Roll Call!

[Wisertime]

Who is getting wet tomorrow on opening day for some tasty molusks? BTW...for those of you traveling from Sacto or anyplace far...the swell is expected to be 10-12 foot faces on open shore Sat. and Sun. If you can dive tomorrow as conditions are expected to be better. Avoid Sacramento Syndrome.

Peace.

 

[JustinW]

welcome to the board! I thought about going, but I know the first weekend is always a zoo, and usually the swell sucks. I think I will go in a few weeks, once the ropes to the cliffs have been replaced up and down the coast.

 

[Wisertime]

what a great day on friday! a little surgy but nothing to compared to past year opening days. visibiltiy was 5 ft. max but enough to spot abalone clearly. sunshine was out along with fish and game. not only did a DFG helicopter scream across us three times (perhaps someone in distress) but Ranger Rick greeted us at the truck. coolest warden I have ever encountered. I don't know about anyone else, but I like seeing them out and about. those that rape the ocen deserve there due. anyway finished the day with 9'' or plus shells. what a great day. can't wait for my next dive in a couple weeks.

 

[humanFish]

what a great day on friday! a little surgy but nothing to compared to past year opening days. visibiltiy was 5 ft. max but enough to spot abalone clearly. sunshine was out along with fish and game. not only did a DFG helicopter scream across us three times (perhaps someone in distress) but Ranger Rick greeted us at the truck. coolest warden I have ever encountered. I don't know about anyone else, but I like seeing them out and about. those that rape the ocen deserve there due. anyway finished the day with 9'' or plus shells. what a great day. can't wait for my next dive in a couple weeks.

Hmmmm...sounds suspiciously like the report my buddy Fred just told me about...did you dive with him? I was supposed to go out on Friday but an injury kept me from going. I agree on the fish and game thing. Always good to know they are paying attention.

 

[BrianM]

I took a small group to the abalone opener and potluck at Ft Ross Saturday and we had a great time. The swell wasn't bad at all but the wind picked up around 11am and it got pretty messy in a hurry. We were diving off kayaks and a friend of mine was having trouble with his anchor and I spent quite a few minutes paddling towards him but as I looked at the shoreline I wasn't making any progress!!! I finally decided I needed to pick up the pace and I was able to reach him right before my arms felt like they were going to fall off.

We were able to rescue 7 mollusks from drowning, 4 of them were close to 7 inches when measured on the short-side

We dove a little South of Stillwater on Sunday and that was like diving in a washing machine!!! One of the guys got slammed pretty hard on the rocks and I only found one ab that looked like he was ready to come to dinner. We all had fun but it was one of those days where you wonder what the heck am I doing out here in this mess?

Brian

 

[nkw5]

Who is getting wet tomorrow on opening day for some tasty molusks? BTW...for those of you traveling from Sacto or anyplace far...the swell is expected to be 10-12 foot faces on open shore Sat. and Sun. If you can dive tomorrow as conditions are expected to be better. Avoid Sacramento Syndrome.

Peace.

Okay. I'll bite. What's "Sacramento Syndrome"?

 

[JustinW]

Sacramento Syndrome- Commonly occuring problem. Symptoms are usually rogh ocean that shouldn't be dove, along with dry divers that have been planning trip and spent a lot of money on gas. Generally results in people getting in the water when they shouldn't, just because they are there.

Treatment: Knowing your limitations and not letting a long drive or testosterone get the best of you. Getting in the car and driving into town for some food and relaxation, out of the water.

 

[BrianM]

Okay. I'll bite. What's "Sacramento Syndrome"?

"Sacramento Syndrome" is what happens when you drive 3 or 4 hours to the coast and you decide that the 14 foot swells don't look THAT bad....and since you drove all that way, and told all your friends you were inviting them over for dinner the next night for abalone.... and you end up getting spanked by neptune, hopefully you live to tell about it and you learn the hard way it doesn't matter how far you drove or how bad you want abs, your life isn't worth it!!

My girlfriend and I were at Van Damme last year on the last day of the season and we(actually I was showing minor symptoms of S.S.) decided it was too rough to dive safely so we drove to Mendocino and had a great afternoon enjoying the town. When we drove back South we came upon the CG Helicopter searching for a missing diver whose body was found months later. That day was a major reality check for me and I am glad I listened when my gf was insisting we shouldn't dive.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

GF's tend to be wiser than us macho males about deciding when
NOT to dive.


Chuck

 

[MontereyCADiver]

Chuck, that's an EXCELLENT observation!