Dive Report - 5 May 07 - Escapade

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Ben_ca

Contributor
Messages
4,283
Reaction score
154
Location
SF Bay Area
# of dives
500 - 999
Date: 5 May 07
Boat Dive on the Escapade
Tanks: Dbl E7 100's
Gas: 32%

Arrived in Monterey way early so I went to the Breakwater to check things out
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The tide was way out and the vis from the wall wasn't looking too good...
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it was a very good morning to check out the tide pools.


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Some people got an early one in
It's nice and just hang around end enjoy Monterey before the crowds
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Now onto the Boat

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The Escapade's the fastest in Monterey... My favorite... Very doubles and DIR/Tech friendly... Capt Jim and the crew are outstanding with their briefings and insight...
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Oh did I mention we had a lot of doubles on board?
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Motoring out of the harbor our sea lion friends waved as we passed by...
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We didn't get far as the swells had picked up and the wind was also wicked...
.TODAY...NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 4 TO 6 FT. NW SWELL 7 TO 9 FT AT 11 SECONDS.

Dive 1 Ballbuster

Vis: 20 @ 90 FSW
Buddied up with Kevin... the vis was looking iffy so we decided to leave the scooters. We dropped down the anchor line with very poor vis... This is why you need a $1,500 flashlight :) but it opened up at the 50 foot mark and getting better the deeper you go.... Dark down there... the lights made for a comforting feeling having your buddies beam sweep yours every 5-10 secs. We watched the scooter team (Cris/Claudette/Ken) circle around the peak a few times... a little scooter envy but it was still a great dive.... MDL stops on the way up hovering near the line and then watching shadows in the murk for the 10 ft stop. Getting back on the boat wasn't too bad... wanted to take more pictures but worry about getting it wet kept it in the dry box...

Smiles all around as we shared stories (and Argon... thanks Cris)

Me: (Sneaking a hit off of Chris's Argon bottle) Wanna hit?
Claudette: (Keenly situationally aware... hmm that's not Ben's Argon....?) Isn't that Cris's?
Ken: What's the sign for share Argon? You guys are way friendly...
Me: Open Bar Dudeeee.....

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Chris: Why am I out of Argon after the first dive?
 
Dive 2 Shale Island
Vis: 5 ft
Depth: 40 FSW


We retreated back to the Shale beds to escape the rough seas. The wind was still howling
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The Beach Hopper came over to join in the fun...
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Ken and Claudette surfaced near the buoy...
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Then tried to sneak over to the Beach hopper to raid their pastries... unfortunately they were detected and had to abandon the mission
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Then they tried to run away with the scooters back to LA... but then then remembered that we had Lo Jack on the scooters....
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The problem with being on the fastest boat in Monterey is... You don't have enough time to hang around and take pictures!!
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good times with good friends...
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Thanks to Captain Jim and the crew of the Escapade for a great day out on the water... The other divers who put up with our hi jinks and our special guests Ken and Claudette... You guys are always welcome here... hope you had a good time... (and if you don't invite us over to Catalina we'll roll you around in the surf at Monastery and you'll look like a Dork :D)
 
Great report, Ben! Made me smile. Made me jealous. Made me start plotting for a return trip. :eyebrow:
 
Here is what it looks like underwater from the 2nd dive on the Beach Hopper 2. This took place at same spot as the Escapade's 2nd dive and in Ben's picture where you'll me at the anchor after everybody kicked me off the boat because I couldn't stop laughing over something.

Here is a picture of what is really looks like underwater.

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And here is a picture using the flash.

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Taken from the Sealife Mini reefmaster camera. Thats with flash from the camera.

Anyways, thanks for the report again Ben, we'll take a picture together the next time we meet.

Roy
 
Rick Inman:
Great report, Ben! Made me smile. Made me jealous. Made me start plotting for a return trip. :eyebrow:

Now if all of you guys from the North and South would come over at the same time maybe then we'll have a party :)

We might run out of scooters though....
 
Yeah I'll do that Chuck, I'm going to trash that pinnacle hood, Its a vested hood and its too small anyway since I'm gaining muscle and growing more hair. The thing is...what should I get?
 
Hooded vests are good for wetsuit divers -- they minimize water exchange at the neck,
where the blood flow is right at the surface. But like a wetsuits, they need to fit
right, not too tight, not loose. I don't have a particular brand to recommend.

I'm pretty sure Otter Bay will do wetsuit hoods, dunno about hooded vests, but it's
worth asking.
 
Hey Ben, great report and topside pics.
 

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