Ready4Launch
Contributor
Saturday, 02Nov, went kayak diving for the first time with an experienced buddy. We dove the USS Palawan just off of Malaga Cove. If anyone was out this past weekend, you know how calm the water was. We launched without the least bit of issue under partly sunny skies. Actually, there was a bit of wind chop, and we got the slightest spritz of rain from a cloud passing over Redondo Beach as we paddled out.
We found the wreck, and we twice moved over it to be sure that we didn't drop anchor right onto it. Settled, geared up, and dropped down my buddy's line first. His anchor had just missed the starboard side, but it was in the sand. Picked it up and moved it about 20 yards off. We near exactly midship, and we headed to the stern along the side, around, back the other side, and up the line for about a 30 min. total dive time.
Had a good surface interval with a warm sunny sky, changed tanks, and dropped again down my line this time. My anchor drop had to be 1 in 1000, because it was right down the center hatch and to the bottom where there was probably a 1' clearance to an obstruction. Quickly moved my anchor to the sand, then down the side to the bow. Dropped inside, skirted through, and popped up in the middle, then up the line.
Temps were low 60s near the surface, and I don't recall at depth. First dive was to 117' and second was to 121'. Viz was near 50', and the wreck was awesome. Lots of fish, and we had a sealion buzz us on first dive. Had a slight current on both dives. Great dives!
With gear secured and anchors up, we leisurely paddled back to the cove beach on an ocean top that had calmed even more from the morning wind. The worst part of the day was hauling gear up the hill to parking lot, but overall, a fantastic day.
We found the wreck, and we twice moved over it to be sure that we didn't drop anchor right onto it. Settled, geared up, and dropped down my buddy's line first. His anchor had just missed the starboard side, but it was in the sand. Picked it up and moved it about 20 yards off. We near exactly midship, and we headed to the stern along the side, around, back the other side, and up the line for about a 30 min. total dive time.
Had a good surface interval with a warm sunny sky, changed tanks, and dropped again down my line this time. My anchor drop had to be 1 in 1000, because it was right down the center hatch and to the bottom where there was probably a 1' clearance to an obstruction. Quickly moved my anchor to the sand, then down the side to the bow. Dropped inside, skirted through, and popped up in the middle, then up the line.
Temps were low 60s near the surface, and I don't recall at depth. First dive was to 117' and second was to 121'. Viz was near 50', and the wreck was awesome. Lots of fish, and we had a sealion buzz us on first dive. Had a slight current on both dives. Great dives!
With gear secured and anchors up, we leisurely paddled back to the cove beach on an ocean top that had calmed even more from the morning wind. The worst part of the day was hauling gear up the hill to parking lot, but overall, a fantastic day.
