Diving Program Offers Unique Urban Adventure

OK, I admit it -- I’ve been scooped. The newsletter of the Reef Seekers Dive Co. reports that the Metropolitan Water District is going to conduct a flush of the entire L.A. sewer system this weekend. And Reef Seekers says it has “secured the exclusive rights to offer this as a rapid-water drift dive!”

Participants will “shimmy down a manhole in Sylmar where the flush will begin,” said the Beverly Hills scuba diving company.

“The signal will be given, and the MWD engineers will start releasing water, slowly at first, and then building to a crescendo. It’s estimated that at the height of the flush, we will be traveling at speeds of up to 20 mph.” Graduates of the course will be given a special certification (“Sewer Specialist”).

It almost seems to be too wild to be true. And, you know, now that I think about it, it was mentioned in the April 1 edition.

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Now I’m suspicious: If the above item was an April fool’s joke, then I guess the same holds true for another Reef Seekers’ exclusive -- that Starbucks, noticing the many divers who stop there in the morning on the way to the beach, will begin offering “flavored” air ($8 per tank). (“For someone who likes latte, or a mocha mix aroma even underwater ... “)

On the other hand, I wouldn’t put anything past Starbucks in its quest to take over the world.

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Thanks for the warning: Bob Page of Palm Springs noticed a listing for a house that evidently has a few critics (see above).

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A gas: “In Bakersfield, we take our adult beverages seriously,” wrote Robert Turner, presenting evidence of a drink that definitely will pack a punch (see photo).

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How to roll over an adversary: Barry Nackos, meanwhile, came upon a Mission Hills business that knows how to work the legal system (see photo).

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Driving-away “oops!” events: “I loaded my son’s trucks and dinosaurs, my daughter’s Barbie dolls and books, the baby’s diapers, blankets, pacifier and extra clothes into the car,” writes Beverly Hardy of Morro Bay.

“When we got to my girl friend’s house, my son unloaded his things, my daughter her things and I unloaded all the baby paraphernalia.

“Then my girl friend, in an amazed voice, asked, ‘Where’s the baby?’ ”

Hardy added: “It was a quick five-mile drive home, and luckily the baby was still asleep.”

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miscelLAny: Nice to see the Angels reaching out to wealthy Orange County dads. Among the Anaheim team’s giveaway promotions is “Father’s Day money clip” (June 15).

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712 and by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012.