Great Day at Catalina

[on_two_wheels]

Met up with Fisheater out there yesterday (6/16). It was the start of weekday fill service at Casino Point. We got to the point about 8:15. After some chit chat and organizing, we got in the water at 9a sharp. Surprised to find visibility at 40 feet or so!! By the 3rd dive it was down to about 25-30 but still better than what I had seen last time I was there (and only time). Temps were about 64 degrees at depth....very comfy diving wet.

Now, if the great conditions weren't enough, getting there went well, too!! Last time I took the Catalina Express, I got a small discount for being military. This time, I got 50% off!! I think they made a mistake but I took advantage and got the Commodore Lounge upgrade.

Oren (fisheater) is a great dive buddy. Very skilled with the nav and we got lucky that our air supply was VERY comparable. I was a bit envious with his dive box set up! Definitely going to home depot soon!! Hope everyone got in some great dives this weekend!

 

[drbill]

Oren and his family were on the King Neptune Father's Day so I got a chance to meet them. Glad you two got some dives in under good conditions. I've been tied to a computer editing the weekend's video.

 

[fisheater]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

I just got back home from the family Catalina trip. I'd managed to get in 8 dives, including 3 dives aboard the King Neptune on Father's Day with Dr. Bill, 3 dives with On_Two_Wheels on Monday at the Avalon Dive Park and 2 mores dives at The Park on Wednesday with others.

I had a great time.

It was wonderful meeting, talking to and diving with - well - around Dr. Bill on the King Neptune. He's an even classier guy in person than on ScubaBoard. Though, the highlight of that trip was my two kids (18 y.o. son and 15 y.o. daughter) doing their Discovery Scuba Dive. Best part of my Father's Day.

I also had a blast diving with Matt, aka On_Two_Wheels, at the Dive Park. I'd never dove a wreck before and was amazed at how fun it was. I know that the Kismet, the glass bottomed boat and the unnamed small sailboat aren't overly impressive when you think about them. However, I found myself fascinated when I encountered them underwater. I was also fun being able to put my newly obtained UW Nav Specialty training into use, taking compass bearings off of the Franko's map and actually finding the stuff underwater (and getting back to where we'd started again). The best part, though, was meeting and diving with Matt. I'm constantly amazed at the quality people you meet in diving.

On the Wednesday dives, I teamed up with two cousins, one a recently certified diver from L.A. and the other an instructor from the Philippines. Neither had ever dove in California and both were trying out drysuits for the first time. However, they were kind and generous enough to allow me to dive with them. As I'd been there before, they wanted me to lead. First dive, I led them to the three wrecks that Matt and I had dove before. Second dive, we swam under the kelp near the instructors' rings and surfaced near the marker buoys. We then surface swam to the far east corner of the Dive Park. We descended to the buoy's anchor (@ 102 fsw) and swam towards the navigation light at the end of the breakwater. We were looking for the Sue-Jac, which should have been right there, judging by the Franko's map. We didn't see it, but had a good dive anyway, following the 30 fsw contour to the east towards the stairs and the instructors' rings.

However, one of the times I looked back, I saw the local diver breathing off of his instructor cousin's primary reg. He was OOA, so we did a SS and ascended a bit shy of our goal.

Nonetheless, we had fun and I was again reminded of the great people you meet diving.

Thanks everyone!

 

[fisheater]

Oh. Here are pictures of my dive box, which On_Two_Wheels mentioned.

 

[on_two_wheels]

Thanks, Oren....thanks for rubbing in the cool set up that I don't have yet!!!! ;-) Quick question...have you had any issues with boats not wanting the hard bag on deck?

 

[fisheater]

Thanks, Oren....thanks for rubbing in the cool set up that I don't have yet!!!! ;-) Quick question...have you had any issues with boats not wanting the hard bag on deck?

So far, the only dive boat that I've tried with it was the King Neptune and they had no problems. (Nor did the Catalina Express!)

 

[mazeingerz]

If I'm going to Casino Point alone, is it easy to find dive buddy's there? Or should I find a buddy first before going there?

 

[SCUBA_Phil]

Casino Point is a very friendly place. You should not have any trouble finding a dive buddy. I often go here and find someone to dive with. That being said, not all divers are equal, choose carefully! Two newbies are the worst combination.

Phil

 

[fisheater]

On Wednesday, I had great luck arriving at Casino Point early (@ 8 a.m.), setting up my gear and asking the first divers that showed up if I could join them.

 

[Teamcasa]

Quick question...have you had any issues with boats not wanting the hard bag on deck?

My wife and I have the same basic setup. They are gaining popularity, particularly with those who dive the Casino dive park frequently.
The Catalina Express has no issue with them and I have been on the King Neptune many times, they have no problem either.

One problem, if everyone wanted to bring one, then it might begin to be an issue. If I go out on the ScubaCat,
I’ll bring a mesh dive bag as well and leave the box at the hotel or with Catalina Bag and Storage.