As mentioned in the previous Carthaginian thread, my bdb Jeannie went to the wreck on Extended Horizon's Thursday trip (1pm departure). I was standing by at Puamana Beach Park with my most trusted Apollo AV-1, 130cft EANx32 (100 & 30), Suunto Vyper set to 32% and most importantly my trusty compass.
62 photos on Flickr (try the slide show):
As the dive boat swung around into the current (signifigant!) I took a 210 degree heading and submerged. I had planned to conserve air and bottom time by not following the bottom, but the ripping southbound current kept me less than 3 feet off the deck. 10 minutes in I was at 83' with only 25 minutes no-deco showing, so I leveled off just above 80'.
At 15 minutes the bow loomed just to the left of my course; only missing by less than 30' to the north! Due to the current, I planned on missing to the north and was ~70 yards north of the dive boat's position.
From the bow, all I could see on the surface was freedivers and kayaks. I suspected the dive had been called on account of the current. I circled the wreck, kicking myself for not immediately replacing my most recent lost WAL.
The real reason for the excessive cubic feet was to explore the deep reef ~100yds to the stern. It wasn't as impressive as I'd hopped, and the big eel was not home. My computer flashed 114 incessantly for my short foray to 117 and a few flash photos; no-deco time was at 2 min when I headed back to the wreck. My photoshop is improving, as that goatfish school at 110' is as good as ambient gets at that depth!
There were divers, but Jeannie was not with them! I took pictures of them, and was pretty sure I recognized one of them (Charlie Dolfun - yellow fins). After another circunavigation I heard the sub. Looking around, I spotted the lights over at the deep reef! Back I go to snap a couple pics of the sub looking under the overhang I'd just recently left.
Following the sub back to the Carthaginian, there were more divers on the down line and there was the pink accented Jeannie! The current made close interaction with the non-powered divers less than inviting, so I stayed in the saddle and documented the subs close passes.
I've been in the water lots of times with the Oahu subs, but never super-manning. Nice of the pilot not to flip me off as I flittered about, aloha! Handed my camera off to Jeannie for a couple quick snaps of me (good shots Jeannie) and had to hightail it for shore.
The 25 minute return trip was punctuated by a scooter too weak to maintain course. Had to cruise 30-40' deep due to N load, and 17'ish for the indicated 4 min SS. Hit shore a quarter mile south of Puamana, but my addrenaline carried me and my gear down the highway shoulder to my car (Uggh!).
It was a 64 minute dive to a max depth of 117' ending with 400psi in the 100 and 100psi in the 30. Note to self; need a better second stage on the pony, not an alternate! Note to everyone else; This was not an easy dive! Rocky reef entry and rockier rubble exit. I pulled it off but I do not dive with anyone I would feel comfortable taking; copy me at your own risk!
62 photos on Flickr (try the slide show):
As the dive boat swung around into the current (signifigant!) I took a 210 degree heading and submerged. I had planned to conserve air and bottom time by not following the bottom, but the ripping southbound current kept me less than 3 feet off the deck. 10 minutes in I was at 83' with only 25 minutes no-deco showing, so I leveled off just above 80'.
At 15 minutes the bow loomed just to the left of my course; only missing by less than 30' to the north! Due to the current, I planned on missing to the north and was ~70 yards north of the dive boat's position.
From the bow, all I could see on the surface was freedivers and kayaks. I suspected the dive had been called on account of the current. I circled the wreck, kicking myself for not immediately replacing my most recent lost WAL.
The real reason for the excessive cubic feet was to explore the deep reef ~100yds to the stern. It wasn't as impressive as I'd hopped, and the big eel was not home. My computer flashed 114 incessantly for my short foray to 117 and a few flash photos; no-deco time was at 2 min when I headed back to the wreck. My photoshop is improving, as that goatfish school at 110' is as good as ambient gets at that depth!
There were divers, but Jeannie was not with them! I took pictures of them, and was pretty sure I recognized one of them (Charlie Dolfun - yellow fins). After another circunavigation I heard the sub. Looking around, I spotted the lights over at the deep reef! Back I go to snap a couple pics of the sub looking under the overhang I'd just recently left.
Following the sub back to the Carthaginian, there were more divers on the down line and there was the pink accented Jeannie! The current made close interaction with the non-powered divers less than inviting, so I stayed in the saddle and documented the subs close passes.
I've been in the water lots of times with the Oahu subs, but never super-manning. Nice of the pilot not to flip me off as I flittered about, aloha! Handed my camera off to Jeannie for a couple quick snaps of me (good shots Jeannie) and had to hightail it for shore.
The 25 minute return trip was punctuated by a scooter too weak to maintain course. Had to cruise 30-40' deep due to N load, and 17'ish for the indicated 4 min SS. Hit shore a quarter mile south of Puamana, but my addrenaline carried me and my gear down the highway shoulder to my car (Uggh!).
It was a 64 minute dive to a max depth of 117' ending with 400psi in the 100 and 100psi in the 30. Note to self; need a better second stage on the pony, not an alternate! Note to everyone else; This was not an easy dive! Rocky reef entry and rockier rubble exit. I pulled it off but I do not dive with anyone I would feel comfortable taking; copy me at your own risk!
