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Dive Schedule
NOTE: Dives are planned well in advance, but are dependent on weather and ocean conditions. If in doubt, contact the Dive Coordinator. If you are not a club member yet, you will need to sign a waiver in order to dive with the group. This can be done at the dive site.

By popular demand and approval from the board of directors the club beach dives are being move to Sunday mornings instead of Saturday mornings, on a trial basis.


January
  • The Peace to Anacapa Boat Dive
    The January boat dive will be on Sunday, January 24. We will be taking the Peace (http://www.peaceboat.com/) out of Ventura to Anacapa. The $135 trip includes four dives, air fills, and meals. The boat departs at 7 a.m. and returns between 5 and 6 p.m.
    Anacapa has dive sites suitable for all levels of divers. The water is cooler in January, but some of the best visibility in Southern California waters occurs in the winter. The Peace has a hot tub, so it's easy to warm up after a dive. Plus, the Peace has the best cook in the Southern California fleet of dive boats.
    It's easy to sign up for the trip. Go to the Peace website and follow the link to the "online reservation system." From the left-hand pane, choose the "scuba diving trips" and in that menu choose "weekend open boats." On the subsequent page, scroll down to the January 24 trip and add it to your cart. Then just purchase it!
    I almost always enjoy my dives at Anacapa (I have to admit that "Goldfish Bowl" is not a favorite of mine). However, the crew on the Peace is top-notch and they usually visit sites not frequented by other dive boats. The food on the boat is excellent, too.

  • Redondo Beach Dive
    Redondo Beach
    Date- Saturday January 30, 2010
    Time- 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm
    Skill level- Intermediate to Advanced
    Parking- Metered 25 cents for 15 minutes ($5.00 for one tank)
    Does anyone remember their first shot of tequila? If memory serves me, I cannot recall a single person who tasted it and exclaimed, "That was great!" What about the next few minutes? Not so bad, maybe even unique. There are many acquired tastes in this world. Tequila is one. Another is canyon diving. At first there is only sand and the burning cold as water slips into the wetsuit. For those without patience it may end there. Aficionados know better. A short swim leads to the edge of the canyon in 35 feet of water. A steep slope leads down to around 70 feet and a moderate slope from there to deeper than recreational depths. The life here is small; most only a couple inches. Sarcastic fringeheads bare their teeth from empty turban snail shells. Nudibranchs found nowhere else crawl under the detritus of the slope. Sand crabs the size of limes inhabit the shallows. On winter evenings squid come here to mate and die. Become a dive aficionado! Add these memories to your logbook. Afterwards you may indulge in another acquired taste during our traditional dinner at El Torito. Divers have the option of doing two dives; an afternoon dive to survey the site and a night dive. The full moon and resulting high tides may bring a squid run so this dive is scheduled to coincide with the full moon. Squid may be present at night along with other critters that bury themselves in the sand during the day. Access to the beach is by a moderate staircase and the surf entry is easy. Depths range from 15 feet to 130 feet. Squid eggs may be found between 60 feet and 90 feet. Advanced certification is recommended for diving in the canyon.
    Directions are as follows. Take the 405 south. Exit on Artesia. Go about three miles and turn left on PCH. Go another several miles and turn right on Torrance. Torrance ends at Veteran’s Park. Parking is on the left and metered. Bring five to ten dollars in quarters.



February
  • Catalina Express to Avalon Harbor Boat Dive
    Date: February 20, 2010 Boat: Catalina Express (http://www.catalinaexpress.com/) (310-519-1212) or limited service on Catalina-Marina Del Rey Flyer (http://www.catalinaferries.com/home.html) (310-305-7250)
    Contact: http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/index.php?s=join&p=catalina_conservancy_divers
    Destination: Avalon Harbor, Santa Catalina Island
    Board Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. (check-in)
    Departure Time: 9 a.m. safety briefing; 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. clean-up dive
    Return Time: 1 p.m. awards and door prize drawing Cost: $35/50 (register before/after Feb 6, 2010) + transportation costs
    Notes: fee includes event T-shirt, one door-prize ticket, and discount coupons
    Details: The Avalon Harbor Clean-Up is the only opportunity to dive the Harbor at Avalon. Bring a bag (mesh hunting bags work very well) to gather junk from the floor of the Harbor; awards are given for the most unique found items! After the Clean-up, you can dive the park at Casino Point. Register on-line early to get a discount coupon for transportation to Catalina and a break on the registration fee. The Avalon Harbor Clean-Up is a fun event. Nowhere else do you see so many divers actually diving! There are 3 entries to the harbor for diving. I’ve dived from the steps and found that it’s a typical sandy-bottom dive. I’ve heard that there are nudibranchs galore underneath the Green Pier. The dive park at Casino Point is the easiest “beach dive” in Southern California and it has all types of environments: wrecks, kelp, rocky reefs, and sandy bottoms. There is something for everyone.

  • Old Marineland Beach Dive
    Date- Sunday February 28, 2010
    Time- 9:00 am
    Skill Level- Advanced
    Parking- Free
    Perfection may seem elusive in today’s diverse world. There are so many different passions. The colorful threads of marine life fascinate at one moment; the tapestries of history at another. A third moment is perfect when these fascinations are shared. Old Marineland offers a crossroads for the different passions that call us to diving.
    Marineland has witnessed a century of human drama. Smugglers used caves in the sea cliffs to store furs before the area was developed. One large cave is reported to be on the southern edge of the property. On October 13, 1895 a wooden hulled steamship called the Newbern ran aground and broke up on the rocks. A $250,000 cargo of 25 pound silver bars was lost. Though most have been recovered two are reported to still be missing. The site got its name in 1954 from an amusement park that was the largest ocenarium of its time. A new resort called Terranea has been built in the past five years. It opened half a year ago and is very diver friendly.
    Marineland offers access to several dive areas. The point is a rocky reef descending to 70 feet a hundred yards offshore. Purple gorgonians are common on the deeper parts of the slope. Nudibranch enthusiasts will find a huge variety on this site. At twenty feet tall, Ted’s pinnacle sits at the foot of the slope. Phil aka Max Bottomtime aka OML’s Mayor has placed a statue of a water goddess at the foot of this pinnacle. Photos of her may be periodically found on the website diver.net. The entry off the point is difficult, exits are called evolutions. Many divers prefer to enter at the point and exit a hundred yards to the east at the cobblestone beach. 120 reef is also accessible from the cobblestone beach. Structure lies in 20 to 45 feet with relief up to ten feet high. Golden gorgonians and schooling fish are common here. Entry and exit are over loose rocks.
    The shoreline at Marineland faces south. Swell in the winter is strongest from the northwest so this is one of the most protected sites in Palos Verdes for winter diving. Shore access is by a ten to fifteen minute walk over a paved moderate slope. There are golf cart transports that might accept donations to transport a diver or two, but this is unreliable. Benches line the paths for a quick rest on the way to and from the water.
    Directions are as follows. Take the 405 South to the 110 south and exit at Gaffey. Turn left on Gaffey and then right on 25th. 25th becomes Palos Verdes Drive. Go around six miles and look for a sign saying Terramar. Make a left. Public parking is on the left in a specified lot. Alternatively this site may be accessed from PCH and Palos Verdes Drive.



March
  • Conception to SM1/Gosford Wreck Boat Dive
    boat: Conception
    contact: Truth Aquatics http://www.truthaquatics.com/) (805-962-1127)
    board time: 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Friday night
    departure time: 4 a.m.; return time: 5 p.m. (or so)
    cost: $131; notes: fee includes meals and air fills
    details: The SM1 was originally a 204-ft long Navy landing craft. After being made into an oil drilling barge, she sank upside down in 75 ft of water near Gaviota. The SM1 can be penetrated and is considered an advanced dive due to its depth and risk of currents. The Gosford was a 281-ft fourmasted cargo sailing ship. In 1893, just 2 years after being built, she caught fire and sank in 35-40’ of water. Wolf eels have been known to inhabit the starboard bow. The Gosford is just 10 minutes from the SM1.
    Truth Aquatics has a fine fleet of 3 boats. All three boats are especially comfortable with a large dive deck and very nice bunks. I like to have dinner at the Santa Barbara Harbor and then board the boat for a snooze before hitting the water in the morning. The Pacific Explorers attempted this trip several years ago. Rough seas kept us from the SM1 and the Gosford wrecks however Truth Aquatics still put us in the water, letting us make two dives on a recent wreck in the mouth of the Santa Barbara Harbor

  • Escondido Beach Dive
    Date:March 14 Okay, I’m not going to lie to you. The water is going to be cold. The visibility is not going to be stellar.
    I’m not going to promise that the storms won’t want to join us on our monthly beach dive. We are very popular you know. Why, a couple tsunamis came all the way from Chile to try and meet us the last time we scheduled a beach dive. What I can promise you is that if you decide to be a part of this event, you will have earned the title, Pacific Explorer.
    Escondido lies to the east of Point Dume. Much of the northwest swell, common in winter, deflects off the point. This makes Escondido a calm dive when other sites are pounded by surf. The protected nature of Escondido is good for giant kelp as well as divers. Deeper stands on the east end of the reef resemble a mature forest. The canopy is thick enough to block out light. This leads to fewer healthier clusters of stipes. The effect is of swimming among large tree trunks. The kelp rises from low rocky structure that is home to red and golden gorgonians; a type of soft coral. Extensive reefs hold large populations of both sheepshead and bass. Watch for large tube anemonies on the outer edges of the reef.
    Directions are as follows. Take Malibu canyon to PCH. Turn right and go three to four miles. Pass Geoffrey’s Restaurant and make an immediate U turn. Parking is on the shoulder toward the bottom of the hill. There is a fifty to hundred yard wall to the beach and an easy sandy surf entry. I hope to see you there.



April
  • The Spectre to Anacapa/Santa Cruz Boat Dive
    date: April 24, 2010
    boat: Spectre (Ventura Harbor)
    contact: Sport Chalet (800-348-3794 or 909-923-8207 x 304)
    board time: 6 a.m.
    departure time: 7 a.m.
    return time: 5:30 p.m.
    cost: $108 for club members includes: Food and Air (Nitrox is not available)
    details: In April the Pacific Explorers will take the Spectre to dive at Anacapa and/or Santa Cruz Islands, the nearest of the California Channel Islands. Diving at the islands is easy and interesting. There is diverse terrain for all levels of divers - sandy bottoms, underwater arches, rocky reefs, and plenty of kelp forest. You'll see the standard Southern California underwater critters including sheephead, Garibaldi, kelp bass, Spanish shawls. Some of the dive sites are frequented seals and sea lions. In the past couple of years there have even been sightings of the Giant Black Sea Bass!3 The Spectre is a large and comfortable dive boat; it's well known for a fabulous lunch of barbecued chicken and tri-tip. After diving, you can relax in the hot tub.

  • Deer Creek Beach Dive
    Date: April 18, 2010
    Time: 9 a.m.
    Parking: free
    In southern California there really are only two seasons. Summer takes up most of the year and everything else can be grouped into an almost but not quite summer category. Anyway, summer is here. The water is warming and so are all the half naked people on the beach. Don’t know about you but I want to be a part of this weekend summer migration.
    Deer Creek is a great site for divers, sunbathers, kids and dogs. The sandy beach is a mere one story flight of steps from parking along the highway. This is the southern end of Ventura County so dogs are allowed on the beach. A large kelp forest begins immediately offshore and is continuous out to forty feet deep. There is good structure in the shallows for snorkeling when the visibility is right. At ten or fifteen feet deep in the kelp forest a lucky snorkeler may encounter a school of rainbow perch so dense that it blocks the view of the sea floor. From 25 to 35 feet small pinnacles and boulders are covered with pink encrusting algae and purple urchins. This is the best site in Malibu for red volcano sponges. Nudibranchs are well represented here. Look closely at the volcano sponges as the crimson dorid and a red variation of the sea lemon use the sponge for camouflage. Rockfish are common on the deeper parts of the reef. If two yellow and blacks cross territorial lines they may begin jaw wrestling; a thrilling battle to watch. Large sheep crabs may be returning to shallower water from deeper reefs a long swim out…
    Directions are as follows: Take Malibu Canyon to PCH and turn right. Go fifteen to twenty miles passing Point Dume and Leo Carillo. A mile or two past Neptune’s Net is the road Deer Creek. The beach access is on the left around fifty yards further up the highway.


May
  • The Magician to Santa Catalina Island Boat Dive
    date: Saturday May 22, 2010
    boat: Magician (http://magicianscuba.com/) (San Pedro Ports O’Call)
    contact: Sport Chalet (909-923-8207 x 340; 800-348-3794)
    destination: Santa Catalina Island
    board time: 6 a.m.
    departure time: 7 a.m.
    return time: 5:30 p.m.
    cost: $126 (mention that you’re a club member to get this price)
    notes: price includes food + air; nitrox is extra details: Catalina is a surefire destination for diving. There’s so much variety in the sites. At the Quarry, you can spend all of your time looking in all the nooks and crannies of the boulders – with a chance of seeing the elusive scythe butterflyfish. Italian Gardens has a steep slope and a thick kelp forest. This site is known for the gang of Giant Black Sea Bass. Emerald Bay is a shallow dive site – warm water and lots of different algae. The Magician is a nice boat, recently refurbished. She has a great crew and captain. Call Sport Chalet to reserve your spot.
  • County Line Beach Dive
    Date: Sunday, May 16
    Time: 9:00 am
    Skill Level: Intermediate
    Parking: $8.00 cash
    Well, it was bound to happen. It occurs every year and we divers have been lucky to avoid it up to now. The offshore winds have failed and all those tasty nutrients are being devoured by microscopic plants. We call this the bloom. From now until sometime around late June the visibility will be at a yearly low. On the bright side the water is starting to warm up and will continue to do so through the summer.
    Southwest swell is common during this time of the year. Though it is always tempting to settle into the calmest dive sites, this may not lead to the best diving. In a southwest swell there may be a mini gyre in southeastern Malibu; especially at Escondido. All those little plants become trapped in this area and visibility is worse here than at sites northwest from Point Dume.
    I believe I speak for all beach divers when I say we are willing to work a bit for our diving, so here it goes. The site is County Line. There is a minimum of a hundred yard walk down three switchbacks to a sandy cove. Reefs off of the cove offer a rich kelp forest in depths of fifteen to twenty five feet. Fish seem to congregate in the forest so spearfishing is probably best here with some cabezon, perch and a few kelp bass though most are not large. Expect some surge and lower visibility at these depths. Did I mention that a bit of work may pay off? For those who trust in the value of an extra ten minutes of walking over rocks in scuba gear; Harrison’s reef is the largest continuous underwater rocky structure in Malibu. It extends to fifty feet deep on the western edge of County Line. Though a large part of this reef is an urchin barren, the strawberry anemonies on the deeper portions are spectacular. Structure is five to fifteen foot with great macro critter hunting. With the lack of kelp there are fewer fish here though a few sand bass and sheepshead may be found. On the outer edge of one of the pinnacles there is an eighteen inch purple gorgonian; a form of soft coral rarely seen on beach dives.
    Directions are as follows. Take Malibu Canyon to PCH and turn right. Go ten to fifteen miles passing Point Dume and Leo Carillo. County Line is an obscure parking lot on the left side of the street around a mile past Leo Carillo. Turn left into the parking lot immediately after the stand of tall palm trees at the top of the rise. If you head down the hill towards Neptune’s Net you have gone too far.



June
  • Riviera to South Coast Kelp Beds Boat Dive
    date: June 19, 2010 (Saturday)
    boat: Riviera (Dana Point)
    http://www.rivierayachtcharters.com
    contact: Beach Cities Scuba (949) 443-3858 or (866) 400-3483
    destination: South Coast kelp beds
    board time: 6 a.m.
    departure time: 7 a.m.
    return time: 11:30 a.m.
    cost: $89
    notes: 2 dives, includes tanks (AL 80) (you may bring your own tanks though), weights, snacks, drinks
    details: This is the newest So Cal dive boat. It leaves out of Dana Point and visits the reefs from Laguna to San Onofre. You might recall the September, 2009, club talk about the SCE artificial reef off San Onofre. That reef looked fabulous! In addition to diving the kelp beds, you have the opportunity to demo new dive gear by Aeris and Hollis. There will be freebies and a drawing.
  • Nicholas Canyon Beach Dive
    Date: Sunday, June 27
    Time: 9:00 am
    Skill Level: Intermediate
    Parking: $6.00 cash or credit
    Nicholas canyon is one of my favorite dive sites. There are two areas to dive. The west side of the point has low reefs in twenty five feet of water with a few pinnacles out deeper. The east side is a larger reef though a long swim and difficult to navigate. A rocky shoreline east of the point has surf grass beds that on a clear day are home to large schools of perch and topsmelt. The first pinnacle is around 25 feet deep and is marked by kelp year round. This patch is isolated from the deeper kelp beds further out and easy to locate. A swim to the outer kelp forest can be very rewarding. Three pinnacles sit between thirty and thirty five feet deep. There is low structure between each pinnacle though navigation to these is hit or miss. On the far side of the kelp forest straight out from the porch is the mini wall sitting forty five feet deep. This is one of the few sites where the white spotted rose anemone and the painted anemone can be spotted in Malibu. The mini wall is a good kayak dive.
    Directions are as follows. Take Malibu Canyon to PCH and turn right. Travel around ten miles passing Point Dume. There will be brown signs on the right side of the highway for Matador, Piedra and Pescador. A mile past Pescador, make a left turn into Nicholas Canyon. The driveway is marked by a large gray stone plaque. If you begin to descend the hill towards Leo Carillo you have gone too far.


July
  • Peace to Begg Rock Boat Dive
    date: July 23-24, 2010
    boat: Peace (http://www.peaceboat.com/)
    contact: http://seadivers.org/#schedule and/or Skylor Piper (reservations@seadivers.org)
    destination: Begg Rock
    board time: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 22
    departure time: 12 a.m. (midnight) Friday, July 23
    return time: 6 p.m. Saturday, July 24
    cost: $295
    notes: nitrox is available for an extra fee details: We will be joining the Sea Divers (www.seadivers.org) on their annual trip to Begg Rock, several pinnacles of rock that just break the surface. This destination is 60 miles offshore and 6 miles northwest of San Nicolas Island. It’s the last little bit of land between California and Hawaii. Begg Rock is on my list of "must-do" dives – it has a spectacular abundance and diversity of animals and it is a unique destination. I was fortunate to dive this spot in July 2004 with the Sea Divers. Even in the summer, the water temperature was in the low 50’s. It is a blue-water dive that is subject to strong currents, so advanced certification and experience is recommended. You can check out photos from the 2004 Begg Rock Sea Divers trip at http://seadivers.org/photo_album.html (scroll down or search for "Begg"). You can pay for the trip online through the Sea Diver’s schedule page; choose the member price. Email Skylor to reserve a specific bunk on the Peace and mention that you’re with the Pacific Explorers. The Peace is one of the best boats in the Southern California fleet of dive boats. The crew is top-notch, the food is excellent, and there is a hot tub! This trip sells out every year, so sign up soon!

  • Old Marineland (aka Terranea) Beach Dive
    Date: July 3, 2010
    Time: 8:00
    Parking: Free
    Skill Level: Advanced
    Perfection may seem elusive in today’s diverse world. There are so many different passions. The colorful threads of marine life fascinate at one moment; the tapestries of history at another. A third moment is perfect when these fascinations are shared. Old Marineland offers a crossroads for the different passions that call us to diving.
    Marineland has witnessed a century of human drama. Smugglers used caves in the sea cliffs to store furs before the area was developed. One large cave is reported to be on the southern edge of the property. On October 13, 1895 a wooden hulled steamship called the Newbern ran aground and broke up on the rocks. A $250,000 cargo of 25 pound silver bars was lost. Though most have been recovered two are reported to still be missing. The site got its name in 1954 from an amusement park that was the largest ocenarium of its time. A new resort called Terranea has been built in the past five years. It opened half a year ago and is very diver friendly.
    Marineland offers access to several dive areas. The point is a rocky reef descending to 70 feet a hundred yards offshore. Purple gorgonians are common on the deeper parts of the slope. Nudibranch enthusiasts will find a huge variety on this site. At twenty feet tall, Ted’s pinnacle sits at the foot of the slope. Phil aka Max Bottomtime aka OML’s Mayor has placed a statue of a water goddess at the foot of this pinnacle. Photos of her may be periodically found on the website diver.net. The entry off the point is difficult, exits are called evolutions. Many divers prefer to enter at the point and exit a hundred yards to the east at the cobblestone beach. 120 reef is also accessible from the cobblestone beach. Structure lies in 20 to 45 feet with relief up to ten feet high. Golden gorgonians and schooling fish are common here. Entry and exit are over loose rocks.
    The shoreline at Marineland faces south. Swell in the winter is strongest from the northwest so this is one of the most protected sites in Palos Verdes for winter diving. Shore access is by a ten to fifteen minute walk over a paved moderate slope. There are golf cart transports that might accept donations to transport a diver or two, but this is unreliable. Benches line the paths for a quick rest on the way to and from the water.
    Directions are as follows. Take the 405 South to the 110 south and exit at Gaffey. Turn left on Gaffey and then right on 25th. 25th becomes Palos Verdes Drive. Go around six miles and look for a sign saying Terramar. Make a left. Public parking is on the left in a specified lot. Alternatively this site may be accessed from PCH and Palos Verdes Drive.
  • Point Dume Beach Dive
    Date: Sunday, July 18
    Time: 9:00 am
    Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
    Parking: $10 cash
    Ever sit in the back of the room at a dive club and listen to the old salts chew on the details of last weekend’s dive? Ever go to the beach and take home the impression that it wasn’t quite as cool as they make it sound? I’ll tell you why. You’re not diving Point Dume!
    A dive straight out from the beach is the easiest option. A submarine canyon offshore brings in clear, nutrient rich water. Sandy plains littered with sand dollars a variety of buried crabs stretch from the waterline out a hundred yards to the edge of the canyon. A steep slope covered in bits of old sea grass and kelp is home to tiny shrimp, crabs and the occasional entourage of sanddabs. The depths of the canyon are crawling with brittle stars.
    A dive at the pinnacles is available for the more experienced. Current sweeps clear water from the canyon to the east where it runs into a rock wall fifty feet in height. This wall is a mosaic of orange sponges, red feather duster worms and white tunicates. Tiny strawberry anemones are everywhere. The top of this wall breaks the surface of the ocean. Sea lions commonly sun themselves here. An opening in the top of the wall forces all water movement into one tiny channel. Giant green anemones dot the carpet of little purple anemones that like this surge. Further to the east, a cave entrance at twenty five feet deep leads fifteen feet through the wall, opening back out into the ocean at fifteen feet. Anemones in this cave miss the light necessary to grow algae in their tissues. Instead of the usual green they are ghostly white. Juvenile treefish often spend the first year of their life in the crevices here. Lobsters poke their antennae from the recesses and a morey eel occasionally shares their company. I plan on sharing their company too. Will you?
    Directions are as follows. Take Malibu Canyon to PCH and turn right. Travel approximately ten minutes. Pass the stoplight at Heathercliff Road and make a left at the next stoplight at the bottom of the hill. Go straight for a mile, pass the guard shack and park at the end of the lot. The walk to the beach is fifty yards over loose sand. The entry is sandy though the shore break may be sharp in spots. A briefing will be provided before diving.



August
  • White Point Beach Dive
    Date: Saturday, August 14
    Time: 9:00 am
    Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
    Parking: $6.00 cash
    Beach party!!! Do your family and friends ever wonder where you disappear to on the weekends? This is your chance to share your adventures with them. Our base camp will be at Royal palms with a barbecue and feast. Adventurers may enjoy tide pools, snorkeling and scuba across the parking lot at White Point.
    White Point is at the southern end of Palos Verdes. Catalina Island fills the horizon just offshore. In contrast to the sandy beaches and reefs of Malibu, Palos Verdes consists of sea cliffs both above and below the waterline. White Point is no exception. For divers this means less sediment to be stirred up and better visibility. For non divers this means great tide pools. The foundation of a turn of the century bathhouse sits in the surf zone out on the point. Hot springs fed the baths and a small one is still present on the outer boulders. Nearby waves combine with prevailing currents to rocket spray high into the air. The best tide pools and diving are protected from this display of power on the far side of the point. This requires a hundred yard walk past the foundation over a cobble beach. The pools are filled with green anemones and giant spined starfish. More adventurous family and friends may enjoy snorkeling here. The point offers protection from northwest swells. Catalina protects this cove from waves from the southwest. Calm water with good visibility extends over a flat rocky shelf just offshore. Exploration of purple urchin beds and light ripples is perfect for those family and friends wanting a taste of diving. Further offshore are rocky canyons, walls and more hot springs. The hot springs are twenty five to thirty five feet deep and marked by large patches of white fungal growth.
    The picnic will be at Royal Palms on the right side of the parking lot. Picnic tables and palm trees adorn a sandy area. There is minimal shade so bring canopies if you have them. Also bring your own barbecues. This is a pot luck so everyone should bring some food to share. Unfortunately no dogs are allowed at this site.
    Directions are as follows. Take the 405 south and turn onto the 110 west. Exit at Gaffey Street. Make a left and go until the street ends in a T-intersection at West Paseo Del Mar. Make a right turn and look for White Point and Royal Palms several miles ahead on the left side. Pass the guard shack and head to the bottom of the hill. Park is on the right side of the lot.





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