Who is JOB 2.0: Episode 14- Diving and Spearfishing in Indo

While waiting for the next swell to hit Indo, Jamie O'Brien goes underwater for some diving and spearfishing.




To wear the same boardshorts as Jamie O'Brien, click here to view our selection!

Frank Gromling Hangs with Body Glove Family

Nature Calls!

~by Frank Gromling

January 23, 2012: Off the Southern California Coast

With Bob Meistrell

This past week was a whirlwind of activity for me, and next week will be more of the same. But, I’ve always figured that moving forward is better than standing still, except when staring at a sunrise or sunset, when just watching is demanded.

Anyway, I had the benefit of a quick trip to Redondo Beach, California to visit with Body Glove International, a major company in the surfing and diving industries. As part of that visit, I had the great pleasure to join company co-founder Bob Meistrell and several family members and others on a dive trip. We took the 72’ Body Glove dive boat The Disappearance out of King Harbor and lazily cruised south to a favorite dive spot off Palos Verdes Point.

The Disappearance

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Bob Meistrell in command

On board were Bob and wife Pattie, Bob’s nephew Billy (vice president), Jim Miller (advisor), Billy’s daughter Jenna (communications director) and son Daley, plus six other friends. Planning to dive were Billy, Jenna, Daley and friends Stefan and Tony.

Divers ready to go under

We anchored in 60 feet of ocean and soon all divers were off the swim platform and under the surface. While the divers moved silently off in search of lobsters and other adventures, I took turns discussing business with Bob and Jim, reviewing a new project I had brought them.

Later, while out on the back deck watching the ocean and diving birds, always a possible sign for the presence of whales, I saw a spout that could only have come from a whale, not a dolphin. I focused on the area and was rewarded by another spout and the flash of black, shiny skin. I had a whale!

It was over a half mile away and heading farther north from us, so I began to “wish” it to turn around and head our way. Not five minutes later I saw a spout closer to us and soon realized that, indeed, the whale had come about and was slowly making its way south toward our location. I love it when whales know I’m around and have to come say hello!

Gray whale just offshore Palos Verdea

Although my iPhone camera lacks distance capability, it was the only camera I had, so I snapped a few shots of the whale as it surfaced about 50 yards away. Although it doesn’t show well in my pictures, there was a fairly deep cut on the peduncle, the top of the whale near the tail, which looked like a keel strike. The cut had healed, but it was evident a boat had crossed paths with the whale at some time in the past.

All of us on deck watched as the young gray whale swam slowly south, just off the kelp line along the coast. In a few minutes it had vanished in the distance, but remained the topic of our amused conversation. When the divers surfaced a few minutes later, they had not seen the whale from below, but caught a parting glimpse as it moved into an area of bright sunlight on the surface.

Gray whale moving south

What a great day! The ocean swells, sunshine, new friends having a good time, and a whale swimming by to say welcome to the west coast. Once again, I was in my element and loving every minute of it. Even the return to King Harbor, with the painted mural of gray whales off in the distance, was a special experience as we passed the Portofino Hotel and glided past boats of every description.

It doesn’t get much better

Until next time, remember to do one little thing to help Nature have a better day.

Frank Gromling, Publisher
Ocean Publishing
www.oceanpublishing.org
386-517-1600 / Fax 386-517-2564
Making waves with quality books!

Drop Zone: Fiji Available on iTunes August 15th!

Redondo Beach, CA – July 26, 2011 – Starting August 15th, 2011 the second installment of Body Glove’s award winning Drop Zone series, Drop Zone: Fiji will be available for purchase on iTunes.

Drop Zone: Fiji produced by Body Glove, PADI, Air Pacific, Sport Diver Magazine and TransworldSURF and featuring Holly Beck, Cheyne Magnusson, Alex Gray, Maria del Mar and WCT surfer Bede Durbidge, aired in over 100,000 homes on FuelTV will be available for download on your desktop, laptop, iPad and smart phone.

“Our purpose is simple,” said Body Glove’s VP of Marketing, Scott Daley, “we want to show a whole new generation the awesomeness of surfing and diving. Releasing the Drop Zone: Fiji on iTunes opens this film up to the world and showcases what amazing athletes we have and the incredible hospitality of the Fijian people.”

This award winning film follows four world-class surfers-turned-divers on an adventure through the waters surrounding the island of Fiji. The crew heads out in search of pristine dive locations and chases down some of the most epic surf on the planet. They head to Tavarua to surf the world famous Cloudbreak and SCUBA dive with bull sharks, vibrant fish, and friendly turtles. The lush environment provides rich entertainment and spawns an unlikely new duo. Through this remarkable journey, the crew gets to know the true Fijian culture by interacting with the islanders as well as the environment they have truly come to recognize the value of.

For more information on Drop Zone: Fiji or Drop Zone: Tahiti go to the Drop Zone Series Fan Page. You can find additional information on Body Glove athletes and products at www.bodyglove.com.

Body Glove Rashguards are perfect for diving Fiji!!!

Chris Donnelly's Body Glove crew Diving in Taveuni, Fiji! All wearing Body Glove Rash Guards! leaving tomorrow! Total bummer we are leaving, but its been an a amazing time!

Photos from Bob Meistrell 82nd Birthday Family Dive

On July 30th, Body Glove Co-founder celebrated his and his late twin brother Bill's birthdays in style with a Meistrell family dive off of Palos Verdes. The entire family celebrated by diving with all three generations: First generation: Bob. Second Generation: Robbie, Randy Ronnie, Billy, Julie. Third generation: Tracey, Jamie, Matt, Nick, Makayla, Kenna, Robert, Rhoni, Randi,Jenna, Daley, Jake and Jared. There were a total of 19 Meistrell's diving off Palos Verdes all of whom still Dive and Surf and were stoked to be diving for Bob's birthday.

It was great to see how proud Bob was that everyone has followed in his footsteps and are certified divers. We look forward to next year. Here are some photos from the day.

Holly Beck, Chandler Parr and Friends in Fiji

Body Glove surfers Holly Beck and Chandler Parr joined friends Mary Osborn, Jennifer Flanigan and Kaley Swift on an epic surf and dive trip aboard the beautiful Tui Tai in Fiji. The girls surfed their brains out, spent time under water, did some stand up paddled, explored waterfalls, drank kava and hung out with the amazing Fijian people. Check out the great Surfline Feature story with captions by Holly Beck.

Drop Zone Fiji Blog Part 2

The Drop Zone Fiji crew of Alex Gray, Cheyne Magnusson, Holly Beck, Maria Del Mar and Bede Durbridge have all made it home safely after an amazing trip surfing and diving in beautiful Fiji. Check out some of their crazy stories and photos of surfing Cloudbreak, flipping boats, diving with Bull Sharks, rock water slides, pirates, Kava, fishing and more at the updated Drop Zone Fiji Blog at http://dropzonefiji.blogspot.com/.

Stay tuned for many more photos, videos and the epic Drop Zone Fiji DVD coming soon.

Best Winter Ever Morning Message from Holly Beck

Here is a nice morning update from Holly Beck about her epic winter. Stay tuned for more to come

Happy best winter ever in Southern California! Even though I haven't been home nearly enough to fully savor it, the days I have surfed close to home have been pretty darn amazing. Hope you've been scoring as well. If this morning's ridiculously high tide has you waiting around in front of the computer like I am, here are a few links you could check out while waiting for the tide to drop.

1. A really detailed audio and visual jaunt through pre-earthquake Haiti. You've seen nothing but destruction and chaos on tv lately, click here to see how it looked before the ground shook and the buildings fell, along with a taste of what the waves are like. Turn up your volume. The accents of my fellow travelers are definitely entertaining.
www.surfcaribe.com/Default.aspx?tabid=248

2. A quick little feature on my travel philosophy and addiction. No surprise to many of you, but a nicely put together article and photos.
www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-01/how-i-travel-holly-beck.html

3. Jettygirl.com unfailingly supports women surfers, even the dedicated ripping girls you've never heard of, unlike the rest of the surfing world. They put together a cool feature comparing the answers of an incredible number of surfing females to the same five questions. Here's a link to my answers, then you can scroll down to a list of names of others who answered as well.
www.jettygirl.com/features/2010/holly.beck.html

4. Finally, with a couple weeks at home I got to work updating my blog.
Click here and scroll through for the three most recent posts:
www.hollybecksurfs.blogspot.com

or pick and choose from what you find most interesting:

I'm not afraid of Great White Sharks: http://hollybecksurfs.blogspot.com/2010/01/im-not-afraid-of-great-white-sharks.html

Spending ten days in the same pair of jeans in Baja: http://hollybecksurfs.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-like-spending-ten-days-in-same-pair.html

I'm not a model, except when I am: http://hollybecksurfs.blogspot.com/2010/01/im-not-model-except-when-i-am.html

That's all for now. Time to skate down and check out the ocean! See you out there!
: )
Holly

Holly Beck and Body Glove Dive with Great White Sharks

Check out the latest blog update from Body Glove rider Holly Beck!

Body Glove and Holly Beck's Shark Diving Trip

Body Glove sent Holly Beck and our expert dive team down to Mexico to go diving with whale sharks and great whites!!! Check out some of the behind the scenes footage Holly shot during this once in a lifetime trip!

Photos and Video from Bob Meistrell's 81st Birthday Dive!!!

For Body Glove's founder, Bob Meistrell's 81st birthday he wanted to go on a 162 ft. dive. Check out some of the shots from the big day!

Diving Photoshoot

Bob Meistrell took about 10 of us out on The Disappearance today to go diving and get photos of Alex Gray in the First ECO dive suit and Cheyne Magnusson in the Free Dive suit.

 

Alex Gray cruising around in the ECO dive suit.  Body Glove is the first to have a ECO dive suit in the dive market.

Cheyne going back up in the Body Glove Free Dive suit.  He got one good size fish while free diving today.

Bob nabbed a lobster while diving.  Check it out.  It has no legs!!!!!  They think Alex Gray might have been involved and ripped the poor guys legs off thinking he would be easier to catch.