6/26 Moat Creek abdiving

Dove Moat Creek on Saturday morning.
The condition wasn't ideal but not too bad with some swell and 3-5' visibility. Swam out with rip tide and worked in 15-20ft. Looked around for large ones but nothing really interesting except seeing some 3" baby ones. Maybe a good sign for spawning. After an hour of diving, wind and wave started to pick up. Took a 8-4/3" for camp dinner and swam back against NW current and then against rip current to avoid the wave breaking area.

On Sunday I went further north to check out a few sites without diving since I haven't passed Moat Creek before. Got chance to talk to a twin hull kayak diver in Van Damme and a Mendocino Abalone Watch volunteer.

ppl says do not swim against current but I am not sure if it is right thing to do in case you want to avoid wave foaming area? Any suggestions?

ppl says do not swim against current but I am not sure if it is right thing to do in case you want to avoid wave foaming area? Any suggestions?

I'm not quite sure I understand the situation.  Are you saying that because there is foam on the water in an area that you want to exit, then you choose not to exit there?  And you would choose to swim against a rip current to avoid the foam? 

If that is the case, then I would suggest you swim in the foam.  It's disgusting but you'll make more headway.  At the end of a dive you're usually tired and fighting a rip current could be very dangerous. 

Nate

I'm not quite sure I understand the situation.  Are you saying that because there is foam on the water in an area that you want to exit, then you choose not to exit there?  And you would choose to swim against a rip current to avoid the foam? 

If that is the case, then I would suggest you swim in the foam.  It's disgusting but you'll make more headway.  At the end of a dive you're usually tired and fighting a rip current could be very dangerous. 

Nate

I was trying to avoid the wave breaking area. I had two options, go with the way with breaking wave or go with the way against current...

I was trying to avoid the wave breaking area. I had two options, go with the way with breaking wave or go with the way against current...

Ahhh, now I understand.  That's a tough situation.  I think you'd have to really know that spot to make that decision yourself.  It's situational because a lot depends on the exact line you take, the size of the waves as well as the tide.  Moat Creeks has that long stretch of boulders in shallow water (exposed in minus tide), so if there are breaking waves, then chances are good that the waves are pounding over that boulder field.  Scary.

There is a spot I like to dive that is very similar to what you described.  I like to ride the rip out but coming back is a pain.  One side is a steep island and the other side is a shallow flat reef that supports a mussel bed.  It's a spot I can only dive on calm days and I try to time my exit on a high(er) tide so the water is a little deeper over the mussel beds when I go over them.  Also, if I have a float I try to ride the float over the shallow reef.  But that could still be dangerous at Moat Creek even if you're riding a boogie board or float as your knees and thighs could get bashed. 

What I've been doing regularly is to get as close to where the edge of the rip meets the pounding waves.  That strip seems to be the most "workable" as you can ride the waves in the easiest.  If you go over too far and get caught in the rip then you can dive down and hang onto the rocks or kelp until the you can make progress or can get back into the waves going into shore. 

I need to add that I do this at my spot because I know it well.  Even then my heartrate is always up and is more excitement than I want.

Hope it helps,
Nate