CLOSE-UP : The Commuter and the Deep Blue Sea

So near and yet so far. From the beach near his Coronado Island home, Joseph Ditler can actually see his office--the Berkeley, a turn-of-the-century ferry moored at San Diego’s Embarcadero that serves as headquarters of the city’s Maritime Museum.

“For two years, I was frustrated as heck,” says Ditler, 41, development director of the museum. “All that stands between me and my work is half a mile of water. But I have to fight traffic across Coronado Bridge and up I-5.”

When authorities announced a months-long program of repairs to the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, Ditler decided that he had had enough. He bought a 15 1/2-foot rowing skiff. Now, at 7:30 most mornings, he dumps his briefcase onto the stern seat, places his coffee and doughnut on the thwart, puts a tape into his Walkman and strikes out.

“It takes about the same time as driving--30 to 40 minutes--but what a different experience,” he says. “Only trouble is I sometimes forget to look where I’m going.”

Like one recent Monday morning. “The Little Mermaid” was blasting away in his ear when a shadow crossed the sun. Suddenly, a soul-shaking blast enveloped the skiff. It was an aircraft carrier screaming right down on top of him.

“You remember what the Road Runner looks like?” Ditler says. “That’s how fast I rowed.”

Though he’s cut back on use of the Walkman, the experience hasn’t put him off. “My favorite moment is when the Coronado Bridge hoves into view,” he says. “I usually stop rowing, look up at the bumper-to-bumper traffic, and yell, ‘Mornin’, suckers!’ ”