Old dives

Van Damme abalone dive

Alacosta's first abalone dive was on April 9-11, Friday-Sunday, at Van Damme. John Beland chaired this dive. When the divers reached Boone Valley, they were surrounded by a blanket of snow. That did not stop the brave drivers.

Saturday morning, after a night of rain, the divers found a cove in Mendocino. John Beland, Rob Vermeulen, Peter Lasell, Michael Daily, and the Blurb entered the cove. The visibility was over 5 feet between sets. After the bubbles from the wave cleared, the visibility returned to the usual 5 feet.

Everyone caught their abalone.

The campers all left for home Saturday afternoon. Tom Whitaker and Debbie Kane spent another rough night with their family at a cabin with a Jacuzzi. The McDowells and the Dailys stayed in a hotel in Ft. Bragg.