Canalita - First Scuba Diving Adventure

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Scuba Diving Adventure 12/18/05

Today we went to Catalina Island on our first Scuba Diving boat trip. We were very excited. This was a required part on our Scuba Diving lesson. Our instructor is Mrs. Barbara Grant, who is a very wonderful instructor and pays particular details to all aspects of Scuba Diving. She takes your safety and well-being as top priority.

The trip took two hours by boat from Long Beach harbor. We took the Cee-Ray, a boat which holds about 60 divers. Since this was the last trip for the season, the Cee-Ray was packed. There were about 60 divers, some were students from other Sports Chalet branches, some were professional divers.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks were provided. We were going to make 3 dives for today. When the anchor was set, most of the experienced divers jumped into the water without fear. Needless to say, "fear" began set in me. Not only do i have about 30 pounds of led in my weight belt, i was fully suited up, with a full-size oxygen tank strapped to my back ----- and was required to jump about 15 feet from the boat ledge into deep open water.

In our Scuba class in Sports Chalet, Burbank, there were only 3 students. Richard, Joy and Myself. It was a small class which is good because we get all the attention from our instructor. It's almost like a private class but at a group rate. I highly recommend anyone to take the Open Water course. It's very refreshing, plus it is a good exercise, and when you get certified, you can dive anywhere in the world under the PADI umbrella.

Dive 1

Name: Isthmus Reef

Depth: 38 feet

Bottom Time: 17mins

At the first exercise ("tired diver tow"), I was over-exhausted. I had to rest for a few minutes. After the rest, I must have amnesia for i could not remember how to put on my weight belt while floating in the water. Needless to say, I was unable to go with the group on this dive. Joy, Richard and Ms. Grant did this dive.

Dive 2

Name: Redbluff

Depth: 32 feet

Bottom Time: 28mins

I was able to go on this dive. It was great! Ms. Grant cut open a sea urchin and the other fish was feeding on it. We saw some eels hiding inside the rock holes. It's a whole different world underwater.

Dive 3

We were very exhausted. Joy was already freezing. Barbara decided that it may not be a very good idea if we dive again.

PICTURES TAKEN ABOARD CEE-RAY

above: Joy

Joy and Myself

Training provided by Sports Chalet

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