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I WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON ANYONE - I
don't think it had anything to do with the Zoo
visit but the next day, both Laurie and I
started coming down with "something". Well
"something" has knocked both of us on our butts
and is apparently going around so this sorry
tale is a warning, not a "woe is me." But I got
it in full force Tuesday night and even went to
the doctor Thursday - after literally lying in
bed all day Wednesday because I was too tired to
get up - who tested me for COVID and both
versions of the flu (negative all around) and
told me it's just a REALLY nasty common cold
going around and that there was nothing to do
other than let it run it's course. It comes with
not only a nice fever (mine peaked around 103Ί)
and severe exhaustion, but also sinus and chest
congestion, throat issues, and a nagging
non-productive cough that really kick sin when I
laugh. (Very annoying.) As I write this Sunday
night, I think the fever's gone but I can't lick
the nagging cough (which is now
semi-productive). Short version: Never felt
sicker in my life. I mention all of this because
. . .
IT'S NOT JUST COVID TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT -
Since 2020, it seems COVID is the main disease
we worry about and we forget about things like
colds. And when you get something as seemingly
simple but as heavy as what I've contracted,
it's important to remember that you need to take
diving off the table until you're back to
normal. Mine was bad enough that I cancelled my
normal dive shift at the Aquarium of the
Pacific. Not only would it be inconvenient to
have a coughing spell while underwater no matter
where you are), but it could be dangerous since,
especially when dealing with congested lungs,
you might have areas of your lungs that aren't
fully transmitting air correctly and, if you go
dive, you could find yourself inadvertently
embolising because your lungs just aren't
working fully on ascent. So, if you should get
this (or anything else similar), play it safe.
Remember the Reef Seekers mantra: You never get
hurt on a dive you don't make.
I MENTION ALL OF THIS BECAUSE . . . -
Being cautious while I'm recovering from this
will likely impact some of the Reef Seekers
planned local dives since I'm not sure if I'll
feel fully recovered during the week to make any
of them. (I may even have to miss a second
Aquarium dive shift.) If you're interested in
anything we've got planned, and this would
include the re-scheduled make-up Navigation
class for Saturday, double-check with me
directly to see if it's a go or no-go. I mention
all of this because . . .
THAR BE SQUID!!!! -
Thousands of them at Vets Park in Redondo. We've
got a squid Dive (a freebie) on the books for
Thursday evening and I'm doubtful at best. This
is especially frustrating because it sounds like
a phenomenal squid run started at Vets earlier
in the week. A couple of divers have posted
videos on FaceBook where they're inundated. If
you've never experienced this before, a typical
run (which tends to be based off of cycles of
the moon) will last 3-5 days and then taper off,
leaving squid egg clusters behind. But there's a
good chance they're back again in 2 or 4 weeks.
Also timing matters. I've gone out before and
gotten skunked, and then an hour later, someone
else goes in and does the same dive I did and is
mesmerized by the spectacle of the mating squid.
Really a special experience that's readily
available to all divers in the area.
SOLMAR V UPDATE -
If you've been following the saga, the short
version is that the boat has been cancelling
trips since end of November without offering any
refunds and not communicating other than a
cancellation e-mail. The e-mail that came out
last week have added a phrase that not only are
the trips cancelled, but that the Solmar V will
cease diving operations all together. It seems
that ownership changed in very late 2025, there
may be huge ($200,000+) financial obligations
left behind that the new owners can't cover, and
the house of cards comes crashing down. The boat
is currently reported to be in Mazatlαn rather
than the home port of San Jose del Cabo. Worst
of all, none of this is on their website and
there are reports that they are still taking
deposits and requesting only wire transfers
(which are hard to cancel). LOTS of people are
out LOTS of money. Hopefully you are not one and
if you are, hopefully you have travel insurance
to ease the pain. Lots of folks had good
experiences with the boat over the years under
the old ownership, so it's really sad to see the
operation end under these circumstances.
PLANNING FOR CHAMBER DAY 2026 HAS BEGUN -
We actually start in December, even though we
don't go "live" until March 1. If you've never
heard of this event, it's the annual fund-raiser
for the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and is
crucial to keeping our Chamber financially sound
and open. I'm mentioning this now because, as
the central organizer for the event, Reef
Seekers will again have tables at Chamber
Evening ($175/diner again this year) and if
you're interested in guaranteeing your seat with
us, shoot me an e-mail to let me know.
AND FINALLY . . . CONGRATS TO THE RAMS!!! -
What a game!!! Yikes!!! Having attended college
in the Chiacgo area (Northwestern University), I
can personally attest to how cold it gets there
in January. And don't forget that Soldier Field
is right alongside Lake Michigan which doesn't
help. Explains why a lot of catchable balls
couldn't be caught. But the ending of regulation
was nothing short of amazing. 4th and 4, season
on the line, Williams back peddles 30 yards,
fires blindly into the end zone corner, and it's
caught???? How was that even possible? However,
I have some evidence that Da Bears may have
tried employing an unseen hand to guide them to
victory. |
