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.

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.