A road trip to the Antelope Canyons with a few friends. For many years, I’ve wanted to visit this place, but never headed that direction. Fortunately, a few friends were going so I tagged along on their weekend road trip getaway towards Arizona.
Antelope Canyon is a popular location for photographers and sightseers. It is a slot canyon in the American Southwest located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. It includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew.
Antelope Canyon is visited exclusively through guided tours, in part because rains during monsoon season can quickly flood the canyon. Rain does not have to fall on or near the Antelope Canyon slots for flash floods to whip through, as rain falling dozens of miles away ‘upstream’ of the canyons can funnel into them with little prior notice.
Congratulations to Advanced Open Water divers David Didomenico, Ryan Abelman, Norman Mercado, Jimmy Huynh for completing their Advanced Open Water certification this past weekend (10/17 thru 10/19) . Over the past few days I was very fortunate to have them as students who were very passionate in learning and improving their scuba diving skills.
From left to right: Student David Didomenico, Student Norman Mercado, Student Ryan Abelman, Instructor Joseph Huynh, fun diver Richard Ho. @ Heisler Park, Laguna Beach
Training requirements:
Attend Briefing Session and Complete Assignments.
Attend Pool Session if you are required to do so by Instructor
Complete “Navigation Dive”
Complete “Deep Dive”
Complete “Night Dive”
Complete the Two additional “Elective Dives”
Group photo with Instructor Manami Imagawa’s Advance Class and her fun divers at Veteran’s Park
Itinerary included: Training included pool a training session (Friday), 2 morning dives (Deep dive, Underwater Navigation) at Veteran’s Park (Saturday), 1 night dive at Veteran’s Park (Saturday), and 2 morning dives (Search & Recovery, Underwater Naturalist) at Heisler Park (Sunday)
Advance Open Water (10/18/2014)
Dive 1: Deep Dive
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Start time: 9:17AM
Max depth: 98 ft
Surface temp: 72 degrees
Bottom temp: 64 degrees
Dive Time: 35 minutes
A dive trip to the Anacapa Island this past weekend with friends (Sara, Goy, Non, Ning) to say farewell to our good friend, Tawin Yavapolkul, who will soon return back to Thailand. I have to say of the times I’ve been to the Channel Islands, this trip was the best diving conditions I’ve seen. At least 100ft visibility, 68 degrees, and minimal currents. Overall 3 dives (1 at the Goldfish Bowl, and 2 at the Cathedral Cove) with the best dive being the last when playful seals gave us a show of a lifetime.
The island’s name was derived from its Chumash Native American Indian name Anypakh. Seeming to change shape in the summer fog or afternoon heat, the three islets of Anacapa look like an island of deception or a mirage.
Curious seal swiming towards us.
The rocky shores of Anacapa are perfect resting and breeding areas for California sea lions and harbor seals. The raucous barking of sea lions can be heard from most areas of the island. Two overlooks (Cathedral Cove and Pinniped Point) provide excellent spots to look down on seals and sea lions in the island coves. Anacapa’s rich kelp forests (ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, and diving) and tidepool areas provide visitors with the opportunity to meet some of the resident ocean animals up close.
Curious seal swiming towards us.
Spanish Shawl nudibranch on half shell. Anacapa Island Sony RX100M2 Subsee 10+ diopter
