Trident Divers

The 2026 calendar for the Rocks, Reefs and Rips has been approved and will be posted shortly to their website.

The refresher course for all active instructors, safety swimmers and volunteers has been scheduled: Saturday, 9 May 2026 from 0630 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

I will be opening 8 slots for those who have yet to obtain the DFA certification. If you are an active volunteer or safety swimmer for the Council of Divers, please reach out to sign up for the course. Sign ups are first come, first served. If you would like to learn more about the specifics of this course, please visit https://dan.diverelearning.com

DFA course dates/times:
Friday 17 April, 2026 - 6pm-9pm
Saturday 18 April, 2026 - 10am-3pm
Friday 24 April, 2026 - 6pm-9pm
Saturday 25 April, 2026 - 6pm-9pm

Lastly: If you are a current volunteer, safety swimmer or instructor...or you would like to become one [you must be a competent swimmer with ocean experience] we have slated 15 open water swim practices for you. Please arrive 15 minutes early, bring your suit, towel, water and a positive attitude.

2 April - DeAnza Cove 1730 pm
4 April - La Jolla Shores 0600 am
7 April - La Jolla Cove 1730 pm
9 April - DeAnza Cove 1730 pm
11 April - La Jolla Shores 0700 am
14 April - La Jolla Cove 1730 pm
16 April - DeAnza Cove 1730 pm
18 April - La Jolla Shores 0700 am
21 April - La Jolla Cove 1730 pm
23 April - DeAnza Cove 1730 pm
25 April - La Jolla Shores 0700 am
28 April - La Jolla Cove 0730 pm
2 May - La Jolla Shores 0700 am
5 May - South Casa Rip 1730 pm
7 May - DeAnza Cove 1730 pm

Pre-season workout #2 [Rocks, Reefs, Rips]
This workout is intended for our instructors, safety swimmers, and volunteers.

For those outside of the 3R's community - modify the below activity to fit your desired fitness goals.

Weights:
Lat Pull Down: 60% max weight/15 reps; 1 set
Leg Extension: 75% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Bench Press: 75% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Hamstring Curl: 75% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Bench dumbbell fly: 60% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Hammer Squat: 75% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Seated dumbbell curl: 75% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Bent dumbbell pull: 75% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Bench Pullover: 50% max weight/20 reps; 1 set
Preacher curl: 60% max weight/20 reps; 1 set

Elliptical: 10 minutes @ 70% maximum RPM
Treadmill: 30 seconds at each speed from 3.5 mph to 7 mph - increments increase at [0.1] mph increments. After reaching 7 mph, reverse increments at same time duration [45 minute constant movement]

Swim: (Free) 50-100-150-200-150-100-50 ladder
15 second RI after 50; 30 sec RI after 100; 45 sec RI after 150; 1 min RI after 200; 45 sec RI after 150; 30 sec RI after 100; 15 sec RI after 50

Swim: (Free) 4x50 sprint; on 1 minute

Swim: (Free) 5x100
sprint 25/recovery 75 RI after 100 30 sec

Cool Down: (Free) bilateral breathing - 50 m of each: breath every third stroke; breath every 5th stroke; breath every 7th stroke; breath every 9th stroke; breath every 11th stroke

submerged kick, belly up, 1 foot above pool floor: 10x25 - focus on exhaling entire length of 25 on one breath.

The San Diego Council of Divers Rock's, Reef's and Rips season is just around the corner. For all of our safety swimmers, volunteers and instructors...that means it is a good time to get your body back into the water (if you took time off) and start prepping.

Today's workout:
1000 m Pull
250 m kick with fins
250 m submerged sidestroke
5x100 swim [25m sprint/75m easy; 30m sprint/70m easy; 50m sprint/50m easy; 70m sprint/30m easy; 50m sprint/50m easy]
Cool Down:
50m each - breath every 3rd stroke; 5th stroke; 7th stroke; 9th stroke; 11th stroke
4x25 m - submerged kick on back, controlled exhale for entire length

If you have been sedentary for more than a few weeks, speak with your physician first to confirm you are healthy enough to exercise vigerously.

Wanted to share a thoughtful review we received.

169bradfordc
1 contribution

Review from Oct 14, 2025
Trident Divers
Wonderful dive experience!
I had a wonderful experience diving in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve recently with Joel Tracey of Trident Divers. I’ve completed dozens of dives around the world, and Joel is by far the best all-around dive instructor I’ve ever encountered. His knowledge of the area’s history, conditions, and sea life is encyclopedic. His top priority is to ensure the safety of his clients while getting into/under/getting out of the water. He did a superb job of pointing out creatures both big and small during the dive, and did a comprehensive debriefing afterwards to explain what we saw. He’s also a true gem of an individual. If you’re considering diving in the San Diego area, don’t even Tri any other dive instructors, go with Joel and Trident Divers!

Diving from the shore in Southern California can be among the most physically demanding recreational dive choices we make. Stack the deck in your favor, and incorporate a regular physical training regimen into your tool box of good choices.

As part of my regular physical exercise routine specific to diving (weight training, endurance training and swimming) I focus at least 500 meters of each swim workout on fin work.

A sample swim workout: 1000 m (pull) any stroke; 500 m (kick) with fins and concentrating on knee/ankle flexibility; 800 m split interval ladder (50-100-150-200-150-100-50) building tempo; 200 m sprint - broken set (4x50); 250 recovery - focus on relaxation of stroke and rhythmic exhalation; 250 m (10x25) submerged kick with full breath exhalation

The intended benefits include: improved hydrodynamic form; increased cardio efficiency; increased hip, knee, ankle flexibility; increased kick related muscle efficiency; improved lung function and capacity; increased gas exchange efficiency; increased endurance; improved mental function as relates to in-water function under duress.

Bonus benefit: having some level of “afterburner” available when the unexpected physical demand (rogue set shows up during your surface kick to or from shore) arrives at your door.

Final note - schedule your next physical with a “dive physician” (those specializing in hyperbaric medicine) and discuss recommendations for a regular physical exercise routine that will incorporate the unique demands of scuba diving.