Escape from Santa Barbara Island

                 Rescued from Santa Barbara Island


      Santa Barbara Island is a tiny speck about halfway between Channel Islands and Santa Catalina Is.  It is generally warmer water and divers can enjoy better visibility, than the northern Channel Islands.  Those conditions however also require diving deeper as the shallower urchins tend to have less quality.  One of the main features on the lee side of the island is a sea lion population that resides in an area known as the seal slide.  The rocks have been worn smooth over time as the sea lions enter the water on the incline.  When they are absent the slide is a dominant feature, in the anchorage.  The noise is deafening when they are present, there incessant barking sounds like Old Blue, the bloodhound that ran himself to death, chasing the scent of Paul Newman after one of his escapes.Some of you older folks might remember the motion picture Cool Hand Luke who was locked up on  the chain gang in the deep south.Well magnify that sound times a hundred and thats what the sea lions sound like times a thousand. If that was not enough when the wind is right the smell is nauseating,

      When diving in the area the sea lions are curious, playful, mischievous and annoying. They are unavoidable.  I have had them pull on my hose, charge me at full speed, just to pull up at the last moment, and I could of swore I heard laughter, when I reacted.  They bite on my fins, and one stole a fish I had on the end of my spear.  At night they are all under and around the boat and there antics create trails of phosphorus illumination. The patterns of the trails are beautiful and awe inspiring. I finally quit giving them any eye contact at all, they would eventually tire of harassing me, if I did not look at them, but every once in a while it was difficult not to play with the pups who were the most excited by our presence, and just adorable. I even quit that after a mother cow charged me baring her teeth. Maybe twice my size, that event shook me up like no other, during my 25 year commercial diving career. Giant Black Sea Bass, moray eels and Garibaldi seem to be more prevalent than in the northern Channel Islands as well.
     The National Park Service has a presence there.  One year that single Park Ranger came out and boarded us for a License and compliance check.  My impression was that he was just lonely and wanted someone to talk to.  He half hardheartedly checked us for regulations compliance and I noticed he was not wearing any socks, which endeared him to me immediately.  He said he stays in an old Quonset hut for an extended period of time, and he was not trying to make it look glamorous or romantic.  I think it was the highlight of his week to come out and check us out.
      There is more bottom around the 1 mile square Island than dry land, on  the island itself.  It is also a little of a gamble diving there, because if your not finding urchins, no where else to go unless you hauled enough fuel to get to St. Nicolas Is.  Another drawback is the ride home is generally into the prevailing weather, which can make for a long miserable voyage if it picks up too much
      So I decided to make a voyage out to SB Island on my vessel Longfin. I knew of an area I could pick some good quality sea urchins and they should be ripe about that time. Johnny Goomer  RIP the diver, that I had on the boat agreed, and we had heard that one of the boats we communicated with regularly was heading out there as well. Now Johnny was a good natured soul, built very slight but his forearms had the hardened appearance that turning wrenches on seized up bolts over the years would create. He had spent 10 years in Federal Prison for agreeing to crew a vessel that was engaged in ferrying out to a cargo vessel and returning to shore with contraband.  Then the worst sin of all ...getting caught.  Johnny had started out working in the processing plant, cracking urchins at first, then moving around to other duties at the plant.  He seized on an opportunity to try diving on the Hey Jude with John Gilsinger, and he was in.

        When I was active duty Small Boat Station Channel Islands Harbor, I did a lot of sea rescues, but none like the one that occurred on the Longfin that trip.  I knew the sea urchins were in tight, up against the cliffs, on the weather side, but it was nice enough to go in tight, that day and since  it was late in the day, I was excited about getting anchored quickly so we could take advantage of the rare conditions. Now Johnny was a good enough diver when he was sober,which was not often, but a great wrench turner. He could remove and replace with the best of em, and small enough so he could climb all around my engine room. Leaving late was a mistake. Upon arrival, I urged him to throw the hook and fast, as I was trying to negotiate the Longfin in between  the wash rocks and  anchor right on top of the urchins. Instead he wanted to argue with me 'well Mike were kinda close.......and uh....."' and all that second guessing me at the wrong time. Furious, I left the wheel and threw the anchor over myself. Johnny almost fell overboard, cig in one hand and beer in the other. Me and Johnny were friends, I knew him 30 years, but I was apoplectic. I told him he was cut off from the beer and he was going to have to sleep on deck, then I kicked a bucket that barely missed him. I am screaming at him, as I jumped in and picked a couple quick bags, i wanted to get to the anchorage with some light left, because I was not very familiar with the  anchorage, at that end of the island. As we were motoring toward the anchorage a Coast Guard helicopter flew overhead. I said to Johnny "here's your chance call them up and get a ride home" I did not think he would actually Do it!!! But he did ..he got on the radio.. "hes gonna kill me" and  any other lie he could think of" Well when we anchored up, I noticed the PEACE was in the anchorage.  The Peace was an old commercial sport dive boat, that had been around a long time.  I was familiar with her as one of my first sea rescues was when the PEACE had capsized down the coast around Deer Creek, some 25 years ago. I was in a supporting role as the 41 footer crews plucked the survivors out of the water and ferried them to the station, I would assist those that needed it, getting them to a warm dry spot and providing hot coffee. So it was a little more than ironic that the roles were reversed, when the Coast Guard had the  skipper of the Peace send a dinghy over and retrieve Johnny. I was happy he was gone but, they told me to stand by while they sent out the 87 foot CG patrol Boat  Halibut. They left Marina del Ray.and they boarded me a couple hours later suited and booted...about 6 of them. They searched my boat looking for something I did not have, for 3 hours asked me a bunch of questions. I told him he disobeyed a direct order in a dangerous situation and was drunk on duty, and I never touched him, although the bucket may have grazed his leg. They finally let me go. Next morning 2 of my diver buddies on the Resurgance Pat Macallion and Dave Garland came motoring around the point. They were laughing there asses off as they heard the play by play on the marine radio, live as it happen. I mentioned I was happy they were entertained.  I  learned from that experience that I should think twice before hiring any of my friends. They took Johnny in on Marina del Ray on the Halibut, and he had to hitch a ride home.  From what I heard the Coast Guardsman were not to helpful or friendly.   I had a very peaceful day diving the next day.   Did not make a lot of money, but I was free of the insubordination, and that was well worth it.