OP
We are going to dive the Santa Monica Pier BREAKWATER. http://web.whittier.edu/fairchild/santa_monica.html Friday 22 October if the weather permits. Time for next Friday October 22 dive is yet to be determined, but could be an early morning before work dive at o'dark thirty. If interested let me know and also let me know if 5:30 a.m. would be too early.
This site has a photo of the breakwater as it originally appeared. Most of it does not break the surface. Please note, this we are NOT diving the pier but the breakwater that runs parallel to shore about 100 yards off the end of the pier and it does not touch dry land. I have eyeballed it and it appears to be about Deadman's Reef or a bit more in distance (300 yards), but could be as long as Pont Dume Pinnacles (548 yards). Did I mention this is a long swim? :11: This is a site that is really not well known and not really covered in the local dive site books. So come ready for an adventure diving a relatively un-dove site. I have exchanged messages with two people (Photo TJ and Don S) who have actually dove it. IF visibility is good (often not here) then it is an excellent dive. Lots of life on the reef I am told. Be sure to bring a cutting instrument (shears or sharp knife) as abandoned gill nets may be present on the breakwater.
How to get there: TGNO: 671E3
From anywhere except Malibu take 10 Freeway west exit onto 5th street, go north to Colorado Street turn right onto Ocean and turn left onto California Incline. Take the California incline and make a left onto PCH at the bottom of the hill. Get into the far right lane and stay there. Just before you go into the tunnel take the right lane and stay in the far right into the parking lot. Parking is $7.00 and no in and out. BRING MONEY FOR PARKING. Meet in the far corner away from the pier and closest to the ocean. We will enter here and swim out, figuring the current to drift us toward the pier and land on the South end of the breakwater. Then dive to the North end and to a drift dive back to land on the beach just short of the pier.
From Malibu take PCH South, just past the California Incline and just before the McClure tunnel stay in the far right lane, and just exit to the Santa Monica Beach Parking.
This site has a photo of the breakwater as it originally appeared. Most of it does not break the surface. Please note, this we are NOT diving the pier but the breakwater that runs parallel to shore about 100 yards off the end of the pier and it does not touch dry land. I have eyeballed it and it appears to be about Deadman's Reef or a bit more in distance (300 yards), but could be as long as Pont Dume Pinnacles (548 yards). Did I mention this is a long swim? :11: This is a site that is really not well known and not really covered in the local dive site books. So come ready for an adventure diving a relatively un-dove site. I have exchanged messages with two people (Photo TJ and Don S) who have actually dove it. IF visibility is good (often not here) then it is an excellent dive. Lots of life on the reef I am told. Be sure to bring a cutting instrument (shears or sharp knife) as abandoned gill nets may be present on the breakwater.
How to get there: TGNO: 671E3
From anywhere except Malibu take 10 Freeway west exit onto 5th street, go north to Colorado Street turn right onto Ocean and turn left onto California Incline. Take the California incline and make a left onto PCH at the bottom of the hill. Get into the far right lane and stay there. Just before you go into the tunnel take the right lane and stay in the far right into the parking lot. Parking is $7.00 and no in and out. BRING MONEY FOR PARKING. Meet in the far corner away from the pier and closest to the ocean. We will enter here and swim out, figuring the current to drift us toward the pier and land on the South end of the breakwater. Then dive to the North end and to a drift dive back to land on the beach just short of the pier.
From Malibu take PCH South, just past the California Incline and just before the McClure tunnel stay in the far right lane, and just exit to the Santa Monica Beach Parking.
