La Jolla Shore Cove-7/1

[Prodigal Son]

After the tepid reviews of San Onofre (thanks guys!), I convinced my brother and his wife to meet my family at La Jolla Shores Cove. I took my wife, kids and and nephews out diving from there. It was an excruciatingly painful experience. The water was warm (~72 degrees; I only wore a rash guard) and the vis ranged from 15-25 feet. My wife is now hooked on snorkeling our SoCal waters, and demanded that I buy her a set of mask, snorkel, and fins and take her diving this Tuesday. She was as comfortable as a clam in the 3mm wetsuit I bought from Sheri Daye awhile ago. My nephews and kids had the time of their lives. I could hear my 8-year-old daughter repeatedly saying through her snorkel "This is so beautiful!" as I held her hand and guided her through the water.

So you ask why it was so painful? I've never seen so many large calicos lay idly in eelgrass or swim next me within an arms length. Almost every rock I looked under had 1-3 bugs sitting in there just staring at me. I couldn't take any of them!!! It's like standing in front of that huge tuna tank at the Monterey Aquarium...pure agony.

All kidding aside, I had a great time. I spent about 3 hours in the water and enjoyed every second of it (except for not being able to shoot huge calicos or grab lobsters ). You guys in San Diego have a great area for diving. I really want to hunt the legal areas as soon as I get a chance.

And remember: If your wife hates your spearfishing hobby/passion, take them diving with you (sometimes). I can't believe how fast my wife took to the water, although I think she's in for a nasty surprise when she dives in the cold, murky waters of Laguna.

Have a happy and blessed 4th of July holiday!

[mnguy]

I'm glad you had a good time Howard. Next time, take them to Lover's cove or just around Avalon on Cat. And don't forget to bring peas. Check your PMs

[BLUEGILL]

Glad you found a place to provide such a lasting impression and great experience Howard, I'm sure breaking that barrier will get you some more water time!!
Jeff

[dmay]

So is Santa gonna bring 3 shiny new spearguns to your house for Christmas this year Howard?

[DaKahuna]

Howard, those are my plans for tomorrow on the 4th!
We just got a set of gear for my wife and we're (me, wife, and son) planning on going out together. Now you've got me reconsidering our plans to go to Woods Cove. What area of LJ did you go to exactly? North or south of Children's Pool? Right at LJ Cove? My family actually wants to try and watch from the surface while I spear a couple of small fish in the shallows, but maybe we don't need to do that this time.
Congrats on getting to enjoy such a great family experience, hope we'll be blessed with the same.

[Prodigal Son]

Thanks guys! Diving with my wife and kids and finally seeing them enjoy a glimpse of what I enjoy made it all worthwhile. Unfortunately, it'll be a few more years before my kids are ready to go spearing with me, and they'll start off with polespears just like ole' Dad did when he was their age.

Chip, we were at the small cove just north of the Smelly Seals' Pool (formerly known as the Childrens' Pool ). It's the tiny beach right under the lifeguard station and public bathrooms/showers. You'll see a bunch of swimmers going to and fro from the buoys marking out the marine life refuge. The beach was way too small for the family, so we setup our umbrellas and stuff on the grass just a short distance from the stairwell going down to the cove.

BTW, my family and I will be a Goff tomorrow morning. If you and your family decided to stay local, maybe we'll see you there. I hoping to run into Mike et al there.

[Shawn]

I've dove the cove twice in the past week, and couldn't believe the size of the bugs and calicos I've been seeing there. It's such a cool/frustrating place.