My first dive at Marineland

I remember going to Marineland of the Pacific as a kid.
Being from the desert, the idea of a place that was all about the ocean was so cool.
I think the best time I had there was when I was in junior high and we had a field trip.
One of the things we got to do was the swim-through reef attraction.
I was so impressed that we were swimming with sharks.
OK, so they were tiny leopard sharks. But still. It was pretty cool in my book.

Marineland, located on an amazing piece of real estate on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, was open from 1954 to 1987. The park was part entertainment, part education with shows put on with whales and dolphins.
It was like SeaWorld, only before there was a SeaWorld.
And in my young mind, Marineland was better than SeaWorld.

Sadly, poor attendance and declining revenue led to the sale to the owners of SeaWorld in late 1986. The new owners vowed to keep the park open, but that did not happen and Marineland's stars, whales Corky and Orky, were transported south to SeaWorld in San Diego.

The site remained for several years, playing host to movie shoots and even the MTV Beach House one summer. Up until 1995, the park's signature tower loomed over the property and up until 2004, the Catalina Room was still open for wedding receptions and parties.

Finally, in 2006, all remaining structures were demolished.
In 2007, work began on what will be the Terranea Resort. The resort will feature a hotel and several casitas, as well as a spa and other amenities.

Through all the changes, the site, called Long Point, has been a haven for divers.

On Sunday, after visiting on a few occasions to talk to the divers who are there pretty much every week, I finally made my first dive at Marineland.



Old Marineland (Long Point / Terranea Resort), Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.
Oct. 26, 2008
Logged dive: No. 17
In with: 2400 psi
Out with: 500 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Bottomtime: 35 minutes


We got to the Terranea gates at about 8 a.m. Public beach access had been located further down the road, but has now been moved.

We followed some other people to the parking area. They had parked there a week earlier.
The guard came by and hassled us for a while about parking there.
Finally he gave up.


While we waited for more divers to show up, we checked out conditions at a spot known as "the point."

There would be a few minutes when it looked ideal, then a few minutes where it looked downright dangerous. It seemed very unpredictable to me, plus the entry involved climbing around on large slimy rocks. That may be a little advanced for me at this point.


So I was relieved when the general consensus was to dive from the cove to the other side of the property.

The group included Manfriend's pal who goes by the dive name of Psycho Solo Diver. His post on the day is here. We also had a few other people in the group, including Reverend Al.

Once everyone was suited up, we headed down the trail/dirt road to the cove and its rocky access to the water.

After pairing up with dive buddies (mine was MF), we all got in the water and surface swam toward what is called the 120 reef. The entry was pretty uneventful. Excellent.

As soon as we descended I could tell this would be nothing like diving Redondo. There was a ton of stuff to see on the reef: urchins, starfish and sun stars, fish, sea cucumbers... and the kelp!

The kelp was so thick here. It was kind of eerie and cool the way the it got darker and lighter with the thickness of the kelp.

We were doing fine, seeing some neat stuff when MF and I lost the group. No worries, we found them again.

Oh wait, we lost them again. Those guys dive here pretty much every week, so maybe they cruise through faster than I wanted to go. It felt like they were going fast. I wanted to explore and take photos. And since MF was staying with me, I think that is how we lost them.

MF and I decided at this point to surface to get an idea of where we were. Then we reset our course and, since I was running low on air, started back toward the cove.

We did a little surface swim/crawl over some kelp before submerging again.
Once we dropped down again, we headed toward the cove.

We came up in about 10 feet of water and caught our breath. Soon, the others started surfacing.
I got to where I could stand and took off one fin. Then I moved a little closer to shore to take off the other fin.

Before I could do that, I got tossed a little by a swell. MF was already out of the water. He came back to grab the one fin I had removed while Reverend Al helped me out with the other fin.

After that, it was an easy walk out of the water, picking my way back across the rocks to get to the trail.

I think I am going to look into getting some new spring type straps for my fins. They are apparently much easier to get on and off.

With everyone out of the water, we trekked back up the hill to shed our gear and debrief.

We debriefed with chicken that I brought and sausages Psycho brought. Oh yeah, and some beers.

It was a great day and I look forward to diving here again.

The only downer for the day was that the underwater housing for my camera was leaking just the tiniest bit. Just a couple drops of water in the housing. The same thing happened last week at Redondo. I thought maybe it was a fluke. I was very careful with cleaning and checking the seal this time. Still, the leak. At least the camera is OK.

So I called Canon and they told me to send it to their service center in Illinios. Which means I will not have my camera housing for this weekend's dive with the sea lions or, most likely, for my vacation.

MF said I could use his again. But still, it's a bummer to get a new toy only to have it be broken.

Sunday diver

Nope, I did not make it into the water Sunday.

Manfriend had a horrible ear ache all week and even though it was feeling better by Sunday, it was still not a good idea for him to get in the water.

So I stayed dry, too.

Instead, we went to the old Marineland site, Long Point. There were some other people out there and after they came in, there was going to be a barbecue.

Some of the divers have interesting nicknames. There was Psycho Solo Diver (Psycho for short), Reverend Al, Max Bottomtime, Angelshark (a spearfishing chick. Awesome).

Maybe I need a nickname. I will have to think about this for a while and come up with something good.

Mary and Max Bottomtime making their way into the water.

The cove also is very rocky. It is not like making a beach entry from the sand. You have to pick your way out over all the rocks, get in the water, get your fins on and get out past the surfline quickly.


Then coming back in, you do it all in reverse.


I was actually thinking I might try to snorkel here first, to get practice picking my way over the rocks without all the gear before I try it with all that stuff on. This place does not look like it is for beginners.

While the divers were under, manfriend and I scrambled over a rocky outcrop into a smaller cove area. It was pretty obvious this was a hangout place for someone.



The evidence of a bonfire, an empty 12-pack of beer and the graffiti were a dead giveaway.


The cove itself was pretty. The tide was out, so there was a bit of sand visible.



There also was some debris. It looked like a metal door of some type and it looked like it had been there for ages.



At one side, the rocks stretch out into the water and make a nice perch for some pelicans.


This is what they call "birdshit rock."

Gee, I can't imagine why.


After a few minutes of trying to get some good pictures of that and the door in the surf, the tide looked like it was starting to come back in so we scrambled back over the rocks to the dry side.


We sat and watched a sea lion play and a small pod of dolphins dip in and out of the water as they made their way down the coast.



Soon we saw divers popping up at the surface. The first in was a lone guy who had been spearfishing.

These all are of Psycho coming back in over those rocks.

Then we saw more people coming back. One of them was Psycho, manfriend's buddy.

I have to give him props for making his exit. That does not look like fun. The walk back up the hill did not look like fun.
But that is the price you pay to be able to dive at Long Point. Manfriend said there are times when the visibility is great and the diving is excellent. Sadly, that was not the case on this day.

Psycho said the visibility was about 5 feet. His blog post on that is here.


I guess the week before it was much better. Psycho wrote about that here.
He posts a lot of pictures from above and below the surface.


After getting back to the top of the hill, there was what is called "debriefing." Debriefing includes some adult beverages and, on this day, a barbecue.

Psycho set up his little charcoal grill and got the coals fired up.



My contribution was a 12-pack of Corona in cans and a pork tenderloin that I marinated overnight. It came out great and it was not long before the plate was empty.

Psycho brought some cross-cut beef ribs that he marinated. They were Korean style, very thin and tasty and grilled perfectly.

More people had made their way up the hill. Psycho's friend, Ed, did not dive but was kind enough to stop by and bring sticky rice and kimchi to go with the Korean ribs that Psycho brought.

I want to learn how to make kimchi. or at least find someplace to buy it. This was an awesome lunch.


After a couple hours of chatting and eating, it was time to go.


All that before noon. It was a really fun morning.


Too bad I didn't actually dive.
But we are going to try to get out to Redondo this weekend so I can practice and he can get a refresher.
There is not much to see off of Veteran's Park, but it will be good exercise.


I have been trying to get gear together. So far I have the stuff you know about: mask, fins, gloves and boots, wetsuit, snorkel.

I also got my hands on a couple of tanks. Thanks Phil and Cerise for making me a good deal.

The tanks are in great shape, but the tests on them are out of date. Manfriend took one to get it tested. I am not sure why he did not take them both. But I think I will take the other sometime this week.


I only need one at a time anyway.


So I still need to find a good, used BCD (the vest) and a good second stage (the regulator/hose apparatus) and some weights.

Then I am about done. And, and maybe a dive computer if I can find a good used one.


For now I will rent what I do not own. I really want to get in the water.

Having a breakdown

The plan for Sunday was simple.

I was going to go with the man friend to take his dad's 1970 Mustang out for a drive around the Peninsula. His dad is out of town for a while, and the car needs to be driven, right?

It had been a while since the car was started, so it took a bit to get it going.

Once we did, we saw it was low on gas. We headed for the closest station to gas up and wash the windows. All is fine until we try to leave the gas station.

Nothing.

Car. Won't. Start.

Good thing we are at a service station, right?

Wrong. No mechanic on Sundays.

We call AAA and they send out a dude in a maintenance truck even though we ask for a tow. He tests the battery and bangs around under the hood looking at the starter. Still nothing.

After about 15 minutes of this, he calls for a tow. So on top of the 30 minutes we already waited and the 15 minutes of dicking around with the car, we have to wait another 30 minutes for the tow truck.

As we are waiting, some kids set up a lemonade and cookie stand on the corner. We amuse ourselves by walking over and getting a cool drink and some snickerdoodles.

Nice.

And while we sat there, another old Mustang pulled up to the next pump. It was a beauty. And it was mocking us as it drove in and then so easily drove away again while our classic ride sat with it's hood exposed like an open wound.

Finally the tow truck arrived and we had him take us back to the dad's house.

Then we took mf's car and had our drive around PV anyway. It was a great day for it.

But it is amazing that even though it was kind of a pain in the ass, the whole time I was still having fun.

It's a learning experience

Here are some pictures of a bowl I made last session at P.V. Art Center. This was done on the wheel.

I am thinking that I am better with the handbuilding technique than with throwing. But this one came out nice. Small, but nice. It would make a good rice bowl. Too bad I am not good enough to make a set of 6.

I started with the white clay on the wheel. Afte the bowl was somewhat dry (leather hard they call it), I painted the whole thing with a slip (or colored clay). Once that dried, I carved through the darker color to reveal the white underneath. This was just a random, organic pattern. I think it turned out pretty nice.

This is one of my favorite techniques. I like carving.

Anyway, once it was carved, it was bisque fired. Then I glazed it in clear and it was glaze fired.

I think total time start to finish was a couple weeks. Active time was maybe an hour. The process is not a fast one.

Next session I am taking a class that focuses on handbuilding. I probably will keep trying the wheel, but not every week.

A sense of direction

I have none right now.

Which is why I haven't posted anything since the original entry.

I've worked a couple of six-day weeks in a row and have just been kind of drained.

I do have a full weekend coming up starting tomorrow. I can use the rest.

Sunday will be about chores, some creative projects at home and Easter dinner at my aunt's house.

I bought a copy of "Where the Wild Things Are" to give to my nephew. Since he is only 7 months old, he won't be into it yet. But it is a classic and every kid should have a copy.

Let the wild rumpus start, kid!

My pottery class at the PV Art Center starts again Monday. So far, in my two 10-week sessions, I have made a couple slightly wobbly trays/plates, some small, somewhat lopsided bowls and I have several pieces in progress now.

In the last session I even managed to make some bowls that will be big enough to use for cereal or soup. Finally.

And they are mostly not lopsided.

If I still feel artistic and creative, I may go wandering around the South Bay looking for inspiration for some designs to carve into the pottery before it is fired. I am really liking that effect.

I need to figure out how to post some pictures here. Then I will put up some shots of my bowls and maybe even some of the cards I have been working on lately.

But for now, I am done.