Old Marine Land, whats the deal?

[Codyjp]

I was there today, not diving but wishing i was. i was wondering, does anybody know what is going on with this resort? are we still going to be able to dive there? last but not least, do they really close the gate and tow cars at 4 like the sign says?

www.terranea.com

http://www.palosverdes.com/Rpv/planning/terranea/index.cfm

 

[Jake]

PM MaxBottomtime. He's a font of knowledge for OML.

As for whether they tow and lock: I've heard that "they" are quite punctual in checking for stragglers.

 

[scottfiji]

yes, you'll be able to dive there.

Divebum Don R., the unoffical diver liasion with the developers, has maintained a very good relationship with them.

access might be blocked for a little while when they get to redoing the path down to the water, but for the most part access will stay open..

keep in mind the coastal commission in california is fairly powerful, and places have to maintain access anyways, its not their choice.

phil (max bottomtime) often dives in the afternoon, from what I remember him telling me, someone has been locking the gate between 4 and 5, but they usually try to find anyone who is there. I had a friend who had his car locked in once, it wasn't towed but he couldn't get it out until the next day.

phil, don, and I were there yesterday diving. entry/exit was quite rough, but there were some nice nudies out... http://www.scubapost.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2411

Scott

 

[HBDiveGirl]

I was there today, not diving but wishing i was. i was wondering, does anybody know what is going on with this resort? are we still going to be able to dive there? last but not least, do they really close the gate and tow cars at 4 like the sign says?

This info is based on a City Coucil meeting in April 2006:
Long term plans include guaranteed public access to the Cobble Beach and the Point for divers and pedestrians. 100 parking space will be built and maintained, along with restroom facilities and walking paths. I don't know what the final access hours will be.

Parking is planned to be a bit farther away than the current spaces. The foot path to the water will be graded to ADA specifications for wheelchair access, which will also increase the walking distance.

The waste-water handling system for the golf amenity is promised to be state-of-the-art, resulting in little or no outflow to the ocean.

Short term plans: California Coastal Commission requires that existing public access be maintained throughout the main resort construction phase.

• Public access is predicted to be closed during grading of the beach-access path, for no longer than 30 days. Coastal Commission requires that the closure be announced for at least 30 days prior to the actual closure.

• If public access to the water is closed without notice (between 8AM and 4PM), please notify the Calif. Coastal Commission at once by calling 805-585-1800. CCC has said they will enforce public access regulations, but they need to know in order to act.
• I was locked in once, about a year and a half ago, when security padlocked the gate at the top of the access path. My buddy and I returned at 4:30PM from a dive, and had to break down all our gear, pass it over the fence, and climb over. Our car had not been towed, and the main gate at P.V. drive was still open. It was a tough end to a long dive, and we were never late again.

Long Point and Old Marineland are spectacular cold-water dive sites. Many avid local divers would be happy to introduce new divers to this great site. Just post on Scubaboard, or contact Dive Vets or Pacific Wilderness Dive shop, as both groups dive the site frequently.

Please be careful in the often hazardous exits and entrances through the surf. It can be very challenging some days, and extremely easy on others. Many divers have been injured in this rough shore-break.

The dive is a unique and glorious jewel... but it is not easy!

Claudette

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I was locked in once several years ago but a passing Deputy let me out. As Claudette said, Marineland is a jewel. Marineland (not OML) is my favorite place in the World to dive. As long as we respect the rights of the owners, York Long Point Associates and the construction crew they hired to do their job we can continue to dive up until they begin work on the lower road. Vandals have had to break windshields of the construction trucks and have knocked down my "monument" three times since they no longer have buildings to destroy. It finally ended up being pushed over the cliff.
Rhodes scholars, I'm sure.

For the reasons I love diving there, check out my Marineland folder here;
http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d152/PacificCoast101/Marineland/?start=0

 

[Jake]

Marineland (not OML) is my favorite place in the World to dive.

Out of curiosity, is there a distinction between Marineland and Old Marineland? I've always heard them used interchangeably.

 

[Codyjp]

good info everybody. it is sad to see more development but i guess as long as they accommodate us i guess i can go along with it...

 

[scottfiji]

I've been using Marineland, Old Marineland, and OML interchangable for a long time, as have other people I know. If there is a distinction, I'd love to find out what it is.

scott

 

[John_B]

For the reasons I love diving there, check out my Marineland folder here;
http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d152/PacificCoast101/Marineland/?start=0

WOW! Amazing pics! How many dives did it take you to collect that many awesome photos?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I can't remember hearing Old Marineland before DiveVets. The name of the park was Marineland of the Pacific. I always tease Merry when she says it. I tell her I'll write a dive report and list my buddies as Old Merry, Old Scott, Old Claudette...