hi everyone. im in the navy stationed in jacksonville. i will sadly be transferring to port hueneme california (about an hour north of LA) in dec-jan timeframe. anyone know of any cave systems out there??
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hi everyone. im in the navy stationed in jacksonville. i will sadly be transferring to port hueneme california (about an hour north of LA) in dec-jan timeframe. anyone know of any cave systems out there??
Time to go ocean diving! I think we have the wrong rock for caves over here. I asked when I first moved out form the UK and never got anywhere. I am flying to Florida tomorrow for a week diving. can't wait!!!
I think the closest thing you'll find is a swim through on the Los Coronado island off TJ.Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
you mean im gonna get that salt stuff on all my gear.
The only caves I heard about out there were sea caves, basically a little duck under carved away by wave action on the cliff. From what I heard they are only water filled at high tide and you need to be careful about currents and waves while you are in them.
This is all info from the guy I took intro with, he was from LA and dives the ocean like a religious zealot. He did his cavern training in these sea caves, but came to N FL for cave classes.
There is an actual cavern on Catalina island. It has been years since I was in it. It was accesible by boat during relatively calm seas. I don't remember the particulars, but it was at something like 50' and was about 40' wide at the entrance and went back something like 50'. Anywhere else it would be rather unremarkable, but in those waters it was unique.
Lots of good cold water ocean diving at recreational and technical depths. A nice assortment of wrecks that can be penetrated if you choose your dive wisely. It is all salt water and colder than Florida.
The best diving is usually in the winter, colder but clearer water, and fewer other divers. Boats run year round on the weekends, and it is not too hard to find a mid week boat all year long, but you might need to drive a ways to get to it.
Mark Vlahos
ive heard a few things about the dive boats: peace, spectre, and raptor. anyone know or have any experience with these boats. they seem pretty close to where i will be going. i think they go to anacapa and catalina island quite often along with a handful of other places.
I recently lived in Southern Ca. for almost 6 years but now I feel like a total idiot.Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
I kept hear hearing about Peace, Spectre, and Rapture but never realized they were talking about dive boats.
Mexico has caves and you're pretty close. Don't forget your wallet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
CA dive boats operate differently that what you've had in FL or the Caribbean. CA boats are typically all-day boats. You get there early in the morning, with your own tanks in many cases, and they feed you breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Multiple dives during the day, with your returning to port in the early evening. You pick a bunk to stow your dry stuff and doze for the crossings.Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
I love CA boats!!
From what I understand there are some sumps to be done in CA, but not much in the way of drive up to it and dive. There are really cool marble caves.
Marbry
where might i find these sumps and marble caves?Quote:
Originally Posted by Webmaster
I've lived in California for 6 years now and I can say there is nothing like what you would imagine in Florida or Mexico. Your best option is to hit the sea and plan a few trips back to the motherland from time to time.
I just got back to San Fran from a week of Florida, it should hold me over for a few months.
Next trip planned for October. Now down to Monterey at the weekend to get everything filled with sand and salt!!!
I've been on the Spectre. It's not bad. Hope they've cleaned up the bunks since I've been on it. It's smelled like @ss down there bad. Unless they run a tech trip, which I'm not sure they run or not, they really get upset when you have long dives (and this was BEFORE my rebreather!...lol).Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
There is a small "cave" at the southern end of whalers cove in Point Lobos State Park just south of Monterey. If you want to get your freak on, go do a solo night dive at Monastery beach, also south of Monterey. Go out to the right and drop down the wall a bit. Send "brent dude" a PM on TDS. He'll put you on some stuff.
this is a cool site...
http://www.baue.org/lobos_maps/index.php
There are a few sea caves in southern Cal. Enough that a couple books are floating around. Sea caves of Santa Cruz & Sea Caves of Anacapa. I believe most interest in these cave is from sea kayakers but I think some diving has been done. With names like "Sucking Slot Cave":smt103 I would imagine a great deal of caution may come in handy.Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
At any rate You have my sympathy moving away from Jackson Blue, Madison ect to the land of Sucking slot cave:smt102
RAL
Could you give me some info on simple stuff around this area as well. My R/B is coming in October and I need to scope out some sites for the course in advance. Phil Short is flying over and doing the mod 1 the week after DEMA. I then need to get 50 hours on the unit before I can do my mod 3 in the caves! I will be heading down to Monterey tomorrow to test out sites. I hate salt water!Quote:
Originally Posted by jmaddox
By the way its a great link I am going to try and check out some of the stuff first hand I may need to scooter from Monestery because I am diving solo and you can't get in to PT Lobos unless you have a buddy
Up in da mountains. I think Lilburn still has some leads, and I remember hearing about some other things. Your best bet would be to get in touch with some of the local grottos.Quote:
Originally Posted by swcapitalo
I think folks are travelling over to NV and AZ to do some dives as well.
Marbry
Look at topography, arial, geological maps (you are looking for karst) and ask the local grotto! They are there but you'll need to for them! But, at the the high cost of gas it may be cheaper to go to Florida! Who said, getting a virgin was easy!
The "cave" at Pt. Lobos is at the north end of Whalers not the south end. My bad. Just watch the waves at monastery. They can kick up fast. I have been rolled end over end with doubles on several times there during the exit. The best way to exit I found is to come in with the surf to your back. Ride the wave up toward the beach with your feet (fins off) up in the air infront of you. as soon as you can see the beach below you and you can stand up in knee to waist deep water drop your feet stand up and run like hell. only down side, you have to stick it. if you don't your going through the washing machine. youll have monastery berries everywhere.