There is no doubt that Orange County scuba diving surpasses the competition in terms of marine life encounters, quantity of sea life and unique exploratory dive sites. From San Diego to San Francisco, a diver can enjoy a wide range of scuba diving that provides clear, calm and cool waters. The abundance of dive sites, access to/from and the protection of those areas are on an entirely different level when it comes to Orange County scuba diving.

What makes Orange County so different? The topography offers unobstructed views of the ocean for those multi-million dollar homes that decorate the landscape of Southern California. This creates sweeping observation areas found throughout the region. These large hills continues downward towards the ocean and provide dramatic rock formations for divers to explore. For beach-goers, swimmers, paddle boarders and other aquatically focused folks; the public access areas to the Pacific Ocean are far greater than many other areas along the western coastline. Huntington Beach alone boasts a 9.5 mile state beach! The rocky formations found along the coastline continue well into the water; submerged and covered completely with ocean creatures. 

As a visiting diver, many will notice that there are waves along the coastline. As divers move north towards Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Monterrey, they will experience large waves that have spent millions of years forming up California's beautiful views. These pose a challenge to beach divers throughout the region and many will find themselves traveling via boat to enjoy the dive sites found in these areas. As the coast moves south and east, one will find that coves and beaches become a little more protected. With the consistent swell and direction, many Southern California dive sites are often capable of successful scuba diving throughout the week. If you are in Orange County and looking to experience dive boats, you are more than welcome to explore Orange County Dive sites with boats like the Riviera Charters. This boat has operated in the Dana Point harbor for many years and has become the staple boat diving platform in Orange County. 

The beautiful rock formations are often accompanied by kelp. Kelp forests are prolific throughout Southern California and provide excellent protection for many animals. Diver's enjoy sweeping views as the kelp sways back and forth with sunlight rays poking through. It is amongst the most beautiful views found on earth. A diver can linger along the bottom and enjoy watching the fish travel through the area while watching the kelp forest. When you are on a dive site with kelp, it does not get much better!

There are naysayers when it comes to scuba diving in California. These protests can be narrowed down to three main issues: water temperature, wave action and visibility. 

The water temperatures range from 55°-75°F throughout the year. The average Southern California water temperature is 60°F. Usually, the cooler temps in winter will bring in high pressure systems that will keep the wave action low and provide us with great visibility. What most divers experience is the cooling effects of the outside temperatures which creates an undesirable effect to those of us that have an affinity for warmth! With the proper exposure protection, a diver can enjoy year-around scuba diving in Orange County. Whether finding an affordable drysuit or wearing a 7mm wetsuit, many divers enjoy scuba diving in Southern California year after year. 

The waves in Southern California do pose a risk to scuba divers and they are a very manageable risk. Scuba instructors throughout Orange County and all along the coast teach their divers at the lowest levels of learning how to enter and exit effectively from beaches.  These waves can become greater heights during tidal changes, wind shifts or other factors. If those conditions exceed your capabilities as a diver, it is a good idea to postpone your California diving activities or find another venue like a dive boat to enjoy your dives. Even a three or four foot wave is more than manageable to the majority of divers in Orange County. You'll find divers every single weekend at dive spots like Shaw's Cove as they safely enter and exit the water for their dives. If you are interested in learning how to beach dive, ask your instructor about the techniques! 

Visibility is affected on the Southern California coastline by wave action. The majority of dive sites have a sandy substrate; when the waves are up, the visibility is usually reduced. This does not make a dive site 'un-dive-able'; it simply means we change our perspective and travel further away from the beach to get better visibility. The average in Orange County is 10'-15'. The highs and lows are so drastic that there have been times when diving in Southern California felt like diving in the tropics with cooler waters. The clarity of the water is affected by numerous factors, but does provide an average that makes diving in California a year-around experience. 

Overall, Orange County Scuba dive sites are excellent venues to enjoy whether the diver is visiting Southern California or is a resident of the area! If you are interested in exploring these areas, contact your local Southern California dive shop and get set up. You'll be very happy you did when you see how populated these areas are throughout Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and much more. 

Did you know that Beach Cities Scuba is a 100% AWARE partner? We are committed to supporting our ocean partners and creating a protected environment for sea life that includes responsible fishing practices and minimal human interaction. See how you can get involved today!

Introduction

Scuba diving provides a platform in which skill refinement is a constant opportunity. With every dive into the depths, scuba divers find activities on this submerged frontier that captivate interest and allow exploration into areas that many humans have yet to set fin! Whether it is searching for submerged cities that are brought to life through the efforts of archeologists or the observation of plant and ocean life, scuba divers find themselves with a set of skills that are commonly accepted ways to make the experience more enjoyable.

Buoyancy Control

One such common skill is the control of buoyancy. To fully understand the concept, one must first delve into the reason why buoyancy control is so important. From the perspective of the diver, buoyancy control provides numerous advantages. Having proper control can equal less work, which means less breathing. If one is breathing at a normal, controlled rate they will find that dives underwater will be longer because the bubble maker is not taxing the contents of the scuba cylinder. Additionally, having the ability to glide through the water will ensure avoidance against items that may be of danger or discomfort to the diver. For example, a sea urchin has a well known defensive measure in that it shoots tiny barbs into one's skin when it is assaulted. If there was a lack of control in buoyancy, one might find an uncomfortable meeting with one of these creatures. A sea urchin sting is almost always a result of carelessness when descending into the underwater realm. 

From an environment perspective, the ocean is a beautiful aspect of the world. The intricate living system is fragile and, in most cases, old. The fish are adapted to this environment and rarely touch the reefs. A scuba diver has to adapt to this environment and this is done through repetitive scuba diving. An individual with poor buoyancy control will find themselves skirting the bottom and destroying delicate reef and plant life needed to sustain this underwater ecosystem. If scuba divers lack the skill of buoyancy, they may single handedly change the dynamics of a reef system through their destructive practices of poor finning, buoyancy and negligence towards the delicacy of the region they dive within. 

In either case, scuba divers find themselves constantly refining techniques and finding ways to avoid contact with the reef systems we find in our oceans. 

Proper Weighting

One of the most important steps in buoyancy control is the determination of proper weighting. If a diver is wearing too much weight, they are essentially working against their own body. The presence of extra weight translates to drag while traveling through the water. Additionally, extra weight requires a diver to add a larger amount of air to the buoyancy control device (BCD). This can create a situation where managing the air inside the device much more difficult. It also wastes air that is in the scuba cylinder, thus shortening the dive time because of inefficient management. 

A simple technique to check your weighting on the surface is to put the regulator in the diver's mouth. Have them fully inflate their lungs while fully deflating the BCD. A properly weighted diver will settle around the eye line in the water. If the diver exhales, they should sufficiently sink to begin their dive. A diver who is underweighted will not sink at all and a diver who is overweight will begin to sink immediately. 

If a diver has descended, there is another technique to help with determining weighting. Once on a sandy bottom, the diver can conduct a technique where they breath in and slowly rise from the bottom. Upon exhalation, they should slowly drop back down to their original position. A diver who is underweighted will begin to float to the surface upon inhalation and a diver who has too much weight will require numerous adjustments to the BCD to successfully conduct this weight check. 

Divers in Southern California typically dive with 10% of their body weight plus 4lbs (i.e. 200lbs x .10 =  20 + 4lbs = 24lbs). The human body differs from diver to diver. One diver may have more body fat than the next, or one may literally be more dense or have a smaller lung capacity. So, the guideline is a good technique for a starting point for divers, but a properly weighted diver will refine this through the above techniques. Once weighting is determined, some other minor techniques can contribute to the success of a diver in buoyancy control. 

Streamlining

When one goes to a race track, they expect to see streamlined vehicles zooming around at high rates of speed. The aerodynamics of the vehicle provides advantage to the racer and is something that race teams around the world pay considerable attention to be successful on the track. It's pretty rare to see a Porsche go head-to-head with a Volkswagen bus complete with surfboards and passengers. Most of the readers here can surmise who would win the race and a good deal of it has to do with streamlining. 

For the diver, the same concepts apply. Does the diver want to be the Porsche or the Bus? By tucking in loose hoses and gauges, paying attention to proper finning techniques and reducing the drag in the water, a diver will find themselves more efficient on every dive. This will also calm a diver down by allowing them to glide through the water almost effortlessly. This action of streamlining the equipment is easy to do and contribute to reduced heart rates and breathing cycles. If the diver is streamlined and calm, they'll make their scuba cylinder as efficient as possible. 

Trim

A technique that is related to streamlining and proper weighting is trim. Trim is the actual position of a diver's body in the water. Divers who sit at 45 degree angles in the water have increased the surface area of their body against the opposing forces of the water. This creates an inefficient model and resistance to the diver. Additionally, a diver who is off trim will find themselves leaning one way or the other when they attempt to relax. If the diver has to engage muscle to maintain a proper position in the water, they are basically working out instead of chilling on their dive. 

Trim is also very easy to repair for a diver. If the diver gets into their swimming position and stops moving, they will see that through relaxation their body will begin to move. If the head is going down towards the bottom, this means that there is too much weight in the torso region for the diver. This can be alleviated by shifting weights to the lower body or by moving the tank a little bit down on the bottom to provide some specific gravity in the lower region area. If the diver's legs are sinking, a weight shift might be appropriate or a change to the buoyancy of the fins. A move to the left or the right is usually an indicator that the weight is not properly distributed on the body. By tightening down straps on the BCD, shifting the tank on the back or by ensuring the weights are evenly distributed; a diver can rectify the situation. 

Regardless of the solution, a properly trimmed diver should be able to stop moving and sit relaxed in their swimming position. By doing this, they've reduced effort and conserved energy!  

Physical Fitness

The scuba world does require the human body to strap on 30-40lbs of equipment and enter the water. Propulsion is created through the fins and this also requires effort on the part of the diver. If the diver has poor eating habits, smokes or drinks heavily, or has a poor workout regime; they will struggle when it comes to buoyancy control and efficient diving. This does not mean that a diver has to be a physical specimen to dive, but it does mean that there is a noticeable impact on an active, fit diver and one who ignores these concepts to consume in excess.

Leading an active lifestyle can improve buoyancy control through increases in stamina and conditioning towards the activity. By being active and diving on a more regular basis, a scuba diver will find that things like proper weighting, trim and streamlining become much easier and make scuba diving more enjoyable. With proper diet and the shedding of habits that affect a diver's ability to effectively breath underwater, we find that the final stage of proper buoyancy is the most beneficial. Not only will you become a better scuba diver, but you may live longer and get the opportunity to enjoy the scuba life much more! 

Conclusion

Of all of the skills involved in the PADI Open Water program and other programs like Peak Performance Buoyancy, none can be greater than the focus on proper buoyancy control. Not only will it extend the diver's ability to stay underwater, it will preserve the environment for future generations and avoid unnecessary injuries by the defensive measures of aquatic life. 

Should you find yourself struggling with this technique, never hesitate to contact your instructor and request time in the water focusing on buoyancy control as a skill. You will be happy that you paid attention to it and you'll find follow on dives to be much better in length and focus. 

Did you know that Beach Cities Scuba is a 100% AWARE partner? We are committed to supporting our ocean partners and creating a protected environment for sea life that includes responsible fishing practices and minimal human interaction. See how you can get involved today!

When I first went to Truk Lagoon, I wrote this article for our website and a few local newspapers. I've made some minor changes. All of it remains relative to our upcoming trip! In September of 2019, we are planning to re-visit this beautiful location. If you'd like to see that information, click here.

In order to fully appreciate Truk Lagoon, one must go back to 1944. To Torakku (the airstrike on Truk Island). The Americans know it today as Operation Hailstone. Where Marc Mitscher and Masami Kobayashi went head-to-head in an American-led attack on one of Japan’s largest logistical bases. The action devastated the Japanese fleet. With tactical forethought, Kobayashi realized that Truk was a vulnerable position and began moving many of his warships to another great dive destination known as Palua.

In the end, the Japanese lost 2 light cruisers, 4 destroyers, 3 auxiliary cruisers, 6 auxiliary ships, 1 aircraft ferry, 2 submarine tenders, 3 smaller warships, 32 merchant ships and 250+ aircraft over the two days of battle. Many of which still lay on the bottom of Truk Lagoon. 

Many of the ships were unmanned, but there were over 4500+ lives lost to the Japanese that day. 

The attack changed the tempo of the war itself. Minimizing Truk opened up attacking into Palua, Guam, Saipan and Iwo Jima for the Americans. Japan never fully recovered from this devastating blow and Truk would remain isolated by the Americans until the Japanese surrender in 1945.

With the considerable amount of life lost on this attack, Truk Lagoon remains hollowed ground for all divers and is respected as such. The diving is top-notch and world class, but we will always remember those who fought valiantly over two days of intense battle for the men to their left and right. 

Sixty-eight years later, in 2012, twelve divers from Beach Cities Scuba embarked on a journey from Los Angeles to Truk in order to visit 13 of the ships located there.

David "D.J." Mansfield is a PADI Course Director, Technical Diving Instructor Trainer and the Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba. He spends his days working inside the industry and training divers all over the world. You can follow him on Instagram @djmansfield77 or catch him at the dive shops any time. 

If you have suggestions on the writing, let him know at david.mansfield@beachcitiescuba.com! 

Welcome to Physics class! 

One of the questions we hear often is "how long will we be able to stay down on this dive?" 

This is a difficult question to answer with all of the factors involved, but we can estimate! Fundamentally, this concept is the Pressure, Volume, Density relationship. There are many things in scuba that refer back to this relationship in our underwater environment. If we break down the three definitions first, we can then look at how they apply to scuba divers. 

Pressure - This is the force per unit area of the object on which the force is being exerted. It is defined through the equation: P(pressure) = F (force) / A (area). We don't often think about the pressure that is exerted on us by the weight of the air above us and then the water when we submerge. But, it is there!

In liquid and gasses, we find that pressure is exerted equally in all directions. This is due to their molecules being in flux and moving differently from a solid. For a scuba diver, we find that every 33ft the pressure will become equivalent to 1 atmosphere (1ATA - or 1 Atmospheres Absolute). So, imagine all of the air stacked above you as you look skyward. That is a force that is exerted on you every day of your life. As you descend into a "thicker" medium (i.e. water), the weight of the water becomes a factor for you. So, you are dealing with higher pressures as you descend into the depths! 

Volume - This is defined as the amount of space that a substance or object occupies. There are many examples of this for a scuba diver. We have air spaces in our bodies. When we dive down, we can feel the pressure changes because our ears and our sinuses are quickly affected by the application of pressure onto areas of our body that are flexible. Luckily, our body is a flexible container. We can react to the volume changes through such things as a valsalva maneuver to equalize our sinuses to the surrounding area. Our scuba tank is a inflexible container that is under pressure itself. The volume inside is also affected as the tank goes deeper. When I describe volume to Open Water students, we talk about a balloon. When that balloon is filled with air, it occupies a space that we can now see. There is a bit of pressure in the balloon, but the molecules inside are trapped. As we descend with that balloon, it will actually shrink. The molecules didn't go anywhere. They simply became closer. Thus, creating the smaller volume. 

Density - Finally, we get to density. This is the mass per unit volume of an object. Remember the balloon? Well, as I said, the descending balloon didn't magically make molecules disappear. It just brought them closer together through pressure. So, as the balloon shrinks (volume) from the pressure of the water (pressure), it creates a more dense effect on the molecules inside the balloon (density). To mathematically define it, Density = mass / volume. 

There are some other affects we see with this relationship. As gas molecules come together under pressure, they become agitated and actually create heat. The inverse is also possible. This is why your tank heats up when it is filled (what some people call a hot fill). The same is true for when you rapidly empty a tank. The cooling effect will actually freeze parts of a cylinder if you open it all the way up. This is because a massive change in the environment (releasing or increasing the pressure) has affected the molecules. 

Application - So, how does this affect us? Well, as we go deeper underwater, we see that a scuba tank will be unable to last as long on a dive. Because this pressure is affecting the volume of the scuba tank while simultaneously demanding more air from the user because their lung capacity has changed with the environment. 

If we refer to the image below, we find that every 33ft of depth something occurs. It is relatable in its occurrence as well. At 33ft, the pressure doubles for your body and your scuba tank. Meanwhile, the volume of the gasses becomes 1/2 what they would be on the surface. And, remember the balloon (the molecules went nowhere); we are experiencing twice the density. 

So, as you breath in, you are receiving twice the amount of air into your lungs than you would on the surface. 

This effect is why we pay so much attention to breathing underwater safely. You'll hear the term, "Never hold your breath". This is because our lungs are now adapted to the environment while we are actually breathing in twice the amount of gas. So, if we were to hold our breath and ascend, the expectation is that our lungs will expand to twice their size from 33ft to 0ft. This is an obvious issue and one that makes this all make sense now! 

We can deduce numerous things for that simple question we asked in the beginning. Let's say that we were descending to 66ft on a dive. What we can estimate is how long that tank could last. For ease of math, let's say that it takes you 60 minutes to breath down a cylinder of air at the surface. If you were to take that same cylinder of air down to 66ft, you can estimate that it will perform 1/3 of that capability. Or, 60/3 = 20 minutes. Obviously, there are a lot of factors involved with determining the question (your lung volume, breathing rates, etc.), but you can generally answer it now with an understanding of the Pressure, Volume, Density relationship.

Should you need any help with these types of questions as you move forward in your scuba life, let us know! We are happy to help you get through physics and train you further! 

David "D.J." Mansfield is a PADI Course Director, Technical Diving Instructor Trainer and the Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba. He spends his days working inside the industry and training divers all over the world. You can follow him on Instagram @djmansfield77 or catch him at the dive shops any time. 

If you have suggestions on the writing, let him know at david.mansfield@beachcitiescuba.com! 

By Haley Marchini

Who's excited for WOMEN'S DIVE DAY?! This wonderful and rapidly growing tradition will continue for its fourth-year anniversary on July 21st, when female divers from all over the world will come together to celebrate diving, our mutual love for our oceans, and being women! PADI Women's Dive Day is a day to meet amazing women who dive, create community, and lasting friendships. This event continues to strengthen, support, and contribute to the worldwide growth and love for diving.

Why is it important to have a day dedicated to female scuba divers, you might ask? Well, it's no secret that scuba diving has long been perceived as a male-centric sport. In fact, for many years, the gender ratio for entry-level divers was 65% male versus 35% female. PADI and Beach Cities Scuba, along with organizations all over the world, are working hard to shatter the misconceptions about women in the dive community by encouraging more women to dive, as well as creating ways to discuss topics pertaining specifically to women. Topics such as: equipment needs and preferences, female related health issues, opportunities for women in the dive industry, and grants and scholarships available to women interested in ocean and diving related careers. The list could go on and on!

Shocking as it may seem, men and women’s needs are not always the same. What better way to acknowledge these differences than by bringing together as many female divers as possible to talk about them? Opening a dialogue and addressing our gender-specific needs will bring awareness to our community, dive shops, and dive equipment manufacturers; which will translate into safer equipment, and an overall more enjoyable experience underwater for us ladies!

In addition to bringing women together to celebrate diving, it's also extremely important to highlight the work so many great women have already achieved and are continuing to do for our diving communities. Dr. Sylvia Earle, for instance. Or Sara Richard, the founder and creator of the online community Girls That Scuba. Or how about Ocean Ramsey, world renowned shark conservationist. These women, along with so many more, are making massive impacts and don't receive the attention they deserve. Let's share the stories of these amazing people and encourage even more women to join us.

As a diver, and as a woman working and teaching in the dive industry, my personal hope is to create a welcoming community of divers. A vibrant and healthy community of men and women who inspire and support women of all ages, along with their loved ones! More certified divers, male and female, means a larger community of people dedicated to being life-long advocates for our oceans!

So come join us! Beach Cities Scuba is hosting two Women’s Dive Day events on Saturday, July 21, 2018. We will have a two-dive boat trip off the Riviera Dive Boat in Dana Point, and a two-dive shore option out of Heisler Park in Laguna Beach.

Information on how to sign up can be found right here on our website, or feel free to call us at (949) 443-3858, and ask for Haley.

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Orange County, California is home to many dive sites, but there is one site that dominates in frequency of divers, quality of diving, and accessibility. Utilizing these markers has led us to believe that Shaw's Cove is the #1 dive site in Orange County.

Located near Beach Cities Scuba, Shaw's Cove has spent over 80 years supporting the Southern California scuba lifestyle as well as visitors from all over the world! 

With that, we think that Shaw's is the #1 dive site in Orange County.

Here are the reasons why:

Frequency of Visits: There is no doubt that Shaw's Cove dominates the local dive community with frequency. On any given day, one will see a diver or two out in the parking areas prepping for a dive. On a weekend, it is not uncommon to see a hundred or more divers enjoying classes, diving for fun or just out exploring the Pacific ocean. You might see events at other dive sites throughout the year that draw the attention of divers; but at Shaw's Cove, you'll have consistent visits! 

Quality of Diving: We've conducted dives up and down the coast of California and much more. Of all those places, Shaw's Cove dominates in the "things to see" category. It is one of the only sites that has cut-outs that are expansive and enjoyable to explore. If you aren't in the cut-outs and caves, you can see a large kelp forest, reach deeper depths on the back side, visit Shelly of Shaw's (a little statue placed there in the early 2000's) or see if you can interact with Sea Lion's on the hunt. There is also an abundant amount of ocean life there. Lobsters are large and plentiful (this is a protected area under the MPA laws in Laguna Beach), every inch of the reef is covered in life and the population of fish is booming. You'll see the staple Garibaldi, Sheepshead, large schools of smelt and many other species here. Angel sharks, Bat Rays, Giant Black Sea Bass, Dolphins, Whales (yes, Whales), Blue sharks and other larger animals will pass by in search of food. This high percentage of things to do in Shaw's Cove make the quality of diving superior in Southern California dive sites. 

Shelly of Shaw's: 

Not much is known about "Shelly of Shaw's." Apparently the Shelly has been a Shaw's Cove resident since the early 2000s. Shelly has moved a few times, and was vandalized at least once sometime around 2007. Every once in a while Shelly is mysteriously cleaned and cared for. Shelly currently sits roughly 10 meters east south east, from turnaround rock.

Accessibility: Shaw's Cove is an excellent location to conduct training dives for all recreational levels. It is in a semi-protected cove in terms of wave movement. When the swells are normal, Shaw's wave breaks will be lighter than other Southern California dive sites. When you might be at Wood's Cove and washed out, you might find Shaw's Cove to be an easier entry and exit! 

There is ample residential parking available at this dive site. It is also easily accessible from the Beach Cities Scuba location where many divers travel to and from on their shore dives. 

We know there are many dive sites in Southern California waters. If we were to rank them by popularity alone, it would be pretty easy to make the statement that the #1 dive site in Orange County is Shaw's Cove. Just ask any local, they more than likely got certified in Shaw's Cove , or they completed their first shore dives after certification at Shaw's. 

D.J. Mansfield is a PADI Course Director and Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba Centers. He's been in the fabric of the local dive community for 18 years and has hundreds of dives at Shaw's Cove alone. He can be reached at david.mansfield@beachcitiesscuba.com and is often found at the Cypress or Oceanside locations.