Dove my Kraken off the beach here in Laguna Beach yesterday. About 20ft viz and 57 F ocean temp (which is about the limit for me in my 5mm wetsuit for an hours dive time).
Went back out today for a vintage dive. Had an experience that was just strange. Our local lifeguards are really great and you don't see too many in the winter time. Yet today, there I am standing on the beach putting my Voit Vikings on and up walks this Lifeguard (a kid really, doubt if he was over 18). He asks me a bunch of questions about where I'm going, etc... and I politely answer him. Then he kind of looks oddly at me and says, "I notice you don't have an octopus regulator and you know that PADI requires one for all divers." Before I get to my response, you have to know what I was thinking. I was thinking, "really, I'm standing here with a single stage double hose regulator with no LP ports, no BC, no pack pack, no pressure gauge, and I am diving all by myself with no buddy in sight, and you want to know why I don't have an octo reg on?" So I simply state, of course I know that (no I don't) but my octo was leaking this morning so I thought it would be unsafe to use it and left it back at the house. I promise to get it fixed. He was very satisfied with that response, told me to be careful and wished me a good dive. Sometimes I cannot fathom people. M
"The diver who collects specimens of underwater life has fun and becomes a keen underwater observer. .. seek slow-moving or attached organisms such as corals, starfish, or shelled creatures." (Golden Guide to Scuba Diving, 1968)