Gate Locked at Marineland Sunday

[orangelion03]

Not that anyone would have wanted to dive there yesterday, but...

John and I had been booked on Great Escape for a trip out to Catalina, but the trip was cancelled by the captain in the morning (Bottomscratcher went out...any body?). Had breakfast in San Pedro with some of the other divers, then decided to check out Marineland, see what it was like, maybe hang out and shoot the bull with the usual denizens. As we drove round the penninsula, it was obvious no one would be diving, but we were suprised to find the gate locked. There were several work trucks and equipment on the lot. Now, was this due to conditions, or have they reached the point in construction where they're keeping divers out?

We ended up having a nice morning anyways...visited the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and practiced our fish ID skills! That Wolf Eel is so cooool!! They also have a Monkey Face Eel...Do these eels remind anyone else of Muppet characters? The Mantis Shrimp was a treat as well!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

No divers showed up due to the conditions. The gate is usually open between 6:30 and 8:00, depending on who gets there first.

 

[Codyjp]

No divers showed up due to the conditions. The gate is usually open between 6:30 and 8:00, depending on who gets there first.

Who is resposible for opening the gate? there is going to be a period of time that costruction will not allow us to have access but i don't know when that is. anybody?

to bad you didn't get to dive.

I think greg in the bottom scratcher will go out in just about anything. I was on it on a day like sunday (probably worse) and he didn't even blink about it. it is a lot harder to find a calm dive site though.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Don Robarge has been our liason with the York Long Point Associates group. He has been given the combination to the lock each time it has been changed in exchange for our concerted effort to police the place ourselves. We've picked up trash every day we've dived there and tried to keep people from vandalizing and driving down to the cove. There are at least 20-30 divers who have the combination. The usual bunch, myself included, who arrive early open the gate. There is now a night security guard who locks up.

 

[Codyjp]

It is nice that there are so many people willing to keep the place looking nice! I did see some cars down at the beach the other day but i am guessing they were doing some sort of work there. How soon will it be until the 'real' development starts? hopefully they will leave us with a reasonable facility/access. I am dreaming of showers...

 

[travelmadness]

Don Robarge has been our liason with the York Long Point Associates group. He has been given the combination to the lock each time it has been changed in exchange for our concerted effort to police the place ourselves.

wow, very cool. nice of him

 

[MaxBottomtime]

They told us the parking lot will still be open at least through December. They won't begin working on the path until at least January, so any cars at the beach are from people who can't seem to read the signs posted about no vehicles beyond the chain. Last month, someone used bolt cutters on two of the locks. Although the walk to the water is a bit long, it's one of the easiest accesses in Palos Verdes. I wish those who can't handle it would go to Laguna instead.

 

[shoupart]

I'm glad that the landowners have trusted us divers!
By the way, is that mesh gate ever opened or unlocked at the top of the paved path? I hope you know which one I mean- it's the one that you'd come to if you were walking up from the cove, up that road, and would be right in your way before you have to turn right and walk over the foundation for that razed building.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I put two locks on it because someone...Jake...kept driving down there. Two weeks ago one of the locks was sawed off. Last Thursday the other one was missing. John Lee is in charge of the property. His office is at the top of the parking lot and it is up to him to give us the combination. I hope we still have access for a little while more. I need to finish the artificial reef.

 

[shoupart]

Definitely! Finish the artificial reef, by all means!