Last updated: 5/2/04

The Lobster Dives – The Channel Islands, aka Todd & Tim go Diving

December 5-6, 1998

In 1998 my cousin Todd got certified. We wanted to find time to dive together even though Todd lives in Sacramento and I live in the Bay Area. A local California dive trip of some kind seemed logical. 

We decided on the Channel Islands and found that Truth Aquatics was running a lobster diving trip in December. So, off we went to learn about hunting for lobsters and preparing for the trip.

So, I went down to my local dive shop to get some lobster info. What they told me was, "Don't worry too much -- Lobos are EVERYWHERE!!" and "We've never gotten skunked". 

So I bought a goodie bag, lobster measuring gauge, fishing license and rented two low pressure-72 tanks (the low pressure guys match the capabilities of the boat compressor best -- get better fills) 

Getting There

On the day of departure Todd drove down to my house in the South Bay Area and we loaded up my car with his dive gear and headed out to Santa Barbara. To pass the time we played, "Top 10 best Rock & Roll LP’s of all time". I'd brought along some CD's that could have qualified we auditioned them on the way. We split up the trip with me taking the first stretch as Todd had already driven from Sacto that day. Todd finished up the last bit and pulled us into Truth Aquatics in early evening. 

Getting Settled

We checked in and found we were on the 'Truth'. Truth Aquatics, located in the harbor at Santa Barbara, are the owners of the ‘Truth’ as well as the ‘Conception’ and the ‘Vision’. 'Truth' is the oldest, but most stable. Good when things are choppy. 

We boarded and captured two good bunks at the bottom front of the boat. Not much to do on the boat until sailing so after chatting with a few other guests on deck, we walked over to the retail pier where there are lots of restaurants and bars for something to eat and relax a bit. 

We got on at about 11:30pm and went to bed around 11:45. The boat was supposed to leave after midnight. Almost got to sleep several times but actually just dozed. Didn’t even feel the boat leave the dock so I must have be dozing deeply. <G>

Wind coming from the north made diving where we wanted to on Santa Rosa impossible. The ride across the channel wasn’t too bad but I can say sleeping wasn’t easy.

On The Islands - Diving

We woke up to the smell of bacon flying and found we were anchored off the South Side of Santa Cruz. We were told that they'd have rather put us in on the North Side of Santa Rosa, but the wind made diving there too difficult. 

After eating we started to gear up. First surprise! These hunter guys are FAST. They'd geared up and were over the side as soon as the divemaster yelled, "pools OPEN"!! We actually futzed around so much we decided to wait for the second dive. 

OK, second dive and we're READY!!! Into the "pool". Now were HUNTING. I followed one guy for a few minutes to see what he was doing and found that these hunter guys are as FAST down below as they are topside!!! He just moved from rock to rock, putting his hand in to grab any lobster he saw evidence of. If you don't get in front of these hunter guys you find just legs and antennae. <G> 

Got to admit, my expectations were to just pick um' up EVERYWHERE. Although we we weren't having any luck, we heard from the other guys on the boat that pickins were poor, compared to other trips they'd taken. We saw little memorable, just some Octopus, a Bat Ray and some Lobsters, all small. 

To add misery to our poor hunting, Todd and I ended up 'down current' once. YES, we started the dive up current but got too focused on scenery and holes to put our hands into, and over-shot the boat. After surfacing and seeing were we were, we looked at the divemaster and he just waved us towards the current-line. HE wasn't gonna get wet for two dummies down-current. <G> --- Pulling back up a current line with full dive gear on will teach you to be more careful in the future. <G>

The diving generally was more adventuresome as I'd seen it in the Channel Islands before. Wind pushed the boat this way and that. They used two anchors most times and occasionally one would slip out and the boat would swing back and forth, causing you to have to time your entries. 

Todd had a small string of bad luck as he had an o-ring blow on one giant stride, and he had to haul himself out to have it replaced. I think we sat that dive out because the wind was whipping the boat around too. 

Oh yea, then there was "Todd and Mr. Urchin" -- Todd learned two lessons that day; Lesson 1: Don't stick your hand in holes without looking first - Lesson 2: Don’t pee on your hand as first aid! <G> -- i.e. - Don't believe just any ole diver tale you hear

I can't say I was the picture of PADI advertising either. My fins came unbuckled twice, and I had to re-thread them under water. Every try that with 5mm gloves on? Figured out that my kicking style brings fins in contact and buckles on outside are the reason my fins fall off. Gonna fix THAT!!

ONE good thing about the trip was the food on board was GREAT, especially the Enchiladas for lunch the last day!!! Breakfast were also hearty and all-you-can-eat. 

Comin’ back across the Channel

Rough weather on the ride back -- Barf bucket. Took some Bonnine. Didn’t feed the fish; others did. 

The Drive Back

Well, one good thing, we didn't have to fill up the coolers we brought down with water to keep our lobsters alive. We didn't get ANY!!!

Todd decided to make the trip back from Cupertino to Sacramento without staying overnight at my place. So, I took the entire 4 hour drive back from Santa Barbara myself, so he wouldn’t be too tired.

Summary:  The Big Skunk-a-Roony, but FUN never-the-less!

Dive Log

All on 21% (Air) with low pressure 72cft tanks (get better boat fills with LP tanks) 

Day 1 - 12/5/98

Dive 1 - Sat Out – Gear not assembled in time. 

Dive 5 - Night Dive - Sat out; Todd did it

Day 2 – 12/6/98

Dive 1 -  Sat Out; not ready to dive

Tell me what you think. Questions or comments are always welcome!

Email me at timboyd1 at yahoo.com  
(you know how to put this together - I list it this to way avoid SPAM robots)

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