Dive Report?

[clowe]

Hello Everyone,

My fiance and I want to finish the last open water in our certification(did the first 3 last sunday at catalina on a boat) but we don't want to wait another week and half until the next boat trip, so... What are some good places to see the dive/surf report for Orange county? Our main instructor at the LDS we are taking the class with, is teaching another class this saturday. They have another instructor, but he only works part time. Trying to see if a first time beach dive is a good idea for Saturday.

Any and all info is much appreciated as always.

Thanks.

-Chris

 

[undrwater]

http://www.lagunaseasports.com/conditions/conditions.asp

 

[clowe]

http://www.lagunaseasports.com/conditions/conditions.asp

haha... i was on their site earlier this week and completely missed that... :shakehead

Thanks underwater

 

[ChrisA]

Another good source is this because it covers a wide area and attempts to make predictions three days out. Beaches here in So call all face different directions so sou can use the maps to find a good beach.

http://cdip.ucsd.edu/?nav=recent&sub=nowcast

 

[LAJim]

Sounds like you had a great experience - why push it by moving up to a more demanding beach dive and an instructor change in mid-stream? Plenty of great diving next 3 months. You won't miss it, unless one of you has a bad experience.

Jim

 

[ChrisA]

Sounds like you had a great experience - why push it by moving up to a more demanding beach dive and an instructor change in mid-stream? Plenty of great diving next 3 months. You won't miss it, unless one of you has a bad experience.

On the other hand, I beleive that EVERY OW class in So cal should include a couple local beach dives. I can't imagine someone living here and calling them selves a "scuba diver" and not knowing how to walk into the ocean.

Way back when I was looking for an OW class, I made sure my OW class included some beach dives because I figured if I lived close to the beach that's where I''d do most of my dives. Turned out I was right. Most of my diving does include walking into the ocean at the beach.

On the other hand if I lived in the Mid-West I'd figure that most of my ocean diving would be at resorts off boats

 

[clowe]

On the other hand, I beleive that EVERY OW class in So cal should include a couple local beach dives. I can't imagine someone living here and calling them selves a "scuba diver" and not knowing how to walk into the ocean.

Way back when I was looking for an OW class, I made sure my OW class included some beach dives because I figured if I lived close to the beach that's where I''d do most of my dives. Turned out I was right. Most of my diving does include walking into the ocean at the beach.

On the other hand if I lived in the Mid-West I'd figure that most of my ocean diving would be at resorts off boats

That is exactly our thinking too Chris. We live within a relatively short driving distance(Long Beach) to *, and want to be taught the right and wrong ways to do a beach dive. Unfortuantely, our LDS tends to think beach dives should be taught more in an "Advanced" class than in the beginning OW class.

Also, to answer your question LAJim, both my fiance and I are involved in team sports on Sundays, and this shop likes to do the trips on Sundays. The beach dive just fits into our schedule better.

As for the trip, it was nice. But both of us grew up at the beach, so just hanging out at ~30ft was not exactly what we had hoped for. This might sound cocky or non-chelant, but we did exactly the same things in the pool 2 weeks earlier. I understand they want students to be comfortable and not to panic, when situations happen, but we didn't do anything in the ocean that we didn't do in the pool. Although, looking back I'm not really sure what new exercises/drills we expected to perform, but it would have been nice to have been able to actually swim a little and see things that didn't swim past us on their own as we sat on the seafloor on our knees.

Now all I have to do is see if the alternate instructor is willing to do it on Saturday.

*Edit*
I just re-read my post, and it makes it sound like we are unhappy with our LDS, let me state this clearly, WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THEM.
It's just our idea of certain things tends to not be in line with their's. Not a big deal, happens everyday. The shop is very knowledgeable, which is why we like them. But diving IS their lives, diving just enhances ours and that's where the differences come into play. Thanks.

 

[dwaters]

clowe... check out www.southcoastdivers.com make sure you let them know of your level of comfort and many times there are dive masters, instructors, good ol' timers going out for fun beach dives that are willing to show ya'll the "ropes". Also, a great beginner "beach" dive is at Casino Point, Avalon. Go to Catalina and get your feet wet for a Saturday to gain skills and fun! Meet up with the SBer next months beach dive on 10/14.... p.s. get your c-card and join in with the fun.

 

[Robert Phillips]

Unfortuantely, our LDS tends to think beach dives should be taught more in an "Advanced" class than in the beginning OW class.

Probably due to the fact that most instructors I have witnessed teaching beach dives are sorely lacking in the skill to be teaching it to new divers.

 

[JMdiver]

Shaws Cove is a good beginner dive spot also check out L.A. Countys 3R's class it's very good for beginner beach divers. I think one is coming up in Oct. I lost the link but maybe somebody else here can came up with it.

Happy Diving
John