Mother's Day Shore Dive on Cape Ann?

[DHGPJ]

Funny you make that comparison...my earliest experiences as a new diver were shore diving in S. Cal, where the surf can give you a serious pounding. I think I saw more people lose gear there than here, but the danger was different -- it tended to be more of the washing machine effect, where you were pretty safe if you kept your wits about you, your reg in, and weren't afraid to crawl. One of the skills that you probably need more in California than here though is to get into the water without your fins on and there's also a bigger need to time the entry right when surf is 6-8'.

I got my OW and AOW training and a number of dives around Monterey. You are absolutely right about the "Monterey Crawl".

It's a different set of entry/exit problems, for sure. One big difference, through is that newbies don't (or shouldn't) go when the surf is >5 feet or so, and in NE, the rocks are there ALL the time, flat calm or surf.

Here, you don't get tossed around as much (head over heels), but I think it's actually more dangerous because of all the rocks. Fortunately, I've never seen anyone here get hurt, but I think the potential is higher. The skill here that seems to be more important than timing is the ability to pick a good entry/exit and predict how that'll change in an hour.

In Cape Ann, I've watched people face-plant on the rocks with a tank on their back. The potential for slips, sprained ankles, bashed knees, etc., etc. is (by Cali standards) outrageous at almost all the Cape Ann sites.

Rafael has a good point. I might do Hathaways - if it's not too warm. I don't think I could survive in this undergarment long with water much above 55. What are the temps there right now? I'd really prefer Cape Ann, but the seas may make that a dumb choice.

 

[Rafael]

I can't tell you the temps. now since last time i was there was last summer, but, i remember having one of my instructors wearing a dry suit, and Mass. is been kind of cold, we had some sunny days, but not enough to warm up a body of water that size, so i may be wrong but it must be on the low 50's, and this is just me but i can dive dry in temps up to 65F, one of my friends was diving the cenotes caverns with me last month in a dry suit at 71F, really light undergarments of course, so is your choice.

Good luck, dive safe.