Sat Jun 21, 08
Christmas Tree Cove: rocks, reefs
Purpose: teach a friend to snorkel and see fish
Tide: High @ 1:00 pm
Entry: cobblestone @ aprrox 3:00 pm
Distance: around shore and rocks with friend, out to point later
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 80 F/Water 68 F
Enviroment: sunny and hot 0-2 ft breaks, slight surge
Visibilty: 5-15 ft
Conditions Synopsis: Fair
Sights: sea stars, urchins, garibaldi, sea bass, rockfish, senorita, opaleye, surfperch, sargo, sea hare
Exit: same @ approx 4:30 pm
Time to date: 8 hrs 30 min
Total time this dive: 1 hr 15 min
Total time: 9 hrs 45 min
Special Notes: My friend Omar has heard me talk about snorkeling and really took interest in the subject. He is a complete newbie and I didn't mind offering him a crash course in snokeling off Christmas Tree Cove. Yes, it was strenuous for him but, he had fun and he accomplished it. Now that he has done a rocky shore snorkel, i'm positive he will have fun at a sandy entrance... We arrived and once looking over the edge off the hill I knew it was a clear day in the water. We got down and he barely slipped into an XL 4mm wetsuit I had purchased off ebay for a mere $60 and I drilled him on waves, tides, gear, and the usual stuff. I went in with my gear and had him wade out without fins to try the mask and snorkel in water. He had a hard time at first but I coached him and then we exited and grabbed the rest of his gear. Once in the water and trying to put on fins he fumbled in the shallows. He's actual not that athletic and I spent a lot of mental and physical energy getting him grounded. A little later we were off checking out the rocks on the left side after he showed me he was comfortable swimming and enjoying himself. About a half hour after starting, he said that the only fish he saw was the orange garibaldi which, astonished me as I pointed out and even swam through some schools of fish while with him at my side. He might have poor vision or just doesnt' have the eye for seeing fish. I told him to look closer for grey and brown fish, because there's lots of them. The exit was eventful. He managed to loose both fins in a break and I made him wade back and grab them since I was actually barefoot during this skin dive. We only had one pair of socks so I let him use them. Me being barefoot and him being virgin to rocks, we probably looked really awkard coming over the cobblestones. On our bellies we braced ourselves for the small waves that felt larger than life. Haha, I'm proud of him. He said he wanted to learn to snorkel and boy did he. Once we were both out and safe I had to go back in and get my kicks out on my own. I swam up the left side and enjoyed some new terrain and saw a cool sea hare on a lonely rock. The garibaldis were bold as always. By the time I exited the water signs of "not-so-high tide" was apparent. The rocks were showing their green algae in the open air. Tomorrow should be great weather again. I have some weights and a belt I've been meaning to try. I'll plan that for tomorrow.
-Seaschralped-
