Rocks, Rips, and Reefs
LA County Underwater Unit
Use the QR Code below to register for the 3R’s September 30, 2023
Use the QR Code below to register for the 3R’s October 28, 2023
COVID-19 Protocols: All participants will need to be vaccinated. Please stay home if you are not feeling well or have had a recent COVID exposure. Participants will be asked to show proof of vaccination status during registration. Use of masks is strongly encouraged.
Mandatory Sign-in & Gear Check: 7:30am-8:00am
Session Starts at 8:00am SHARP
No in-water participation for late arrivals after 8:00am.
Locations and Directions to our beach sites:
Please check back again later.
Rocks, Rips and Reefs – “3R’s”
The 3R’s (Rocks, Rips and Reefs) is a FREE public service designed to educate and update freedive & scuba divers on the seasonal environmental awareness considerations for diving in Los Angeles County to site specific shore based diving considerations, current year swell & surf patterns and safe practices for popular local dive sites in Los Angeles County. This program generally offers 4-5 sessions, from May through August at 4 different shore based dive sites & 1 land based session.
A key program goal is to assist participants in identifying and recognizing the precipitating events that cause accidents in shore based diving environments so they can be avoided or mitigated.
Each Ocean Session begins with a short land based educational seminar covering the local dive site bathymetry, shore based entries and exits, certain aspects of the local marine environment, and other valuable, site-specific information. Conditions permitting, the seminar is followed by an in-water demonstration and practice session for qualified participants that includes a skin diving tour of the actual dive site.
Local on duty Lifeguards also provide a briefing on EMS and local hazards observed and at selected sites, there is an opportunity for Baywatch boat boarding, briefing and tour at selected locations.
How to Utilize Forecasting Tools in Dive Planning
The presentation centers on current year weather, swell and surf patterns and safe practices, with examples of popular dive sites in Los Angeles County utilizing NOAA and CDIP forecasting tools and real time data feeds from NOAA & CDIP buoy arrays.
Supervision & Staffing
Supervised experience for participants is led conducted by certified Los Angeles County Scuba Instructors. There are also other volunteers who help with each ocean session. These volunteers often consist of instructors from various agencies, rescue certified divers, divemasters, and assistant instructors.
A weekend of comprehensive staff training for all volunteers is mandatory for all new and returning volunteers and there is no charge for this training. Divers with at least rescue training level and above certifications are invited to apply to the Underwater Unit for the limited number of volunteer positions available each year.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR OCEAN PARTICIPATION:
- All participants should be free of COVID-19 symptoms and exposure. Please stay home if you are not feeling well or if you have had any recent COVID-19 exposures.
- Completed and Signed Medical Statement form. Any “yes” answers to questions on the form will require a physician’s release signature prior to any in water participation. Only one form is required to be completed for participation in all 2022 sessions. Repeat session participants will be asked to confirm that all information previously submitted is current and correct. Contact the Underwater Director to get a copy of the medical statement in advance to see if this applies to you.
- Full OCEAN Skin Gear (FOSG) REQUIRED. Full Skin Gear is full wetsuit (recommended 5mm-7mm), hood, gloves, booties, mask, fins, and a snorkel. Sturdy booties with open heel fins are required to provide foot protection as certain locations involve entries & exits as well as skin diving on or near rocks. If you desire to wear a weight belt for practicing skin diving, you are allowed no more than 10 pounds of weight.
Don’t forget to bring sunscreen and other exposure protection (depending on the day) as well as drinking water to maintain hydration and snacks. It’s also a good idea to bring a folding style beach chair for the lecture portion of each beach session as well as a pen and pad of paper.
