2/28/2006 - The Flu

I have the flu, will try a few posts later. 

Stay wet, (I'll join you as soon as I can!)

TJ

2/26/2006 - Clean Up Dive

Got to Catalina Friday evening, had some beer, chips and salsa at the Cantina, called it an early evening. 

Got up early, went down and met with the crew, and got ready to roll. 

Dragon and I standing by.

Amanda, Dragon and I were doing a step beach entry, so we wanted to be first in the water.  We made it, found a couple of plates from Antonio's.  They throw plates with dinner items written on them into the bay, you find a plate, you get the dinner!  Absolutely amazing, wonderful food.  The garlic cheese bread can be a meal unto itself!

Mushroom meatball sandwich and Garlic cheese bread.  I'm hungry just looking at it!

Dragon found a rod and reel, I came up with an old whiskey bottle and a six pack of Snapple. 

Mmmmm, tasty!

Lots of trash, although there didn't seem to be as much as in previous years.

Then I went and grabbed some lunch, and got ready for the raffle.  I was calling the numbers and announcing the prizes, we had so many it took two hours of non-stop talking to give them all away. 

"Ticket #345683 wins a dive coat!"

But everyone seemed to have a good time, and almost everyone seemed to win something.

Did a night dive in the park, had my custom glow-in-the-dark tank on, so everyone saw me the whole dive.

Waiting on my buddies.

Got up this morning, and took some engagement photos of Kirsten and John, hard to get a prettier setting than the Island!  Had some lunch, kicked back for a bit, and caught the boat for home.

A great weekend, with some great folks.  Chatted with Dr. Bill about video cameras, had a few beers, ate some good food, and made a few dives.  Couldn't ask for much better!

2/22/2006 - Corral night dive

Adam and I went out for a bug or two, came back with six.  We were going to try County Line, but it had a bit of a break, so we checked out Corral.  Perfect!  5-15' viz, I got 5 barred sandbass, as well as the lobster.  Lot's of sand flats, but didn't see any halibut.

Then we ran into Chuck Henry from KNBC news, chatted with him for a bit.

Corral

32'

77 mins.

57 f

2/20/2006 - Black Sea Bass

Italian Gardens, Catalina, Dive Boat Aquatica.  And if you look on the left, by the urchin, you'll see a Blue Banded Goby.  Kinda cool, I got one of the biggest and one of the smallest fishes in our waters in the same pic.

2/17/2006 - When you're diving at night, and an eel bites your thigh...

...that's a Moray!

2/10/2006 - Still sore

For those of you who may be wondering, yes, pretty much everything on me hurts.  I guess Neptune's lesson is supposed to be a lasting one.  Serves me right for my hubris.

Ouch.

2/8/2006 - Ass Handing.

Went out to El Matador tonight, with Dominique, Adam, and Adam, thought we might grab a bug or two.  Surf looked a little big, 3-5', with the occasional 7-8' creeping in.  Now, I've dove bigger, but this was special.  Capt. Adam and I attempted a fins on beach entry, a wave took him out, then plowed him into me at knee level, making a perfect tackle.  I ride the backwash out, into a cross current rip, which held me between the shore break, and the surf line, basically pounding me with every wave that came in for 15 minutes or so.  (Seemed like an hour.  Sucked.)  Finally went out far enough to catch a ride in on a crosscurrent, then flop up the beach like a stranded whale.

The current pattern was wild, a rip would pull you out, a west-running current was just behind the shore break, with an east-running current maybe 10 yards beyond that.  And they were flowing fast; I was getting yanked around out there like Chrissie in Jaws.

I've dived in larger surf, but at night, with these currents.... didn’t happen.  Ah, well, still fun.  We rested up, stared at the stars for a bit, hiked back to the car, and grabbed some In-n-Out.

A fine, humbling lesson in overconfidence.  Point taken, King Neptune.

On the other hand, the weather was the bomb, warm and breezy.  I shucked the wetsuit, and air-dried in my shorts.  At night.  In February.  I knew there was something I liked about California.

2/4/2006 - Aquaman's Movie Review - Below - 2002

Below

1/12/2006 - Big Rock

Whoo-hoo!  First dive of the New Year.  Went out to big Rock, in Malibu, CA.  Got in the water at about 8:45 pm, high tide, mild surge.  Swam out parallel to the Matterhorn, and dropped down into 15-20' viz.  Lovely!  Tooled around for a bit, saw the usual suspects, but hey!  I was diving.  Got two bugs, and a few scallops.  Saw an octopus eating a crab.  AJ got a couple bugs as well.

Oh, and saw a few of these in the sand.

 Sea Pens, I think.

Big Rock

31'

67 mins

59F

1/10/2006 - Mmmmmmmmm, Dive gear!

Since I havn't been diving yet this year, I just sit and fondle the new gear in my store.  The really funny thing is, I already have most of it. *sigh*  Ah, well, I'll get in the water again someday. Damn this surf.

1/5/2006 - The Eyes of Texas

Yes, I was there.  The Rose Bowl. Pasadina, California. 30 yard line.

Say it with me now:

Your National Champion

TEXAS LONGHORNS!

Oh, that just feels so good!

12/31/2005 - Giving something back to the Sea

I, and some of my buddies are going to be doing the Avalon Harbor Clean Up Dive this Feb. 25.  The ocean gives us fun, food, therapy, peace of mind, adventure, excitement, and we're gonna live forever because of her.  Take a day and pay her back a little.

I will expect to see you there!

http://cleanup.ccd.org/

It's a good time, for a good cause, and you find some neat stuff!

Oh, and Happy New Year to all!

12/29/2005 - Big Waves

OK, I have a new equation.  Big Waves= No fun 4 Divers.

This can stop any time now.  I want my glassy lake with good viz back! 

Stay wet,

TJ

12/24/2005 - Christmas Presents

What do I want for Christmas?

1. An underwater metal detector.

2. A video camera with a housing.

3. My own show on the discovery channel.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanakkuh, Happy Kwanza, and a very Happy New Year to everyone!

Stay wet,

TJ

12/21/2005 - 20 foot surf

Ever dive in twenty foot surf?  I have!  This morning, in fact. 

Visability was...less...than optimal, and the surge was...vigorous.  Oh, well, at least I got wet.  Interestingly, Nudibranch's don't seem to be bothered by big waves.  I'll report more when there's more to report.

Happy Holidays!

TJ

12/10/2005 - Dive Shop Management

There are times when I love my job.  Meet nice people, talk diving.

Then there are times when I don't like it.  Everytime I hear about great dives that I can't go on, 'cause I'm running the store.

That's all for today, just a little bitchin'.

Stay wet,

TJ

12/7/2005 - Return to La Jennelle

Dove it again, great viz, a little chilly, tons to see.  I love night dives.  Got a few bugs.

47'

74 mins

55F (Burrrr!)

12/6/2005 - Aquaman's Movie Review - DeepStar Six - 1989

DeepStar Six

6.0* on the Aquaman 'Movies that feature Diving or Marine Life' scale.  (Remember, it's a six for the Newt Suit death, otherwise, a solid 5.)

12/3/2005 - Leo

Went out with Dragon to do a sunrise dive at Leo Carillo in Malibu, what a great dive.  Lots of life.  Saw a big sheephead, an Abalone, (fed him some kelp), a good sized lingcod, a few short bugs, a big shovel-nosed guitarfish, a swell shark, horn shark, a tiny bat ray, barred sandbass, calico bass, and an assortment of crabs.

Leo Carillo

42'

67 mins.

60 f

Cool to see the water get brighter as the sun came up.

Stay wet,

TJ

12/1/2005 - The Magic is back

Well, while I was unsuccessful in my anchor pursuits, lobstering once again proved fruitful!

Mmmmmmmm, tasty!