A near loss, and a credit to our community...

[paradicio]

You don’t need me to tell you that there’s a lot of crime in the Los Angeles area. It’s a given, if you’re looking for reasons to be depressed just watch the local news.

I’m proud to say, however, that from what I’ve seen this type of behavior has not grasped our sport, and our diving community, in its ugly claws…

I was at the dive park in Catalina this last Saturday, the wife and I are going to Hawai’i this coming Thursday and we’ve been wanting to get as many dives in as possible before we go (we’re new and don’t want to look like total rookies on our first boat dive). The first dive of the day went off without a hitch, I was able to get some really good photos (more than any other aspect of diving, I think I enjoy underwater photography the most). After our SI, and lunch, we geared up and went out for our second dive.

Well, the second dive was not going so well for me… My mask kept flooding and I had to keep stopping to clear it, (but I was still getting some really good picures). I always strap the lanyard attached to our camera housing around my arm when I clear my mask, usually it floats up on my shoulder next to my head. This time was no different; I had done what I always do…only when I went to reach for my camera it was gone… I signaled my wife, and we started our search. After about 20 minutes of looking air was getting low and it was time to surface…

Back up top, our spirits low, my wife started packing our gear and I went to pay for, and return the tanks to the fill station… What were we going to use to take pictures in Hawai’i? I was even mourning the loss of the pictures I had just taken… As I was standing in line I turned around and saw someone handing something to my wife…and she was bouncing… She raised our camera in the air and waved it at me! It had been found, not only found, but returned!

I’m not sure if the nice family that found and returned our camera reads this board, but if you do…thank you! Thank you so much! You are a credit to the California Diving Community! You saved our trips (our trip to the dive park and our trip to Hawai'i), and seriously made my day!

Next stop will be to our LDS to pick up a clip to secure the camera to my BC…

 

[ShakaZulu]

No worries, I do what I can....

 

[almitywife]

congrats to those that found it - i hope karma repays them in kind

and to you too and remember to pass it on in the future!

nice news - nice story!!

 

[paradicio]

Was that you ShakaZulu!? We'll have to meet up and let me get you a beer or seven to express my thanks!

 

[Leejnd]

What a heartwarming story...and thank you so much for sharing it.

Maybe it's something about Catalina. A few years ago, we were on a family vacation with our two kids, and our first stop was Avalon. My daughter, who was a pre-teen at the time, had been saving up her allowance for months for this vacation, so she would have money to buy souvenirs. About an hour into our day in Avalon we went to a public restroom, where she proceeded to leave her wallet in the stall. She didn't realize it until about 30 min. later...we rushed back to the bathroom, but of course it was gone.

She was distraught, and I struggled with that old parental dilemma of wanting to shield our children from pain, yet knowing that they need to learn their own lessons, sometimes the hard way. (It was all I could do to keep myself from just giving her some money to make up for her loss - but I didn't.) Towards the end of the day, I noticed that there was an "Information" booth on the pier, and I suggested that we go ask the people there, on the VERY remote chance that it had been found.

We walked into the little booth and...there it was, sitting on the desk of the person there! It had her school ID in it, so they knew it was hers...and what's more, it had every single dollar and cent that had been inside. We were stunned. So my daughter learned two important lessons that day: 1) be more CAREFUL with your valuables, and 2) there are still some good, honest people left in the world.

I realize this is not a diving-related story, but I thought it was on-topic enough to simply point out that there seems to be some seriously positive ju-ju on that island!

 

[scottfiji]

Was that you ShakaZulu!? We'll have to meet up and let me get you a beer or seven to express my thanks!

well, if you are going to thank someone, it might as well be Roy (shakazulu)

 

[ShakaZulu]

Was that you ShakaZulu!? We'll have to meet up and let me get you a beer or seven to express my thanks!

No man, I was just kidding, hence the smiley behind the statement Glad you found someone honest.....enjoy Hawaii.

 

[D_B]

Thanks for sharing that ... I love a happy ending

I've found that the people in our sport in general, and the folks in Catalina in particular, are a helpful, trustworthy bunch that will go out of their way to do the right thing
... Wonderful feeling Isn't it?

 

[drbill]

I'm glad that there are two stories here about good Samaritans on Catalina.

Unfortunately, it is not always so nice. My housemate was woken up by the dog we were dog sitting for Harbor Master Brian and his wife Michelle. She opened the door to my condo to let the dog out. At the foot of the stairs it started barking, so Iris walked down to see what Lexie was barking at.

Out of the darkness some jerk jumped Iris, beat her in the face and broke her nose. So Avalon is not all idyllic, but there are many good people who live here and who visit here.

 

[JMdiver]

I find it very comforting that you can leave your gear unattended while you're diving or getting something to eat, being from NY originally it was very hard for me to do that but have never had anything taken. The dive park & dive community are great.

John