Sonoma coast has been having some stellar vis the last few weeks and the lings have moved in. You could, of course, have all that in Monterey instead of Sonoma and put that travel time to diving...
No I don't know those guys, I've been in for 5 years. I've got everything pretty much. I got a cressi suit, fins, mask and snorkel, weight belt with weights, knife, gloves and booties. I got a Rob Allen tuna 800 rail gun with reel. No float or float line yet, just waiting on funds.