u/Elusiveenigma98

lately I’ve been diving 7mm with no hood or gloves & I’ll be fine. Planning to dive early, about 7:30am getting in the water in either Palos verdes or Laguna (conditions depending) but this heat is worrying me… I wouldn’t say I run cold but also I don’t want to get down there and be cold. Won’t be be diving super deep or anything. I have a 2mm shorty as well but I don’t think that would be enough. Obviously only I would know how I will feel but just curious on everyone else’s thoughts with this insane heat wave, time of day I’m diving (morning), etc.

Thoughts? Anyone diving with less than usual these days?

visiting SF, which I’ve been to plenty of times but I’m crashing my bf’s work trip and have lots of time to kill wandering the city. I usually have specific spots on my list but this time I’m sorta going in blind & would love the people who live there recommendations :) big foodie, and I love all types of food. SF is one of my favorite cities, and I want to make the most of these three full days.

I am seeking your best restaurants in the following categories:

Thai
Vietnamese
Pastries + Coffee + Matcha
Breweries
Sushi, but not omakase
Seafood (oysters, anything)
Literally anything else you think is exceptional

I love everything from causal to upscale, I don’t need Michelin starred five $$$$$ spots but if they’re truly amazing, send that rec my way still. I am open. I really enjoy wandering and snacking at a few places rather than one big meal, at least for mid-day spots. Bonus points for a good hazy IPA, saison or cider anywhere I go.

hi - looking for suggestions for reasonably priced dive guides in SoCal. We are recently certified & just looking to get in the water as often as possible, ideally 2x a month at least. Open to shore and boat dives (I realize boat dives would be more $$$) but would love suggestions of dive guides in the area, and how much they charge.

We hire our instructor through our dive shop but he’s not always available so would love some back up options.

Just looking for more info + suggestions, etc.

Thanks in advance :)

it’s second hand but just got serviced & they’re selling it for $500, looks brand new and has only been used a handful of times. I’m in the US.. do we think this is a good deal? Says they sell for like $1200 so I’m tempted.

recently took a trip on a dive boat in Southern California, boat & crew were amazing, no notes and would book again without a doubt. My complaint comes with the people who were on the dive boat… it was a full house, and aside from our dive stations there really wasn’t much seating. It left early and multiple people took up entire booths in the galley to sleep. Like horizontally, taking up the entire booth that should fit at least three people. Like yeah, we are all tired…. Additionally, it was rocky boat ride and people straight up falling into me, others and not even the slightest “sorry”. I understand that comes with territory of being on a rocky boat but I just found that odd. Little camaraderie & overall just pompous attitudes. And these people weren’t even coming across as super experienced divers or anything, just assholes.

Is this the normal? Is this just Southern California? What has been your experience.

I’ve really enjoyed the community out here so far but this was a little surprising to me. Would love anyone else’s take + experience on this.

new diver & I recently invested in the shearwater peregrine tx along with the transmitter. I used it for the first time (albeit without the transmitter; I wasn’t diving deep and just wanted to get used to the computer itself first) and I enjoyed it. Loved the display, readability, user friendliness and respect the brand in the dive world. Really no complaints. That being said, as a strictly recreational diver not looking to go beyond say, 90\~ feet, is this too much for me? I can’t help but feel it’s maybe for someone more advanced..? Or is that stupid? I do plan to get nitrox certified as well, though.

One complaint though but potentially easy fix: wearing a 7mm wet suit and the wrist band the watch came with, it kept falling down my wrist during the dive. I tighted it rather tight, too. We were in a pretty decent surge so maybe that was effecting it too. Is the bungee cord type wrist attachment better?

Would love opinions on this. It was expensive, so I want to be sure that this purchase is for me..

If you suggest a different dive computer (with AI) please let me know. I do really like the idea of seeing my air on my dive computer directly, but I am open to suggestions.

doing a dive out of Ventura over the weekend and I am always starvingggg after so I’d love some good suggestions for street tacos spots in the vicinity. Nothing fancy, think hole in the wall or street stands, but all suggestions welcome.

Also looking for pizza recs, this I’m looking for more refined style pizza but can be a slice spot too. Open to all kinds, but really love NY style.

Thanks in advance :)

would love any thoughts & opinions on this bcd for a new-er recreational diver in Southern California

I love those three spots so much but they’re all in opposite directions and I’m more west central~ LA so would love some less talked about favorites for poke

have about an hour & a half to kill before dinner at Musso & Frank; where should we grab a drink nearby beforehand? Not super extra trendy or anything as it’s for my friends parents.

how is the food + vibes at The Dresden? I haven’t been before and my good friends parents are in town and we’re all gonna grab dinner together so I’m trying to secure a spot. I tried to book Musso & Frank but can only get a late reservation (I did set notifications though) but I want a couple back ups. Think classic hollywood, elevated, etc. so The Dresden came to mind. Formosa was another one on my mind… I have both those booked.

Let me know your thoughts or other suggestions. Doesn’t need to be Hollywood specific but they’re staying near universal so within a 30~ minute drive

getting my open water certification next week with my partner, then we plan to do some local dives before getting our advanced open water next. Just curious on everyone’s take on the SoCal SCUBA community in general. We plan to join the dive community team at our local shop too but just curious + would love any input 🤿

I set an alarm for midnight thirty days ahead, just like their website says they are released, and when I checked at exactly midnight the only thing available was still 9:30pm, as every other time I’ve tried. Is there like a monopoly on their reservations or what is going on?

People who have gotten reservations there at a normal time (before 9pm) what did you do?

looking for your favorite bibimbap in LA