Any Oceanography Books for California?

[2ndjetty]

Hi all - I've done some searches for a book with local ocean knowledge with no luck.

Does anyone know of any books or studies that talk in detail about currents, upwelling, wind, etc in the SoCal area? I'm basically trying to further my knowledge on what weather patterns create good beach diving conditions (besides the obvious swell direction, period, etc).

Thanks!


Brent

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Hathi Trust Digital Library - Holdings: The oceanography of Santa Monica Bay, California /

Hathi Trust Digital Library - Holdings: A Survey of the oceanographic literature of the...

Hathi Trust Digital Library - Holdings: Wave prediction in the Santa Barbara Channel :...

Hathi Trust Digital Library - Holdings: Ocean wave group analysis /

Usually the conditions improve after a few days of Santana winds, but not always. Other than the past four years, visibility is best during late August through November. Sometimes the ocean will be flat for days, yet the water will still be cloudy. I've had a few dives in rough seas with swells over four feet and wind creating white caps, yet it was calm and clear just a few feet below the surface.
I've found that the best way to guarantee good conditions is to leave your camera at home or promise your wife that you will stay home and help around the house that day.

 

[2ndjetty]

Thanks for the info! You nailed the reasons for trying to find all this - just when all the conditions line up vis isn't what I think it will be, or vice versa. I'm not a scientist but want to figure out what more of these variables are (so that I can procrastinate on house chores and get in the water ).

 

[Craig Hoover]

Hi Brent,

Santa Monica is dirty and warm in the summer. It is shallow a long way out. Prevailing SW swell in the summer can create a longshore that meets little obstruction until somewhere around Malibu Point. (Malibu Lagoon) Sewer outflow into the Santa Monica Bay (Dockweiler) adds nutrients to the water which may support growth of plankton. The only submarine canyon in this area is the Santa Monica Canyon which is a long way offshore.

To find good vis dive close to submarine canyons or deep water close to the shoreline. I prefer the area from Point Dume up to Deer Creek as it lies between the Dume and the Mugu canyons. If you dive in the middle between these two canyons (Miniwall) you may find good vis in either summer or winter. There are many other good sites along this stretch such as County Line and Piedra which both have access to reefs 50 feet deep and may be seasonally marked by kelp. The recent hurricane swells tore out much of the kelp so these reefs may not be as well marked as they were over the past couple years.

Conditions are very site specific and change with the seasons and years. The best understanding comes from choosing one site and diving it several times a month for a year.

Upgrade to a 120 dude! You're strong enough to carry it and then some.

Mendo was great. Gotta do some night diving soon.

Craig

 

[2ndjetty]

Hey Craig - Are you back in town? Thanks for the info - you know your stuff, as I learned when we dove last. I've been keeping a detailed dive log again so that I can start to record conditions like you said.

Let's definitely dive soon. I was back and forth about an HP100 or ST120, but yea, I'll pick up a ST120. I'm out of town tomorrow through Sept 5 but will call once back and we can get in the water!

Brent