Date: Oct. 15, 2004
Dive Location: Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach
Time: 2:16 pm
Bottom Time: 59:00
Max Depth: 33 ft.
Vis: 15-20 ft.
Wave height: 3-4 feet
Temp at depth: 64 Suunto degrees
Surface Temp: 66 degrees water, 68 degrees air
Tide information: Mid
Date: Oct. 16, 2004
Dive Location: Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach
Time: 9:58
Bottom Time: 44:40
Max Depth: 52 ft.
Vis: 15-20 degrees
Wave height: 2-4 ft.
Temp at depth: 66 Suunto degrees
Surface Temp: 66 degrees air, 66 degrees water
Tide information: High (+6ft.)
Date: Oct. 16, 2004
Dive Location: Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach
Time: 1:19 pm
Bottom Time: 47:30
Max Depth: 39 ft.
Vis: 5-10 ft.
Wave height: 2-4 ft.
Temp at depth: 63 Suunto degrees
Surface Temp: 64 degrees, 66 degrees air
Tide information: Low (-1 ft.)
Comments:
Friday Dive: Met up with Headhunter on Friday afternoon at Shaw's. Parking no problem. This was my first time diving at Shaw's, and Headhunter's first at Shaw's in a long while. Surf was 3-4 feet, but easy to time since there was a long lull between sets. I realized that the best way to prevent getting mashed on entry/exit is to watch the outer reef, and if there are big waves breaking out there then they're headed your way and it's not the time to enter/exit. Waited until I saw a lull on the reefs and made an easy entry. We kicked out in some very warm, clear water then dropped down and began exploring. Didn't see a lot of life on the reef, aside from some huge schools of bait fish, and lots of garibaldi. Did see an octopus hiding in a crack. We found the arch, went under it, but decided not to go to the other side since it was a lot shallower (probably only 10 ft. deep on the far side). Headed back, and followed the reef around towards Crescent Bay. On the return we headed into a chasm, which turned out to be what I now call the "expressway", since it cuts across the reef peninsula between Shaw's and Crescent. We had a lot of air left, so took another trip along the reef on the Shaw's side, then headed for the beach, and a running safety stop. Great dive.
Saturday Dives: Met up with Headhunter and ScotM at around 8:30 am. Parking was just about filling up, but we found places fairly close. Conditions looked about the same as on Friday, so we suited up. Tide was heading to +6ft, so the waves were lapping almost up to the bottom of the stairs. We did about the same dive as Friday, viz was almost identical, though this time we headed out to the tip of the peninsula reef where the depth is around 50 ft. Also showed Scot the arch. I also learned a lesson: I should keep track of everyone's air more often then I think is necessary. I didn't realize Scot was getting low, so he had to grab us and let us know. My apologies to Scot. Anyway, we surfaced to an easy exit.
After a 2:20 (?) surface interval, just enjoying the beach, getting a tank fill, and watching the tide go out, Headhunter and I did a second dive. Scot had to leave, so it was just the two of us. Conditions had deteriorated substantially, and viz dropped to about 5-10 ft., either due to the tide going out and drawing sand up, or the impending storm as Pasley mentioned. We wanted to take the arch over to the other side, but when we got near the arch the eastward current was so strong that we had to hang on to the rocks to stay in one place. Headhunter showed me the crevice on the south side of the arch, with lots of croakers and lobsters. We turned around, went around the peninsula, then took the expressway back, and headed towards the beach. We both had a lot of air (about 1200psi) left, so we decided to head out again. We went back thru the expressway, then Headhunter wanted to head over towards Crescent Bay. We started heading southward (I think) and I started to lose my bearings. Another lesson learned for me: make sure I do a better job of planning my dives and diving my plans, and keep track of where I am. I figured he wanted to exit at Crescent Bay, but wasn't sure. Anyway, apparently we headed southeast (away from the beach), and with air getting down to our agreed upon 700psi we decided to surface, further east than I had figured. We ended up being directly in line with the stairs at Shaw's, but WAY out past the reef. So we had an invigorating 20 min surface swim back to shore. Easy exit. Spent the rest of the afternoon kicking back, exploring the tide pools with Myrna and her kids, enjoying the sunny beach, eating lunch, and taking a walk over to Diver's Cove and Fisherman's Cove. Agreed that one of our next dives would be over there.
Thanks guys for the great dives.
Best sandwich I've ever had in my entire life.
