Posted by Ken Kurtis on September 05, 2004 at 17:04:26:
Did two dives at Veterans Park on Sunday and both were outstanding. Water temp was 67º in the shallows and 60º down in the canyon. Vis was running 15' or so in the shallows and closer to 30' in the canyon (until you settle into the muck . . .)
Saw many crabs, aggressive Scarcastic fringeheads (one of whom kept coming at my camera and biting the port shade), a bunch of turbot, an unknwon flounder, many scorpionfish, got buzzed by a sea lion at 80', and saw a recently-dead guitarfish being consumed by Kellet's whelks.
Given that it's Labor day Weekend, parking was tight. We got there at 10:20AM and there were still spots, but the lot was probably 2/3 full. By 11AM, the lot was full and cars were circling like vultures looking for a fresh carcass. So don't get there too late. And bring plenty of quaters (or have your parking permit displayed). The meter guy was circling the lot all day and writing up plenty of folks who let the meter expire.
Ran into a couple of other divers who said beaches in Laguna were closed due to high surf and that White's Point has less than 1' of vis. So it looks like Redondo's the place!!!
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA