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!