Swimming the Portugeuse Point Sea Cave

Below: I entered the cave from the back.


Spot Check: #2
Sat July 16, 08
Portugeuse Point
Purpose: swim the sea cave
Tide: High @ 5:30 pm - I sawm it at middle tide in the early afternoon
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, boots gloves
Temp: Air 80 F/Water 65? F
Enviroment: sunny, 1 -2 ft breaks

Special Notes: I didn't really have a pland and it was deathly hot out and I was driving around the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I drove to Neptunes Cove and thought about chekcing out the new kelp growth towards the south end of the look out but ended up at Abalone Cove. I parked, and hiked over to the Nude Beach. I got down the trail and noticed the tide must be in between low and tide as the water level in the cave was not too deep and not exposing rocks. The waves came through the cave in predictable sets that blasted water out the southern side. Besides the sets, it was calm waters. I geared up and watched the waves fill the cave opening when they increased in size. After about 4 large ones it stopped and I got in the water and decided to go through the cave from the back in case a wave comes that I wasn't expecting and i could see ii approaching and dive under it and hang on to something. I plopped in and didnt have fins on in case I had to quickly stand or climb something. The swim through was hard as the current was against me... The cave was extremeley short, maybe 35 ft? One in it oyu can see out the other end. Right when I got out I tried one side of the channel to climb out of and then climbed out the otherside at a spot where I remembered from before. The fisherman were looking at me. A set came through and pushed out through the back of the cave. It stopped. I wasted no time and practically slipped in on the mossy rock ledge and then began the short, thrilling swim. The exposed rock ceilign was at times 10 inches over me head. There was ni visibiltym just white forth and bubbles. Sometimes I used my hand to pull my slef forward. I sawm out the other side and felt a smaller set begin to come through. I clibed out over some rocks and stood near the mouth watching the sets build after several minutes and admired the little cave.

Malaga Cove: Hiking Flat Rock to Malaga Cove Pt. 3

Below: Diving under the kelp can be exciting.


Skin Dive#:026
Sun July 13, 08
Malaga Cove
Purpose: inspect new terrain
Tide: Low @ 11 am
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, socks, gloves, fins
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 66 F
Enviroment: sunny, 1 -2 ft breaks
Visibilty: 5 -10 ft
Conditions Synopsis: poor

Time to date: 19 hrs 15 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 19 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: After Haggerty's I walked some further along the coast heading north. The tide was rising and at one point I had to sort of climb a slimy cement wall at rock levels over some water. I slipped in and my back pack submerged into the water and my water gallon floated an arms reach away as I regained my feet. NO biggy, I just made sure to have better footing on the algae exposed rocks there on. I could see the RAT beach lifeguard shack and the large crowds of beach goers strewn up the sandy coast in the distance. I made it to Malaga Cove, from the back. I found a hammock shapped rock setup, half cement wall, half rock and rested up there in a nap position slurping off my gallon. I was oh so parched from sun and sea. I took out my monocular and viewed two free divers towards RAT with a diving buoy, going down, then up, repeating constantly. I also viewed some SCUBA divers in front of the Pool with gear, and a snorkeler entering the cove. After resting I found my way back into the water there at the southern end of Malaga Cove. The vis here was poor and I thought that maybe it was because the close proximity to the sandy beach. I swam about and looked for lobster and such in the thick eel grass. I've always been skin diving at high tides, but after this day of lower tide diving, I think I will mix up my dives. I like absolute low because your nose is in the grass, and I like high because that's when the hish are out and the intrances are non slippery, low reveals green algae covered rocks. In the eel grass and kelp here I swam about until I found a great sheep crab with a dark purple middle section about the size of a softball. I took out my blunt knife to play with him. He turned around and showed me both his claws, opening them wide to show me his grip. I gently laid the knife in his grip and he did nothing. I let him continue his grapling of the kelp stalk. I got out and packed up and found another precarious hill / trail that lead me up the parking south end of the parking lot. I will use this trail again for ascent, but never for descent, it was sketchy. I walked back to my car parked at Flat Rock. When I got there I was very happy about my slow four hour trek along the coast sprinkled with three great skin dives. I will certainly repeat this process again. I never did find the deep hole the man was talking about but, maybe he was at a loss of words and wanted to describe an area that deep hole wasn't the geatest definition. I'll maybe try to research depths of the shore line. I finished off the water and drove tired towards a late lunch.

Haggerty's: Hiking Flat Rock to Malaga Cove Pt. 2

Skin Dive#:025
Sun July 13, 08
Haggerty's
Purpose: inspect new terrain
Tide: Low @ 11 am
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, socks, gloves, fins
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 66 F
Enviroment: sunny, 1 -2 ft breaks
Visibilty: 10 -15 ft
Conditions Synopsis: fair

Time to date: 18 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 19 hrs 15 min

Special Notes: I walked for a good while after Flat Rock. The rocky terrain with my backpack, 12 pounds of weights and a gallon of water made the trip wobbly. I enjoyed the teetering and tottering. It'g good for my stiff ankles. Both ankles have been wrecked and placed in casts twice, so I always enjoy a good stretch for the ligaments. The constant rock hopping loosens them well. I past a dead pelican. I found an OMER brand italian made double edge dive knife. It was rusted and chipped. It must've been there for months, maybe longer, wedge under a rock with its butt exposed only at low tide. I admired it and saved it for my treasure chest. I walked further and noticed a trail which I must have not noticed earlier when looking from the street level down. It was next to a drain and ropes were tied to metal stakes to allow ease of ascent or descent. It looked completely precarious but, well worn. A little further I came to Haggerty's. You recognize the spot from the bottom by the giant cement retaining and splash wall built on the rocks that protects an old mansion now turned church right above, at the top of the cliffs. I've never been here and I was intrigued by the tiny hidden steps in the wall that lead to a wrought iron gate and small wooden doors, probably leading into a courtyard above. I noticed old cement pilings in the water near the shore. I placed my belongings near the wall about three feet from the rising tide. Good thing I was hear near low tide, otherwise it would be all water. I geard up and made a rocky entry and was in over eel grass, vast space of eel grass and small kelp. The waves were picking up and I held onto some old pilings. I quickly noticed a lobster under my face. I watched him a few inches under my face. He didn't budge. He probably didn't know what I was in such the cramped space. A little later I was over another, larger one. I inched my hand closer and he seemed to be weary. I quickly extened my hand to try to grab him for fun and he shot like lighting straight into my leg scaring me more than himself! I sawm around through teeny tiny fish in large schools that you could graze with your hand. I noticed a dagger sharp piece of metal and made sure to remember to stay clear of it. I saw three more lobster, one large, maybe a foot long, excluding antannaes. I also so a funny kelp fish, loooking indentical to a blade of green kelp. He held his hold firm as I swam over him. Perch and the staple opaleyes were around. I passed over kelp crab clinging in the increased waves. I looked up at the tourist spot above in the church courtyard. At different times families stopped to observe me swimming like a dolphin. When I got out I thought surely this place is not so frequented by skin diver's due to it's uncommon location. Also, if there's any waves it's hounded by surfers. I thought to myslef... I wanna come back soon!

Flkat Rock: Hiking Flat Rock to Malaga Cove Pt. 1

Skin Dive#:024
Sun July 13, 08
Flat Rock
Purpose: inspect new terrain
Tide: Low @ 11 am
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, socks, gloves, fins
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 66 F
Enviroment: sunny, 1 -2 ft breaks
Visibilty: 5 - 20 ft
Conditions Synopsis: avg fair

Time to date: 18 hrs 15 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 18 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: I tried to get my friend Victor to come along this Sunday Morning with me to help search for a deep hole that is exposed between Flat Rock and Malaga Cove at absolute low tide, according to an old-timer I met last weekend. Victor wasn't available so I embarked on my own. I drove over to Malaga Cove parkign lot and drove past it further down Paseo del Mar. I looked around for something that looked like a Flat Rock and kept driving. A minute later there were cars parked and I got out and saw the Flat Rock, a rock cliff edge that extends from the land out a bit into the Bluff Cove. I quickly sclaed down the more troublesome trail of the two offered. Previosu to this I asked a pair of free divers for tips. They said, "Just off the end". Si made my way down to the end with fisherman trialing me. I checked out all possible entries and exits and found a place almost at the end where I could sit down and put on my fins then flop in and swim out of a small jacuzzi sized wading pool, over kelp, through kelp where it opened almost immediately to 25 ft depths! It gorgeous, the kelp gre like trees and the vis was somewhat great, making my wiggles through the plants easy. I double checked to make sure my knife was secured. There wasn't too much fish. I got out to assess my surrounding some more. The fisherman with just a roll of line with a hook and wait asked me what I saw. I gave it to him straight, "Medium sized kelp bass, mother surfperch with her kids.". He was happy and his friend came over to use the area that I also said was the deepest. I went back out through my wading area and slithered into thick, thick kelp. My vision was obscurred but, I didn't bother me. It felt like climbing thorugh the chapparal in the california desert, which I've done through hours on end with hy cousins and sisters. You just have to keep moving and climbing. I used the dolphin kick and separated the kelp with my hands. I swam around diving down a few feet to emerge in an open patch and went some 50 yards off the end of flat rock and back. It was fun. I circled some rocks and then got out. I walked over to the tidal areas by flat rock and found another flop zone. I immediately was surrounded by opal eyes, scoprion fish, and perch. I thought of telling the fisherman that all the fish were in the shallows but, didn't bother. I kept thinking of eating the perch. I swam out where the waves were breaking over shallow rocks. I liked being in the small turbulence. I eventually made my way back out to to trek the coast north.

Windy Water At Christmas Tree Cove

Skin Dive#:023
Sat July 12, 08
Christmas Tree Cove
Purpose: girlfriend to try wetsuit
Tide: High @ 6:00 pm
Entry: cobblestones @ 6:30 pm
Distance: reefs on left
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, socks, gloves, fins
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 66 F
Enviroment: overcast, windy, current, 1 -2 ft breaks
Visibilty: 10 - 15 ft
Conditions Synopsis: fair
Sights: topsmelt, opaleye, surf perch, garibaldi, senorita, octopus, calico bass, sargo,sea hare
Exit: same @ 7:00 pm

Time to date: 17 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 18 hrs 15 min

Special Notes: My girlfriend Lana tried on a size s/m men's wetsuit. She wiggled into it and put on my hard slippers and waded into the water. The water was not as calm as yesterday so I didn't want to bring her in for an introduction to the water. She stood on the slippery rocks and watched for small breaks. I geared up and went in and the fish seemed to be waiting for me at her feet. They probably saw her shadowy frame and came to watch. They dispersed as I swam in. I moved about and the vis was not as great as the day before. I swam around and came out after I had my fun. Lana's Dad was there too, we asked him to come with us to gte him out of the house. He had fun taking a peaceful nap and also playing with my ever so sneaky monocular. Near sunset a large family that was staked out at the point wrapped up their party and walked by us and then up the trail. The last guys up were carrying spear guns and had flippers, etc. We talked and they said they already caught, cleaned, cooked, and ate their catch. The two men fed a family party of about ten! What a great idea in these poor times of our further worsening economy.

-Seaschralped-

Another Treasure At Christmas Tree Cove

Skin Dive#:022
Fri July 11, 08
Christmas Tree Cove
Purpose: good conditions
Tide: High @ 5:30 pm
Entry: cobblestones @ 6:30 pm
Distance: reefs on left
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, socks, gloves, fins
Temp: Air 72 F/Water 66 F
Enviroment: sunny, 0 -1 ft breaks
Visibilty: 20+ ft
Conditions Synopsis: good
Sights: leopard shark, topsmelt, grunion, opaleye, surf perch, garibaldi, giant black sea bass, sheephead, senorita, octopus, calico bass, sargo, rockfish of some sort - dark
Exit: same @ 7:30 pm

Time to date: 16 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 1 hr
Total time: 17 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: I arrived with my girlfriend at Christmas Tree Cove with anticipation to skin dive in flat and clam conditions. Once looking over the cliff I was rewarded with the sight of still waters and a clear view of the rocks in the shallow waters. This would be good conditions. Once down I geared up and didn't even have to watch the set because they were nonexistent. Once in I popped out to exclaim that I see a hundred fish already. I was happy. I swam out further and then casually put on my fins. The opaleyes appeared humongeous to me. I didn't remember them being so large. I pushed further out. The kelp was seaming thickish compared to previous dives. It was all around. It wasn't packed, but noticeble. I swam to the left. The surf perch grazed and tried to get out of my way. I felt great, the vis was ideal and my body felt wonderful from bicyling 10 miles prior in the day. I noticed the water was still full of micro organisms. From the bottom of the water looking up, the organsisms appeared like a blanket of chicken feathers against a transparent ceiling. I tried not to think of the micro organisms that were surely in my mouth. The kelp was nice to see. I made my way to the reefs up the left side and the fish were very thick in size. They must have been eating plenty lately. I saw Mr. Octopus traveling in quick leaps. I noticed a teeny tiny shark looking fish only two inshes long on the bottom. I swam down but had a hard time fiding him again. My weights worked great. I was lightning quick. I played around in the rock formations and then headed back to the mouth of the cove. On my way I saw a thick kelpy area. I approached it have a peak. I saw a large fish with a catfish like mouth and very heavy looking black body. He layed quiet in the breezy kelp stalks. I pushed further and he lazily moved away out of sight. I followed him for thirty feet then lost him. He was a Giant Black Sea Bass. Not too giant tho, but defientely large in comparison to the usual crowd. I got near the cobblestones and snuck into some kelp. I saw through a window some very large surf perch eating. I inshed closer and they still didn't see me unitl we were nose to nose and then they scattered. The began circlign my kelp hold. One was extremely fat and quick. He frantically came around in a circle. He had a scar like stripe running long ways on his side. One big surf perch would of fed a small dinner party. I swam out to the middle of the cove to look in sand. On the way I saw large kelp bass that was about the size of the Giant Black Sea Bass. A weighty fellow. I got out to get a drink. I went up the middle again and to the left side. I saw a dark sheephead. It too had the same sad fat lips of the sea bass. It moved slow and I watched it from above. A school of larger skinny silver fish came by. I'm pretty sure they were grunion, they were nondescript and all the same tone. On the way back in a squinted at an object fifteen feet down. A knife! It was in a little bit of dirt but I could make out what it was. Shiny little part with matte black and a cord. I calmed my self breathed peacefully, floated flat, popped my ears and shot down. I had to actually kick hard to get down that far. I felt pressure on my ears. I grabbed it, looked up and kicked some more. Treasure was mine! I swam in and admired my find. It had guts on the blade and wasn't even a tad bit rusty. A hunter must have lost it if not a few days ago, earlier today.

An Old-Timer at the Secret Garden of Neptune's cove

Skin Dive#:021
Sun July 06, 08
Neptune's Cove: tidepool
Purpose: have fun during poor conditions
Tide: High @ 1:00 pm
Entry: large, pool-like tide pool @ 1:00 pm
Distance: n/a
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, boots, gloves
Temp: Air 75 F?/Water 62 F?
Enviroment: sunny, marine layer, 2-3 ft breaks to fill the pool
Visibilty: 10 -20 ft
Conditions Synopsis: good
Sights: topsmelt, grunion, opaleye, surf perch, scorpionfish, sea hares, urchins, ochre stars,
Exit: same @ 2:00 pm

Time to date: 15 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 1 hr
Total time: 16 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: This would be my third day in a row tide-pool diving at the Secret Garden of Neptune's Cove. The secret garden is about double the size of an olympic pool, about 4-5 ft deep at the deepest and gets filled up by breaks at high tide. The water is rather cold from a drop off right next to the pool. The drop off is a popular fishing hole. The pool drains on one side into the ocean, creating a mild current pulling into that drainage.

On my way down the extremely unstabble trail I noticed some guys with masks and snorkels. I climbed over rocks to them. One was trying to coax his dog into the pool. I told them that there is a good rock ridge to walk on then flop into four feet of water. They snapped back, "We know. We've been swimming here for thirty years!". I knew I should learn some stuff from these guys. I put on my wetsuit, boots and gloves while they had on just trunks and shoes. I flopped in after them. The older man admired my westsuit and told me to go help the fisherman on the other end of the pool who had dropped something in. I slithered up to the fisherman and I noticed that they either found their object or gave up. We chatted breifly and then I saw their object in the shallow pool - a pack a soggy cigarettes on the bottom. I scurried over to the deeper end, sucking in my belly to not get poked by urchins or the unbearbale scorpion fish. The younger of the two men who was probably the son, forty, was standing on the small platform, aka boulder with a red brick in his hand. "I'm going to crack open some urchins. Go down and watch the fish eat.", he siad to me. We went under and he smashed some purple urchins and pink flesh floated around. Soon lots and lots of fish were fighting for the meat! It was a frenzy. We held onto some boulders so the we wouldnt get slowly sucked out the drain, today's tide was high. There had to be fifty plus fish in the frenzy area. Some watching, some eating. Even pairs of scorpion fish were in on the party. Later I took liberty to smash some urchins with the brick and admire the beautiful lunch time myself. Maybe that's why the fish here are so friendly... no one really gets in the water here, but when they do, the fish get fed? I swam around and the dad and son got out of the chilly pool. Tiny waves formed in the pool as the breaks peaked up and into the pool over the walls. I held on. Bubbles filled the water and vis went from 20 to zero then cleared up again.

When I got out the older man talked my leg off. He said the place was better when the whale vertebrae and scapula was exposed in the nearby rock as a fossil until some one stole it. He pointed to some rubble. He explained that the fresh rocks that fell own in the last ten years might have some new fossils to be found. He then said the pool gets it's spider web appearance from the now plugged up hot water vents. It made sense. The pool is unusual. From the top of the cliff it looks like either a spider web or an amplitheatre. The ridges fan out from the corner, radiating as you can imagine the once flowing spring of water flowing from the depths of the earth. He talked about the hole, the abyss right under the fisherman on the dangerous rocks over to the right. He said his friend owns a record for deep hole fishing in that spot. The man talked more almost enjoying himself more than trying to educate me. He was a happy old man with japanese features and little pot belly. He liked the sound of his own voice and I listened. He kept repeating how he is so haooy the place is accessible once again, explaing that during the housing development of the area, all access was blocked off. Later in the parking lot he told me to go to the area between Hagertty's and Rat's at absolute low tide to see a hole, another serene spot for similar diving as this pool. I thanked him and I drove home with fish in my eyes and plans to find the other hole.

Friends At the Secret Garden of Neptune's cove

Skin Dive#:020
Sat July 05, 08
Neptune's Cove: tidepool
Purpose: have fun with friends during poor conditions
Tide: High @ 12:30 pm
Entry: large, pool-like tide pool @ 1:00 pm
Distance: n/a
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, boots, gloves
Temp: Air 75 F?/Water 62 F?
Enviroment: sunny, marine layer, 2-3 ft breaks to fill the pool
Visibilty: 20 ft
Conditions Synopsis: good
Sights: topsmelt, grunion, opaleye, surf perch, scorpionfish, sea hares, urchins, ochre stars, nudibranch, sun star
Exit: same @ 2:00 pm

Time to date: 14 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 1 hr
Total time: 15 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: Yesterday was my first time experiencing the secret garden at Neptune's Cove. It was serene so I wanted to share it with my visiting friends Jessica and Dave. We drove over to the cove right after high tide so the pool would be filled. I prepped Dave on the Scorpion fish and we walked along a small rock ridge into the pool and flopped into four feet of crystal clear water. I pointed at a baby scorpion fish and then at a larger scorpion fish. I told him not to touch them. He was wearing a spring suit so i told him to watch his knees on the many urchins. Yesterday while here I accidentally put my hand on one of the devils and the tiny points broke off into my palm. It didn't really hurt but startled me. Thankfully it was only three pokes, not too deep. We swam around I and i showed him different areas of the pool and we went our seperate ways to voyeur on the many animals. I spotted a black nudibranch with flourescent yellow and purple-blue spots. It was awesome. I've never seen one and I was able to now look at it in crystal clear water in front of my nose. I met up with dave by the diving platform, aka boulder. I motioned for him to look at something. It was a giant sun star slowly climbing up a rock garden. The sun shone trhough the shallow water in golden patches. I swam around some more. I watched baby surf perch graze in green fields. A mother opale escorted here babies into a further pool. I found a rock ridge with fifty curious fish mesmorized bu my pale garden gloves. I tried to poke the noses of curious top smelt. Some fish in the large pool were nig enough to hunt. But I would never hunt in such a peaceful garden. Dave got out after the chill got to him and I took breaks for hydrating. Jessica had fun in the shallow areas of the tide pools playing with the crabs. I had another awesome time in the fish village.

Additional notes: A group of young teenagers came flopping down the dangerous trail druing our tide pool diving. The boys were gregarious and their lone female counterpart trailed quietly in her skimpy swimsuit. The grouped climbed dangerous vantage points where waves almost knocked them down. They didn't keep an eye on the sets the came over the pool's walls. One boy had a snorkel and mask in hand. The grouped walked over to the edge of the pool near the cove's mouth and peered ino the violent waves. then two boys doffed thier trunks and jumped casually into the extreme sea with their boxers. I was impressed. It was quite stupid, they spent about twenty minutes fighting the currents and it seemed that they would swim into the nearby cove for a dangerous exit. But, eventually managed to exit where they leaped into the chaos. They must've done it before. No one was scratched. I kept thinking about the extremely poor visibilty. kelp and chaos they worked with. Maybe they did it just to impress the girl in the bikini!

Secret Garden of Neptune's Cove

Skin Dive#:019
Fri July 04, 08
Neptune's Cove: tidepool
Purpose: have fun during poor conditions
Tide: High @ 12:00 pm
Entry: large, pool-like tide pool @ 2:00 pm
Distance: n/a
Gear: 5/3 suit, mask, snorkel, boots, gloves
Temp: Air 75 F?/Water 62 F?
Enviroment: sunny, marine layer, 2-3 ft breaks to fill the pool
Visibilty: 25 ft
Conditions Synopsis: good
Sights: topsmelt, grunion, opaleye, surf perch, scorpionfish, sea hares, urchins, ochre stars
Exit: same @ 3:30 pm

Time to date: 13 hrs 15 min
Total time this dive: 1 hr 30 min
Total time: 14 hrs 45 min

Special Notes: Today for independance day I wanted to squeeze in a dive so I drove around the coast and noticed all coves were rather violent with breaks. The visibility at the coves was extremely poor from the tops looking down. This bummed me out and I then remembered how much fun tide-pool diving can be. So I thought hard and drove over to the secluded Neptune's Cove in Palos Verdes. I parked and hopped the rail that says, "Unstable Cliffs. Do not climb over. Do Not Even Think About It!". Once by the trail looking down I saw the usual fishermen standing on rocks with waves breaking at there legs, spraying high. This is the fishing spot where a 21 year old man went missing during winter. His friend was knocked into the water and the 21 year old jumped in, saved him, but was violently hit by a break that took him under never to be seen again. Numerous searches revealed no signs of the man. This tragic story did not fase me as I would not be near the waves. I would be in the water pool behind the rocks that get pounded by the surf. Here in the pool, there are many, many fish. The water level in dependant on tides, so it was about 0 ft - 4ft deep at the time of entry. I geared up. I had on the usual gear minus weights and fins. I dropped down into the water about 6 inches deep and barely floated. I stood up. I waled further into the pool. I found an area where I could float and pulled my self around with one glove. The place was like a garden, filled with bright green algae and colorful growths like flowers. Urchins looked like poppy's with there brilliant purples. Small crabs looked large inches under my mask. I went deeper. I sucke din my belly not to get pierced by urchins or unmoving scorpian fish or several sizes. Then, the water opened up to four foot deep and several families of opaleye were grazing on the floor. The visibility here was extremely serence. Probably the most beautiful scenerey I have seen thus far. Fish began to follow me. Scorpion fish would sometimes move away from my shadow and turn colors to match their new position. Sea hares were everywhere. I spent the next hour casually moving along checking out every posssible fish house and familarizing my self with grazing colonies of Opaleyes. I felt like I found a secret garden.