Hello from Scotland

[av8405]

Hi everyone, I've just joined the free diving community although I've been doing it for a number of years, primarily in the Colombian Pacific, Caribbean and most recently South Africa. I've yet to try it in waters closer to home, as up here if you venture under the water you'll only be likely to catch Weil's disease or more likely an abandoned supermarket trolley.

I'm hoping to go to the West Coast of Scotland in June, maybe for some diving with seals, and then in September to Baja. Has anyone any experience of diving in the Santa Rosalia area in Baja Norte or can recommend any reliable panga owners?

Thanks
Andy

[Pocoshower]

Hey Andy

Wellcome to DB, this is a very nice divers comunity.

I am in Santa Rosalia, and I have a boat, but not much free time. It will be great if we can go out for diving.

one question, having all the Bajacalifornia, why Santa Rosalia? You are the first one in the forum showing interest for this little town.

Carlos

edit. Santa Rosalia is Bajacalifornia Sur. The Baja Norte starts at the lat 28ºN

[av8405]

Buenos Carlos,

Perdoname porque mi espanol es terrible! I have always wanted to go to Baja and would have gone in February this year but Baja lost out to an opportunity to free dive with great white sharks, cage free, in South Africa. See attached Facebook link for details but bear in mind I was using a little digital compact. Fred Buyle was also there with me and his photos are spectacular, but not on his nektos site yet.

Login | Facebook

Login | Facebook

Anyway, I'm coming to Baja at the very start of September, hopefully meeting my girlfriend in Tijuana. I'd dearly love to free dive with the Humboldt squid during the day - safety cable attached of course! Free diving at night with the fishing fleet, without a neptunic suit or cage is too dangerous. Daylight hours would be safer although it will be more difficult to find them.

After Santa Rosalia my girlfriend and I are continuing down south to dive with sealions, hammerheads and maybe mantas. I know of El Bajo seamount but is it necessary to go all the way down to Calo Pulmo for the mantas?

Hasta luego,
Andy

[Pocoshower]

Orale

Well, September is much better for the squids watching, I think. Your plan looks interesting.

May be you can dive with the Lobos marinos here at Isla San Marcos, but not 100% sure because I don't know if the Lobera still ocuped that late in the summer.

I think I will be here in september. I hope to see you here and we may go out for diving or may be I can help you to find a panguero. I am sending you a PM.

Carlos

[av8405]

Thanks Carlos, Sorry about the hyperlink> Try this one -
Andrew Verreydt's Photos - Free Diving with Great White Shark | Facebook

I've also sent you a PM.

Andy

[omega3]

Hi Andy and welcome. I too am in ABZ
I don`t know what you base your info on ????????????????
I have been diving in the harbour for the past 10 years or so and don`t know of anyone catching Weils and know all the divers. The harbour or anywhere with rats is the only place you will get it. It is very rare!!
As to shopping trolleys....never seen one, a few cars and bodies hauled out over the years. The flotsam that collects at Hall/Russels amounts to very little but will build up whenever the river peaks and brings the wood and trees down. ABZ harbour is very clean and has a very well kitted out survey vessel called "Sea Echo" with an absolut fortune in locating gear to find anything that may end up in the props of the vessels which leaves ABZ harbour liable for the cost of removing said fouling! In the past I have been called to remove a single tin of paint that it has located !!

From the Moray coast down to Montrose I dive regularly and I can`t complain about the lobster,crab,razors and local fish. The Moray coast is absolutely stunning and so is South of Findon. As to diving in the harbour which is one of the UK`s busiest ports with the oil there is only one reason you would be there!

You can be diving with seals (hundreds of em 20 minutes drive away) but at this time of year that could be one of the worst decisions you will ever make!!

I was out on Thursday having returned home on Wednesday and the conditions are excellent and will get even better with the weather we are having and the immediate forecast. The viz was plus 8 meters and I am expecting 15- 20 if the weather holds up.

So just where did you get those ideas