So--How was this weekends diving?

[large_diver]

GM,

So I've been wondering all day -- did you buy the winning Powerball ticket across the border in NH?

 

[kubefish]

we hit the inlet at about 7:00 a.m. out of jupiter inlet (florida) the gps broke down then abaout 1/2 mile out the prop spun a hub. we limped back into port. at that point we switched to beer drinking mode.

 

[Warhammer]

Natasha,

I dove with Blue Peace. They operate a 6 pack and I was generally pleased with them. They seem to be more geared towards beginners, as we had students on board both days, but they are a welcomed relief from the cattle boat ops that are the norm in Cancun. However, if you had the boat booked, you could most likely do whatever type diving you wanted too. They are about the only one that will still go out to the Ultrafreeze, but as we had students aboard, it was a no-go. They seemed to be great with students and had english speaking instructors, one of which is from Virginia. I'll give a full report when I have time to get my thoughts together and the pics developed.

 

[roakey]

2 hours and 20 minutes of bottom time.

We actually finished our tasks early so my buddy and I got to spend some time looking for shark's teeth in the gravel and showing off for the guests.

There's a ledge with three windows so the guests can see the Nurse sharks hanging out under the ledge. The Gray Nurses (AKA "Sandtigers" and "Ragged Tooth Sharks" -- different from the Nurse sharks) also like swimming under the ledge as well, so the guests get to see how big they are because they're so close.

If I've got some free time I go under the ledge and move the sand around to cover up the bare spots (to disguise the concrete bottom the exhibit).

Typically the Gray Nurses alter their swimming pattern to avoid a diver under the ledge -- they cut back out to open water before they get too close. Well on one pass our big Gray Nurse, about 8' long and over 200 pounds was just about to swing out because I was in the way, but the other Gray Nurse, about 7' long, was on her outside keeping her from turning out to open water.

So I got to get one of the closest looks at our big girl I have ever gotten, her right pectoral fin just barely rubbing down my right side. This happened right below one of the floor windows, and I understand that it caused a lot of excitement among the folks that got to see it from right above!

Gawd, I love sharks, the closer the better!

What a change from the 70s when I used to dive Saipan and we'd be scared spitless if we ever saw one while diving!

Roak

 

[KC_Scubabunny]

Four dive shops from across Missouri get together every year for a Fun Dive Weekend at Table Rock Lake. The festivities include an underwater scavenger hunt, lake clean up, underwater navigation exercise/poker run, raffle, cook out and general mayhem.

Great diving and divers all weekend. The husband and I took 4th place in the scavenger hunt. I won a new pair of fins in the raffle and we got 5 dives in between the two days. Vis has been better but considering there were about 100 divers participating in the various events the vis could have been worse. For you non-lake divers who have never experienced a brown out you won't know what I mean!

Weather was good also. Anytime we don't see temps in the 90s in August the weather in Missouri is excellent!

We are thinking about a trip to Bull Shoals, MO in Late September if anyone knows any info about the diving there. We have heard it is pretty good.

KC_Scubabunny

 

[scubakat]

The weekend's dives were fabulous! I started off at the Alki Junkyard. We dropped down to 15fsw and merged down to the northbound current expressway at about 50fsw. I am not sure how to measure the strength of the current, but it took a lot of work to stay put and even more make progress against it. I was a little wary of traveling away from our exit so quickly, but before we turned upstream I caught a glimse of a pretty china rockfish and a few ratfish (ewww!). We ascended to about 15fsw in the shallows where we found what seemed like a sealife nursury. The current was much milder in the shallow end and we enjoyed schools of shiner perch, big fat striped sea perch, soles & flounders. After 39 minutes it was time to face gravity & enjoy the sunset.

Saturday I enjoyed another great dive at Alki, Seacrest Park, Cove #2. We cruised for 39 minutes & about 50fsw and came upon the giant sunflower stars, a huge meaty white star (I don't know its real name), a flat fish that reminded me of a rabbit, and a few big sculpins. We surfaced to check position and dropped down to finish our dive and at about 25fsw I started having a tooth squeeze. Ow! That had never happened to me before. I know I need some dental work, but dang, what a way to be reminded! I ascended to about 15fsw & the pain went away and we ended the dive.

Finally sunday came around and we were off to Whidbey Island. Our first stop was the Langley Tire Reef just off of the marina & fishing pier. We were all a little apprehesive of the pinkish-orangish algae-like slime but we waded through it anyway. I really didn't want to rinse my mask in that gunk, but I did & proceded to don my fins. Since I haven't had the chance to put my spring straps on my new fins & I got a little carried away. I just snapped the darn strap. I sent my buddy off with another team and retreated to the dive-mobile for repairs. Everyone seemed to enjoy the dive, a few saw a juvenile octopus out in the open and everyone avoided the fishermen flinging crab pots & lures over the side of the pier.

The final stop of the weekend was to the Keystone Jetty. We pulled in & there were divers parked three layers deep. Now this site is fabulous, but it's also heavily affected by current, so everyone wants to dive at slack. We did see two fabulously large giant pacific octopus and many painted greenling & kelp greenling & juvenile sculpins & the biggest anemones that I have seen in the sound, but the most abundant species was the great pacific northwest diver. Some black, some yellow, dry & wet. We retreated to the beach after bonking tanks & heads with others. Everyone returned happy & tired & ready for a bbq.

All in all it was another great weekend!

-kate

 

[BetterLateThannever]

We did the Athens Scuba Park Treasure hunt and Luau on Saturday. By end of day we had 14 divers and one non-diving escort in the group.

Lots of fun putting faces to all the names. Special thanks to Vettster and Mitch driving all the way from Houston, sealskin98 came in from Paris and the newest diver in the group Artsprite drove in from Marshall.

As for me, I only managed 2 dives due to extended surface intervals (translate too much gabbing). Buddied with Vettster and it was evident he had spent a lot of time diving the waters off VeraCruz. The man is like a fish.

Didn't find any treasure but congratulations to Sheila for keeping the Swamp Divers from being totally shutout The viz was about 30', water temp high 80s; good time had by all.

Let's do it again.

 

[NINman]

Here is a quick dive report from my wonderful weekend with the local dive club.

Friday 24th: We all met at Rogers Rock Camp Site, which is located on the northern part of Lake George in upstate New York. I really wanted to dive but because we all had to setup camp it was almost impossible. There were a total of about 19-20 people. Not all of them were divers.

Saturday 25th: 1st dive was at around 10:50am had to swim about 200-250 yard to the site (called the Slide) where we wanted to descend. This Slide is a cliff that extends about 200-300 feet into the air and descended into the lake another 130 feet. We saw a few climbers there. (Boat is the only way to get to that cliff) We descended to about 25 feet for a while then decided to drop down a bit more. At around 30 feet we hit the thermolclyne (sp), which dropped the water temp from 73 to around 65. With out hoods and gloves we could only handle it for about 5 - 10 min then ascended to about 25 feet again. Had about a 44 min bottom time. There were huge boulders and lots of Rock Bass. Some where around 2 - 3 feet in size. 2nd dive not much happened. Kind of boring.

Sunday 26th: We took a boat this time to the slide and dropped in at around 10:50 am. We descended to about 25 feet and regrouped. We then started moving towards the cliff. Once there we dropped to about 73 feet, this time with hoods and gloves. At this depth we saw house size boulders, lots of overhangs, no life though. But it was a great site to see. We then started to ascend slowly and stopped at 60,50,30,25 while still moving along the wall. Water temp was the same 74 down to 30 then about 65 or was that 56 =) past that. Once we did hit some warmer water we started seeing the schools of Rock Bass most of the large ones scooted pretty quick. After about 30mins we had to board the boat, which was battling swift chop. All 3 of us had a great time.

Only got 3 dives in the whole weekend but the Slide was just amazing. If you ever get to Upstate New York shoot me an email and I can buddy up with ya.

Brad
ninman_ny@yahoo.com

 

[carlislere]

I had a Drager Dolphin Rebreather student at Lake Travis this weekend and did some fun diving after those dives. Vis below 60 foot depth was 25-30 feet. Worth the 72 degree water temp down there. Was going to get some of the class dives done with my divemaster students Sunday evening and night, but the thunderstorms around Austin ended our attempt before we got started. Need the rain though!

RonC.

 

[lildiver]

I had a 2 dive Sunday afternoon right in my own backyard (almost). I dove a quarry that's only 20 mins. from where I live. I had heard both negative and positive things about this dive site. My opinion: It's a good dive. the viz was 20 - 25 ft (and for a quarry that's great). The thermalcline is around 31 ft. This Quarry has shallow areas and training platforms that is good for OW classes and it also has deeper areas which drop off to around 70 ft. The temp at this depth is 51 degrees. Lot of interesting things to see (2 crusher houses, a fully outfitted kitchen, a large coach bus and various pieces of equipment) and a lot of fresh water fish, including a 65 lb catfish. Only negative I saw was the long walk (with gear) down to water's edge and then back up after dive.