In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Does anybody here do any vintage diving? posted by Eric S on October 26, 2009 at 13:30:15:

As member number 21 on VDH I posted on Wednesday June 29, 2005
the following:

"I would vote for San Diego the first year, Monterey the second year.

San Diego

Has a strong history of vintage diving;
**** Bottom Scratchers...formed in 1931
**** The Scripps Institution Oceanography (SIO)
**** La Jolla ( Pronounced la ho-la) shore diving;
La Jolla Cove..generally clear--shallow diving
La Jolla Shores..entrance to the La Jolla canon...can get deep FAST
**** Boat diving $$$
Wreck Alley

Suggestions--in addition to diving
A) a guided tour of SIO...Dive locker, and behind the scenes in the labs
( I no longer have a contact at SIO...all have retired or died)
B) a visit to the SIO aquarium ( a few steps from the SIO dive locker)
C) visit to the Recompressing Chamber -- Where son Dr.Sam IV was trained
(son Dr. Sam IV will need to arrange, now lives 400 miles north)
D) a visit to a local dive shop that has a world class display of vintage equipment ,
(the name of the shop escapes me--)
E) Visit US Divers..aka Aqua Lung
(a few miles north..would require at least 1/2 day)
(contact Tom Phelps, customer service/PR for company)
F) a visit to Tijuana aka TJ
(MUST have a VALID US or Canadian passport to re-enter US)
Note TJ is VERY dangerous now--open drug wars--lots of executions
visit only in daylight hours! even then you may not be safe

Monterey;

One of the more popular dive locations (the only one in the area)
generally cold water--wet suit OK year round
Many opportunities for dives
**** Coast guard pier
**** Beaches
Monastery Beach -- Monterey (Carmel) canyon--rough- kelp
**** Charter boats

Suggestions-- in addition to diving;
A) Monterey aquarium -- world class a must see
Keith & Lyn Chase - Veteran Divers & LA county instructors
they are senior docents and friends for 50 years
Can arrange a guided tour with them.
Perhaps a UW photo show-also are world class UW photogs
B) visit Cannery row
John Steinbeck, Doc Ricketts et al
now commercialized

C) Drive 17 mile drive--costs $$$ =a private drive--big homes etc

These are my suggestions"

So Eric it is all yours -- you can organize a get together on the west coast.

Baja haha