Get off the slopes!

[drbill]

Gorgeous weather this weekend at Catalina's Casino Dive Park. Although the visibility wasn't fantabulous, it was more than adequate. Bit of a current, but even my Apoolo Biofings could easily overcome it. Lots of fresh young kelp coming up. Sightgings of soupfin sharks up the coast. Cormorants diving in the park (even got footage). Surface intervals were almost toasty given the warm "winter" weather. In short an ideal day to dive.

But where were the divers? Volume was low, the CDS fill station was begging for empty tanks, SCUBA Luv closed early on Sunday.

On Catalina we realize that when there is snow on the local mountains in winter, many of our usual visitors head to the slopes to ski. Because of that, it's been slow here the last few weeks.

This suggested a question... how many of you California Kelp Divers are also ski enthusiasts? Is it really the appeal of the slopes (and perhaps the cool 57 degree water) that is keeping you away from the island? Or is it an economic factor... our blazing economy the president touts or all the bills from playing Santa Claus (or the Hanukah or Kwanza equivalent)?

An inquiring mind wants to know!

Dr. Bill

 

[LowTide]

For me it is the bills from Santa Clause as well as finding time to get over there. The wife and kids aren't usually too thrilled when I am gone all day Saturday or Sunday. Would love to come more often, but I can't complain about all the diving options we have here in Laguna Beach so close to home.

 

[Wristshot]

I ski race, and the best time for doing that is when there is snow on them thar hills. So, even though the underwater viz is the best in the winter, and the shore are less crowded, I am at the mercy of the ski racing schedule makers.

Of course, as poorly as I skied yesterday, I would have been better off sucking down 29% Nitrox in green gardens of kelp.

Not the slowest guy down the race course, but darn close to it!

Wristshot

 

[Dan The Man]

I love to ski!
I'm going to do a trip up to Lake Tahoe to ski at Heavenly in a few weeks, and I'm also doing 4 days in Mammoth the first weekend in March.

For the last few years I lived in San Jose and had a season pass at Heavenly and was there nearly every weekend. Now that I have moved back to San Diego I am diving constantly (averaging 4 dives a week) and skiing much less frequently.

As I see it, the ocean is always wet, but the mountains are only snowy for a limited time, so I gotta get up there and ski while the skiing is good!

--Dan

 

[Arnaud]

Love the slopes! But I just stayed home this WE. Last time in the water was a little hard on my left ear...

 

[OCdiving Deb]

Last time in the water was a little hard on my left ear...

Arnaud,
That is the second time you have mentioned your ear. What happened to it?

 

[kelpmermaid]

Actually, I was going to suggest that it might be the pix of our last adventure that put people off...they saw Kelphelper's bruise, and figured that snow had to provide a softer landing.

Yes, Arnaud, what's up with the ear?

 

[Arnaud]

My ear is fine! The combination of a cold and my chewing gum all day (no smoking in almost 3 months) which results in a slightly inflamed and swollen maxillary made it hard to equalize. The cold is gone, I'm trying to chew less and I can now equalize fine. I'll be back in the water this WE. No biggie, really, especially compared to Deb's firework on her arm...

 

[kelpmermaid]

Glad to hear that, Arnaud.

Think this could put people off a bit?

http://www.diver.net/weather/wimg.shtml?cdip.ucsd.edu/models/spc.gif

I was planning on being somewhere on the island this weekend, but I'll have to keep an eye on this.

 

[Arnaud]

Yeah, I saw the wave advisory. Crossing the SP Channel is going to be rough! Still planning on being there on Sunday. May not be bad at the Point. We'll see what Bill says...