Kayak Diving

[bkotheimer]

Is there anyone in SoCal active on this board who regularly goes kayak diving? I would love to join you if you'd be willing to show me the ropes.

I have an 8' Frenzy and I'm comfortable gearing up in the water, although I've never actually been diving from the kayak. Obviously, I have all my own dive gear, plus lots of ropes, clips, slings, carabiners, etc. I'll need to get an anchor, I guess.

Anyway, I'm just looking for fun alternatives to beach dives. Hit me with a reply or PM ..... thanks!

bk

 

[Mo2vation]

Is there anyone in SoCal active on this board who regularly goes kayak diving? I would love to join you if you'd be willing to show me the ropes.

I have an 8' Frenzy and I'm comfortable gearing up in the water, although I've never actually been diving from the kayak. Obviously, I have all my own dive gear, plus lots of ropes, clips, slings, carabiners, etc. I'll need to get an anchor, I guess.

Anyway, I'm just looking for fun alternatives to beach dives. Hit me with a reply or PM ..... thanks!

bk

Hi

Don't "get an anchor" - make a Kelp Anchor. Its the safest way to assure you boat will still be there when you get back.

Get a kelp clip (or make something like it) and get some bungee. I used an old paddle leash I wasn't using anymore.

-Ken

 

[Divebum Don]

There's a few folks on diver.net California Scuba Diving BBS forum, news, photos, videos, dive boats, stories, and weather who kayak dive out of King Harbor (Redondo Bch.) Ken's right, tying off to the Giant Kelp is best. There's also a good book "Kayak Diving" http://www.amazon.com/KAYAK-DIVING-COMPLETE-OUTFITTING-FISHING/dp/B001O1VR56 . Kayak diving is fun! Remember, don't just strap your gear on deck, tether EVERYTHING for your paddle out and back.

Not finding your boat sucks! 3 of us rented a skiff out of Two Harbors one time and headed for Isthmus Reef, we back rolled out, enjoyed our dive, and returned to find our skiff drifted half way to bird rock!! Haa! We 3 idiots hadn't anchored OR tied off, Duhhh! I'm kinda anal about boating these days and don't board ANY vessel without my personal "ditch bag", marine radio, PFD, flare, mirror, Etc. To me the ocean is quick sand, and she'll swallow you, your friends and all your best stuff in a heartbeat. Have fun and be safe out there!

 

[richardhlim]

I'm interested! i have all my gear: kayak, dive, etc. I too have not actually dove with my kayak, but looking forward to!

 

[Rich Keller]

A Frenzy may be a little small for kayak diving. It is rated to carry less then 300lbs and dose not have a lot of usable deck space. You might want to try this close to shore in shallow water first to see if it is doable with this kayak before you venture too far off shore.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I use an Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT which works pretty good, good enough that I've never considered something better until it dies.
I slightly disagree with the kelp clip theory. I use an anchor that I made out of rebar. It's a triple hook "Mexican Anchor" as they call it attached to about 4 feet of 3/16" galvanized chain which is attached to about 100 feet of 1/4" polypro rope which is all wound up on handle wind up spool.
I switched to an anchor after the kelp ball I was clipped off to came loose from it's holdfast while I was down and the seas came up.
Also, I may want to dive somewhere where there isn't kelp, so always having to have kelp around limits my options.
We do a lot of kayak diving up here so we've figured out many great ways to set up our boats.