[jimqpublic]

Thanks all. We never did get a "first" dive in before our trip. No prob though because her first ocean snorkeling experience was Descanso Beach and the Casino Dive Park at Catalina. We caught the ferry last Thursday after the last day of kindergarten and spent two full days in and around the water.

She was a bit upset over having to stay on the surface- the wetsuit and snorkeling vest made sure of that. Generally though she did great.

Visibility was well over 30' and we saw thousands of fish. She saw and identified at least ten different types- Adult & juvenile garibaldi; male & female sheepshead; calico/kelp bass; blacksmith; senorita fish; surfperch; giant kelpfish; halfmoon; opaleye; and sardines (by the million).

We fed them fish food and peas. At Lover's Cove the calicos literally mobbed her- even nipping a finger. I bought a disposable water camera so hopefully we got some good pictures.

Sunday we went out to Redondo for some freedive training with Vaclav H. I had planned to keep the kids on the beach but basically my daughter wouldn't have any of that. Water was murky, confused, and choppy. She didn't seem to care- swimming around like it was a calm lake. I on the other hand was too stressed to do any useful diving.

The girl is going to be a fish.

We're camping for a week at Doheny in late July, so that will be a good chance to make it to La Jolla.

Jim