Where is the La Crusado Plaque ?

[riguerin]

My son, Brandon, and I have done about 10 dives at the Underwater Park at Casino Point over the past 2 months. We've pretty much located all the artificial reef structures listed on the Franko's map. For some reason, one continues to allude us, however.

According to Franko's map, the La Crusado Plaque is supposed to be located along an approx N-S line between the old swim platform and the old steel pier remnants near the NW end of the park ... in roughly 38' on the sandy flats. We've looked for this a couple times, with no success. We've come across several concrete blocks lying in the sandy flats. However, none appeared to have a plaque affixed.

Does this plaque exist ? How do you find it ... are there any navigational hints that might be useful ?

 

[headhunter]

It is there between the pier pilings the the swim platform.

I run into it by accident when coming back from the swim platform from time to time, so I don't have any good navigational tips. I think I could find it, but it would be because things would just look familiar to me. Of course, that won't help you.

I'll be interested to hear if some people have a special way of finding it.

Christian

 

[riguerin]

Thanks headhunter ... appreciate the feedback.

We've looked for it a couple times using a due S line back from the platform. We've recently tried a N track from pier remnants to about 55' then used a zigzag pattern back ... no luck. What does this thing look like ? Is it as conspicuous as the tombstone Cousteau plaque ? Is it down in the sand ... covered in kelp ?

 

[drbill]

Must admit I mostly run into it when returning from the swim platform (actuially an old float from the harbor according to Lorraine Sadler who helped Jon Hardy tow it out to the park). Don't have any hard and fast navigational rules but there is some kelp growing to the north side as I remember. It is a relatively small plaque.

 

[riguerin]

Must admit I mostly run into it when returning from the swim platform (actuially an old float from the harbor according to Lorraine Sadler who helped Jon Hardy tow it out to the park). Don't have any hard and fast navigational rules but there is some kelp growing to the north side as I remember. It is a relatively small plaque.

Thanks Dr Bill ... was hoping you'd chime in (this is your front yard). Could you please describe the plaque and location in a little more detail ? Approx dimensions ... is it near anything else ?

 

[Scot M]

It is similar in size and general form to the Cousteau plaque. It sits alone in the open on the sand, but it's not in the big sandy flat area, but a little farther offshore. If I remember correctly, the space it's in is about 30 feet across, with kelp to the northwest and southeast, and the larger open area to the southwest.

 

[drbill]

Scot M gives a pretty good description of the location. The plaque itself is not elevated very much above the bottom (unlike the Cousteau plaque which is on a "large" rock... perhaps 6" or so. The image collage linked below gives a few close-ups of the plaque itself and there is an adult garibaldi for size comparison in one of the images.

 

[riguerin]

Thanks for the descriptions and pics. Looks like it's pretty decent sized ... so it should be fairly obvious if you're near it. We've probably not quite been searching the right area ... thought it was in the sandy flats.