100days-a-year
Contributor
Our return was tempered by news of the death of a friend on
Spearboards son's death while diving in NC.As well,the ongoing aftermath of Katrina where I have some family and friends in La.
We had perfect conditions for the 1st 3 weeks doing as many as 4 dives but normally 2 per day.Vis was up to 100' on the reef and up to 30' inshore of Hawk Channel.WTs were above 85 on top and only got as low as 78 really deep.
Did more travel this year and also some deeper stuff as the folks with us were more experienced this year.Hi-lites were on the Cosgrove Hump and Wilkes Barre.Both were astoundingly clear and full of fish.During deco it was weird seeing carribean reef and blacktip sharks materialize out of the deep blue, cruise within 30' or so and fade back down.Also dove some rubble thatwas the fishiestspotsI'd ever seen in years of diving.In one dive we saw shcools of AfricanPompano,Permit,Tarpon,Snook,Kingfish,Spanish Mackeral,Cuda,and many other mid-water dwellers.Jewfish to 300#,Black and Gag Grouper,Mutton and Mangrove Snapper,Hogfish and were buzzed by a lone Blackfin Tuna.In addition there were all the normal tropicals and macro stuff on allthe encrusted metal.We dove the Busch and found Hurricane Dennis had listed it about 15 degrees,torn off the forward mast and ripped up some of the rail forward.
Dinners at A&B Lobster House***Cracked Conch**Chico's**Commodore Steakhouse**Meteor Smokehouse**La Trattoria twice***Rooftop***and some less notables.
Lobstering was weak due to many small bugs but spearfishing was great with the best fish a 38# Black Grouper.
Spearboards son's death while diving in NC.As well,the ongoing aftermath of Katrina where I have some family and friends in La.
We had perfect conditions for the 1st 3 weeks doing as many as 4 dives but normally 2 per day.Vis was up to 100' on the reef and up to 30' inshore of Hawk Channel.WTs were above 85 on top and only got as low as 78 really deep.
Did more travel this year and also some deeper stuff as the folks with us were more experienced this year.Hi-lites were on the Cosgrove Hump and Wilkes Barre.Both were astoundingly clear and full of fish.During deco it was weird seeing carribean reef and blacktip sharks materialize out of the deep blue, cruise within 30' or so and fade back down.Also dove some rubble thatwas the fishiestspotsI'd ever seen in years of diving.In one dive we saw shcools of AfricanPompano,Permit,Tarpon,Snook,Kingfish,Spanish Mackeral,Cuda,and many other mid-water dwellers.Jewfish to 300#,Black and Gag Grouper,Mutton and Mangrove Snapper,Hogfish and were buzzed by a lone Blackfin Tuna.In addition there were all the normal tropicals and macro stuff on allthe encrusted metal.We dove the Busch and found Hurricane Dennis had listed it about 15 degrees,torn off the forward mast and ripped up some of the rail forward.
Dinners at A&B Lobster House***Cracked Conch**Chico's**Commodore Steakhouse**Meteor Smokehouse**La Trattoria twice***Rooftop***and some less notables.
Lobstering was weak due to many small bugs but spearfishing was great with the best fish a 38# Black Grouper.
