Conditions at Casino Point?

[jetfixer]

You are not going to believe this Jetfixer called the Harbor master and they haven't decided if they will allow diving on the Valiant this weekend. Maybe you have a couple of connections?

JDog is right. Called yesterday and they said that due to the 3 day weekend (am i missing a holiday here?) they expect lots of boats and may use descanso as overflow area. whaddya think, Dr. Bill?? :06:

 

[drbill]

Hmmm... three day weekend? Is it President's Day already?

The harbormaster was my next door neighbor, but I don't try to take advantage of that connection. I would be surprised if there was enough spillover to close Descanso, but then I've been surprised before. They are forecasting rain on Sunday so that will "help."

Dr. Bill

 

[jetfixer]

Maybe Presidents day?? The guy I talked to was named Brian and seemed helpful. He suggested calling Sat. morning when we arrive and they will let us know then. Coupla questions...Do you surface swim to the Valiant? Do you start at the boundaries of the park?

 

[Lexy]

From my single Valiant experience... We did the surface swim from the dive park - toward big buoys. You'll pass the first buoy labelled something like "whistle wind" and then you'll find "afterhours". We descended off the "afterhours" buoy and then took a compass heading of 150 or 245 degrees? Don't quote me on that -> get it from the harbor master. Now, you should start to see it at 85-90 feet. The bow is pretty high up. If you get to 100 you've gone to far out and head back toward the shoreline, sloping.

 

[drbill]

Brian is the harbor master. Nice guy.

I always surface swim to the Valiant. There are three large cans in a line in the outer row of buoys. Drop down off the second and you should practically "fall" on top of the Valiant. Last time I dove it, you could see the wreck from just below the surface. Heard vis in the park yesterday was 25 ft., so it may not be visibile that quickly.

Getting my video gear ready and will head down to the Park myself in half an hour.

Dr. Bill

 

[fishfood]

Just got back from the park.. did the Valiant today found it on the first try
i think we went of mooring W46 ( cheating just looked it up )
Vis was ok.. fun day found every thing but the Sujac and Jacques Cousteau thing..
i think people or moving thing on me or i need to work on my nav skills..

 

[drbill]

To find the Sujac, drop down to 70 ft just outside the edge of the kelp forest and head towards the harbor mouth. You should run right into it at that depth.

To find the Cousteau Memorial, drop down on the third orange drop down buoy near the stairs (it's the one furthest to the south) and head towards the large buoy that marks the outer boundary of the park (about 90 degree heading I think). There's a clearing in the kelp that leads you right to it.

Both are easy to find once you know where to head.

Dr. Bill

 

[jetfixer]

From my single Valiant experience... We did the surface swim from the dive park - toward big buoys. You'll pass the first buoy labelled something like "whistle wind" and then you'll find "afterhours". We descended off the "afterhours" buoy and then took a compass heading of 150 or 245 degrees? Don't quote me on that -> get it from the harbor master. Now, you should start to see it at 85-90 feet. The bow is pretty high up. If you get to 100 you've gone to far out and head back toward the shoreline, sloping.

AFTERHOURS! We were trying to remember that after our dive! After dropping down we took a north heading and ran right into it. Great dive! Also saw the new wreck near the suejac. Its a sailboat in about 15 feet of water crashed into the reef.

 

[jetfixer]

Dr Bill, it was great seeing you at the park yesterday. Thanks for all of your helpful info!

 

[drbill]

Nice to meet you, too. Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more... I guess I was on a mission to get four dives in and gather as much video as I could so I'd have something to edit during the Stupor Bowl today!

That new sailboat wreck was interesting. I spent part of two dives taking video, which I'll give to the harbor master to see if we can get it towed out of the way there. It's actually blocking a few areas I like tof ilm.

Dr. Bill
Wet, but not underwater (or behind the ears)!