Skin Dive#:009
Thur April 27, 08
Pt. Vicente Fishing Access: rocks, crevices
Purpose: first use of new wetsuit, show friend spot, rehab my calf
Tide: High @ 5 pm
Entry: rocks @ 6:30 pm
Distance: 10 - 100 yds offshore and about length of cove
Gear: 5/3suit, mask, snorkel, fins, socks, hood
Temp: Air 68 F/Water 58-60 F
Enviroment: scattered clouds, wind, 2 ft ankle breaks, choppy, strong surge
Visibilty: 5-15 ft, mostly 10 ft
Conditions Synopsis: Poor+/Fair
Sights: large garibaldi, surf perch, sargo, various kelp fish (ufo's)
Exit: rocks @ 7 pm
Time to date: 5 hrs 45 min
Total time this dive: 30 min
Total time: 6 hrs 15 min
Special Notes: Last thursday while swimming at the Y and diving to the bottom (with no fins) to play and equalize my ears I managed to get a really bad leg cramp in my left calf. It was completely paralyzing and I limped for a good day. It took about three days to actually feel normal. When I asked the lifeguard about it, he said it's from overexertion or even more likely from dehydration. I was dehydrated, and I swam for the longest and hardest ever that night. He helped me stretch it out and told me how to take care of it and stay hydrated, which I knew, but didn't practice, obviously. It's happened to him before in a swim meet so he just kept going with his good leg until that cramped up and then he was completely screwed. His soreness lasted several days, in both legs. he told me to eat a banana before swimming. So, I'm learnign to take care of my body more to prevent another leg cramp. For some reason, if it happens in the ocean, I'll be prepared for the discomfort, etc. I'll need to float on my back, stick the leg in the air, massage it with one hand and swim back to shore with the other. Pretty hard, that's where a dive buddy is a nescessity.
So this was my first skin dive since that leg cramp happened. Victor came with me and we got in the water an hour after high tide. Ideally, I'd want to be there a half hour before high tide because the currents get a bit stronger on that side of PV during tide change. The little half hour of calmness rigth before peak tide and right after would have made a slight difference in the dive. Same entry as last time, same exit. We swam out to the big rock and peered for rays in the sand. There was more fish life overall in the cove than the last time I was here. Saw many garibaldi. Fun dive. We cut it short cause my knee began to feel loose after spending days with a sore calf and then finally swimming again. Also, sun sets earlier here than Malaga due to positioning of the spot.
