Rocks, Reefs and Rips program (3Rs) is a mini-course designed to familiarize divers with popular beach dive sites and improve their beach diving skills. Summer sessions in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area will take place: July 10 at Malaga Cove and August 14 at Point Dume. For the San Diego area, sessions will take place July 10 at Goldfish Point, July 24 at Marine Street, and August 7 at Hospital Point. Additional workshops are planned at various locations for both areas through summer and early fall.

Instructors will demonstrate and supervise proper surf entry and exit procedures, explain unique aspects of the dive site, and discuss dive condition assessment techniques. Participants are then led on a snorkeling tour of the dive site. (Participants are to wear full wetsuit, mask, fins, snorkel, and a weight belt with half of the normal weight they use for diving. Tanks and regulators are not allowed.)

All classes begin at 8 a.m., but participants should arrive early for registration. There may be a fee depending on the session (visit the appropriate web site as indicated below).

The Los Angeles area workshops are organized and conducted by the L.A. County Underwater Instructors Association in cooperation with the Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers (GLACD). For more information on the L.A. County workshops visit online www.lacountyscuba.com/3rs-abt.htm. The San Diego sessions are hosted by the San Diego Council of Divers and various dive clubs. For more information on the San Diego 3Rs, visit www.sddivers.com/3rs.