Anybody still beach diving in Malibu?
- Thread starter Leejnd
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I live in Malibu and probably more motivated to do beach dives than in the past now that I've found a buddy who also just wants to get wet. We dove Escondido Beach the weekend before last and viz was non-existent, but good for practicing navigation. I went snorkeling at Big Dume on Saturday and viz was only about 4-5 feet, but now the waves are up now so probably can't see anything.
LA County Lifeguards have 2 more 3R classes in Malibu this year. I did the 3R thing a few years ago and was less than impressed, except for the ride on Baywatch. The class at Leo in June was actually pretty good, but it was taught by lifeguards this time
I have a friend coming in from MD at the end of August to shore dive. Any suggestions for a good Malibu beach dive then? Pt Dume Pinnacles? He's coming a day early so we can go to the Avalon marine park just to make sure we get some decent diving
I'm up for beach dives some weekend mornings and weekday late afternoons if I have enough lead time to clear my schedule
LA County Lifeguards have 2 more 3R classes in Malibu this year. I did the 3R thing a few years ago and was less than impressed, except for the ride on Baywatch. The class at Leo in June was actually pretty good, but it was taught by lifeguards this time
I have a friend coming in from MD at the end of August to shore dive. Any suggestions for a good Malibu beach dive then? Pt Dume Pinnacles? He's coming a day early so we can go to the Avalon marine park just to make sure we get some decent diving
I'm up for beach dives some weekend mornings and weekday late afternoons if I have enough lead time to clear my schedule
Mr Carcharodon
Contributor
El Matador and Leo can both be really good. Both are mostly shallow so you need small swell.
Rainer
Contributor
I don't know. The last several trips I've made to sites in Malibu have all been really rather crappy vis days (<5'). This is with only a moderate swell. Been having *much* better luck in Laguna.
That said, have plans to try Pt Dume this weekend. I'm less than optimistic...
That said, have plans to try Pt Dume this weekend. I'm less than optimistic...
Scott L
Contributor
Conditions were really nice....probably 15 feet of vis, 62F at depth (only down to 38fsw, iirc). My buddy knows the area really well (has done hundreds of dives at Leo alone) said that it appeared that the kelp was going to start breaking down and releasing particulates....so he thinks the vis is going to worsen over the next couple weeks. That said, I'd definitely go back even if the vis was a little worse....but I don't mind somewhat bad vis as I dive slowly anyways
Worse than 15ft? :shocked2: You guys must really love to dive. IJS...
Rainer
Contributor
OP
Leejnd
Contributor
Look forward to your report! I can't even remember the last time I did a beach dive...actually, it was probably close to a year ago, and the vis was something less than 5 feet, so we bailed. I kept reading that it wasn't any better, so we haven't gone back. I don't really understand why it's been so bad for so long. Back when we were getting together every Friday night at Broad Beach for dives, I don't remember the vis being so awful - it was never like out at the islands, but we often had 15-20 there What is up with the beaches lately?
Well, yes we DO love to dive
, but 10-15 ft vis is perfectly fine for an enjoyable dive around here. Some of the best stuff to look at is the tiny stuff anyway - nudis, anemones, sponges - and vis like that gets you to slow down and look at the small stuff, and focus on macro photography. Anything less than 10, tho, and the fun factor does start to deteriorate...
ligersandtions
Contributor
Scott L
Contributor
Those of us who do local shore diving set our expectations low. Anything better than 10 feet is good vis! When we go out to the islands and everyone is apologizing for 40 foot vis, we're ecstatic! I don't even know what to do with myself in 80-100 foot vis
Personally, I am fond of our 50-70ft typical range. The vastness of 100+ vis is sometimes disorienting and daunting to myself on deeper dives...
OP
Leejnd
Contributor
Yeah yeah yeah...I'll see your 70-ft vis and raise you a few kelp beds.
I've experienced 100ft vis - in Belize, in Bali, in Bora Bora (and that's just the B's!).
I agree that is some fantastic diving. But that doesn't take away from what we have here. The first time you see the sea lions frolicking in a kelp bed, with the sun dappling down through the canopy refracted by the particulates giving the scene a murky surreallity, you'll recognize that it may be different, but it is no less enjoyable, and in fact has its own magical charm that can't be found in clear blue tropical waters.Similar threads
