I hope that everyone had a great New Years, I did, but Vegas got most of my money.
This year has started just fantastic. If all days where as nice as today, I would have to beat off the customers. We left the dock at 07:00 with an almost full boat of Sport Chalet divers. The crossing was good, but no dolphins. We were to go to Ship Rock but a couple of fishing boats were already there and I did not want to have any problems. OK off to Blue Caverns, no wind so a good choice. Again, fishing boats. I turned and thought about Hidden Reef, a place that I had never taken the Sport Chalet group to. It is a reef near half way between Bird Rock and Ship Rock (A monthly editor of a dive paper claims to have just found this spot a couple of years ago and calls it "Spanish Shoals" while the rest of the dive operators had known about it for years, go figure). Anyway pulled up to the high spot of about 55' and over the side and dropped anchor.
Terry May jumped in to check the anchor and make sure it was set. Everything was ok, so the rest of the group jumped in. I over heard two divers on the way to anchor, as I told them to go down the anchor line, and they were concerned as to where we were. They had never dove here before. As it turned out, no diver on the boat had ever dove here before. It is nice to be able to treat everyone to these places once in a while.
Boat traffic is the most dangerous thing here. I told everyone to be careful of boats, and if on cue, a sailboat came within 25' of the stern of the GE waiving and having a good time. Everyone came back telling of what a great time they had, and couple of legal bugs came up too, and two vintage fishing poles.
Next dive was at Eagle Reef. Very good diving with no problems. The last dive spot was Isthmus Reef for the 3rd, and 4th dive, although not many made the last dive. Vis varied from 20' to 50'. Not really that good for this time of year. The outside weather made this a very enjoyable day, and I hope that this year continues this way. El Nino be dammed!!!