California is home to a highly diverse scenery above and below the waves. Northern California is covered in Giant Redwood forests and sweeping views of rugged terrain. Areas like Monterrey, Big Sur and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve provide divers an amazing view of a protected underwater realm. Meanwhile, the Central Coast of California is a gateway to the Channel Islands, where one of the largest Marine preserves in the country reside. Large animals like Orcas and the Grey Whale travel through the Channel Islands and grace bubble-makers with an unparalleled diving experience! As a traveler moves further south along the longest continuous state coastline in America, they'll find more beautiful water and enjoy many amazing areas that span from San Diego to Los Angeles. There is no doubt in any diver's mind that Southern California is a unique diving experience that must be jotted down on a bucket list and achieved! Whether you are looking for deep wrecks, kelp forests or swimming with some very large animals; you'll find it in SoCal. 

Millions of underwater inhabitants allow a diver to enjoy substantial viewings in a short amount of time and give divers plenty to talk about when they surface on the world-class beachheads to spend the rest of their day!

Here's a few of Southern California diver's favorite encounters! 

The "big'uns":

Giant Black Sea Bass - Photo Courtesy of Jazmin Sproule

Giant Black Sea Bass

Meet Stereolepis gigas. Commonly known as the Giant Black Sea Bass (GSB), this behemoth can reach lengths of 7ft and weigh as much as 700lbs. This fish was sought after by fishermen and eventually found itself on an endangered species list; this prompted the California Department of Fish and Game to ban the fishing of the GSB in 1982. Slowly, but surely, the population is finding itself back in a common sighting for SoCal divers. The GSB find hunting grounds amongst shallow rocky reefs in California and tend to stay in their areas for some time. They utilize their giant maw to rapidly suck a prey into their mouths for feeding and they love to eat just about anything on the reef.  At the time of this writing, GSB's are currently hanging out at the Casino Point in Catalina and along the California coast at Heisler Park. They are a curious fish that will circle a diver and inspect them with their large eyes before moving along elsewhere along the reef. They are quite a treat to see on a dive! 

_________________________________________________________________

California Sea Lions lounging about - Photo by Greg Amptman 

California Sea Lions

Zalophus californianus is a carnivore that is very common along Southern California shorelines. They can live up to 30 years of age and weigh in at a whopping 800+ lbs upon full maturity. The California Sea Lion is the fastest of its family where it can reach speeds of 25 miles an hour. They are a social animal that many top-siders can enjoy as they lay about on docks, moorings, rocks and more. They are extremely smart hunters and can remain below the surface for 10 minutes. They are the ire of fishing boats, as sea lions will comfortably chill below a boat and snag fighting fish directly off reels for some lazy meals. The California Sea Lions are always fun to interact with but do require caution as they are a territorial wild animal. Divers in Southern California will travel to the Los Coronados Islands, La Jolla Cove, San Clemente's Seal Rock and Crescent Bay North's Seal Rock for a chance to encounter these animals. At Shaw's Cove, it is not uncommon to have a Sea Lion join a diver on a night dive. The resident there enjoys using a diver's lights to help hunt! 

_________________________________________________________________

A Pacific White-Sided Dolphin at the Vancouver Aquarium - Photo by Yummifruitbat

Pacific White-Sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus obliquidens is known as the Pacific White-Sided Dolphin and are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They are most noticeable in California waters because of their white stripes when they are cresting the surface of the water or viewed underneath the waves. They have a short beak and look very similar to a porpoise. The Pacific White-Sided Dolphin is highly sociable and is often viewed by boaters when the dolphins decide to surf the wakes of their boats. They are not shy when it comes to acrobatic maneuvers and often hunt in groups, which provide amazing views for observers. Surfers and divers alike will experience close encounters with a dolphin and there are many tales of watching dolphins surf the waves along the SoCal coastline. They are always fun to see under the water! 

_________________________________________________________________

Gray Whale - Photo taken by SpringTide Crew

Gray Whale

Eschrichtius robustus is an amazing thing to see in Southern California waters. This animal travels between Mexico and Alaska and provide whale watching tours a view unlike any other. Reaching 30-40 tons and 40-50 feet, a Gray Whale is a very noticeable passerby in Southern California. They are often covered in organisms and will provide onlookers with views of their tails (also known as flukes) and gigantic blowholes when they surface for air. Their two blowholes are positioned in such a way that when they exhale, their spout appears to be heart shaped. For Southern California divers, a gray whale is so large that it often creates a visual disturbance in the water when it passes. An animal that exceeds the length of full size school busses are wary of boats and will often travel or dive well away from them. On occasion, divers and sight-seers will get to enjoy a breaching whale or catch a glimpse of their beautiful flukes. 

_________________________________________________________________

The common ones:

Pacific Barracuda - Photo by Mark H.

Pacific Barracuda

Sphyraena Argentea is a schooling fish that is often found in large packs throughout Southern California. It is a predatory fish that spans from the southern tip of Baja Mexico all the way up to coastal Washington state. They can grow to over 3ft long and weigh in at 15lbs. During winter, the Pacific Barracuda will move south to warmer hunting grounds before moving back into our favorite Southern California dives sites and becoming a treat to see while out in the water. These fish are aggressive hunters of smaller fish and are inquisitive by nature. They are attracted to shiny objects and will come close to a diver to take a look. Considering their sharp teeth, it is safer to maintain a distance and enjoy their beautiful views from afar! 

_________________________________________________________________

Garibaldi - Photo courtesy of Istockphoto

The Elusive Garibaldi

Hypsypops rubicundus can be easily identified by its bright orange coloration and inquisitive personality. Unlike other damselfish, who reside in warm tropical waters, Garibaldi can be found in temperate waters off the California coast from Monterey Bay down to the northern Baja coastline waters of Mexico. After over two decades of the Aquarium industry aggressively targeting the Garibaldi, California passed legislation in 1993 to protect these fabulous fish. In 1995, the Garibaldi was officially named the California State Marine Fish and are completely protected under state law from being removed from their habitats. The male Garibaldi is the housemaker of a mating pair. Not only does he select the nesting area, but he thoroughly prepares and maintains the area for the female to lay her eggs. Garibaldi are also very territorial and have meticulous boundaries of where one nest ends and the other begins. Be careful not to get too close! They have been known to chase divers away from their nesting areas. One of the authors may have been bitten by a combative garibaldi while photographing its nest. If you are diving in California, you can bet you will be able to see some of these vibrant fish!

_________________________________________________________________

Sheephead - Photo courtesy of djmansfield.com

California Sheephead

Semicossyphus pulcher are an incredibly long-lived fish species that inhabits the rocky reef and kelp beds of California. Its maximum known lifespan in the wild is 53 years! However, most Sheephead do not reach this age due to fishing demands. Males can be distinguished by their black and orange midsection, white chin, red eyes and prominent bulbous foreheads. Females are typically smaller than the males and are more of a dull pink in color with white undersides. These fish are sequentially hermaphroditic as adults. Which means they are all born female and can develop into a fully functioning male after reaching a certain maturity level and size. Environmental conditions and the ratio of males to females in their local populations spark this unidirectional sex change. As a male, this fish establishes a spawning territory during mating season and protects a group of females with which he breeds. If you’re diving in California, you’re likely to see at least one of these canine-toothed fish!

_________________________________________________________________

Moray Eel - Photo Courtesy of Charles H.

The California Moray Eel

Gymnothorax mordax is a long, slim snakelike fish that is light to dark brown or green in color. Divers will typically find them tucked away in crevices during the day and prowling the reef for prey at night. The moray eel lacks pelvic fins, pectoral fins and gill covers. Most fish breathe by opening and closing their gill covers to force water over their gills. Since moray eels lack gill covers, they constantly open and close their mouths to push water over their gills, so it appears to be regularly gasping for breath (or waiting for the end of a bad joke). Scientists hypothesize that the California Moray’s off the Southern California Coast do not reproduce – possibly due to the cold-water temperatures. Moray’s living here are thought to hatch off the coast of Baja California and drift north as larvae.  A distinguishable feature of the moray eel is the “second set” of jaws located in the back of their throat, also known as pharyngeal jaws. When the eel’s front jaws bite into its prey, the pharyngeal jaws spring forward and latch onto the prey while dragging them deeper into the moray’s throat. Along with their two sets of jaws, moray’s also have dagger-like teeth that are full of bacteria. Even though a moray will not bite unless provoked, be sure to keep your hands to yourself and do not reach into moray territory crevices.

_________________________________________________________________

Octopus - Photo Courtesy of Greg A.

Pacific Red Octopus

Octopus rubescens is known as the Pacific Red Octopus and can be found from Alaska to Baja California on the sandy or rocky bottoms of kelp forests to depths of 200m. This octopus is best identified by having three "eyelashes," or papillae, underneath its eyes and is typically red or brown in color. With arms around four times the length of its body, they typically hunt for marine invertebrates (crabs being a particular favorite) and fishes late into the night. Not only do octopuses have excellent sight, but they use each suction cup to taste, smell, and sense their surroundings. Be careful not to touch these guys! They have a powerful venom filled beak that they use to penetrate and poison their prey. Octopuses are gonochoric, where both male and female adults usually die shortly after spawning and brooding. They are considered to be the smartest invertebrate species, and potentially as intelligent as a house cat. However, not nearly as fluffy.

_________________________________________________________________

The "itty-bitty'uns":

Spanish Shawl - Photo Courtesy of Jazmin Sproule

The Spanish Shawl

Flabellinopsis iodinea is a species of aeolid nudibranch that is so vibrant it will stop divers in their tracks! The body of the Spanish Shawl Nudibranch is translucent purple with intense orange cerata emerging from its back. Located on the top of the nudibranchs head are deep orange/red rhinophores that they use for navigation, finding mates and prey. They typically feed on tiny hydrozoan colonies that grow on kelp and will store the stinging cell from these hydrozoans and use it in their own cerata as a defense mechanism. Various species of nudibranchs often use this chemical sequestration process as they lack the physical protection of a shell. This nudibranch, like many other seal slugs, are hermaphroditic. Each nudibranch possesses both male and female reproductive organs on the right side of their heads. Self-fertilization is possible in many nudibranch species however it is extremely rare. On your next dive, slow down and keep your eyes out for these colorful beauties.

_________________________________________________________________

Mantis Shrimp - Photo Courtesy of Prilfish

Mantis Shrimp

Hemisquilla californiensis can grow up to 12 inches long and can be found from silty shallow water to depths of 295ft from Point Conception to Panama. The California Mantis “Shrimp” is actually not a shrimp at all! True shrimp are Decapods that have ten legs with three pairs that have developed into mouthparts. Stomatopods, like the Mantis Shrimp, have only three walking legs while the rest are converted into feeding appendages. These tenacious shrimp have the ability to break glass up to one-quarter inch thick. For diver’s, finding this shrimp in the open is a treat! They are incredibly quick and prefer to burrow more than six feet long in soft, silty substrates. This resourceful shrimp likes its privacy and can conceal their burrows by placing shells and other debris over the openings. Similar to the American lobster, the Mantis Shrimp can produce distinct sounds by vibrating its carapace. Scientists have recorded that each individual animal produces a unique rumble sound, and that this acoustic activity is higher during dawn and dusk, times when they are feeding or guarding their burrows. Listen closely on your next night dive!

_________________________________________________________________

Catalina Goby - Photo Courtesy of Jazmin Sproule

The Catalina Goby

Lythrypnus dalli is a small vibrant fish that almost never leaves direct contact with the rocky reef structures of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Catalina Goby, or Bluebanded Goby, often hide near or under sea urchin spines (or the crevices that the sea urchins create), and do not like to stray far from these protective structures. This fish can be distinguished by their small stature, bright orange body coloration and electric blue striping. Another particularly interesting characteristic of this goby is its ability to rapidly change sex. Many marine fishes are able to change sex, but nearly all of these species are only able to change in one direction. As a bidirectional hermaphrodite, the Catalina Goby can change their sex back and forth within just a few days. This trait is eminent to these goby considering they rarely venture far from their territories, and this facilitates reproduction with nearby individuals.

_________________________________________________________________

References

1. “Giant (Black) Sea Bass.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/giant-black-seabass.htm.

2. “California Sea Lion.” National Geographic, 21 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/c/california-sea-lion/.

3. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/nature/pacific-white-sided-dolphin.htm.

4. Gray Whale. (2018, September 21). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/gray-whale/

5. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2020, from https://oehha.ca.gov/fish/species/pacific-barracuda

6. “Garibaldi.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/garibaldi.htm.

7. “California Sheephead.” California Sheephead | California Sea Grant, caseagrant.ucsd.edu/seafood-profiles/california-sheephead.

About the authors:

D.J. Mansfield is a PADI Course Director who dives Southern California and has done so for 23 years. He is currently the Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba and is a committed ocean steward and trainer for divers all over the world.

Follow him on Instagram @djmansfield7 or contact him at dj@beachcitiescuba.com.   

Jazmin Sproule is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with a bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in Environmental Sciences and Aquatic Biology. She has been a PADI Pro for 6 years and continues to dive all along the west coast sharing her vast knowledge of ocean life. 

Follow her on instragram @jaz_sproule .

The Scuba Diving industry is unique. It is designed to provide an unparalleled experience in a world unlike the one humans reside. Divers trade their tennis shoes for a pair of neoprene booties and strap on equipment designed to keep them comfortably breathing underwater. Through the use of an amazing invention, almost any person can dip below the waves to experience the underwater realm at its finest. With emerging technologies, we find scuba divers constantly pushing towards the greater effort of the human experience. Unique indeed...

Diving is not the newest of activities. Through technological advances it has increased in popularity in the last 70 years. We find humans underwater in many places around the world and we find that scuba diving crosses many disciplines. Commercial divers find themselves at great depths conducting work on pylons, pumps and more. Pool gals and guys have jobs that require them to dip below the water line to repair pumps and lights. Technical divers explore depths that include deeper reefs and wrecks throughout the world. Meanwhile, the "reef crawlers" of our very large recreational diving community find themselves exploring new places every single day. Police, fire and lifeguard departments around the world rely on their dive teams to conduct search and rescue as well as emergencies that are water related. There is no doubt that scuba diving is an inherent part of our world today.

Our massive scuba family sees each other on beaches, boats, far-off lands, etc. The techniques of scuba are constantly evolving and the demands of each diver run the gamut from photography to spearfishing to repairing drainage pipes. 

All of this is supported and maintained at the scuba shop near you. 

When you enter a dive shop, they do not look like the typical retail centers found in malls across the world. They have gear everywhere. Items awaiting service, items for sale, older items waiting to go somewhere, shipments coming in and shipments going out; the list is endless. Hundreds of products ranging from dive computers to knives to wetsuits adorn the walls and displays throughout the entire square footage of the shop.

A smiling clerk awaits the patrons and helps determine the needs of each and every client. From a stainless steel bolt to a full compliment of rebreather dive gear, the employee is expected to know it all. They hone their profession through years of practice and actual application. A great deal of individuals who work in the scuba industry are dive professionals. When helping consumers invest, many of the people working in a dive shop are currently using that piece of gear or their hair is still wet because they snuck in a local dive in Orange County before work! The dive shops located in Southern California are no different. You may wander into one and find a full compliment of fins and snorkels while another specializes in spearguns and teaching freediving classes. Overall, the dive shops of Southern California attempt to flow with their customer base and provide the equipment that is currently in demand. That smiling clerk needs to know a lot of information to keep the general population interested and intrigued. 

With hundreds of manufacturers who carry hundreds of products; it is a whirlwind of knowledge and understanding to a newcomer in the dive industry. At Beach Cities Scuba, new employees are subjected to many types of gear and techniques during their tenure. From fitting for a new mask or high-tech new fin technologies, we find many dive shop employees on a constant race to keep up with the growing trends and popular items. This is what makes the dive industry so unique. There are not too many places in the world where retailers are expected to know the full capacity of 8,000 completely different products inside a store. Couple that with California diving and you can see the increase in equipment needs and knowledge! Within just a few years, a newcomer will become a professional on diving techniques and knowledge within the industry!

The dive shop has more than just a good sales staff supporting it. There are service technicians who spend many hours ensuring top quality function. As many divers know, neglecting scuba equipment is not advisable when scuba diving on a regular basis; we need our gear working in top notch order to ensure our safety and enjoyment of every dive conducted throughout Southern California. There are boat captains who venture throughout our Pacific coastline looking for wrecks, reefs and anything that provides a substantial blip on the side scan sonar. These individuals spend many hours honing their profession in order to safely deliver and return divers who explore our local dive sites like Laguna Beach. There are trainers who hone the craft of teaching the art of scuba diving and ensuring a safe environment for all participants. Outside of the dive shop, we have manufacturers, sales representatives, speakers, specialists and much more providing secondary support efforts for each dive shop throughout the country. As one can surmise, when a diver signs up for a diving class, it takes a myriad of people to support this fun and exciting effort we know as scuba diving! 

Scuba shops around the world are focused on delivering quality training and product to their customers. Whether you are venturing into Laguna Beach to go snorkeling or looking for the nearest PADI certification program, you'll find an outfit ready to help out to the best of their abilities. It is true that Orange County scuba shops compete for customer business, but it is also true that they all know each other and realize that their service areas are the most important thing to them. Your local dive shop depends on seeing a customer's tank for airfills and opportunities to sell high quality diving equipment to continue this wonderful experience we call scuba! Whenever you find yourself in a dive shop in Southern California, take a moment to meet them, see what events they have coming up and their latest technology on the market. You'll help that sales person present their products and start the process of creating an important bond between scuba shop and scuba diver!

Throughout the years, life in the scuba shop is a hectic experience that requires a professionalism that keeps student divers safe and sound while they explore Orange County dive sites and more. The adventures will continue to occur as long as groups of divers continue getting together and finding excuses to dip below the waves of our beautiful beaches and dive sites. The author can speak for any dive shop out there. Their favorite thing in the world is supporting divers both new and old. There's nothing more exciting than seeing a new diver experience the underwater world for the first time. In the end, the dive industry is very unique and can support many types of divers around the world. Venture into one today!!!

About the author:

D.J. Mansfield is a PADI Course Director who dives Southern California and has done so for 23 years. He is currently the Director of Operations for Beach Cities Scuba and is a committed ocean steward and trainer for divers all over the world.

Follow him on Instagram @djmansfield7 or contact him at dj@beachcitiescuba.com.   

This month marks year 22 of my scuba adventures. To toot my own horn for a second; I have accomplished 3,731 actual open water dives as of Saturday  morning (yes, I have a dive log). Additionally, I touched the bottom of a Catalina dive site at 302 feet with the proper equipment and traveled to 28 different countries to experience their waters over these years. Whether it was a cave system in the middle of Missouri or the isolated islands of Micronesia, there's been a commonality on every single dive: I can become a better diver. 

You might think to yourself 'That is impossible! This guy has way too many dives! There is no way he is not just amazing.' - do not worry, in my own mind, I think I'm pretty awesome. But, I would be remiss if I did not accept the fact I have made errors during those thousands of dives. On logbook entry 25, I decided to go on a dive to celebrate my achievement with one of my good friends. As we chatted, I grabbed the new cylinder from my vehicle and set everything up. We got to the water and began our dive. At about 25 feet and 5 minutes, the regulator stopped working completely after a distinct wheezing sound came from my tank. I grabbed my octopus and experienced the same issue. There was no air! In a split second, the realization the cylinder I had put in the vehicle was already used! With my remaining breath and a reddening face, I bolted to the surface and (frantically) orally inflated my BCD. My buddy ascended to address the issue and I began to blame everything but the real problem; I made a serious mistake. I did not adhere to one of the most important principles of scuba diving; the pre-dive safety check. If I would have simply taken the time to run through an inherently safe method of ensuring everything is in good working order, I would have saved myself embarrassment and a possible real issue that could have gone much worse. All these years later, one statement sits firmly in the back of my head: I can become a better diver. 

The word "training" is synonymous with improvement. One does not have to subject themselves to actual emergencies to gain experience where education from more experienced trainers can help. You'll find the real key to becoming good at anything is through consistent and constant practice. The author Malcolm Gladwell deduces a person isn't born with natural gifts. Instead, they are gifted through dedication to hours of honing their craft. Whether it is strumming a guitar or replacing a glass window, the user finds themselves better at that 'gift' through dedication to the craft. If you do play an instrument, you can remember when you first started playing people would walk past you with their hands over their ears and a sympathetic smile. The off-key twangs and erratic bursts of sound were like nails across a chalkboard. With more hours of work, you may now manipulate a musical instrument in such a way people demand to hear you play when you are around. It may come as naturally as breathing to you. The same principles can be applied to your scuba diving. 

Having good buoyancy control, breathing techniques and working towards safer scuba diving are worthy goals for a new diver. The divers in the above photo are actually working on hovering, a common goal for all of us when scuba diving. It is easy to look at them and critique the million things wrong in this scenario; but, they are trying to learn how to be a better diver. The truth is they could have honed these skills in a confined water environment and successfully executed them perfectly (and off the poor reef) had the instructor invested in their training and education. That is what those hours in the pool and in safe, sandy environments in the ocean are designed to accomplish. 

As you gain experience in the water, it is also a great idea to seek out further education through a training program. If you want to be better at something, why not practice it in multiple environments that will only make you better at scuba diving! The folks in the picture could be working on base level performance requirements; but, they will become better at buoyancy control if they take the time to do further techniques in a continuing education class or by dedicating their time to performing the skill better. As we all know, practice is an extremely important facet of making ourselves masters at anything. This is where a training program will assist.

When I took the Advanced Open Water Course, I was extremely excited at the experience of night diving. At the time, all Advanced divers were required to conduct Navigation, Deep and Night as three of the five elective dives. These dives were the first dive of the actual specialty course. If you accomplished five of those dives, you'd be certified as an Advanced Open Water Diver. As we descended at Wood's Cove that night, I was super excited. My light illuminated creatures I had yet to see during the day. Lobsters, octopus and rays were flitting about the underwater realm in search of food while the normal day animals were tucking in for their naps. I found the exploration of the reef at night was something I was not fully comfortable with doing. My instructor encouraged me to sign up for the Night Diver specialty. On consecutive nights, we explored other coves and did skills to enhance our comfort level while being in a nighttime environment. This experience motivated me to comfortably dive at night and, at the time, I worked a night job. From that point on, I would spend Saturday and Sunday mornings from 3am to 4am exploring the reef system at Moss Point and more! But, what did I learn? I learned how to become better and much more comfortable operating at nighttime while wearing scuba equipment. Turning the lights off, navigating to and from a point underwater, and much more, taught me how to safely operate in a nighttime environment. Today, we night dive every other Sunday night with the dive club to keep our night diving skills in tip-top shape! 

Seeking out education did not make me a master of the night environment, but it did establish a foundation of principles I could then carry into hundreds of night dives across the world. It made me a better diver. As with all things, I could give you fifteen bullet points on how to become a master. But, my challenge to you is to become better through dedication to the sport of scuba diving. As you get better in the skills you learned in the Open Water Diver program, seek out experience through other courses and conduct dives with more experienced divers. Take the time to read about the latest technologies and techniques. If you can stay dedicated to the craft, you'll find yourself waking up with thousands of dives under your belt, a better education and the ability to teach others the importance of getting better at scuba diving! 

Did you know 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!

It was 1997, the waters off southern Japan were a frigid 52 degrees Fahrenheit; my face hit the cold water and I immediately started the rapid depletion of the precious air in my scuba cylinder. Everyone else was calm and relaxed underwater. I would signal, after 20 minutes, that I was down to 700 psi on my submersible pressure gauge and my dive buddy would look at me bewildered. He showed me his SPG and it still had 2000 psi comfortably sitting in his tank. We slowly ascended to our safety stop and when we got to the surface, the chiding began. "Dude, you are an air hog. Why did you suck down so much air on your dive?!?!?" 

At first, I was embarrassed. How was I the only one in the whole group that couldn't stay down long enough to truly enjoy the dive? What was I doing that they weren't doing? As a competitive individual, I became obsessed with how to properly breath underwater and be the guy that held up my SPG with 2000 psi in it when someone signaled me they were low on air! But, that road included a lot of poor techniques that were risky to my safety and didn't allow me to 'win' the air consumption wars. At first, I would attempt to skip breath on dives. This method would mean breathing in and then basically holding it until the moment I absolutely needed to breath. I then tried other tactics like orally inflating my BCD and strictly using my snorkel on the surface. All these attempts ended with nice headaches and barely an achievable goal when it came to true control of air consumption. 

With each dive, I became better. I honed in on skills and worked hard towards relaxation techniques. Instead of muscling my way through dives and swimming like Dory in Finding Nemo, I found ways to minimize my movement and finally take that 'Air Hog' shirt off my back! Here's some methods to achieving breath control greatness. 

Setting expectations

The first thing is setting realistic goals for yourself when it comes to air consumption. If you are large person, you are naturally predisposed to consuming more air. That doesn't mean you will always perform terribly in the water; it's just science. The oxygen you take in is set to feed your organs, tissues, bones and much more. If there's more product there to serve, you'll require more oxygen than a smaller person would require. If you couple this with experience, you'll find that you can become rather efficient at air consumption and also employ some techniques with your buddies to ensure you enjoy the dive just as much as they do. But, you need not worry, 'bio-prene' is a huge advantage in Southern California waters. You might be an air hog, but you will be a toasty warm air hog compared to your barely able to float friend! 

Master breathing

Your body requires oxygen to sustain life. But, lack of oxygen isn't what gives you the urge to breath. It's the build up of carbon dioxide that forces your diaphragm to react. This overwhelming urge to expel carbon dioxide drives your breathing patterns. Which is why skip breathing is not recommended for scuba divers. With the continuous build up of carbon dioxide, a diver might find themselves feeling the need to cycle air at a higher rate. By doing this, we provide further stress to the body and increase the working load while we dive. Therefore, we lose the fight in air consumption by incorrectly breathing in the first place. 

If we remember from our beginning courses, the number one rule in scuba diving is to never, ever hold your breath. By producing full breathing techniques, we actually manage the carbon dioxide build up in our bodies and reduce that urge to breath. Eventually, the action will become autonomous and very similar to the breathing patterns you hold on the surface. Like right now, you are not thinking about breathing in the least bit. Your body is handling the action for you. When we are underwater though, we find ourselves in an environment where it is not natural to breath and the average diver will increase their breaths per minute because of this. A simple action like breathing and exhaling in a controlled, fluid manner will assist in reducing your effort to breathe underwater.

This is something you can practice on the surface as well. Through breathing exercises, you might find yourself able to better control your breathing while diving! 

Master buoyancy

I've written about mastering buoyancy in scuba diving before. It is a very important aspect of scuba diving and a major contributor to air consumption. If a diver feels like they are constantly in a free fall from improper position of weights or incorrect calculations of air to the BCD, they will find themselves swimming with their hands. This creates work. Work creates breathing. Eventually, a person can tire out from this constant effort and find their air consumed at one of the highest rates. 

Practicing good buoyancy techniques range from correctly finding your position in the water column to correct weighing. All of these techniques will create a relaxed diver in the water. When you couple these with proper breathing, you'll find a diver who is properly consuming their air underwater. When we reduce the use of the BCD as our buoyancy control and increase our capabilities using that internal buoyancy device called your lungs, you will also reduce your mechanical need for air while underwater. Reducing this reliance on the BCD will also contribute to using the air in your cylinder for what it is intended for on a dive; breathing! 

If you were to take one thing away from anything in this article, it would be the understanding that we scuba dive for fun. The intent is to be relaxed, minorly moving, enjoying our activity to the fullest through our technique. If you can relax, you'll find air consumption is drastically reduced.  

Master finning

An oft overlooked technique is mastering fin control and fin techniques. Typically, there are two types of fin kicks. The scissor kick and the frog kick. A majority of this power is generated from our thighs in both of these kick techniques. With the scissor kick, we find a diver laying flat in the water column with straight, slightly bent knees. This diver is generating power from the hips very similar to a kick from a soccer player. The frog kick technique keeps the legs elevated while generating power from the inner thigh. The key to both of these methods is to move the fins smoothly through the water in order to achieve minimal resistance. When the power of the kick is underway, it will slowly propel us through the water. 

Many divers think they must kick as hard as possible to travel through the water, when the opposite is actually true. As Newton's Third Law states, "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Therefore, we find the blade of a fin pushing against water and creating propulsion for the diver. By slowing down the rate of this action in an environment where the diver is breathing and conducting themselves in a peak performance buoyancy situation, they'll find that they can move much faster by engaging the right technique. Finning is a learned trait and can be accomplished by taking a specialty class or by practicing on a regular basis. 

Additionally, finning is an excellent way to condition the body for scuba diving. Through the correct fin kick, we'll create a more efficient diver that can breath correctly and glide through the water vice fighting it. 

Tank selection

Selecting the correct tank is also imperative for a diver. As previously stated, a larger diver may naturally consume more air. Which means they may just need a larger capacity tank to match the efforts of their buddies underwater. If you are a larger person, you might not want to select an aluminum 63 cubic foot for your diving. This means you'll be shorting the space in your tank for air you breath and shorting the dive even further. Oftentimes, you'll see larger folks with a Steel 100 while their buddies have Aluminum 80's. There's approximately a 21 cubic foot difference between the two tanks and may be the small change that a dive buddy team will find works for those hour long dives in the water. 

Another consideration is the buoyancy characteristics of these tanks. Aluminum tends to lighten up with the reduced psi in the tank while steel has the same buoyancy regardless of its tank pressure. If a diver is attempting to create a perfect buoyancy situation, they may not want to wrestle with their buoyancy at the end of a dive with an emptying aluminum tank. This will create work and walk us right back down the road of consuming that air at a higher rate. 

Whatever the choice of tank, remember that asking a dive professional for help in selection is also important. They can get an idea of your capabilities in the water and determine the right size of tank for you in a given situation. 

Summary

When I was an Open Water Diver in Japan and then Southern California, I found myself often frustrated at having to come up well before the rest of my buddies when we explored our underwater realm. As time has gone on and through honing these techniques, I've become quite the opposite in the water. You can also achieve mastery when it comes to air consumption by working on these techniques both in and out of the water. Take a class to help you master some of these techniques with your local dive shop and, more importantly, get out there and dive! It's the only way you'll become a better scuba diver! 

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!

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!