Trip Report and Photos

Sea Divers trip to Santa Barbara Island on the Great Escape

March 10, 2006

Story and Photos © Elaine Jobin, may not be reproduced in part or whole without advanced written permission. Theme lyrics from "Gilligan's Island" by George Wyle and Sherwood Shwartz - modified by me for our Sea Diver trip.

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip. That started from this tropic port

Well....actually it started with a trip to a downtown Long Beach Greek Restrant for dinner with Chris, Kathryn, John, and Richard.

Aboard this tiny ship.

OK, I guess Great Escape isn't tiny. At 80 feet long and 25 feet wide - it's the largest dive boat that we have in the Los Angeles area

The mate was a mighty sailing man

The skipper brave and sure.

Twenty nine Sea Divers set sail that day. For a diving tour. For a diving tour.

Our planned itinerary had been an early morning departure for Santa Barbara Island. Because of the rain and bad channel conditions plans changed to a 5:30 am departure for Catalina Island. Patiently, we waited for morning.

After a quiet night of sleep, the sun started to rise. We exited Angles Gate into a seemingly calm ocean. Not far into our journey, a large gray whale was at the surface right off the bow of the boat. Unfortunately, I missed the whale tail shot.

Next

The weather started getting rough

.

I was on the bow, hoping for more whale sightings or other photo ops when the wind started to blow very hard and a sudden downpour began. I turned after a bright flash to see who was taking my picture, and a huge clap of thunder just about knocked me off of my feet. Wow, a cool lightening storm - close too. The chances of getting struck by lightening ran through my head (really slim, right) and I decided to stay where I was and try for some lightening photos. The rain fell harder, the wind gusts blew stronger, and the waves grew a lot higher After several unsuccessful attempts at catching a bolt of lightening on pixels, for whatever reason, I had a brief moment of fear and decided to head into the galley.

The "tiny" ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew The Great Escape would be lost, the Great Escape would be lost

The ship dropped anchor on the shore of this Catalina Isle, we dove the strangest dive sites that I've been to in a while.

The first was called "Grand Cayman"

The next was "Salmon Isle"

And finally we dove at "Coco's". Fortunately, there was none called "de Nile", there was none called "de Nile".

OK now I've sucked you in. Your wondering if I've lost my mind. What really happened was Tim turned the boat around, and made tracks for where we left behind, for where we left behind. . Our diving trip was canceled, he hoped we wouldn't mind. I'm just trying to make the best of things......... three weeks until my next Sea Diver trip is a long long time.

Sometimes, being "Captain" is a thankless job. (Poor Tim) Thank you for getting us home safe.

Thought for the week - Is this a new brand of BC? "Rental"

Until next time................................................................................................