Bayronto and Captiva Blue Hole Report
Sunday - Oct 12, 2003
My dive buddy Jan S. and I got a bit of a late start
but since we always have reserve built into the plan, it
was no big deal and we were on time, arriving at Fort
Myers Beach at 640am :mean:
A bit of confoozian at the dock regarding which of the
two boats we were on but that was quickly settled when
the captains showed up. Today would be my first trip on
the Gulf Business, sister-ship (of a different mother) to
the Nauti Gal. A quick gear load and we were off... Still
within sight of land, Jan and I were both asleep...
Jump fwd to 930am... someone is asking the captain, are we
there yet????????? Nah, 'nother hour,,,,
Well, I feel good!! (insert James Brown music here)...
Let's go play with backplates and such..... Move on to
1049am ------ splash.......,
Captain Sean anchored in the sand, leaving the Gulf
Business swinging over the stern of the Bayronto. She came
into full view at 30'....
The Bayronto is 400', split and turtled. As we dropped in
on the starboard stern section, I saw my jewfish friends
in the distance. No need to hurry, I said, they won't be
going anywhere.... We swam down to the split, approx 150'
fwd and then transversed the break in the hull and swam fwd
up the port side another hundred feet before turning around
and heading towards the stern on the port side. Approx. 50'
before reaching the prop shaft, there are a few hull plates
missing and it was here that my jewfish friends were waiting,
both above and inside the hull. A few decided to leave the
hull with Jan and I just a body length from their hole of
departure. Swimming coke machines anyone?????
We stayed there for a bit before moving on to the prop and
rounding the stern, where we slowed to check out the rudder
laying next to the wreck. We moved a bit fwd before we again
turned back toward the stern, where we wanted to ascend
from. We hit the stern at 28 minutes and exited the water
at 37 minutes. Viz was about 75' above the wreck and 20-30'
on the wreck, bottom temp 83, surface temp 85. A perceptable
current was running bow to stern (1/4 knot, if that).
During the surface interval, a porpoise swam near the boat and we all jumped in to check him out. He stayed with us for about five minutes and then left. It was really cool though.
One hour fifty eight minutes later.... splash.....
Same start as dive #1 except this time, we got to the split,
entered the wreck and swam through the entire cargo hold
(250' approx.) to the bow with HIDs blazing and exited the
wash-out on the port quarter, and then rounded the bow and
had nice push down the port side of hull, past the split
where Jan had an even closer encounter w/ a jewfish that
failed to yield at the intersection.... Those jetfins work
great when you want to hit the brakes....
We again began the ascent at the prop shaft 28 minutes into
the dive and exited the water at the 40 minute mark.
Two (more) choice dives on the Bayronto!!! 18 miles to
the Captive Blue Hole. Eat, drink, sleep. It all
happened enroute. 93 minutes later,,,, splash.
Was it going to be a day of firsts??? I've been here two
times before and never saw the edge around the hole. They
tell me that's where the action is..... Did I find out??
Would the third time be the charm?? Would I see the hole
today? Would I get in the hole? H-E-L times 2 no, no
Captive Blue Hole for me!!!!!
Despite explicit instructions from Captain Sean to swim
E-NE and we would get some hole, we got no hole!! But,,,,,
it was about the most interesting 28 minute sand dive I've
done. I saw a batfish and Slippery Dicks. Honest, they
are these cool little fish that pull a disappearing act on
you by swimming into the sand. Every so often, we'd come
across a few strands of soft coral and there seemed to be
a different eco system happening in each location. It was
real cool actually. Can you believe it? A decent sand dive?
It was for me. Exited at the water at 39 minutes. 20' viz
and 84 degrees top to bottom, they are all good dives
But no Hole for me... I give up unless I go there again
That's all. Dive it like you stole it.....
(would you drive a stolen car recklessly??)
Dive safe and educated, it's a good idea.
Sunday - Oct 12, 2003
My dive buddy Jan S. and I got a bit of a late start
but since we always have reserve built into the plan, it
was no big deal and we were on time, arriving at Fort
Myers Beach at 640am :mean:
A bit of confoozian at the dock regarding which of the
two boats we were on but that was quickly settled when
the captains showed up. Today would be my first trip on
the Gulf Business, sister-ship (of a different mother) to
the Nauti Gal. A quick gear load and we were off... Still
within sight of land, Jan and I were both asleep...
Jump fwd to 930am... someone is asking the captain, are we
there yet????????? Nah, 'nother hour,,,,
Well, I feel good!! (insert James Brown music here)...
Let's go play with backplates and such..... Move on to
1049am ------ splash.......,
Captain Sean anchored in the sand, leaving the Gulf
Business swinging over the stern of the Bayronto. She came
into full view at 30'....
The Bayronto is 400', split and turtled. As we dropped in
on the starboard stern section, I saw my jewfish friends
in the distance. No need to hurry, I said, they won't be
going anywhere.... We swam down to the split, approx 150'
fwd and then transversed the break in the hull and swam fwd
up the port side another hundred feet before turning around
and heading towards the stern on the port side. Approx. 50'
before reaching the prop shaft, there are a few hull plates
missing and it was here that my jewfish friends were waiting,
both above and inside the hull. A few decided to leave the
hull with Jan and I just a body length from their hole of
departure. Swimming coke machines anyone?????
We stayed there for a bit before moving on to the prop and
rounding the stern, where we slowed to check out the rudder
laying next to the wreck. We moved a bit fwd before we again
turned back toward the stern, where we wanted to ascend
from. We hit the stern at 28 minutes and exited the water
at 37 minutes. Viz was about 75' above the wreck and 20-30'
on the wreck, bottom temp 83, surface temp 85. A perceptable
current was running bow to stern (1/4 knot, if that).
During the surface interval, a porpoise swam near the boat and we all jumped in to check him out. He stayed with us for about five minutes and then left. It was really cool though.
One hour fifty eight minutes later.... splash.....
Same start as dive #1 except this time, we got to the split,
entered the wreck and swam through the entire cargo hold
(250' approx.) to the bow with HIDs blazing and exited the
wash-out on the port quarter, and then rounded the bow and
had nice push down the port side of hull, past the split
where Jan had an even closer encounter w/ a jewfish that
failed to yield at the intersection.... Those jetfins work
great when you want to hit the brakes....
We again began the ascent at the prop shaft 28 minutes into
the dive and exited the water at the 40 minute mark.
Two (more) choice dives on the Bayronto!!! 18 miles to
the Captive Blue Hole. Eat, drink, sleep. It all
happened enroute. 93 minutes later,,,, splash.
Was it going to be a day of firsts??? I've been here two
times before and never saw the edge around the hole. They
tell me that's where the action is..... Did I find out??
Would the third time be the charm?? Would I see the hole
today? Would I get in the hole? H-E-L times 2 no, no
Captive Blue Hole for me!!!!!
Despite explicit instructions from Captain Sean to swim
E-NE and we would get some hole, we got no hole!! But,,,,,
it was about the most interesting 28 minute sand dive I've
done. I saw a batfish and Slippery Dicks. Honest, they
are these cool little fish that pull a disappearing act on
you by swimming into the sand. Every so often, we'd come
across a few strands of soft coral and there seemed to be
a different eco system happening in each location. It was
real cool actually. Can you believe it? A decent sand dive?
It was for me. Exited at the water at 39 minutes. 20' viz
and 84 degrees top to bottom, they are all good dives
But no Hole for me... I give up unless I go there again
That's all. Dive it like you stole it.....
(would you drive a stolen car recklessly??)
Dive safe and educated, it's a good idea.
