Greetings from San Francisco

I've been lurking for many years, bought a yak(scupper pro) a few years ago, wet suit for diving(abs/spearfish), safety equipment, etc. but never got around to doing anything.
This year I made a commitment to get my stuff in the water and this week my friend are planning to head up to Bodega for some much needed practice in/out of the yak and free diving.

Any tips/suggestions are all appreciated.

Question for those who free dive, any tips on acclimating/equalizing your ears to the pressure?

Welcome! But, Bodega? Save your time and your limbs and go somewhere else. If you want to go north, Ft Ross is pretty protected. If you want to go south, there's Monterey/Carmel.

Welcome!

Al

Welcome! But, Bodega? Save your time and your limbs and go somewhere else. If you want to go north, Ft Ross is pretty protected. If you want to go south, there's Monterey/Carmel.

Thank you for the advice, checking the maps, I see btwn Bodega and Ft.Ross is Sonoma Coast State Park, is this a beginner friendly environment for free-diving.  Not bringing out the yak. Just diving and maybe some snaring and perching.

Arnold

Never dove there before, but it looks more beachy than rocky. Look for rocky protected coves (swell comes from the NW) rather than open sand. Ft ross is only 25 minutes away, and you could easily waste that much time fighting swell and swimming out and looking for structure from a beach

Jeremy,

Ft.Ross it is, just got to spend a little time on google earth, thanks again

Welcome to the madness   

Welcome atanger.  glad to have you on board!

thanks to all for the warm welcome, i hope a can make a contribution going forward.

Welcome to NCKA.  Wanted to chime in the other day but didn't want to appear self serving!  You need to get together with others who've been there instead of taking blind shots in the dark about somewhere to go diving or boating, IMO.

Look up a guide or stick with the basics and keep looking for a hookup you can join in.  Crabfest is coming up - maybe that would be a good event to aim for by getting some basic experience and then showing up ready to meet people and see what's up.

Just some friendly advice.  I like this:

i hope a can make a contribution going forward.

You have already made one by being a positive and enthusiastic new person in the mix who's ready to find adventure on a kayak and in the water.  Good on you!  See you out there.   

Beautiful day today@ ft.ross. went out for my 1st free dive and could not equalize beyond 8ft.  I'm going to try my local pool next and hopefully I'll be able to down further.