EVMike
Registered
Turks & Caicos Explorer II - Trip Report - 11/10-17, 2012
The beginning of our week was a bit of a blowout. The same winds and sea conditions that shortened the previous charter prevented this one from going out for the first two days. However, this did not deter divers from getting wet. The Emerald Bay Marina basin turned out to be a very interesting location, full of life and great visibility! Even in 10 feet of water there were lobsters along the wall, a few varieties of nudibranchs, including the Leech Head Shield Slug. Mangrove jellies, barracudas, Rough head Blennies, juvenile French and Grey Angelfish and High hats, long spiny urchins, an octopus, Queen Conchs, and a small turtle. Critter spotting wasnt as plentiful for the night dives but the octopus and lobsters were still around.
Tuesday morning took us Rockn & Rolln to Conception Island. We arrived to calm waters, sunny skies, and good visibility. First stop Missing Link for one dive then on to Grouper Ledge for the last two dives of the day. Divers were joined by several Grey Reef Sharks on the fist dive, even though the dolphin was spotted as we approached the second mooring, it was nowhere to be seen during the dive. A Silky Shark was spotted on Grouper Ledge and the night dive produced an octopus and rather large Green Turtle.
The diving was absolutely amazing at San Salvador this week. A Great Hammerhead was spotted at both Double Caves and Devils Grotto. A lone Spotted Eagle Ray was seen on the wall ridge at Double Caves. The bottom topography at Devils Grotto was a labyrinth of huge canyons and swim throughs leading out to a big wall with loads of crevices and caves to swim in and out of without disturbing anything. Long whip corals hung from the edges and enormous barrel sponges dotted the sides of the wall in all directions. Fish life at both sites was plentiful.
We returned to Conception Island Thursday morning and dove Wedge Point and Chutes & Ladders. The big sighting of the day was a 12 Bull Shark. Again, nice crevices and swim throughs with a good variety of schooling fish around the edges and on top of the wall.
Our last day was spent at Long Island where we dove the Camberbach wreck, a 100 inter island ferry sunk in the seventies. Beside it a 40 foot sail boat sitting not far away in the sand. This wreck sits upright on the reef with its cargo hold open, exposing a lone van. Schools of Atlantic Spadefish were around as well as a few barracudas and algae grazers.
By the time we returned to the Marina Friday afternoon, the sun was out, the seas had calmed, and gear was drying nicely for the packing up process.
A good week was had by all. Congratulations to Julie, Jared, and Kevin for completing their Nitrox courses. Thanks to Carol and Bob, and everyone for sharing such great photos of the week.
The beginning of our week was a bit of a blowout. The same winds and sea conditions that shortened the previous charter prevented this one from going out for the first two days. However, this did not deter divers from getting wet. The Emerald Bay Marina basin turned out to be a very interesting location, full of life and great visibility! Even in 10 feet of water there were lobsters along the wall, a few varieties of nudibranchs, including the Leech Head Shield Slug. Mangrove jellies, barracudas, Rough head Blennies, juvenile French and Grey Angelfish and High hats, long spiny urchins, an octopus, Queen Conchs, and a small turtle. Critter spotting wasnt as plentiful for the night dives but the octopus and lobsters were still around.
Tuesday morning took us Rockn & Rolln to Conception Island. We arrived to calm waters, sunny skies, and good visibility. First stop Missing Link for one dive then on to Grouper Ledge for the last two dives of the day. Divers were joined by several Grey Reef Sharks on the fist dive, even though the dolphin was spotted as we approached the second mooring, it was nowhere to be seen during the dive. A Silky Shark was spotted on Grouper Ledge and the night dive produced an octopus and rather large Green Turtle.
The diving was absolutely amazing at San Salvador this week. A Great Hammerhead was spotted at both Double Caves and Devils Grotto. A lone Spotted Eagle Ray was seen on the wall ridge at Double Caves. The bottom topography at Devils Grotto was a labyrinth of huge canyons and swim throughs leading out to a big wall with loads of crevices and caves to swim in and out of without disturbing anything. Long whip corals hung from the edges and enormous barrel sponges dotted the sides of the wall in all directions. Fish life at both sites was plentiful.
We returned to Conception Island Thursday morning and dove Wedge Point and Chutes & Ladders. The big sighting of the day was a 12 Bull Shark. Again, nice crevices and swim throughs with a good variety of schooling fish around the edges and on top of the wall.
Our last day was spent at Long Island where we dove the Camberbach wreck, a 100 inter island ferry sunk in the seventies. Beside it a 40 foot sail boat sitting not far away in the sand. This wreck sits upright on the reef with its cargo hold open, exposing a lone van. Schools of Atlantic Spadefish were around as well as a few barracudas and algae grazers.
By the time we returned to the Marina Friday afternoon, the sun was out, the seas had calmed, and gear was drying nicely for the packing up process.
A good week was had by all. Congratulations to Julie, Jared, and Kevin for completing their Nitrox courses. Thanks to Carol and Bob, and everyone for sharing such great photos of the week.
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