You probably already know that this month has been one of the wettest on record. We've also had more snow on the mountains around San Jose this month than I can ever remember in years past. So it doesn't surprise me that more is forecast for Saturday. What is surprising, though, is that snow is predicted down to sea level Saturday morning! Not only that but NOAA has issued an ice advisory for boaters Saturday in calm bays and coves along the coast. I contacted Senior Meterologist Job Saneau with NOAA to see what significance this might have for boaters and divers. He said the last time they had this happen (4/1/1958) the main problem was with boats in marinas not being able to move from the slips until later in the day because of the extensive ice that formed in the very calm marinas, especially in San Francisco bay. But diving was not widely done then and, not being a diver, he wasn't sure what the impact might be. He said, at worst, and only if the ocean is especially calm Saturday morning, we should expect ice sheeting that extends out 20-30 yards from shore, especially in the breakwater area. This might not seem like a problem for entries-hey, just slide your gear out to where the ice ends and gear up there! My main caution would be exiting-or attempting to exit. If you come back to shore underwater and wind up under the ice..... I spoke with a couple of dive shops in Monterey and the consensus seems to be, at the least, divers should bring a long rope to assist with the exit, should there be significant ice sheeting. Whether a shovel or even a pick axe would be helpful is hard to say at this point but certainly wouldn't hurt.
All in all, it sounds like a Kodak moment. With a light dusting of snow possible on the beach, you could be treated to the sight of divers donning skis to ski down the beach, out on the ice and switching to fins before splashing in. What a weird way to start the first day of April! No fooling.
Other than that, the diving looks really good this weekend, really. Light swells, not much in the way of wind and even that is going to come from the south. Reports earlier in the week of good vis will probably be true this weekend too.
All in all, it sounds like a Kodak moment. With a light dusting of snow possible on the beach, you could be treated to the sight of divers donning skis to ski down the beach, out on the ice and switching to fins before splashing in. What a weird way to start the first day of April! No fooling.
Other than that, the diving looks really good this weekend, really. Light swells, not much in the way of wind and even that is going to come from the south. Reports earlier in the week of good vis will probably be true this weekend too.
