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OSDT Baja 1000 Expedition Recap
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This was a special trip that took five years to plan and coordinate; first and one of a kind expedition (except for a few scientific explotarions) to cover the Pacific side of the Baja Penninsula. We are very proud and thankful that Mike Lever, owner of Naulitus Liveaboards, was willing to work with us to make this unique trip a reality. From June 23 to July 2, the 19 adventurous and like-minded OSDT members travelled a total distance of 1018 miles northward from Cabo San Lucas along the Pacific coast of Baja California, stopping at many spots to explore the places where only a few have ever been before!
There were so many breathtaking sights and awesome adventures that will remain in our memories forever. In the amazingly clear and blue waters at Rocas Alijos, we marveled at the unique formation and enjoyed swimming into the middle of huge schools of Cortez Sea chub and red tail triggerfish. We also saw an abundance of usually rare clarion angelfish and the even more rare hybrid of clarion and king angelfish. There were scythe butterflyfish as well! Some of us have seen the few that have migrated to one dive site in Catalina Island. At San Benitos Island, we enjoyed the rock formations and deep pinnacles similar to those of San Miguel Island. It was lovely to see the luscious and colorful seaweed garden and southern palm kelp. This is where we saw some of the familiar marine life such as sheepheads and calico bass. What was different was that they were not afraid of divers and they let us get very close. We can’t forget our land tour on San Geromino Island. Everywhere we looked, there were brooding seagulls who did not seem particularly pleased about our visit. On the beach there were some sunbathing elephant seals who gave us a wondering puppy-dog eyes. We wrapped up the trip with dives at San Martin Island where we saw an abundance of Hopkin’s rose nudibranchs in luscious giant kelp forest.
This was truly an epic adventure. We had so much fun exploring the very remote dive sites only a few have visited. We had fun diving and sharing stories. We will go back there again to make more memories with adventurous group of divers!
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Highlights from Two-Day Dive Adventure at San Clemente Island
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On July 20 and 21, we headed out on our two-day dive adventure aboard the Horizon. The trip started off with a warm welcome from the crew. They offer one of the best diving experiences in Southern California, with a large comfortable boat and exceptional service, alongside amazing diving. For the next two days, we dove at sites on the North and southern ends, and along the back side of San Clemente Island. We cruised through large healthy reefs and kelp forests, both of which were teeming with life. San Clemente is also one of the few islands that offers divers a glimpse of the rare purple hydrocoral. The density and size of the hydrocoral here might rival, or even surpass, those of the more well known Farnsworth Bank. One dive site in particular, Coral Garden/9 Fathoms, located off the North end of the island, is home to a colony of purple hydrocoral. All of the dive sites on this trip were in areas where the military runs their combat and bombing trainings. Due to the limited access to civilian boats, these dive sites have been rarely visited by divers in the past 10 years. The scene of kelp flattened by fast moving current, alongside clumps of bright purple coral, and surrounded by thousands of fish was sure to be one for the books.
Join us next summer (July 18 and 19, 2020) for our next adventure aboard the Horizon. We will go back to the beautiful San Clemente Island for more adventures.
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Our next Freediving Level 1 and Level 2 Certification Course is scheduled for the Labor Day weekend, August 31 to September 2. This professional level freediving certification course taught by industry-renowned spearfishing record holder and freediving champion, Seamus Callaghan. Whether you are just interested but never tried before, or have been freediving for years, we have classes to improve your skills. The techniques learned in our courses translate to scuba diving as well, so even if you don't want to be a spearfishing champion, you'll definitely become a better scuba diver!
We also have basic freediving workshops on August 10 and 17. In these workshops we will cover some fundamental freediving skills, which are not covered in the pro freediving course.
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Last Chance to Sign Up - There are Few Spots Left
Outer Islands: Begg Rock, San Nicolas Island - August 23-24, 2019
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Don't miss the chance to be among the few adventurous (and lucky) divers who can boast of making it out to Begg Rock and San Niclolas Island. Join us on this special trip aboard the Peace Dive Boat.
Exotic and hugely famous in the diving community for photography and hunting opportunities, Begg Rock and San Nilolas Island offer a wealth of marine wonders few other places can compete with.
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Newfoundland Dive & Eco Exprdition - May 15 - 24, 2020
Unique adventure for divers and non-divers alike
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This expedition will be one for the books if you’re a true underwater explorer. We have amazing experiences for both divers and non-divers (adventurers) alike. Divers will explore some World War II wrecks sunk by German U boats, hunt for huge scallops the size of your hand (bring home up to 50 scallops!), visit an eerie but beautiful whale bone graveyard, and encounter breathtaking reefs and walls full of cold-water marine life. Adventurers will have the chance to explore with divers to see marine life while snorkeling, visit a historic mine, kayak underneath waterfalls, enjoy Bell Island, and soak in natural hot springs.
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August Events, Seminars and Courses
8/2 - Photography Pool Workshop
8/3 - Underwater Navigation Seminar
8/3 - Lost at Sea: Crisis Prevention and Management Seminar
8/7 - Advanced Scuba Technique Pool Workshop 2
8/10 - Freediving Pool Workshop 1
8/10 - Underwater Hunting Seminar
8/14 - Rescue Diving Pool Workshop 1
8/17 - Freediving Pool Workshop 2
8/17 - Fish Identification Seminar
8/19 - CPR and AED Seminar
8/21 - Rescue Diving Pool Workshop 2
8/24 - Marine Biology & Invertebrate ID Seminar
8/28 - Advanced Scuba Technique Pool Workshop 1
8/31 - Basic Equipment Maintenance and Repair Seminar
August Eco Adventures
8/4 - Tidepool Exploration (San Pedro); 7:00am - 12:00pm
8/18 - Stand Up Paddle Board Nature Tour (Huntington Harbor); 11:00am - 4:00pm
8/31 - Exploring Backcountry Forests (Cooper Canyon Falls); 5:50am - 1:30pm
Ongoing Advanced and Master Scuba Diver Certification Courses
We schedule our Advanced and Master Scuba Diver courses to fit your schedule. Join our award-winning certification courses!
Ongoing Scuba Diver Certification Course
New class starts every two weeks.
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Upcoming Local Dives and Events
8/4 Oil Rigs - Asante
8/4 Catalina Island - Bottom Scratcher
8/11 Santa Cruz Island - Truth
8/18 Santa Barbara Island - Peace
8/23-24 Begg Rock, San Nicolas Island - Peace
8/18 Anacapa/Santa Cruz Island - Peace
Full 2019 trip schedule can be viewed on our website.
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Great Opportunity to Upgrade Your Computer
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Trade in and Trade Up to save. Huish Outdoors have a fantastic Trade-in, Trade-Up special.
Bring in your old computer (any computer, any manufacturer) and get 20% off the retail price of a new Suunto computer. Visit us for more details.
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Extra Warmth Without Extra Weights
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ExoWear is the new lightweight, layerable and neutrally buoyant exposure-protection garment that provides maximum thermal warmth and protection against the harshest elements.
Designed for those exhilarating watersport adventures like diving, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding, ExoWear is BARE’s most versatile line of full suits, jackets, tops, pants, shorts, and accessories.
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We are Taking Orders for the New Bare Drysuit
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If you have been looking for the one drysuit that does it all, you have found it.
Sentry (men's drysuit) and Guardian (women's drysuit) are Bare's latest flagship suits, incorporating thermal and operational capabilities to meet the demands of the commercial or military diver with the flexibility and comfort of a warm water wetsuit. The Sentry and Guardian are constructed using high density Yamamoto neoprene, Bare's new and improved No Stitch Technology, and BARE’s latest innovation in torso expansion: Automatic Torso X-Tension system (ATX), that works without the restrictions of a crotch strap.
Call us today at 626-287-6283 to inquire.
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