SWS 12/31/10 Alameda and BaitnBeer

 Just got home, still unpacking - but posting up some pics and vids real quick for Andy (BaitnBeer). Ill give more details later, but for now here they come. Lots of videos too - sorry if some are boring, but hey, its the New Year and what else do you have to do. Also, it was nice meeting Chaeki today - cheers,

(FOLLOW UP)

So Ive posted the rest of the vids and I think the explanations speak volumes. Andy and I arrived at SWS around 9ish or so, and the parking lot was pretty empty. Upon bringing our yaks down to the beach, we met Chaeki, who was just getting back from his dive with the family. He told us that the conditions were excellent and fishy. Hopefully next time we can hook up with Chaeki and take him out with us, once he has fulfilled the WAF balance.

As Andy and I were paddling out of the first cove and to the right, the sun started breaking strong, and we could tell that the viz was killer! We got to a spot Fishmaster had showed us a couple weeks before, and immediately upon entering the water, we had 20 ft viz, and fish everywhere, all sizes, types, and flavors. We hung out in that area for a few hours and worked a big boulder the size of a bus with a crack down the middle of it. The damn thing was crawling with fish. Andy would shoot one and three more would take its place, it was ridiculous. It reminded me of a shooting gallery, but instead the ding everytime you hit something, you just heard the constant "thwaaaarpz", from the rubber on the guns constantly going off.

Soon we decided, after chillin on the yaks, taking in the scenery, eating granola bars, and chuggin gator, that it was time for a new spot. The water started really flattening out past noon, and icy doesnt do it justice. With a NW swell protecting the inner cove all the way out to the pinnacle past the island, we made an executive decision to finally start really freediving. Keep in mind that we were just getting use to the luxury of having a yak to dive from, and totally stoked over it, as most times before, we just swam out from shore. This was going to be our first (deep blue dive)lol - to see what we could actually do, as we felt like pros, and if we failed, at least we'd do it looking like pros! 

We started paddling out towards the farthest pinnacle in the distance whos point would jet out of the water, only to be bashed from the west by a wave every several seconds, intimidating none the least. Once we were three quarters of the way there, and could no longer see the floor of the ocean from up top on the yaks, we decided it was time. Now keep in mind, Andy and I, had mostly been diving the 15' to 28' peek range and felt pretty comfy with it at this point. Once we dove in and realized that although it looked dark below, it was still clear all the way down, we decided to do it. It was awesome and pretty funny to watch, as we would take turns seeing how far we could get down, and then how long we could hang down there before coming back up. All in all, we topped out at 45ft, an all time record for us, not much for the pros, but a hell of a feat for us dirt pounders, who were not use to our masks squashing our faces under all the pressure! Crazy stuff I tell yah! 

Any epic day for sure, and cant wait for the next, but for now, weve got our vids and a great exiting memory to 2010!!



Cheers,
Geoff (Alameda)

ANDY TRYING OUT NEW FINS FOR THE FIRST TIME

these pictures are all the i nspiration i need to go back to the gym!

these pictures are all the i nspiration i need to go back to the gym!

dive with me and you'll feel like a lean machine!

Nice fish guys, new year fish tacos!

How were the conditions?

Thanks for the report and happy new year!

ANDY'S BOTTOM TIME



ANDY CRUISING THE BOTTOM



GEOFF CRUISING THE BOTTOM



BIZURKO GRASSY AFTER BEING SHOT

nice report, thanks for sharing

BLACK AND GOLD NAILED TO THE ROCK - LITERALLY



PEEK A BOO - CREEPER FROM AROUND THE ROCK



SPARED THIS GRASSY'S ASS AND GAVE HIM THE WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR TAP ON THE DOME



COOL CAVE I TRIED TO GET ANDY TO GO THROUGH - NO BUENO



FINALLY - I FOUND MY FIRST SCHOOL OF DECENT SIZED BLACKS OR BLUES OR WHATEVER - CHECK IT


THATS IT FOR NOW - BACK TO BOOZIN THEN SNOOZIN - HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE -

I serious need to get a mount for my speargun... nice to meet you guys... LOVE THE VIS over there.  2011 hookup for sure (w/o the wife) lol

Those videos were sick!  I've been dying to get out there and get my spear on!  One of these days I'm gonna have to join you guys for sure!  What kind of camera were you using?  I like the spear mount shots, looks like a video game.  Very cool guys, very F'n cool.

Andy and Geoff, you brothers did great!! Love the footages and kills, especially with great clarity.

Gotta agree with Chaeki, that camera mount to the gun is pretty cool. Gotta start making me a late Xmas/bday gift list lol  

Awesome!! 

Great videos and report!!

Congrats guys and thanks for sharing!
 
Sincerely,
Jim

Great video clips!  Thanks for sharing guys.

dam geoff your a good writer!

thanks for taking all those videos N pics , thats a hellava camera set up ya got!

dam man i wanna go back already

You guys are bad ass!!love the vids Geoff!!You guys are doing great!!! Damn I am just about ready to get back in!!!!