Shovel Nose Guitar Shark

Up early for a days diving at La Jolla. Got over only to find that the guy we booked with had sub contracted our diving to another bloke and just given him some kit for us. We needed to add the dry suit feeds to the regs. This caused the dive guide to have an apoplectic fit and he wouldn’t take us until he spoke to the other guy and we signed a waver to say we weren’t technicians and we were doing it at our own liability. Typical Americans. He then gave us a 45 minute brief which included a lesson on how tides work. Turns out he was also a lifeguard at La Jolla cove in the past. First dive was a ¼ of a mile surface swim out. On the way there was a problem with one of the swimmers so our guide had to do his best Hoff impression and go and help out. This turned our surface swim into a 45 minute, ½ mile slog against the tide. Sense of humour failure in sued. Dive was quite nice with Shovelnose Guitar Sharks, Vermillion Rockfish, Garibaldi fish, Barred Sandbass, Round Stingray, Kelp fish, and Spanish Shawl fish. Had a few visits from the Sea Lions at the end. Second dive was a long dive at around 3m to go to the cave. Not great but good to see the Sea Lions in the cave with us.  Had some lunch before walking over to La Jolla beach. Met another dive guide who had helped us out with the dry suit feeds in the morning. We then got another 30 minute patronising dive brief, which told us how to walk into the waves. Nice night dive with plenty of sea hares. Big thermocline at 10m down to 14°C. Just about to take a nice photo of a horn shark when the dive guide grabbed it by the tail and it took off. Tosser. Came back to the hotel at 10pm. Long day with OK diving and a few nice sharks.