Charlotte From Redondo :)

[cali.grrl]

After getting a ton of wonderful feedback on the WTB forum I thought it was about time to introduce myself!

I have been diving for roughly 5 years now and have loved every minute! Most of my diving has been in tropical locales, so although I live in CA, I have never braved the cold waters! The coldest I have been in was Hawaii at 83 degrees. I know...a bit spoiled.

I have dived all over Thailand (my favorite being a week long liveabord in the Similan/Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock, Great Barrier Reef, French Polynesia (Moorea, Bora Bora, Fakarava, and Rangiroa (some of the most amazing shark diving!), and Oahu. I am heading to Cozumel next week!

If you happen to be in the LA area and need a dive buddy, be sure to look me up. I have been meaning to make it out to the Dive Park in Catalina...just need some motivation to put on that 7mm wetsuit and booties!

Charlotte
Redondo Beach, CA

[unclepooty]

Welcome Charlotte. enjoy your trip, and tell us all about it when you get back.

[cali.grrl]

Thanks, Unclepooty!

Will do!

Charlotte

[CompuDude]

You've had some great diving!

Drop me a line if you want to brave Vets Park at Redondo Beach for a night dive sometime.

[cali.grrl]

Compu: Is that near "the wall" I hear about? I know there are some cool shore dives out here, which is part of the reason why I was thinking of getting some of my own gear. Problem is, I dive more than most of the "dive buddies" I have, so it's tough to find dive buddies!

I'd love to go! I just need to get my spoiled ass into some of this cold water before it get's colder in the fall. I really need a Catalina trip soon! Definitely let me know the next time you head out and I would love to join!

Charlotte

[CompuDude]

Not a wall, more a gradual slope.

We often go weekly. We're photographers, so we don't move fast, but we find all the tiny critters. My buddies are going out tomorrow, but I couldn't make it, so I'll be sure to head out next week sometime...

[Travelnsj]

Hey Charlotte....You are a brave one to try the Cold waters of CA...LOL....Although I'm from SoCal...I'm also am a tropical diver mostly Indonesia and Micronesia. I did find Fakarava and Rangiroa to be excellent diving and plan to go back someday....my motto is I never dive in water less than 82 degrees....I did have an exception this year in the Philippines I think it was 78 to 80.....bone chilling!!!!

Welcome to the board!...I can always use a dive buddy way out west in the Pacific.

[cali.grrl]

Compudude: I would love to check it out when I am back from Cozumel! Definitely let me know when you head out! I may head to Catalina for one of these weekend but will be with a non-diver :s So hopefully I will make it out there soon!

Travelinsj: LOVED all the diving in French Polynesia, but I was most impressed with the Passe in Rangiroa. I think it was the realization that less than 30 meters below me were thousands of sharks lining the ocean floor, totally still. It was amazing. I think my camera wasn't digging the pressure though since I couldn't take any decent pics.

I will definitely be back some day, but that will probably after I hit my "must see" spots. (Maldives, Palau, Belize)

Definitely look me up when/if anyone in So Cal needs a dive buddy!!

Charlotte

[mzbdiver]

By not going on cold water dives you are missing a totally different world. My checkout dives were in a 60(F) degree quarry. Just try it and you'll experience the difference. With a 7mm on, you only feel cold for literally a second if you stop moving. Even then it's like going outside into a snowy day during winter.

[cali.grrl]

Finally back from Cozumel and had an AWESOME trip!! Thanks to some awesome forum members here I nearly have all my gear other than my cold water wet/dry suit which will have to wait a while since I spent a bit more on my reg/octo/gauge than I expected, but I think it is well worth it!!

Since I have the time to research I'm trying to figure out whether to go for the 7mm wetsuit or just save up (or hope for a really good used deal) on a dry suit.

Also, anyone who is in the LA area and looking for dive buddies please let me know!! I'm really hoping to get out locally as much as possible!!!

Charlotte