The Lexy November '05 Dive Report thread

[MaxBottomtime]

Date: November 5
Dive Location: Secret wrecks
Time: 9:59 and 11:12
Bottom Time: :24 and :39
Max Depth: 84'
Vis: 20'
Wave height: 0-3
Temp at depth: 57F
I had the pleasure of diving with Susan (coralcuts) for the first time in months this morning. We made two dives, first on a sandy bottom with no wreck in sight and then on a very colorful, life-filled oasis where we found everything but the lobsters she was hoping for. I counted six purple striped jellies at or near the surface. With a short surface interval between dives, I incurred a few minutes of deco obligation on the second dive. Using a single tank on a deco dive is not high on my list of favorite things to do, so we headed up early. We eached finished two dives with two tanks still half full. We topped them off so we can continue our diving weekend with a couple dives tomorrow morning in Malibu. Hopefully I will have some pictures of Susan holding her catch of crustaceans.

 

[Mo2vation]

This was my first MarineLand (errrr NudiLand) dive.

What was it someone here said recently... "freeking awesome..."

I remember writing some things in my wetnotes during this dive:

1) these pinnacles are the only reason to do a shore dive with doubles. I could spend 2 hours here.

2) Could it get any clearer here? Man oh man. Probably not. Easily 40 on the east side... less on the west side.

3) I counted 11 or 12 different Nudis in about 8 minutes

4) These reefs are fragile. Man. They crumble under a gloved hand as I try to steady myself in the surge. Memo to self: Get dialed in and don't touch anything.


Of course, there were tradeoffs: My entry was less than perfect. But its all good. Being the shore diving noob, I need to get my groove on a little better, but I got in and I'm OK with that. I'll get better at this.

It was 54 at 54... and with the schvitz from the schlep (like that?) my back was wicked cold. I'm glad I came down the hill with the DS open. Next time I may wear a capaline top under the Polartec.

Gush on:

Claudette was amazingly patient and graceous. An excellent guide, an outstanding shore diving mentor, superbly conditioned, unreal high-on-life attitude, never whines, buddy awareness off the chart, great watermanship, not bad with a compass (when she actually uses it. Oh, she looks at it a lot...) and a complete sipper on the gas. With her on that jogging tank (HP100) and me on the waterheater, we're pretty close. I could go on and on. I'd put my life in her hands, and be confident we'd come through. If you haven't dived with her yet, you're blowing it. You need to dive with this person. I'll keep her to myself if someone doesn't cut in... I'm AOK with that.

OK - gush off.

I've been wanting to dive MarineLand for years. I've read with great anticipation so much about this site (from Phil, and Mel, and Claudette and Jim and so many of you) but I always thought it a bit out of my league with the entry and exit stories I hear. Plus the schlep, etc.

The schlep from the lot is not that bad. Honestly. If you're in even modest condition its not a thing.

The entry from Long Point can be pretty hairy. We went back there after the dive to take a look around, and it was WAY TOO ROUGH to enter there again. Glad we got there early. I can't imagine trying to get to the pinnacles from a cobble beach entry - no way. Its just too far.

I know I've only been here once, but I will be back again for sure. This has just been elevated to my fav shore dive in SoCal. With some practice on the entry at Long Point, I can see myself making this my Sat AM ritual for the next several months.

Thanks CD for an amazing dive. Thanks SB'ers who have been describing this place for years to me - it didn't dissapoint.

I'll be back on another Sat soon, conditions permitting.

---
Ken

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Ken, ya shoulda been there two weeks ago.
It had the best conditions I've seen there in a year. 25-35 feet vis top to bottom, no red tide and just enough current that Jeff and I were able to enter from the point, head out to the nicer pinnacles at 70 feet and make a drift dive all the way back to the beach. I made three dives that day and surfaced directly in front of the big rock on the beach every time. Of course, just when things seem so perfect, mean old Mr. Red Tide has to come back. Once that's gone you will find Marineland to be not only one of the best sites, if not the best in SoCal, but it rivals many warm water sites for color and amount of life, especially nudis.

 

[Mo2vation]

Ken, ya shoulda been there two weeks ago.
It had the best conditions I've seen there in a year. 25-35 feet vis top to bottom, no red tide and just enough current that Jeff and I were able to enter from the point, head out to the nicer pinnacles at 70 feet and make a drift dive all the way back to the beach. I made three dives that day and surfaced directly in front of the big rock on the beach every time. Of course, just when things seem so perfect, mean old Mr. Red Tide has to come back. Once that's gone you will find Marineland to be not only one of the best sites, if not the best in SoCal, but it rivals many warm water sites for color and amount of life, especially nudis.

The diversity and abundance of life there is pretty staggering. That exposed point, recieving the wash of cool nutrient-rich water just sets things up perfectly. I saw stuff there I haven't seen except in the No Channel islands. I just want to get better at getting in at the point. Carve my name on a rock, I'm gonna be there a lot.

You need to join us (or vice versa) as I understand you put the Marine in MarineLand. I'd love to get your grand tour sometime.

K.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Ask KillerC about this particular dive. As far as grand tours go, this was big.

 

[Mo2vation]

Ask KillerC about this particular dive. As far as grand tours go, this was big.

Including the details about the "sure, lets go into the caves, how bad can it be" part.



---
Ken

 

[TeqP]

Date: 11-5-05
Dive Location: Marineland
Time: 8:58am
Bottom Time: 61:40
Max Depth: 37’
Vis: 12-15’
Wave height: 0-1’
Temp at depth: 59F
Surface Temp: 63F
Gas mix: 21%
Comments: Met up with Scott (Cap’n Marvel) for a couple of dives back at Marineland. This time the viz wasn’t as great as a couple of weeks ago, but it was still decent. We had a short surface swim and dropped onto the reef on the cove side. I had my camera in tow so it was a nice leisurely dive. I saw the most octos ever on one dive. We saw the usual suspects. The blacksmith just love this place, as we saw a small school of them. They would scattered as I waved my light at them. Scott was very helpful in spotting subjects for my camera.

Back at our cars, I noticed Claudette and Ken. Ken told us about their awesome dive at Long Point. They headed off while we worked on our surface interval.

Date: 11-5-05
Dive Location: Marineland
Time: 11:28am
Bottom Time: 62:20
Max Depth: 42’
Vis: 10-12’
Wave height: 1-2’
Temp at depth: 59F
Surface Temp: 63F
Gas mix: 21%
Comments: During our surface interval, Steve (stoddu) shows up. We start yapping and he decides to gear up and head out with us for this dive. As we’re yapping we hear a familiar, yet strange voice. It turns out to be Jim McCabe. We talk for a little while he waits for Headhunter. We are itching to get back in, so we leave Jim and crew on the surface to head back in. The viz seemed to deteriorate a little, but I’ll still take it. We head back to the reef by the cove. Again, a ton of octos hiding in holes and cracks. I spotted a bug and he let me pick him up. I wish they were all that easy. I didn’t have my bag and he seemed close to the limit, so I let him go. This was another nice dive. The life out in the reef is really amazing. I definitely will be back soon…very soon! This place is still freakin’ awesome!! I wish I knew about this place much sooner than just two weeks ago.

If you haven't dived with her yet, you're blowing it. You need to dive with this person. I'll keep her to myself if someone doesn't cut in... I'm AOK with that.

One of these days I will get the pleasure of diving with her and hopefully at Marineland.

Here are some pics from the first dive. Hope you like.

 

[TekDiveGirl]

I love this pic --

Thanks for sharing --

Kimber

 

[HBDiveGirl]

Date: 11-5-05
Dive Location: Marineland

Back at our cars, I noticed Claudette and Ken. Ken told us about their awesome dive at Long Point. They headed off while we worked on our surface interval.

Phil!!! That was YOU??? Can I blame it on the residual nitrogen level?? Or do I have to cop to being a completely unaware nincompoop and not taking a second to look around and see you??? I'm so sorry I missed seeing you and Scott... but delighted to read your report and the great photos. It was a... (I'm trying not to... just resist a little longer... Oh, I give up...) a FREEKIN' AWESOME DAY AT MARINELAND!!

See you there in a couple of weeks!
StillSorryForBeingAnIdiot,
Claudette

 

[TeqP]

I love this pic --
Thanks for sharing --
Kimber

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. It was my favorite of the day. It's really cool when you get down low and observe all the cool stuff out there that you could easliy pass by on a dive.

Phil!!! That was YOU???

Yes, that was me. I yelled, 'Claudette', and Ken came over. I was thinking to myself..'I thought his name was Ken, not Claudette'.
I guess we'll blame it on the nitrogen levels and the endorphins still kicking from your dive.

StillSorryForBeingAnIdiot,
Claudette

No worries! See you soon.

Phil