What folks will do for abalone...

Living up here in the heart of abalone country and thinking about the 3 deaths that we've had up here this year, it always amazes me.

A few weeks ago my friend Allen and I paddled from Navarro to this awesome and remote dive site.  The beach cliffs must have gone 250 to 300 feet and were really steep and loose.  It was a beautiful, calm day and Allen and I had a relaxed and scenic paddle down there.  I almost enjoyed the paddle more than the dive.

After diving in this secluded cove, we got up on the beach to tag the abalone before heading back.  All of a sudden there were 2 Chinese guys there in dive gear walking the beach.  They didn't speak any english, and of course Allen and I don't speak any Chinese, but they were looking for a way to climb back up this cliff to the highway.

Through sign language we figure out that they had come down the cliff at some other cove and now were figuring out how to get back up. I really couldn't believe it.  I would not have free climbed that cliff without any gear, never mind carrying a full dive setup and a load of abalone.  It was downright scary looking.  I expressed my disbelief to one guy, and he made the universal muscle flexing signal to jokingly indicate that he was "strong like bull."  And I guess they were, because I didn't hear any reports of anyone falling off cliffs down by Navarro.  But, man,I just couldn't believe it.  I would never do that for abalone.

Allen and I kinda shook our heads and enjoyed the leisurely paddle back to the river.  Different strokes and all that.

I'm not on the forum much. May I ask what do you paddle for a dive platform.

RV look for Bigjim videos on you tube.
He dives off a Jackson Cuda 14.
just search youtube  NCKA  dive, great videos

Thanks, today is the day for it.

I started climbing rocks but bring rope and judge spots before going.  I am not strong like bull so I stay on the kiddie hills with rope.  I still managed to get scraped up on one trip. 

Tomorrow looks like a good dive day.  Stay safe. 

I'm not on the forum much. May I ask what do you paddle for a dive platform.

I dive off a T-160, but it doesn't really matter to me much what boat I use.  I like the 160 because it's fast.  Sometimes I use my regular SIK sea kayak, just to get to the spot.  Then I suit up on the beach and kick out.  The most stable boat I've used was the old Scrambler XT, but it was slow as an anchor.

Prowler 15 is an excellent dive yak too

Prowler 15 is an excellent dive yak too

I'll 2nd that.

I now dive off of my Hobie Adventure. Removing the paddle bungee hooks is a must though.

I still get amazed at what people do for abs.especially rock pickers.they rock pick because they dont like getting cold.I understand cause my first (newbie) outing I borrowed my father inlaws 3mm board suit.needless to say after 20min my teeth was chattering. When I got home the next day I went to the dive shop and got my own gear (7mm) suit, gloves, boots.there still alot of rock pickers that'll still use a thin board suit cause they dont want to spend the money.

First time I went to point arena I was told its very dangerous because of the rock cliff.or you could swim across.so as I went around the corner I see this line of people hugging the rock face.I said screw that I swam across instead of climbing. Now swimming across its deep but barely 15' to cross.now swim 15' to cross the small cove or hug the rock face 20'up.now most people with common sense would swim than hug a rock face 20' up for 50yrds.

Needless to say as I made the turn of the next cove im walking in the water and yes the line of people climbing above me was still there I hear a whoa! And I see this lady drop from 15' straight into the water.I rush over, are you ok? Lady says yes.I dont think she realized how bad that could've ended. She was very lucky that she was petite and she kinda just rolled into a ball and landed in the water.if she was taller between the two cliffs where she fell she would've cracked her head wide open.

It's not just ab pickers.

Freedivers hold their breath and look/enter underwater rock holes and swim through kelp which can tangle them before getting up for air.  They along with kayakers go out even when white sharks or orcas have been seen in area. 

So from the rock pickers point of view they could think they are safer.