A Sad Day: Dive Report

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Hang in there. I can understand your feelings of melancholia. :shaking: I've seen pictures of the kelp dives and they instill me... a swampdiving Texan... with feelings of awe, erieness, a little apprehension, and excitement...and that's just from pictures. I can only imagine what it does to one's soul when actually peering at it through the lens of a mask! At least you are moving to another great dive destination. I think you should keep your scubaboard handle the same. After all, you can take the Socaldiver out of Socal,...but you can't take the Socal outta the Socaldiver!...and if you ever get too homesick for the Socal dives, you can always make a pilgrimage back. Texas is on the way. Swing through and I'll go with ya. I've always wanted to do a California kelp dive(and plan to do one someday). Good luck in Fla. :thumb:
 
Got the pics back and scanned. Took the best ones to scan. Some of the pics didn't turn out too good because of "stuff" floating around in the water. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them:

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/horseman91006/lst?.view=t&.dir=/Christmas+Eve


Hey Zag, fine words of wisdom you spewed out there my friend. Diving in the kelp is something everyone should experience, it is so awesome and I will return to Socal sometime to get wet. I will be waltzing across Texas next week but unfortunately won't have time to stop to take in the sights of the Swamp.
 
Wow! Great pictures. Don't you have to worry about boat traffic?

I'm going to have to plan a trip to Catalina. I think I should make a stop at Monterray first.

Have fun in Florida! Where in Florida? Close to the sea, I hope.
 
Sorry California is losing yet another diver to warmer climes ... but also a bit jealous as Florida has some lovely diving. Don't miss a chance to dive the fresh water sinks (no cave diving required on some of them).

From NoCal to you, best wishes. And, should you return, Catalina will be there. I agree with you, it is one of my favorite spots. Although I dive more often in Monterey because it is closer, Catalina holds a very special place in my heart, and not only for diving. We usually try to spend at least one weekend a year on-island diving, playing golf and just plain ol' relaxing.

Regards,
Margaret
 
Sea Nmf, you don't really need to be concerned with boat traffic off Catalina. Casino Point is "roped off" for divers and snorkelers, boats are not permitted in there. If you go on a dive boat to other areas you generally don't have a problem with traffic, although there was one time when a couple of teenagers on a jet ski came buzzing through ignoring the dive flag that was hoisted (obviously didn't know any better). You have to make it a point to visit the area and dive it to really appreciate it. It's the most amazing thing I have ever experienced.


Margaret, thank you for your well wished as well. I am sure that Florida will get use to me :D and I will acclimate to there way of life as well. I hope to check out the different springs that people have talked about and also do some diving locally off Tampa. But I am hoping to check out all the different areas (Boyton, Panama City, Keys, etc, etc.) . Catalina is a very special place indeed. It will be held close to my heart and always on my mind.
 
that we are losing you, Socal. I thought I might persuade you to join us at Casino Point on the 12th of January - my club is doing a Polar Bear dive.
Really, though, relocation to Florida is not a bad thing. I have done some diving off of Boynton Beach and Pompano, and there is a lot to see. Enjoy!
 
kelpmermaid, but thanks for the thoughts and offer.

I will be coming back west around the 4th of July (I HAVE TO GO TO VEGAS :D ) so maybe I will swing by and we can get together and do some dives off the Escape, Star or go to the Point.
 
Well SoCaldiver, I made the trip east as well ... I know what ya mean about Catalina ... I had gone 12 years and when I went back, fell in love all over again ... the next time back did San Clemente as well ... the diving at Casino Point was new to me, in the 70's we did not dive there, and the Flyer and Express did not go to Avalon ... that is a neat addition. I dove many times w/Capt Eddie on the Golden Doubloon; and on the Encore. Diving in kelp is an experience that is spiritual, unforgettable, and so far for me, impossible to recreate somewhere else.

However, in Florida you will learn of new diving arenas that are open to you ... the Gulf has heavy artificial reef diving as well as a few natural reefs; the springs offer manatees, great snorkeling and of course cave and cavern diving; the East Coast offers drift diving in West Palm and Boynton Beach, reef and artificial reefs off Lauderdale (as well as shore diving I hear); and the Keys are 100+ miles of Laguna Beach with the eccentrics that live there :)

Of course being landlocked in Indiana now, I yearn for either place!
 
and WATCHOUT FLORIDA!!!

I am out of here and start my cruising. To think that ALL DAY tomorrow I will be going thru Texas, all day, geez!!

Won't be posting for a few days so I will take this time to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Be safe, be happy, but most importantly stay wet.

Peace,

Transplanted socaldiver signing off!!
 
Hi SoCal,
I too am a California diver, and Catalina has earned a spot as one of my favorite places to dive. ( Don't you just love the bugs that mockingly march along the border of the protected zone?) Next week, while you are bathing in warm Florida waters, I'll be donning my 7mil off one of the other Channel Islands. I have a feeling you won't be jealous. Remember: You can take the boy away from California, but you can't take the California away from the boy.
Best of luck to you in Florida.

JAW
 

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