Sat Aug 18th Family Picnic/Dive

[Rickster]

The Beach Crabs will be having our monthly Family Day Dive n Picnic. This month,Sat Aug. 18th, at Point Dume at 8:00am.

Everyone is invited to join in the fun, and don't forget the monthly dive gift giveaway, provided by K3 Scuba!

Event details:

Beach Crabs Socal

Please let us know you are going. So we can have an attendance for the food and beverages.

Thank you, and see you there,
Rick

 

[Ted S]

Rick,

I'm not familiar with the site... since you're always heading down here maybe you can estimate the drive time from Orange County to there?

 

[Empty V]

Rick,

I'm not familiar with the site... since you're always heading down here maybe you can estimate the drive time from Orange County to there?

Hey Ted it's in the heart of Malibu. Travel time depends on your starting point. I can't imagine there being too much traffic on a Saturday morning too.

I highly suggest that if you can make this event do it. This is a great group of divers who have yet to fall short on any dive. I wish I could be there (maybe more motivation for everyone else to make this one) but I'll be in Newport Beach for the weekend. I'm there for next month's dive/bbq for sure, and this time I'll be providing my trademark lunch

I've only been to this dive site once and it was like no other beach dive I have done to date. Amazing vis, good water temps and more than enough to see for an entire day of diving.

Wish I could be there!

Billy

 

[Rickster]

Hi Ted,

How have you been?

Here are some site details:

Point Dume

I just plugged the drive from Newport to Point Dume into Yahoo Maps. It says it is 71 miles, and 1hr 16mins drive time.

I hope you can make this one, we missed you at the Wrinkles picnic last weekend.

See you soon, Rick

 

[Dash]

Hi Rick, my wife and I were thinking about joining you for this dive, and meeting a bunch of new people sounds fun. We have never attended a Beach Crabs event. We are beginners though and I found the following description of the dive site, which would seem to indicate that the site might be a bit advanced for us, from a dive fitness and navigation standpoint.

Could you confirm or deny this description:

From: http://www.geocities.com/sandeaters/sites/losangeles/pointdume.htm

The Dive: This is an Advanced Dive Site. DIVING THE PINNACLES REQUIRES A STRONG SWIMMER! Two points to consider are 1.) it is a very long swim (approximately 548+ yards) to the pinnacles and 2.) On the return you will normally have to swim against what can be a very strong current! The normal current here is from the North and sweeps around the point to the South. This means that on most days on the return trip you will be swimming against the current to get back to the beach. Swim out past the rocks around the point toward the buoy. From about 200 yards off shore, on a course of 130 degrees from shore and 150 degrees from the last bathroom this will get you to the reef. Here you will find a large rock reef approximately 75-100 feet long and 15 feet tall in 40-50 feet of water. Many smaller reefs may be found in the area as well. From the reef a course of 330 degrees should take you back to the beach and miss the rocks. There is a sandy bottom here and not much to see until you get to the reefs. Large bat rays (5ft) have been spotted here and lots of marine life, some on the larger side. There are lots of rock formations in the water here as can be seen in the photograph above. The Pinnacles is the normal destination of most divers. Note the normal current is from the NORTH and sweeps around the Dume. Current is an issue at this site and can be quite strong. The only exit is at the sandy beach on the left above. That means you will drift from the sandy beach around the point and along the coast to the right in the picture above

 

[Rickster]

Hi Dash Riprock,

This divesite is a great dive with the pinnacles, and some kelp. The currents at times, are pretty strong. When the currents laydown, it is a great dive. Morning seems to be the best chance to get in a good dive, depending on the tide flow. There are other sites real close to this site, so if the currents are bad, we can always go do a dive at another site, then return to the picnic. One good thing about beach diving along this stretch of the SoCal coast, is the choice of divesites. When one is blownout, usually there is a backup close by.

I hope you guys make it. It would be great to meet you,

Rick

 

[Dash]

Thanks Rick, I think we'll give it a go. Surf forecasts are showing 1-2 foot surf which is okay with us.

Next question, what shall we bring? I saw your link to the Dive Matrix list for the potluck BBQ, but Im not registered on that site.

We have camping gear if you need a campstove and food is no problem. Tell us what you need.

Last question, what time do you meet at the parking lot?

 

[Rickster]

I don't think there will be very many people showing up for this. Looks like most are going to Deer Creek on Sunday. I am thinking about just make this a dive, and do the picnic some other time. I will meet evryone that is interested on the road, right outside the pay booth at 8:00am. We can check conditions then.

Look forward to meeting you.

Rick

 

[CompuDude]

Rick, I might come out for the dive... I've been given a free pass to dive on Saturday, so I may as well take advantage of it! I might bring the dubs out just for some more practice.

Here's hoping vis is as good as it was two weeks ago, and that current is a lot less than it was two weeks ago!

 

[Dash]

Here is another question.

Do you guys usually do one dive or two?

I was thinking I might rent a set of tanks for a second dive since it seems like a long drive for just one dive. (Unless there is a Dive shop nearby)