I arrived at Cleo Street at 6:30 a.m. to meet Jim F who had suggested this dive site last week. He was the diver that reminded me about the anniversary of the Foss 125 going to the bottom on this date.  There were already a few divers looking over the site and I managed to get one of the last parking spaces. Jim F and I went to the staircase and liked what we saw. Even though the tide was low, the sea level was only about a foot below high tide.

We managed to be the first two divers in as the others were waiting for friends to arrive. We used Rich Parkers navigation tips on the South Coast Divers site (here’s the link) and descended within 20 feet of the wreck. Jim and I followed around the perimeter and then came down the hull over what we though would be the keel. We spent about 25 minutes at the wreck before turning around to come in.

On our exit we bumped into Alberto Mantovani from DiveNav and eDiving. Alberto has just finished mapping the Yukon Wreck for his online dive simulator. He’s offering to do the same for the Foss 125 as part of the 50th anniversary commemorative. It was good to meet him making the dive to the wreck today.

Right behind him was Rich Parker and the South Coasties who hadn’t made the regular SCD Catalina. Rich had brought South Coast Divers to Cleo Street for an anniversary dive, too. I told him I’d stick around the site and talk to him about my plans over lunch at Husky Boy’s diner, a post dive haven for Laguna Beach divers.

Finally making it up the stairs, Jim and I changed out of our gear. Right behind us were some of the guys from OC Fun Dive, a north Orange County dive group. They were heading out and couln’t join Jim and I for breakfast right on the corner of Cleo and PCH, at the Orange Inn.  The Orange Inn is the perfect place to stop for breakfast, or a sandwich, after diving the wreck.

After breakfast, Jim and I ran into Jose from the Fun Dive guys who was on his way to Shaws for a second dive. I shared the 50th anniversary idea with him and he said he’d bring it up with the rest of his group.

By that time the South Coasties had come out and we all met up at Husky’s. Rich took me to school on the history of man-made reefing in California and said he’d help me out putting this project together where he could.

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. I’m looking forward to working with all of you to make this happen.