Mar
23
Written by:
Vicki
3/23/2010 8:09 AM
We ventured over from berth 95 Friday on the Catalina Express to Avalon to be met by the friendly staff of Sea Port Village our home for the next two days. The accommodations were comfortable and diver friendly. We were treated each morning with an assortment of scambled eggs, hash browns, toaster waffles, fruit and of course hot coffee. All our gear was graciously transported to and from the ferry, Casino Point and the King Neptune by the Sea Point staff Satuday and Sunday.
Saturday morning greeted us with sunny skies and calm seas which by mid-morning a dense fog had rolled in a welcome cover for those in dry suits who would have baked in a bag as an expected record high of 76 was forecasted. Avalon scuba park at Casino Point was all a buzz with the 20 GR8 Divn team members and an assortement of 100 plus additional divers enjoying a day of diving and OWI lessons. A light surge received divers entering the 59 degree water. Sea grasses transitioning from winter to spring provided wonderful layers of particulate with a vis of 15 to 20 feet. By mid-afternoon the fog lifted for those on the afternoon dive allowing the streaming rays of light to filter through the kelp forest. Nancy and Jim donned their new OS Systems dry suits for a spin around the point. You have to check out the latest scuba fashions permiered by the ever stylish Dina and Chris on the photo gallery [NICE....]. Cathie, Richard, Gary and Rob ventured into the black of night with a night dive sighting bugs and yes if you can believe it even the "KITCHEN SINK". The rest of the crew ventured into town to partake in fresh seafood, pasta and steak preparing our energy levels for Sunday aboard the King Neptune.
Boarding the Neptune at 0900 and stowing our gear on the the bow we headed north for better vis. A fifty minute ride with hot chocolate, coffee and fruit took us to anchorage off Bird Rock. Charles from another shop led a young group of new divers on their open water certifcation dives into the water first. 11 GR8 team members splashed in shorty afterward. Visibilty had improved to 40 to 60 feet with a water temp of 56. Horn sharks, sea lions and as Terry described " the orange fish that seam to appear everywere I looked" were sighted. After some 50 minute bottom time we took a short hop to the next site.
The crew set the line at 100 feet 90 yards off ship rock. Again the student group entered the water first with our merry band of divers soon to follow. Above skies lightly clouded and seas with light rollers while below north bound currents picked up treating some to "DRIFT DIVING CALIFORNIA STYLE". All now back on the Neptune we set course back to Harbor while consuming sandwichs and salad. Again Sea Port was there to pickup the gear. Back at Sea Port for a hot shower we loaded up for the 6pm Express back to berth 95.
It was a tremedous quick get away for easy diving, good food and great friendship. We are thinking about doing the same trip next fall please let us know your thoughts? Many thanks to those who joined us for a terrific weekend away.
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