Sep 04 Dive Reports

[ryanarcher]

Date: 9/3/2004
Dive Location: North Wall La Jolla Shores
Time: 4:00pm
Bottom Time: 38 min
Max Depth: 112
Vis: 25 FT+
Wave height: 1-3 FT
Temp at depth: 52
Surface Temp: 71
Tide information: Mid to Low
Comments: Met Sean at the Shores at 3:45 and we discussed diving the North Wall. We geared up and did our long surface swim out. We lined up with the 5th palm tree (looking right of the lifeguard tower) and the white box looking house on the hill. We lined up with the pier just east of the 3rd house - about 100 yards past the white buoy. We dropped down in about 60 feet of water and were right at the canyon. The viz was great and we saw lots of life. We saw a scorpion fish right away (I think it was a scorpion fish) - then another. We found the North Wall and started exploring - this was at about 100 - 110 feet. Sean was snapping pictures and I was just taking a look in all the holes. We were getting close to our max bottom time so we started to swim east and back up the canyon. Sean found a Rock Fish wrapped up in a net and he tried to free it - we took it with us since we were hanging out at 95 feet trying to get him out of the net. Eventually Sean freed him and hopefully he'll be fine. At about 60 feet we found another small ridge that we explored. We saw some octopii but they were down in their holes and didn't come out to show themselves. We saw a turbot and fringehead and then headed to our safety stop while kicking toward shore.

Here is a link for Sean's pictures: http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/scubaalbums?page=3

 

[ryanarcher]

Date: 9/3/2004
Dive Location: North Wall La Jolla Shores
Time: 6:30pm
Bottom Time: 40 min
Max Depth: 111
Vis: 25 FT+
Wave height: 1-3 FT
Temp at depth: 52
Surface Temp: 71
Tide information: Mid to Low

Comments: Sean and I changed tanks, spent our hour of surface time talking to Simon and Chris who joined us for the second dive. We swam out to the same place thinking that we would go down and head a little north to find the 'Way North Wall' but we ended up doing nearly the same dive as the first dive. We saw more life however - Chris pointed out many things and we saw some of the same life as the first dive. We found 3 baby horn sharks and the octopii from the first dive were more visable on the second dive. Over all it was a good dive and a great way to start off a 2 day weekend!

 

[ryanarcher]

Date: 9/4/2004
Dive Location: Rock Pile at La Jolla Cove
Time: 7:30am
Bottom Time: 53 min
Max Depth: 43
Vis: 10-15 FT
Wave height: 0-1 FT
Temp at depth: 66
Surface Temp: 71
Tide information: Low

Comments: Met Sam and 2 of his buddies at the grassy area of the Cove at about 6:30. Sam wanted to dive Alligator Head so we took a look at it, but the tide was too low for a rock entry. We geared up and realized that one of Sam’s friends did not have his regulator. He had bought all new equipment the night before and the sales guy helped him load it in his van and must have not put it in! So he was upset and rightfully so! Sam and I geared up and swam toward kelp bed and the outside buoy. We dropped down just before the kelp and took a 0 degree heading toward the rock pile. We swam through the kelp until we found the pile and started to explore the cracks and crevices looking for life. We saw the usual – lobster, kelp fish, sheep head and others. Nothing terrific to report. My navigation on the way back put us at Alligator Head rather than the opening to the Cove. Sam wanted to try exiting at Alligator Head and we did – not too difficult actually!

 

[mccabejc]

Date: 9/5/2004
Dive Location: Catalina Casino
Time: 10:39 am
Bottom Time: 44:40
Max Depth: 56 ft
Vis: 25+
Wave height: 0
Water temp: 68 deg.
Surface Temp: 77 deg
Tide information: Dunno...

Date: 9/5/2004
Dive Location: Catalina Casino
Time: 12:29 am
Bottom Time: 33:00
Max Depth: 44 ft
Vis: 25+
Wave height: 0
Water temp: 68 deg.
Surface Temp: 86 deg
Tide information: Dunno...

Comments: Took the 6:15 ferry from Long Beach to Catalina. As usual, the early boat was nowhere near full. Lots of room to spread out. Very few divers on this trip compared to past trips. Was directed to stow my dive gear (sans tank) outside along the railing on the stern. Still haven't figured out why most divers lug their tanks with them instead of renting at the Casino. I suppose tank rental is included with class fees, so why spend another $10....When we arrived I waited for about 20 minutes until the Catalina Baggage & Storage place opened, then stored my gear there. Took a walk down to the Casino, saw only one class there, grabbed a locker, had a long talk with a guy who was accompanying his girlfriend in her OW class, then headed back to meet 'Chavodel8en' from Oakland, here on vacation with his girlfriend. Great guy. Hope to dive with him again soon. We walked back to the Casino, rented some tanks, and put our gear on. Had to throw some snorkelers over the railing as we walked down the steps. Anyway, we dropped down, and headed along the breakwater, thru the kelp (Dr. Bill's recommended "canyon route". Excellent). Chavodel8en let me drive and navigate, which was fun. Was surprised at the number of huge schools of fish. Not sure what kind, but it was a blast swimming thru them. Lots of sea bass (I think), garibaldi (of course), and some tiny fluorescent blue banded gobys. Got to the end of the breakwater and did a u-turn, and headed back past the stairs toward the beach. Since we are such powerful, macho swimmers, we had to throttle back to keep ourselves from going outside the park boundaries. At one point I was hearing a very loud boat engine, and looked up and saw one passing over us. We were at about 30 feet depth, but it still caught our attention. We headed back to the stairs, and surprisingly we navigated to exactly the location where the floats are, and headed up. Finally met Dr. Bill !!! (BTW, hope your chest cold is better, Dr. Bill). Second dive we had to cut a bit short because I had to take the 2pm ferry back, but saw my first bat ray (about 3' wingspan). Very cool. Wish I could indentify all the other fish we saw. And again, we navigated back to the exact point of the floats.

Anyway, on the trip back the ferry was almost empty, and I had the boat to myself. Saw a flying fish take off from under the boat. Cool.

I think this rated as my favorite dives to date. Although I say that after every dive. But this one I mean it.

(And I say THAT after every dive, too...)

Thanks, Chavodel8en, and I hope you guys had a great day. Next time you're back in town, let me know and I'll be more than glad to hook up and do some diving.

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

Nice dive reports!!! Keep up the good work!!!

Sean

 

[mccabejc]

Someday I'll be able to post really neat photos like divebuddysean so I don't have to give descriptions like "real colorful"....

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

Jim get yourself an inexpensive camera and your there!

I have a lot of fun with the camera, you might like it!

Sean

 

[scottfiji]

Date: 9/5/2004
Dive Location: Big Rock, Malibu
Time: 4:00pm
Bottom Time: 57 min
Max Depth: 27 FT
Vis: 4-9 FT, slight surge
Wave height: 3 FT
Temp at depth: 64
Surface Temp: 70
Tide information: High Tide was 2PM
Comments:

Braved heavy traffic on the PCH to reach Big Rock; Met Jason there. It seems someone put no parking signs up on my usual spot (I parked there anyways since towing into PCH was impossible during the day). There is now only one legal spot remaining on the ocean side of pch, directly in front of the gate.

Anyhow, we swam out to the reef, saw a leopard shark, guitarfish, a medium-sized octopus in a crevice who tried to eat my hand, a beautiful giant kelpfish, scorpionfish, some very large bass, and other small schools of the usual ray-finned fish. A nice way to cool off on a hot day.

Scott

 

[mccabejc]

Scott, glad you found a dive partner. Wish I had a helicopter.

 

[scottfiji]

Jim get yourself an inexpensive helicopter and your there!

Other people have a lot of fun with a helicopter, you might like it!

Scott