Monterey Bay Trip - Questions

[mweitz]

Well, I would pick up this DVD, which shows all the main sites, some of their highlights and how to check conditions, and the entry and exit points.

http://www.scubamart.com/detail.aspx?ID=108

You can also check out this DVD for more information:

http://www.divesitevideos.com

Then, I would dive at Lobos on Friday, and the BW on Saturday if conditions are good. Lobos is in a protected cove, so as long as the swells aren't too big you can get in and out. The kicker is that it is hard to get in and out at low tide. Best thing is to post here a couple days before and ask what conditions are looking like, of course, in the end you are responsible for yourself

For 5/19, the tide will be pretty low most of the morning, so you will have to be careful for walking in and getting out if you are at Lobos. The ramp is slippery, I hold onto the rocks on the side of the ramp on my entry to help stabilize myself. The easiest way to get in at low tide is to walk to the dropoff at the end, then giant stride in like a boat dive (reg in, mask on, holding reg & mask), getting out can be more difficult at low tide if there are swells in the cove. I generally come in on the far side of the ramp (S side) and sort of walk my way up the rocks on that side, sort of like a natural stairway.

Mark

 

[Deuces]

Best thing is to post here a couple days before and ask what conditions are looking like, of course, in the end you are responsible for yourself

http://www.aquariusdivers.com/html/weather_info.html

 

[mweitz]

Right, but understanding how to interpret them can sometimes be difficult. Better to hvae someone like Chuck give a prediction a couple of days before.

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/wamglance.html

Mark

http://www.aquariusdivers.com/html/weather_info.html

 

[Deuces]

Right, but understanding how to interpret them can sometimes be difficult. Better to hvae someone like Chuck give a prediction a couple of days before.

http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/wamglance.html

Mark

This is true. Good point.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Actually, it's pretty straightforward. What I do is use the Pigeon Pt. to Pt. Piedras Blancas
and out 20 nm forecast (NOT the Monterey Bay forecast):

If gale warning, stay home.
If NW, and 8 feet or less, go diving.
If W and 10 feet or less, go diving.
If SW, go diving.

Select site on scene.
Examine conditions with Mark I eyeball before diving.

The exact numbers are left up to the individual diver. Some folks might raise them,
some might lower them, but will very quickly come up with their own numbers.

I miss one or two days of diving a year with this, that's OK, I do need to do yard
work now and then. It keeps the Viet Cong out of the yard. ;-)