Dive report, shaws cove, laguna beach

[pacificgal]

I got to do my first southern cal dive today! I met up with another utd essentials trained buddy, Shawn. He let me borrow a can light, so that was another first for me. We had a great dive at shaws cove, a twilight dive. Upon descent, we found a small sea bass, probably 2.5 feet. Then came the garibaldis and senoritas and other small fish I can identify, there were hundreds of purple sea urchins everywhere, terrain was around a small reef in about 40 feet (depth). Shawnfound a Hopkins rose, I found a sea hare. My mask was leaking so bad and for some reason my nose was all congested. You cannot effectively keep a leaking mask clear if you can't blow thru your nose! Temp was 60 degrees by my computer, we did 45 minutes and I surfaced with 1100 psi. The leaking mask was intolerable! My eyes are so swollen now as a result, I'm taking a shower and going to bed, but what a great dive! Many thanks to my dive buddy for taking me out for such a good time!

 

[TSandM]

Glad you had a good time. Monterey and SoCal are sufficiently different that it's a great new experience to move from one to the other.

 

[kathydee]

Ah, you make me miss So Ca diving. Sounds like fun! Thanks for the report ;-). I'm curious, how did you like diving with a light can?

 

[pacificgal]

Diving with a can light was different, I enjoyed the brightness of 20 watt hid (Shawn gave me the better light) but I had to switch hands occasionally because it takes some muscle to keep it out in front, out of my buddies and the fishes eyes. I did ok though, thanks to watching enough of my friends using them. He invited me to vets with another female diver tonight, I may go, I don't have anywhere to rinse my gear here though

 

[ligersandtions]

I'm so glad you had fun! I hadn't planned to dive last night, but ended up diving Vet's (Laguna is too far for me during the week)....wish I had known you and Shawn were diving so I could have invited you to dive Vet's last night

I remember my first dive with a can light....it was incredibly task-loading (granted, I was very inexperienced, ~20 dives). I even had to clip it off for a while because I just couldn't handle it. Trust me, it gets better....and then it gets to the point where you can't imagine diving without it. Sounds like Shawn is handing out crack addictions

 

[kathydee]

Yeah, I also remember my first dive with a light can, as with any new piece of equipment, it did feel quite awkward. But now it's so important for communication, I just can't imagine diving without it.

Honestly, I've been diving it here on warm tropical OW daylight dive with 80 ft vis ;-)!