squidkid.

I recently returned from the Mendocino Coast from an abalone diving trip. Hunting for the marine mollusk is best described as dangerous, expensive, time-consuming, and highly regulated by the laws. But that is what makes the entire experience, from diving to preparing it for eating, completely exotic. I am actually working on a story assignment about the trip for The Christian Science Monitor, an international newspaper on par with The New York Times.

We had excellent weather conditions, but the north Pacific Ocean is very temperamental. Swimming in the ocean is a very different type of swimming. Here are ocean swimming pointers:

• Never turn your back to the ocean. Low tide switches to high tide in the blink of an eye, and along with it the size, frequency and powerfulness of the waves.
• If caught in a riptide or similar current, swim parallel to the shore. Don’t try and fight a current, you’ll get tired and lose.
• Swim under waves. Take a big breath and duck.
• Never swim alone. No one should ever swim alone, anytime, for any reason.
• The ocean is always in control. Work around its conditions.