Scuba With Bill

Vanuatu has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first underwater post office providing jobs for four dive-accredited postal workers operating in shifts.

I think we now know:

We were finally able to get to Santa Barbara Island this last weekend. Several previous trips had to be scrapped due to poor weather conditions but we toughed it out on the Encore and made it despite some pretty big swells. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the viz was pretty poor and there were some ripping currents so the dive conditions were less than optimal.

But, how can a day of diving with the sea lions be bad? Our first dive was the rookery where we had a small group of underwater friends to play with. Second dive we headed up to The Anchorage and our friends were there as well. Last dive we made back at the rookery where it seems conditions had improved slightly.

All in all, not a bad day of diving though it’s a little early in the season for the full sea lion experience as most of the females are just birthing pups and they are too young to come out and play. In a few months when those little guys and gals are more free to roam it should be one heck of a dive.

I’ve recently been given the thumbs by PADI up to teach a course that I authored called the Sea Lion Awareness Specialty Diver.

The course consists of an educational session where we’ll discuss the Pinniped family of sea mammals before going in-depth into the life of the California Sea Lion. The open water component of the course includes 2 dives at Santa Barbara Island which hosts on of the largest sea lion rookeries in the Southern California area. During our dives we’ll observe and interact with the magnificent and playful sea lions and discuss the behaviors we’ve observed.

The first (of many) Sea Lion Awareness courses will be conducted on June 15th on the Encore. We’re scheduled to go to the sea lion rookery on Santa Barbara Island so we should see more than our fair share of the playful pups.

Cost is $50 plus the cost of the boat spot on the Encore ($105).

If you have an interest, please contact Ocean Adventures Dive Co. (310-578-9391) and tell them you would like to sign up for the Sea Lion Awareness course with me.