So that's why everyone likes diving SoCal!

[ligersandtions]

SCD continues to have stunning beach dives. Haven't seen you back since your first outing at Cress Street! I admit that was a less than memerable dive but keep in mind, when you only have ten minutes of air at depth, that's the limiting factor, not navigation.

Less than obvious reefs, e.g. Cress, Deadman's, etc, will sometimes require some swimming after decending to find the final target. If your air consumption is too quick (and that's fine, we've all been there), you may not have the time, as in your Cress Street dive. Remember, you need 800-1,000 psi to scuba back to shore - assuming you want to skip that 1/4 mile surface swim

Nothing will increase your skills better and faster than shore diving. That's where you have to be "on".

Yeah, after our first attempt at Cress, we decided we had some work to do on our own before we went back out with people....namely, some buoyancy and air consumption work. We're getting to the point where we can go out and get good bottom times....a combination of getting some buoyancy issues worked out (obviously not all, since that will come with experience) and being a bit more comfortable, our bottom time has improved drastically.

I'm also a little hesitant to go back to Laguna because of the ridiculously long surface swim we had to endure (certainly not my favorite part of diving...). Are all the sites in Laguna like that???

 

[runway1]

Arguably, although by few, LB has the best shore diving in socal - period. Doesn't mean other sites aren't good dives. La Jolla is very nice other spots have their pluses but LB, most will say, is undoubtedly the best shore diving.

Some sites have long surface swims; Cress/Mountain, Deadman's, Cleo Street. Others have short swims; Crescent, Shaws, Heisler Park (medium), Montage. Regardless, I think it's a minor point. There's no hurry - a long, slow swim is all. Good air management will allow for a scuba trip back to shore as opposed to surfacing 300 yards out - that sucks.

Either way, if you choose to become a strong socal beach diver, you can dive anywhere. Did you see Rich's dive report from Saturday? Spectacular!

 

[ligersandtions]

Arguably, although by few, LB has the best shore diving in socal - period. Doesn't mean other sites aren't good dives. La Jolla is very nice other spots have their pluses but LB, most will say, is undoubtedly the best shore diving.

Some sites have long surface swims; Cress/Mountain, Deadman's, Cleo Street. Others have short swims; Crescent, Shaws, Heisler Park (medium), Montage. Regardless, I think it's a minor point. There's no hurry - a long, slow swim is all. Good air management will allow for a scuba trip back to shore as opposed to surfacing 300 yards out - that sucks.

Either way, if you choose to become a strong socal beach diver, you can dive anywhere. Did you see Rich's dive report from Saturday? Spectacular!

I know, can't believe we missed out on the best day of diving! Unfortunately, last weekend was so jam-packed full of stuff that this weekend, we just wanted to take it easy. That'll teach me!

Next weekend, we'll be in Washington (gonna get some PNW dives in!)....the following two will be AOW....then come September, we're gonna try some more Laguna and PV shore dives. We're certainly not giving up....just wanted to give ourselves some time to get comfortable before we ruined more peoples' dives.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I'll second shore diving for getting in shape. My fiancee will turn 60 next week. She has 191 dives, many at Marineland where we endure the .6 mile hike down, rocky entry and 1/4 mile surface swim to the pinnacles, followed by a scary exit and hike back up the hill. On Sunday we made an 84 minute dive and she exited with 1500psi left. Dives like that will get you in shape quickly, or kill you, whichever comes first.