That's right! I myself don't mind the surface swim. As a matter of fact, I like it. Gives me the incentive to be in shape.
But if the people responsible for maintaining EUP (Bruce Higgins, etc) and the City of Edmonds would copy/follow what
the city of Avalon in Catalina Island did at their Casino Point Underwater Park, we would have a very short surface swim.
This is what they did to Casino Point Underwater Park which I believe can be easily done at EUP too. I envision this to be at the very tip of the jetty. There would be two lane stairs that goes all the way down to the water level (as a matter of fact, all the way to the sea floor). The right lane (going down) is a one way lane for divers going into the water. The other lane (coming back up) will be the other one way lane for divers coming back in. Simple. But probably too complicated if politics have to be involved. This, my fellow divers, would easily solve at least the burden of a long surface swim. Again, if politics is not involved. I would even contribute what little dollars I have if this would come into fruition.
Those of you who have been to Catalina Island and dove the Casino Point Park, you can attest to the "stairs" as a very efficient way and big help to the divers at that park.
Then again, if this happens, EUP will not have enough parking space to accomodate all the divers wanting to dive there. You just can't win. You just have to make it work!
Just IMHO!