Christmas Tree Cove, Yet Again

Below: I realized, most of the schools I've been seeing are senoritas

Below: girls on the usually uncrowded shoreline



Skin Dive#:012
Fri April 30, 08
Christmas Tree Cove: boulders, reefs, crevices, cobblestone
Purpose: swim for exercise
Tide: High @ 6:30 pm
Entry: cobblestone middle of cove @ 6:30 pm
Distance: 75 yds out to the right side of cove, also 25 yards to the left side
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 68 F/Water 60 F
Enviroment: partly cloudy, light wind, 2-3 ft breaks, textured surface, surge
Visibilty: 10 ft
Conditions Synopsis: Poor
Sights: garibaldi, topsmelt, perch, bass, senoritas
Exit: cobblestone middle of cove @ 7:00 pm

Time to date: 7 hrs 30 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 8 hrs

Special Notes: This time from the top of the cove the conditions did not look too good, the swell had picked up and there was some foam on the water. The same spearfishing from a few days ago was exiting the water. He said it's not so good. There was also a few young girls as an audience. That made it feel like a beach. I swam to the right, turned around after realizing only ten foot vis in the bestter spots then swam a little ways up the left side after playing near the cobblestones. The left side was definetley more clear overall. Less sand in the water, higher and dense bank of boulders from the start. I'll make sure to check that area out more. Heard it goes to a nice reef and crevices out by point.


-Seaschralped-

Christmas Tree Cove Again

Below: guitarfish are fun to watch and they can be a pleasant surprise.

Skin Dive#:011
Thur April 29, 08
Christmas Tree Cove: boulders, crevices, cobblestone
Purpose: take advantage of good conditions, swim for exercise
Tide: High @ 6:00 pm
Entry: cobblestone middle of cove @ 6:30 pm
Distance: 125 yds out to the right side of cove
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 68 F/Water 60 F
Enviroment: sunny, light wind, 1 ft ankle breaks, textured surface, light surge
Visibilty: 15-25 ft out by boulders
Conditions Synopsis: Fair+
Sights: garibaldi, black surfperch, sargo, calico bass, 4+ ft shovelnose guitarfish
Exit: cobblestone middle of cove @ 7:15 pm

Time to date: 6 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 45 min
Total time: 7 hrs 30 min

Special Notes: Again, from the top of the trail I could tell the visibilty was good. I entered in same spot and swam a little further out and was able to get closer to the rocks on the side due to decrease in surge. It was peaceful. Saw the usual of variety of fish. On way back lingered in one area and a small bait fish hung out with me at eye level. Silly little thing. There was also a couple large schools of medium sized fish I swam through. This would have been an ideal time to have a large net. Once I was done I ran into a large shovelnose guitarfish in about 5 feet deep of really clear water in the cobblestones. He was 4 ft or longer. I managed to follow him for 20 yards until a wave came and dirtied the water. He was majestic and wiggled like a snake. After seeign him I hung out in the general area waiting for him, did not see him again. I noticed that when the cobblestone is clear, fish love to be in this low level of waters and find me to be quite spooky upon seeing me. They really dart. It may have to be with the fact that I approached them from the water side of the area not the land side, and this left them with no initial and unusual warnings. One of these times I'll enter off the large rocks and swim into the cobblestones when there's no waves and look for the guitarfish again. He was cool.


-Seaschralped-

Christmas Tree Cove

Skin Dive#:010
Thur April 28, 08
Christmas Tree Cove: boulders, gravel
Purpose: first time at spot, take advantage of good conditions
Tide: High @ 5:30 pm
Entry: cobblestone middle of cove @ 6:45 pm
Distance: 75 yds out to the right side of cove
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 68 F/Water 58 F
Enviroment: sunny, light wind, 2 ft ankle breaks, textured surface, surge
Visibilty: 5ft near shore, mostly 15-25 ft out by boulders
Conditions Synopsis: Good
Sights: large garibaldi, surf perch, sargo, various kelp fish, large calico bass
Exit: cobblestone middle of cove @ 7:15 pm

Time to date: 6 hrs 15 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 6 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: From the top of the steep goat trail the water looked a welcoming green and the kelp and some boulders were visible through the water. I also could see one fellow in the cove with free diving gear so I knew it must be a fine dive. Once down the dude was leaving and said it was 20 ft vis in the good areas and that he bagged a couple perch. He was right, after a short swim past the murkiness and into the middle of the cove the vis jumped to a solid 20 ft. If the sun was more above in the sky it would have illuminated the floor better. Now thinking about it, the vis was 20+ ft. I saw many fish and a couple legal sized bass. Fun place. Lots of eye candy. I used the dolphin kick to move around to try something new. It felt funny, but worked fine. I got out of the water when the sun was trying to hide behind the hill. Will come back with a friend. I also want to try the east side of the cove.


-Seaschralped-

Back At Pt. Vicente

Below: the nice walk down

Skin Dive#:009
Thur April 27, 08
Pt. Vicente Fishing Access: rocks, crevices
Purpose: first use of new wetsuit, show friend spot, rehab my calf
Tide: High @ 5 pm
Entry: rocks @ 6:30 pm
Distance: 10 - 100 yds offshore and about length of cove
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 68 F/Water 58-60 F
Enviroment: scattered clouds, wind, 2 ft ankle breaks, choppy, strong surge
Visibilty: 5-15 ft, mostly 10 ft
Conditions Synopsis: Poor+/Fair
Sights: large garibaldi, surf perch, sargo, various kelp fish (ufo's)
Exit: rocks @ 7 pm

Time to date: 5 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 6 hrs 15 min

Special Notes: Last thursday while swimming at the Y and diving to the bottom (with no fins) to play and equalize my ears I managed to get a really bad leg cramp in my left calf. It was completely paralyzing and I limped for a good day. It took about three days to actually feel normal. When I asked the lifeguard about it, he said it's from overexertion or even more likely from dehydration. I was dehydrated, and I swam for the longest and hardest ever that night. He helped me stretch it out and told me how to take care of it and stay hydrated, which I knew, but didn't practice, obviously. It's happened to him before in a swim meet so he just kept going with his good leg until that cramped up and then he was completely screwed. His soreness lasted several days, in both legs. he told me to eat a banana before swimming. So, I'm learnign to take care of my body more to prevent another leg cramp. For some reason, if it happens in the ocean, I'll be prepared for the discomfort, etc. I'll need to float on my back, stick the leg in the air, massage it with one hand and swim back to shore with the other. Pretty hard, that's where a dive buddy is a nescessity.

So this was my first skin dive since that leg cramp happened. Victor came with me and we got in the water an hour after high tide. Ideally, I'd want to be there a half hour before high tide because the currents get a bit stronger on that side of PV during tide change. The little half hour of calmness rigth before peak tide and right after would have made a slight difference in the dive. Same entry as last time, same exit. We swam out to the big rock and peered for rays in the sand. There was more fish life overall in the cove than the last time I was here. Saw many garibaldi. Fun dive. We cut it short cause my knee began to feel loose after spending days with a sore calf and then finally swimming again. Also, sun sets earlier here than Malaga due to positioning of the spot.

Spot Check/Abalone Cove Sea Caves

Below: strong waves and currents at cave mouth

Spot Check#:001
Sun May 18, 08 - 5pm
Abalone Cove: rocks, channels, sea caves
Tide: High @ 8 pm
Entry: n/a
Distance: n/a
Gear: spring suit, socks, shoes
Temp: Air 79 F/Water 58F
Enviroment: sunny, windy, 3-4 ft waist breaks, choppy
Visibilty: n/a
Sights: location of sea caves
Exit: n/a

Time to date: 5 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 0 hrs
Total time: 5 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: Walked down to the shore with friends and climbed around the south rock wall past some weathered fisherman. We came to a 15' wide channel with strong currents and had to throw our gear over to the other side, jump in and climb out over rocks. it was very sketchy but, fun. Cut my hand and knee. We walked a little further and and came to the wider channel wich was the mouth to sea caves. The currents were too strong and the breaks to large to swim. They would have thrown you into the caves walls or out of the channel all together. I really want to come back here on a neatral or lower high tide during calm conditions and swim through/explore the caves. I believe the strong currents was due to tide changes. Will bring gloves and buddy for sure.

Fun With A Friend At Malaga

Below: diving with a buddy, woops I drew the snorkel on the wrong side.

Skin Dive#:008
Thur April 15, 08
Malaga Cove: sand, reefs, kelp beds
Tide: High @ 7:30 pm
Entry: sand @ 7 pm
Distance: 200 yrds out
Gear: spring suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 70 F/Water 58-61 F
Enviroment: overcast, light wind, 1-2 ft ankle breaks, calm, no surge
Visibilty: 5-20 ft
Conditions Synopsis: Good
Sights: sand dabs, mackerel, various kelp fish
Exit: sand @ 8 pm

Time to date: 4 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 1 hrs
Total time: 5 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: my friend Victor dove with me. It was his first dive and he is extremely comfortable at diving. We swam further out than I have before and we practiced diving to 10 ft depths and chasing fish and collecting shells. The cove was alive with divers... In the parking lot there were duded gearing up for scuba and when we got down the path there was already three skin diver's in the water. Later in the dive two spear fishers came in. Including us, there was 11 divers in the water at one point. When we were done diving we were high. it was great feeling. I am excited about diving with my friend again.

Best Malaga Free Dive yet

Skin Dive#:006
Wed April 14, 08
Malaga Cove: sand, shallow reefs, kelp beds
Tide: High @ 7 pm
Entry: sand @ 6:45 pm
Distance: 150 yrds out
Gear: spring suit, mask, snorkel, socks, hood
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 58-61 F
Enviroment: sunny, no wind, 1-2 ft ankle breaks, flat, calm
Visibilty: 10-20 ft
Sights: pair 12" leopard sharks, angel shark, schools of mackerel, a scorpion fish, surfperch, sand dabs
Exit: sand @ 7:30 pm

Time to date: 3 hrs 30 min
Total time this dive: 45 min
Total time: 4 hrs 15 min

Special Notes: As soon as I was under a few feet of water I was in a school of small fish. For the next 45 minutes I swam about chasing schools and some medium sized fish for fun and getting comfortable with diving below the surface out in the kelp beds. Left at sunset - Great free dive.

My First Garibaldi / Pt. Vicente

Dive#:007
Thur April 15, 08
Point Vicente Fishing Access: reefs and rocks
Tide: High @ 7:30 am
Entry: west rocks @ 8:00 am
Distance: 50 yards out
Gear: spring suit, mask, snorkel, socks, hood
Temp: Air 70 F/Water 58 F
Enviroment: overcast, light wind, 2-3 ft knee breaks, flat to choppy, strong surge
Visibilty: 10-20 ft
Sights: medium garibaldi, surf perch, small kelp fish, many orange sea stars, many purple urchins
Exit: sand @ 8:30 am

Time to date: 4 hrs 15 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 4 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: I drove over to Pt. Vicente Fishing Access and was pleased to see through the water all the way up from the parking lot. I hiked down the goat trail and found a spot wich looked like an easy entry. It was awkward but, I eventually sat down on a rock in the shallow during the calm and jumped right in. Once in the water I was happy to see a good 20+ feet vis and was in deep water already. I really enjoyed all the tiny rock canyons and formations. This place is very scenic in that sense. Exited in middle of cove with somewhat of ease. I'm still getting to know the rocks. All in all, it was a great fee dive. I'm happy to finally know the place. This dive needs gloves and hard soled slippers. I didn't get roughed up but, it was close to being gashed on both the entrance and exit; small surface tear on seat of wetsuit.

Revisit to Lil Corona Del Mar

Below: a seal pops up to say, "Hi" upon waiting for the sets to calm


Skin Dive#:005
Sat May 12, 08
Little Corona Del Mar: sand
Tide: High @ 4:45 pm
Entry: sand @ 5:15 pm
Distance: 50 yrds out
Gear: spring suit, mask, snorkel, socks, hood
Temp: Air 68 F/Water 58-60 F
Enviroment: overcast, 3-4 ft waist breaks with 5ft chest standouts, choppy, strong surge
Visibilty: 0-5 ft
Sights: seal
Exit: sand @ 5:30 pm

Time to date: 3 hrs 15 min
Total time this dive: 15 min
Total time: 3 hrs 30 min

Special Notes: I stood on the beach for about 20 minutes studying the sets. I then dipped in and swam out a little ways near the bouy. I saw no life except right before I slipped on my last fin in the shallow entrance a seal popped up 10 ft away to say Hi. All in all the dive was tiring but, very worthwhile because now I will appreciate a flat, calm ocean even more.