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.

Mildly Chaotic in the Portugeuse Pt. Tide Pools

Below: getting ready to flop in

Skin Dive#:013
Sat Jun 07, 08
Portuguese Point: tide pools, rocks
Purpose: get wet and have fun, test new fins
Tide: High @ 2:00 pm
Entry: rocks and reefs @ 3:30 pm
Distance: 50 yds to rocks
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 75 F/Water 58 F
Enviroment: partly cloudy, light wind, 1-3 ft breaks, textured surface
Visibilty: 0-10 ft
Conditions Synopsis: Poor
Sights: lots of: sea stars, urchins, cracked mussels, algae, kelp, some treefish
Exit: same @ 4:00 pm

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

Special Notes: I parked by the fire station and hiked over to the cove south of Portugeuse Point. This put me directly behind Abalone Cove at the unofficial nude beach. There were fisherman down at the bottom of the steep trail and I geared up and entered over a large tide pool area that was sort of clear and maneuvered around in 2 to 10ft of water with some strong current. Being confined in such tight places I was able to really look at things that I otherwise overlook, like algae and discarded shells. I mostly used my hands to get about but then swam out of the tide pools passing through a funny current that came from the nearby exit of a cave and then climbed onto a big rock and walked over to the front of the cave. The waves going in the cave were not to be messed with so I walked back to the rock ledge I used and waited for a good swell to flop back in. On the flop I hit my knee on a hidden rock that was covered with seaweed, but luckily it didn't do anything besides surprise me. I spent the rest of the time wiggling in and out and over rocks. All in all this dip was strange and foreign due to the shallow water and wave action. I still need to get some good gloves and hard soled sippers. My soft slippers now have a big toe popping thru em. I also used some new fins that I got at the thrift, just had to replace the straps. They work great!


-Seaschralped-