=recent&sub=nowcast&units=metric&tz=UTC&pub=public&map_stati=1,2,3

 

[Lexy]

Lexy:
Thanks for the response. I have met a bunch of great people from this site in SD and OC.
You mentioned in your answer number 1. info from NOAA, and wet sand, how can I access those??
I've been doing 2,3 and 4.
Let me know. Thanks.
Jim

1. Here's the NOAA Marine advisory website - http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/marine/marine.php?wfo=sgx

-> You want to look for craft advisories, surf forecasts, etc.

2. Here's another good one, Temp Break -
http://www.tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=sm&zoom=-2

-> You want to take a look at the coast line you're planning on diving. If the color is green, yellow, orange, red then the swell height is probably going to be too big! I like this website because it gives a real time view.

3. Lastly, wetsand -
http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swellwatch.asp?CatId=295

-> provides general surf forecasts, conditions, tide information, etc.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help.

 

[jwjkswanson]

I will check these out and see how I am able to use them.
I want to go ASAP. So I should be able to try them out soon.
If (when) I have q's, I will give you a shout.
Thanks again.
Jim

1. Here's the NOAA Marine advisory website - http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/marine/marine.php?wfo=sgx

-> You want to look for craft advisories, surf forecasts, etc.

2. Here's another good one, Temp Break -
http://www.tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=sm&zoom=-2

-> You want to take a look at the coast line you're planning on diving. If the color is green, yellow, orange, red then the swell height is probably going to be too big! I like this website because it gives a real time view.

3. Lastly, wetsand -
http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swellwatch.asp?CatId=295

-> provides general surf forecasts, conditions, tide information, etc.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help.