dissappointing diving at Laguna

[diver_doug]

Laguna Sea Sports has been showing 20-25ft vis this whole week. There was virtually no surf, no surge so I thought I was in for spectacular diving BUT there was a red tide (or something like a red tide) going on...knocked vis down to about 5-10ft in most areas. Assuming it was a red tide, anybody know about how long these things last?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

They get their condition reports from divers coming into the shop. I've dived at Shaw's Cove in heavy surge and 12-15 feet vis and later read a report from someone who was there during the same time and claimed it was 25 feet. I guess some divers consider seeing a dark shadow in the distance as visibility. I've dived with others who came up from the dive and said it was nearly twice what I thought it was.

 

[riguerin]

We had 20-30+ foot of viz at Deadman's/N. Crescent a few days back. Bummer about the viz deterioration. Otherwise, weather and surf conditions look like they've been ideal the past few days.

 

[diver_doug]

They get their condition reports from divers coming into the shop. I've dived at Shaw's Cove in heavy surge and 12-15 feet vis and later read a report from someone who was there during the same time and claimed it was 25 feet. I guess some divers consider seeing a dark shadow in the distance as visibility. I've dived with others who came up from the dive and said it was nearly twice what I thought it was.

I think (for this week at least) their reports were accurate...whatever was going on today wasn't typical bad-vis stuff (e.g. it wasn't sand or runoff, it was red tide or something like red tide). As I was swimming out, I looked underwater and noticed a brownish-red murk. As I got further out it wasn't as bad but was still prevalent throughout the dive; I also noticed a brownish-red "silt" on a lot of the sand underwater. Does this sound like red tide...if not, what might it be?

 

[Megalomegalodon]

I'm gonna do Dead Man's on Saturday. Hopefully the condition are good as they have been during the week.

 

[muddiver]

Neutreant laden water + a good sunny day = explosive alge and plankton growth.

That is probably what you encountered. Usually vis is way better during the winter months, expecially out around the islands. It can get up to 100+ feet.

 

[riguerin]

Yup, horrible viz at Shaw's last night ...maybe 5ft at best. Definitely looks like some kind of algae bloom that just taken off in the past couple days. It could be related to the recent rains and the bright clear skies we've had all week. Hopefully it clear up soon.

 

[Spg01]

Sounds like I will be sleeping in once again. I know someone who took a dive boat out to Catalina today and they said vis was 10 feet or less and Laguna sea sports has vis at 0-10 today.

 

[riguerin]

Poor viz doesn't necessarily mean sucky dive. Just different...that's all. Diving with an experienced and tight crew can make a huge difference.

 

[Spg01]

That's true, I have had some good low vis/surge dives. But having some other stuff to do today made the decision a little easier. Even though I should have gone anyways.