Redondo dive buddy...?

[DivingFlyer]

Hey....thanks to everyone on this board...lots of info!

Anyone ever dive Redondo during the week?? I go there at least once every two weeks and my other friends need a good 4wks notice on any dive (work, etc,etc). Im very spontaneous.....

Im new to the scene (7 dives.... ), and will be completing my advance o/w on the 31st.

Thanks guys,
Josh

BTW...how about that "Open Water" movie?? I watched some trailers on the Discovery Channel. It seems to look fairly realistic and it doesnt seem to be just a typical hollywood film i.e. "Jaws". It should be good!

 

[divercooke]

do you dive at night or in the day time .
i can only dive at night mon - fri
but week ends are open

 

[DivingFlyer]

YEA!! Ill dive at night!!!

 

[divercooke]

YEA!! Ill dive at night!!!

how about tomorrow at 800 vets park

 

[DivingFlyer]

I actually have'nt made my first night dive. Can't wait though!!

I dont know if I can make it down to Redondo this week. Ill check my schedule. As long as I dont have to be at work at the crack of dawn I could make it, Ill get back to you this afternoon. I have wed. and thur. off this week, would rather make the dives then since I live 1hr 45min away...lol.

Ill be at Casino point on Sun.(7/31) and Redondo the following sunday for my actual night dives.

 

[pasley]

YEA!! Ill dive at night!!!

Question, yes I hear you will dive at night, but with 7 dives under your belt I would be interested to hear the answer to two questions:
1. Should you?
2. Are you trained in night dives? See question number 1 again.

Night diving is a little more complicated than it may at first appear. You should be comfortable with diving before you add the demands of night diving to your repertoire. With 7 dives, it is not likely you are quite there yet. After you AOW you will have done a professionally guided night dive and have been taught the concerns of night diving.

Some of those are:
1. You need good navigational skills to find your way back to shore, which at night you may not be able to see the shore.
2. Making an exit is a little more tricky when you can’t see the waves due to the darkness.
3. It is also more challenging as you can not see which way is up and managing a dive light, computer and your assent can be fun too.
4. Then there is the jaws factor. You know, the only thing you can see is the 8 or 10 feet (or less) in a small 20 degree arc that you light illuminates. Wait, what was that? Was that a, a, a, gulp! No, just a sea lion buzzing out of the darkness to play, whew! Don’t worry, the wet suit is not that hard to clean.
5. Night dives can be beautiful and you see entirely different critters, more octopus out swimming etc. So it is worth it, but just not yet.

I dive during the week sometimes. I dive anywhere between Malibu and Laguna Beach including Palos Verde and occasionally Redondo (lets face it, the canyon is not all that great in the day time). Call me to dive. But IMHO, I would hold off on the night dive for a short while. Wait until you have been trained in it and have say 15 or 20 dives. You need to know by feel where everything is.

(562) 421-3094

 

[DivingFlyer]

Thats what I was trying to get at in my previous reply. I would like to complete the AOW b4 we dive Redondo @ night. I am completing my class the first weekend of Sept.

Very valid point....I do plan on making several dives at Redondo within the next to weeks during the day.

I do pay much attention to safety and wont do something that I dont feel comfortable with or hav'nt been trained for.

I do appreciate the concern.....advice....

 

[ChrisM]

To echo pasley's point (and I know you got it), Redondo is a special nite dive, but it is also DEEP. I would not want my first nite dive to be beach AND deep (80+ fsw). And if you want to come straight up, you end up doing a black water ascent (i've done 'em, they're creepy, especially when that big school of bait fish comes by or the sea lion buzzes you )

I'd suggest someplace shallower for first few unescorted by instructor nite dives - Malaga, Leo, Shaw's, etc.

Chris

 

[DivingFlyer]

And another good point....shows you how much I know about Redondo....lol. Ive dived there twice never exceeding 45'. Where are Malaga, Leo, Shaw's located?? Im coming from Palmdale.

 

[pasley]

May I suggets driving a few miles south to Malaga Cove. It is more appropriate to your level. Redondo is deep. I got bent at Redondo beach diving on my 12th dive (long story). I do not recommend diving beyond 60 feet for your first few dives. Get use to diving first. Your AOW is a good choice, but IMHO is a course to be taken afer 20 or more dives. But that is just me. Dive you experience level and don't let the AOW card in your pocket drive the train. Let your better judgement be the guide.