Lovers Cove and other spots near Avalon?

[Frank O]

I just found out that the boat I was signed up for Sunday has gotten cancelled, so I'm back to my default of taking the Express over to Avalon to freedive and take pictures for a while that morning.

I'm perfectly happy to hit Casino Point, but having just spent a good while in the water there last weekend, I was considering the possibility of variety. I realize most of you are on scuba when you're in the water, and Casino Point is the main shore-based place right near Avalon to do that. I was considering some alternatives:

-- Lovers Cove (just to the southeast of the Express landing) is open to snorkeling/freediving but not scuba. I remember when I swam there a couple of years ago there was a certain amount of kelp and a ton of calicos, garibaldis and opaleyes, due to the fact that the glass bottom boat and fake submarine go through on a regular basis chucking food overboard. On the downside, the aforementioned watercraft have a propensity for nearly running you over.

-- The little finger of rock reef at the end of Descanso Beach Club (beach past the casino on Descanso Bay) that separates it from the next cove down (with the giant ugly condos). I've never gotten in the water here and wonder if there's anything to see in the shallows.

Any input from folks who get over there often (or Dr. Bill) on where I'd best find fun and photogenic subjects in less than 25 ft of water? Or just back to Casino Point? Given that I'll be on a tight schedule it's probably not feasible to rent a kayak or skiff and try to get farther afield. Thanks for any opinions.

 

[Mo2vation]

Lovers cove scares me with the boat traffic. I mean. they're not silent, but with no bubbles (as we know, no scuba there) isn't there a chance encounter with a boat or big yellow sub? Am I mental, aren't you in the same place as them?

What about getting a ride to two harbors, and walking the shore line on that side? Probably a better chance to see some new stuff, and as you're traveling light, it may not be a probibitive as with Scuba.

K

 

[Frank O]

Mo2vation once bubbled...
What about getting a ride to two harbors, and walking the shore line on that side? Probably a better chance to see some new stuff, and as you're traveling light, it may not be a probibitive as with Scuba.

Yes, that would actually be my first pick, given the choice. I've done a lot of pleasant freedives in various parts of Two Harbors/Isthmus Cove (such as Big Fishermans Cove where the Wrigley Center is located; the smaller cove adjacent to it overlooked by the campground; and the northwest end of the main Isthmus Cove beach, where I've noticed the Two Harbors Dive Shop does some of its training dives for classes).

Only wrinkle is time ... I'd take a boat from San Pedro to Two Harbors, but at best that's an all-day proposition. I'm in one of those modes of whittling out little windows of time to get in the water that still allow me to get back to Pasadena by 2 p.m. (for child-care reasons).

Given the perils of Lovers Cove (which I've experienced personally), I'll probably end up at Casino Point again. But I'll have a slightly different photo gear configuration, so maybe it will all look different to me.

 

[drbill]

FrankO- I've dived Lover's Cove a number of times in the past (although not this year due to low vis) and find it both interesting and relatively sagfe (on SCUBA). Free diving to any depth might be another thing, although the shallows should provide some decent shots as well.

I used to do a lot of free diving at the point south of Descanso Beach (or the Hamilton Cove area), especially during the 82-83 El Nino. Good kelp and enough stuff to see.

The ocean along Pebbly Beach Road is another options... you can even hunt south of Ring Rock.

A kayak out of Descanso could get you to some spots past Hamilton reasonably fast.

Dr. Bill

 

[Frank O]

drbill once bubbled...
The ocean along Pebbly Beach Road is another options... you can even hunt south of Ring Rock.

Thanks, DrBill, those are some more options to mull.

Incidentally, I'm not planning on hunting this weekend, but I notice that the Lovers Cove Reserve is mentioned in Fish & Game documents so I assume it's a state reserve. However, I don't see anything in the state system mentioning Casino Point. Is the no-take rule in the underwater park based on a city ordinance?

 

[Frank O]

In case I end up back at Casino Point ... I've been meaning to do a freedive to the Cousteau monument which, if memory serves, is in ~35 ft of water. So as to narrow down my search time (particularly if vis is dicey), any tips on how to self-orient before descending to try to hit it? Franko's (the other one's) Avalon Underwater Park map card would suggest it's a bit to the right of the red dive buoys that are tethered in the center of the park -- say, about even with the end of the walled asphalt and planter area to the right of the stairway as you face the ocean from the casino. And out a tad further than the buoys. Is that about the right place to start?

 

[drbill]

Yes, the Casino Dive Park was established by city ordinance rather than by CDF&G.

The Cousteau memorial is at about 35-40' depending on tide. I get to it by dropping down from the lone drop down buoy and heading roughly towards the East. You can also locate it by hovering over the end of the finger ridge there and diving down and slightly towards the stairs.

Dr. Bill