Spontaneous Sunset Van Damme Ab Run 11/16

Made a spontaneous run to Van Damme yesterday afternoon. Got to the parking lot at 3:55 PM. The ocean was like a lake "AGAIN"!! It was incredibly flat! My buddy and I wasted no time gearing up and were in the water by 4:05 PM for our shore dive.

The sun was already making it's decline and we had approximately 1 hour before sunset. The vis was about 20 ft and the dive was just amazing. I felt so privileged to be able to dive those conditions with such short notice.

On the way out I saw my very first dungy underwater in about 12 feet.
I dove down and picked him up as described in previous "How to" posts. I didn't have a gauge but he appeared to be a shy short so I released him.

I kicked out about 200 yards and saw this huge shipping container sized rock that must have had at least 75 abs on it. Many were piled up in crevices in very awkward angles. I spent at least 15 mins examining every nook to be selective. By the time I had done this the sun was setting and it was quickly becomming dark. Using my flashlight I popped my 3 abs and started my way back to shore with very little light remaining. I swam directly back about 1/4 mile to the parking lot and just was astounded by the vis in such low light. All along thinking about the bigger ones I had left behind due to the awkwardness of their positioning and time constraints.

I got out of the water, tagged my abs two 8 1/4" and one 8" and shot this photo with the aid of my flashlight.

A local came up to my buddy and told him that he had never seen Van Damme this flat in his 40 years of living in the area.

Truly epic conditions! 

Nice helmets bro!

WTG Antonio!!!!!!!

Those are great looking abs dude!

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Nice Haul!
Those are some nice deep shells.

awesome man. Isn't it great when the ocean just seems to cooperate for once. Nice abs, think you'd want to head up for one more dive after thanksgiving before season is up?

Nice move, Antonio.  Thanks for sharing your trip.  I saw the end of the flat spell coming and jammed out to the South Jetty to toss a jig for a bit at sunset last night.  Check out the sweet spot that emerged on the Eel River Buoy right at the end of the day.  Hope to share some water like that with you next spring.   

Thx for the detailed write up. Wish i were there....

Peace & blessings!

Man you do, do some driving for your Abs, of course as I say every time you put up a report I love VD, just to lazy to drive up.

It's been years since I was in the water after sundown, but the vis does get even better for a short bit before dark.

Thanks for sharing your adventure,

and here's a pic from the Sonoma coast on Wed.

WTG! Fill your ab card yet?

WTG! Fill your ab card yet?

Joe,

Got 6 tags to fill the card. Just waiting for the next window.

Nice move, Antonio.  Thanks for sharing your trip.  I saw the end of the flat spell coming and jammed out to the South Jetty to toss a jig for a bit at sunset last night.  Check out the sweet spot that emerged on the Eel River Buoy right at the end of the day.  Hope to share some water like that with you next spring.   

Eric,

Definitely brother!

Thanks for those daylight shots I didn't have time since I was rushing to get in the water.

Man you do, do some driving for your Abs, of course as I say every time you put up a report I love VD, just to lazy to drive up.

It's been years since I was in the water after sundown, but the vis does get even better for a short bit before dark.

Thanks for sharing your adventure,

and here's a pic from the Sonoma coast on Wed.

Dale,
I'm use to the haul so it's not an issue. Besides I'm comfortable diving there and it's a beautiful drive.
When time permits there is also a lot of wineries and a brewery I like to visit on the way back 
My buddy said that Wednesday was also very calm. Thanks for sharing your pic.

awesome man. Isn't it great when the ocean just seems to cooperate for once. Nice abs, think you'd want to head up for one more dive after thanksgiving before season is up?

Definitely, the only problem is that there are only two weeks left and the weathers not cooperating.

Where is Van Damme?

Close to the town of Mendocino, Ca. It's a 4 hour drive North of San Jose.