12/30/2005 - Surf's Up...Still :(

I dedided to try for one last chance at diving this year. As I drove around the south side of the Palos Verdes peninsula I was reminded of why Winter in SoCal can be the best of times and the worst of times as far a diving is concerned.

Best things about Winter diving

1. No crowds. You can park close to the entry point, even in Laguna Beach. You can also explore the reefs without finding the sediments stirred by divers previously there.

2. Clear water. The Winter brings in the cold, clear water from the depths. There is no plankton bloom in cold water.

3. You never know what you'll see. Whalewatch season begins now. The Gray whale migration from Alaska to Mexico comes close to shore, sometimes even close enough to see them in the kelp beds next to the beach. Seeing one underwater is still my number one goal in diving.

4. No losing ten pounds of perspiration walking to the water in your drysuit. Although we have mild Winters nearshore in SoCal, with a few Santanas (yes, that is the correct spelling) bringing in temperatures close to 100 in February, most of the time it is very pleasant.

5. Squid runs. I've read that the squid mating is beginning in earnest now.

Bad Things about Winter Diving

1. Winter storms. I've never tried surfing, but if the conditions we've had this month continue, I may have to try it just to enjoy the ocean again.

The waves this weekend are not as bad as they were two weeks ago, but still high enough to keep me out of the water today. Sets of up to ten feet, muddy water and red tide does not make for great underwater photography. I'll make a wish before I go to sleep tonight and when I wake up, the ocean will be flat...and I will have won the lottery and Christie Brinkley will be my dive buddy tomorrow. OK, I'm asking for a little too much there. I'll settle for decent dive conditions.