Malaga Cove goin off!

[stakanak]

01/08/10-12:30pm
10-15 vis
Light surge
66F surface
59F @ 20ft
Tons of life on the high tide including Calico's, Opaleye, Sargo, Sculpin, Wrasse, Giant Bat Ray, Morey Eel, 20lb plus Halibut, Lobster, Spider crabs, Garibaldi, Blue/Silver/Barred perch, 6 foot Leopard Shark, 2 Juvenile Black Seabass (My buddies saw them and I didn't dagnabit!), and a Partridge in a Pear Tree...all in 15 feet of water.
Best dive at Malaga yet!
Get Wet!

 

[ligersandtions]

Wow, great news! I've never managed a decent dive at Malaga....got in once and had pathetic vis, and have looked a number of times only to see milky water. I keep hoping I can make it out there....hope it holds out till this weekend.

Glad you had a nice dive

 

[blue steal]

stakanak. Glad you had a good dive/time. We went out freediving at Christmas tree cove Friday around 10-12. VIS was pretty good 10'-15'+, light surge, no waves. Didn't see a lot of critters, few fish and of course lots of Garibaldi. Did see quite a few lobsters. what I noticed was the water temp seemed very cool. Definitely in the high 50's.

 

[fnfalman]

What is it about Malaga Cove that always have funky stuff showing up there? The only time I've seen a leopard shark was at Malaga Cove. Heck, I even saw barracudas and yellowtails there once.

But the hike back up to the parking lot was brutal...:depressed:

 

[diver_doug]

What is it about Malaga Cove that always have funky stuff showing up there? The only time I've seen a leopard shark was at Malaga Cove. Heck, I even saw barracudas and yellowtails there once.

But the hike back up to the parking lot was brutal...:depressed:

The hike back sucks no matter what, but it can be minimized. I bought a small dolly to which I bungiecord my tank and bag; then cart everything down and don/doff the gear on the beach. The hike back up (even with bag/tank bungied to the dolly) still sucks, but not as much as it does when you're wearing the gear or carrying the tank.

 

[fnfalman]

The hike back sucks no matter what, but it can be minimized. I bought a small dolly to which I bungiecord my tank and bag; then cart everything down and don/doff the gear on the beach. The hike back up (even with bag/tank bungied to the dolly) still sucks, but not as much as it does when you're wearing the gear or carrying the tank.

I can barely fit my gears into my two-seater. Not much room for anything else.:depressed:

 

[stakanak]

I think the main reason for all of the life at Malaga actually has to due with the poor vis (very nutrient rich green water/lots of places for things to hide and ambush as well).
It is also exposed directly to the Santa Monica Bay and all of the North West/West swell and current. Shallow with lots of surge, and a hell of a kick back into the main beach, it is not a good place for those "out of shape." Plus, like ligersandtions says, the vis is usually very minimal.
I would just love to get Malaga with 20 feet of vis though.
Has anyone ever gotten the place with 20 feet of vis?
Get Wet!