Dive Site: Casino Point
Date: 2023-02-18
Conditions: Calm on the surface, ripping current and some surge under the water
Water Temp: 14 C / 57 F
Visibility: 15 m / 50 ft.
Dive Buddys: Heidi
Comments:
I was very happy to be back in Catalina and the swell forecast was for excellent diving after a winter storm earlier in the week. We rented tanks and weights from Catalina Divers Supply, which has much more extensive facilities than previously now that they are set up at the point. Unfortunately, it's a pretty cumbersome process. We were able to do our gear waiver online beforehand, but we had to check in at the shop, then go next door to get tanks and weights, which you then have to carry over to the steps. The shop doesn't open until 8, so on the holiday weekend there was a line of 40 people waiting to get gear (I counted). I do appreciate that they have more variety of weights now, and a fully stocked shop so you can avoid having to walk back into town if you forget a tether or something.
We kitted up, there wasn't much current at 7:30 based on the position of the buoy lines, but by 8:30 it was starting to pick up. We changed our dive plan once we got in because it was pulling us toward the harbor so vigorously. Kelp was at a 45 degree angle. We learned that if you can't see the kelp, there is definitely current. Had never seen that much current with a lake-like surface. Nice dive, lots of fish, successfully navigated along 12 m / 40 ft to the left and back to the buoys.
Got a 32% nitrox fill that was about 20% short (199 bar / 2750 psi) instead of 237/3440. The trailer is gone, replaced with an actual shed, but no OCA, just regular air or Nitrox.
For the second dive, we knew there was a negative .5 m / 1.8 ft tide coming at 2:30, so we hustled to get in. The current picked up a bit more but we decided to head toward the swim platform. Didn't make it due to air limits, but got back to the buoys just fine again. Some very experienced buddies in our group also set out for the swim platform but ended up at the Sue Jac (!) on the opposite side of the park.
We were too late to get back in normally on the steps. The later opening of the shop was unfortunate in this case. Of course the surge picked up while we were on the surface, we should have waited at the buoys for at least several minutes to gauge our exit. My buddy got pushed past the steps and wedged backwards into the rocks. My rescue training mostly kicked in, I shouted at her to keep her reg in her mouth, managed to give it to her. I also shouted to our buddies who were already out of the water for help. Unfortunately while I had my reg in, I didn't have my mask on, which wasn't ideal but we were on the surface so it was OK. I waited for an incoming surge, let it carry me in towards my buddy, grabbed firm hold of her BC, and we both got sucked back out as the surge retreated. From there we probably should have taken a few minutes to calm down, but there were folks on the steps who helped get us exit. Definitely much scarier than I would prefer but it all worked out.
Variations of this relatively difficult exit repeated themselves for the next 45 minutes, even as a steady stream of divers entered the water.
Dive Site: Steps, Hen Rock
Date: 2023-02-19
Conditions: Still no swell, less current
Water Temp: Same
Visibility: 20 m / 65 ft.
Dive Buddys: Same
Comments: We went out on the Scuba Cat with a basically full load of 22. Since they are only doing 2 tank dives (we asked) the schedule is a little later, meet at 8 for a 9 a.m. departure. Aluminum only tanks on the boat. Crew was great as usual, Mark, Jerry, and Captain Nate, plus DM Rain. They are extremely experienced, Mark caught that my wetsuit wasn't zipped, saved my dive. The Scuba Cat is a very comfortable custom dive boat, stable, great snacks and lunch. Wish I could be there every week.
Steps was great, ton of kelp, got back right to the anchor line. Hen Rock had a lot of sargassum, kind of hard to see the life there. Always hard to believe that red abalone can get that big! Most of our group saw a turtle, a number saw a couple horn sharks. We missed the stern line by a few feet, ended up overshooting and surface swam back a decent few hundred meters. Oh, well, next time.
On the way back to the dock we saw splashed in the distance, kind of looked like flying fish. But it was hundreds of dolphins. I am not exaggerating here. Just looking down in one spot from the upper deck I sometimes had ten in view at a single time. They filled the area several hundred meters on each side. Truly, I have never seen anything like it. This was a true megapod. Great way to end the dive.
catalinascuba.com
