UKDIVEBOY.COM

McAbee Beach Diet

2010-07-15T16:40:00.001-07:00

I lost 8 pounds at McAbee Beach. Not sure how it happened, at no point during the dive did I get over buoyant, so I have to assume it was during the ascent or on the surface swim to shore that the weight pouch got dumped.

Anyway, if you find a weight pocket for a chute II next time you're diving McAbee, Monterey, there's a $30 reward in it for you.

Hitch Safe

2010-03-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

This is a great idea for keeping your vehicle keys safe during you're beach dive.

A small safe, with a combination lock, that is secured into your tow hitch.

Don't risk taking your key on the dive and donating it to Davy Jones' Locker. Leave that key securely on dry land!

Looking for a good price, they seem to be running $50-$100 online ($70 on Amazon right now).

On Amazon.com

Oxygen as a hangover cure

2010-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

The research also attempted to identify a cumulative effect by having subjects consume several oxygen-heavy concoctions over the course of an evening. The result: fewer hangovers in the morning, as the body was better able to break down the alcohol and eliminate it from the system.

Oxygen as a hangover cure

I'm wondering if breathing nitrox while drinking would be another low-tech way to achieve the same result!

Point Lobos Dive

2010-02-16T14:51:00.001-08:00

Did two dives at Point Lobos last Wednesday (Feb 10).

Conditions were good, the visibility was above 20feet. water temp was a little low (52F). waves were small and coming in from the West, so the cove was calm/sheltered. Surface conditions were OK. somewhat overcast, with patches of sun. Temp was probably in the low 60s.

I've only been to Lobos once before and to be honest, I didn't think it was a good dive that time. On that occasion I think we dove Cannery Point.

This time we dove in two spots. First dive was Cannery Point, second was Middle Reef.

Diving at Cannery Point means entering the water from the boat ramp, then turning left (as you face the water) to swim North, parallel to the parking lot.

We swam out as far as the first rock. at that point the surface waves were buffeting us quite a bit (foot or two). In this area you start to get out of the protected area of the cove.

We dropped down and swam out on about a 350degree barring. I had the intention of turning left, taking a 270degree, once we got to deeper water, but every time I tried to go West, we encountered rough surge against the rock wall. I repeatedly did North to West, to North, to west turns, but eventually conceeded that we were not going to get west around the cliff.

There wasn't as much wildlife on this dive as I expected. We saw a couple of large schools, and several Nudibranchs. I saw one larger rockfish, didn't see it long enough to get a picture, it disappeared behind some rocks.

The second dive, along Middle Reef, required a surface swim out to the middle of the cove. we swam away from the boat ramp on a North-East barring then once at the middle of the cove took a parallel tack to the parking lot wall. Before we got to the end of the cliff we dropped down. Vis on the surface was terrible! couldn't see the bottom, but we had started to encounter some light kelp, so I took that to mean we were over a rocky bottom.

Once we dropped down (it was about 20ft deep) the vis really opened up.

The bottom where we submerged was still pretty sandy, so I was worried that my assumption (i.e., kelp means rock) was bad. however, I then saw, out 15ft to the north, the start of the rocks (the 'reef'?!!).

We took the same approx barring as the last dive, 350degree (ish). It was a very easy out/back pattern.

This dive was great. there was so much to see. several very large rockfish (Vermillion?), crabs, shrimp, nudibranchs, a big Lingcod. Lots of swimming between rock pinnacles, so plenty to see on the rock walls. A lot less surge and swell on this dive, due to the more protected position in the cove.

The depth ranged down to 45ft, but due to the undulating nature of the reef most of the dive was below 30ft, meaning a good 50minute dive - even for an air hog like me!

Overall a successful dive trip. The second dive was one of my top five Northern Cal dives, possibly even my favorite.

Links:

sagar.org

Great dive at the weekend

2010-02-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

It was great to get back in the water at the weekend for a couple of dives.

First trip out with my new Atom 2.0, so it was a simple dive down at Monterey's Breakwater. We considered McAbee, but there was quite a swell there and the waves were washing very high up the beach, and quite large I should add!

Took a swim out to the Metridium fields (bloosee link). Visibility was quite good out there - for Monterey at least - we had about 20ft vis'. Found the Metridium field quite quickly, they're in about 50 ft of water. Then we swam off on a 270degree barring and hit one of the old sardine pipes, which run from shore out to where the boats would unload (more info).

Second dive was along the wall of the breakwater. I know what you're thinking, diving at Breakwater when you've been diving 10+ years, sounds like a bit of a joke. But I have to say, there was a lot to see there. Great selection of crabs, decorator crabs, nudibraches, barnicles, rock fish, stars, the occasional seal and sealion. Another great thing - staying at 30 feet for the whole dive meant I didn't blow through my air in 35minutes, unlike the first dive.

Didn't take a camera, as I was focusing on the new computer, sorry no pictures to share. Next time eh!

Atom 2.0 Dive Computer

2010-01-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

I got myself the Atom 2.0 as a Christmas present.

Link to Oceanic website

The Atom is a fully integrated dive computer from Oceanic. It is a watch-style wrist mounted computer. Air is integrated via a wireless link to the transmitter 'dongle' that attaches to the first stage of your regulator.

I have to say, I'm loving the thing. I didn't realize how much easier diving would be with the computer mounted on the wrist.

Previously with gauges and computer on the hose on the left, I was juggling inflator, gauges, compass while diving. Now things are a lot more evenly distributed. Checking air and depth is just a quick flick of the wrist away, without needing to drop inflator or compass from the left hand.

Given the new found freedom of my left hand, I have taken the opportunity to move my compass to a retractor on the left. This also makes life easier - given my age! Checking direction can be done without focusing on a dial 9" from my face now (which I had to with the left wrist mounted compass). On recent dives, I hate to admit, focusing up close on my wrist compass was getting near impossible.

Definitely worth the money.

Tahoe Altitude Dive

2009-09-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

Had a fun trip to Tahoe a couple weekends back. Went and did an Altitude Dive Specialty with the Dive Club from Diver Dan's (http://www.dcosv.com/).

We had two days of diving. Saturday we did the certification, which entailed two dives from the DL Bliss state park. The first dive to about 50ft, the second slightly shallower at 40ft.

Visibility at the dive site was pretty good, 30 feet or so. Water temperature was great (compared to Monterey diving) at about 64F at the surface, staying warm all the way down to a thermocline at about 50ft.

There's not much to see in Tahoe, just a few Crayfish (crawdads as the locals call 'em) and one other type of fish that I haven't identified yet. The main thing to see is blueness and rocks.

The rock structure at the DL Bliss site is impressive. Because visibility is relatively good and these huge bolders 'perch' on a rock/sand gradient you have a view that is unlike any other I've seen on a dive. Great monoliths that emerge from the middle distance that you glide up to them.

Naturally the blueness of the lake, it's visibility and the lack of fish allows you to imagine you're flying between these mountains.

Saturday was a long day, two groups doing the certification (alternating) meant that we didn't complete the second dive and PADI paperwork until 5pm ish. We went back to the campsite for a shower, a couple of 'Arrogant Baster' Ale's then popped off to Tahoe City for dinner. Then I really was ready to crash.

Day two was an optional thing and not too many of us bothered to dive. Those who didn't certainly missed out.

We dove the second day at Sand Harbor. That's a bay on the other side of the lake (Nevada side) not far from the state line and Kings Beach. I think it's a state park.

Sand Harbor is a wonderful little beach area. It has a cafe, gift shop and visitor center with geology exhibit/diorama. Parking was $8 an d got very busy in the afternoon.

We started there around 9am (in the water a little after 10am). As with DL Bliss, it's straight in off the beach, weaving amongst the sunbathers.

The dive site here is much the same as DL Bliss. You can go out to a point between the two beaches and get into about 70ft of water, however we stayed a lot shallower today, not going much deeper than 30.

Be aware that there is a buoy line marking the beach area. If you dive outside of that area you need a float with you. Inside you don't. Apparently the Nevada coastguard is keen to enforce the rule. Provided you're in less than 30ft of water you're probably safely within the buoy area.

These dives were very relaxing. The lack of any kelp, the good visibility, the warm water mean there's practically no stress, just enjoy the dive. You can of course concentrate on some techniques, like improving your buoyancy or practicing your navigation skills.

On one dive we stayed inside the beach area (we had no dive float). We were told there was a submerged barge over by the buoys so we set out to find it. That took all of five minutes - it's quite a small area to search. The remainder of the dive was spend doing swim throughs of rocks, blowing bubbles at swimmers passing over head and generally 'getting wet'.

Great Dive Trip - Long Recovery

2009-08-10T23:53:00.001-07:00

Had a great time on the channel islands trip. My boat dive fears were unfounded, the patch (Transderm SCOP - scopolomine) worked great and I had no trouble with sea sickness. There were some side effects after the trip though.

I was on the boat around 8pm Saturday and we hung out until bedtime. The crew were not onboard at the time. The boat left harbour around 4am I think - I woke up briefly - and headed for the North West end of Santa Cruz island (http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/santa-cruz-island.htm).

Weather has been bad around the islands, with a large swell coming up from the south west, hence, we were destined to stay on the northwest end for the three days.

When I awoke, bleery, on Sunday morning around 8am the crew were still scoping out an appropriate dive site. That gave me time for a little 'pre-breakfast' before the orientation and the first dive.

We had a schedule of five dives per day on the first two days. As I hinted, the first dive of theday was before breakfast, but after a snack of bagel, toast, muffin, coffee, etc. The last dive of the day was a night dive around 9pm, after dinner but before dessert!

In the morning it was generally foggy, so the first dive of the day was usually a little dark. The third dive on both days was great in my opinion due to better light. I did the first three dives, skipped the fourth, to rest-up for the night dive. Night dives were good, the first night dive I didn't dive so well, but the second night dive I really enjoyed. The shrimp, crill and eel made it.

On the last day we moved from Santa Cruz towards Anacapa island, then back to Ventura. We had time for three dives on the last day. I slept in so I entirely missed the first, but I wasn't too bothered. The first dive was a wreck dive on "The Peacock". The dive was great, visibility was amazing and the fish variety was good. This is where I got my best spanish shawl photo. There was a bit of an issue at the end of the dive. I got my camera ina tangle with my inflater hose and fish ID chart, got in a bit of a panic, but recovered in time to ensure I made a SAFE accent ... With the exception of the full safety stop and a mere 350psi in my tank.

Second dive of the last day was the best of the trip. Around the kelp forest at Anacapa. We were bugged by Garibaldi and Sheephead, spotted lobster and glided through exquisit kelp.

The return to land from Anacapa was about 2 hours.

Once back on dry land that's when my troubles started. Removing the SCOP patch I soon started with lack of balance and blurred vision. These lasted from Wednesday until Sunday. I was exhausted, had trouble sleeping and weird dreams. 10 dives also took a toll on my ears. Got a ringing in my left ear for a week and ear ache started in both ears about Monday of the following week, which resulted in a doctor visit for antibiotics.

http://sagar.org/cgi-bin/slideshow/slideshow.cgi?imgdir=diving_channel_islands_2009

Live Aboard Dive Trip This Weekend

2009-07-24T00:12:00.001-07:00

Just getting ready for a three day live aboard dive trip to the channel islands.

Not sure how well it will go, given I don't really like boats! I do have my travel sickness patches though, so hopefully that will help.

Taking my camera, which hasn't been underwater for quite some time.

First stop Bakersfield, for an overnighter Friday, then I'll have a leisurely day Saturday before we board at 8pm Saturday night for the overnight 'cruise' to the first dive site. If I'm lucky and feeling well I could be in the water before breakfast on Sunday morning ... or I could be hurling over the side of the boat.

First test of the new camera

2008-08-14T01:48:00.000-07:00

The first real test of my Casio EX-Z80 was this weekend, when I did the ocean part of my PADI Digital Underwater Photography class.

We did two dives in Monterey at McAbee beach (down by El Torito on Cannery Row).

I have to say, I'm relatively pleased with the pictures, but there are a few aspects of the camera itself that did annoy me during the dive.

First the fun stuff! Here's footage I took with the camera of me being "checked-out" by a friendly harbor seal.

I didn't know he was there, but my dive buddy motioned to me to look behind me - we were just coming to shore at the end of the 50+ minute dive). When I looked round there was the seal attacking my fins. I dropped the Casio back into Auto Exposure and fired up the video recorder.

I'd tried taking the still shots of the event first, but I found that the picture review mode severely inhibits the ability to do a burst of photographs of a single event, so I'll be turning that off in my profile before the next dive.

I found it rather annoying that I can't just start video recording when I'm using the Best Shot mode that I have set-up for underwater photographs. Fair enough that it's not possible to use the BS mode, but rather than just refusing to switch to video mode (forcing me to manually revert the exposure mode to Auto) why not give me the option to immediately override the exposure mode back to auto!

Another thing I don't like about the camera is that it reverts back to auto exposure after 'auto off'. I found that every time I wanted to take a picture the camera had switched itself off and I needed to go back to BestShot|UserDefined|Select. It was very cumbersome to do this with 7mm gloves on. Eventually I turned the AUTO OFF setting to 5minutes, which definitely helps but isn't a perfect solution.

It's rather annoying that the Best Shot mode doesn't remember my preference for ISO setting. When activating the BS mode, the camera always goes to Auto ISO generally the same as "use the lowest ISO you can at the expense of slower shutter speed". What I found was anything with a shutter speed slower than 0.002seconds would be blurred, so it's definitely better to go for a 400ISO and faster shutter speed and live with the additional picture noise.

I've uploaded more of the still images to my Flickr page: here

First Wildlife Photo

2008-06-18T23:24:00.000-07:00

Not exactly the underwater subject I was planning for, but it is nature!

I took the new 'dive camera' on a trip camping at the weekend. Took it to figure it out, play with some settings. As I was getting ready to bed down for the night I spotted a 'coon up in a tree:

See slideshows: http://sagar.org/slideshow/

Close to a dive camera decision

2008-06-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

After about a year of deliberation I think Costco have made my mind up for me.

I think I'm going to get a Casio EX-Z80. Maybe I won't go for the shocking pink though, but it is very practical for diving you must agree!

Costco made the decision for me as the have that camera on offer in store at the moment and I have my Costco Amex rebate burning a hole in my pocket - has to be spent by the end of August.

Casio does dive case for the camera, the EWC-130, which retails for around $200 (US).

Casio might sound like an unlikely choice for a camera brand, but I have the Ex-Z505 from about 5 years back and I've been really happy with that camera. The colour reproduction is great, the MP4 video recording is superb video quality, excellent stereo audio quality too. I just hope the ex-z80 is as good!

Welcome to ukdiveboy.com

2007-12-17T22:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my ukdiveboy.com site.

What's the point of this site?

Well, I'm not sure. Partly I'm thinking I'll share my massive dive wisdom, partly I salivate over dive gear that I probably won't be buying unless I win the lottery.