VaScubaGirl
Guest
So I guess the consolation prize for not being able to dive all weekend is I am the first to comment on the trip.
First, kudos to Wreck Wench for doing a fantastic job organizing this trip and to Dandy Don (aka G-daddy) for all his hard work in making sure the boat was full!
The trip was great. Diver Down is a nice sized boat...two dive masters and Captain Bobby are not only efficient and great at their jobs, they keep us safe without hasseling us (and were an absolute riot after the boat docked for the evening!) Nice little sun deck (my favorite hang out) and plenty of room below to store stuff you want to keep dry.
You couldn't ask for nicer weather...gorgeous blue skies, gentle breezes, hardly any chop...lots of sunshine! It was a bit chilly in the morning, but warmed up later on. The water was warmer than the air...about 76 top to bottom and the visibility was out of this world...80-100 feet. We dove the Shurz, both dives and my buddy (who has dove it many times) said he was getting disoriented because he wasn't used to seeing the whole wreck! Marine life was cool...including a couple of huge loggerhead turtles, conger eels, moray eels, and BIG groupers...more about them in a bit.
All the divers on the boat were great...a lot of fun to dive with and hang out with between and after dives. WW made sure we did not go hungry on this trip! There were donuts, coffee, granola bars, and fruit in the morning. Then chips and lots of sandwich fixins (make your own however you want) water and sodas between dives and beer for the way back in.
Captain Bobby (happy birthday!) went down to spear us some grouper for dinner and ended up losing his gun. We could see it drifting, but even with the scooter, by the time one of the guys got into the water to retrieve it the currents had pushed it a long ways out so we called him back. So we did our second dive and then went looking for the gun. As BradfordNC said, it was worse than finding a needle in a haystack, we were trying to find a stick in the ocean! I have to stay, I was amazed when we found it thanks to some very sharp eyes and good calculations with the current.
Back at the dock, after we cleaned up we had a big cookout. WW again thanks!!! There were fat steaks, the grouper Captain Bobby cooked, salmon, crab dip with croutons, sushi, potato salad, coleslaw, a birthday cake, wine beer and sodas. Geez I think I gained 5 pounds this weekend!
Had a fantastic time...though I was literally green with envy when the boat pulled out yesterday morning without me (I had to go to work)...but NEXT time...I'm going for the whole trip! Can't wait to dive with you guys again. For those of you who took pictures, maybe you could upload and post them? Or at least email them to me!
:tails:
First, kudos to Wreck Wench for doing a fantastic job organizing this trip and to Dandy Don (aka G-daddy) for all his hard work in making sure the boat was full!
The trip was great. Diver Down is a nice sized boat...two dive masters and Captain Bobby are not only efficient and great at their jobs, they keep us safe without hasseling us (and were an absolute riot after the boat docked for the evening!) Nice little sun deck (my favorite hang out) and plenty of room below to store stuff you want to keep dry.
You couldn't ask for nicer weather...gorgeous blue skies, gentle breezes, hardly any chop...lots of sunshine! It was a bit chilly in the morning, but warmed up later on. The water was warmer than the air...about 76 top to bottom and the visibility was out of this world...80-100 feet. We dove the Shurz, both dives and my buddy (who has dove it many times) said he was getting disoriented because he wasn't used to seeing the whole wreck! Marine life was cool...including a couple of huge loggerhead turtles, conger eels, moray eels, and BIG groupers...more about them in a bit.
All the divers on the boat were great...a lot of fun to dive with and hang out with between and after dives. WW made sure we did not go hungry on this trip! There were donuts, coffee, granola bars, and fruit in the morning. Then chips and lots of sandwich fixins (make your own however you want) water and sodas between dives and beer for the way back in.
Captain Bobby (happy birthday!) went down to spear us some grouper for dinner and ended up losing his gun. We could see it drifting, but even with the scooter, by the time one of the guys got into the water to retrieve it the currents had pushed it a long ways out so we called him back. So we did our second dive and then went looking for the gun. As BradfordNC said, it was worse than finding a needle in a haystack, we were trying to find a stick in the ocean! I have to stay, I was amazed when we found it thanks to some very sharp eyes and good calculations with the current.
Back at the dock, after we cleaned up we had a big cookout. WW again thanks!!! There were fat steaks, the grouper Captain Bobby cooked, salmon, crab dip with croutons, sushi, potato salad, coleslaw, a birthday cake, wine beer and sodas. Geez I think I gained 5 pounds this weekend!
Had a fantastic time...though I was literally green with envy when the boat pulled out yesterday morning without me (I had to go to work)...but NEXT time...I'm going for the whole trip! Can't wait to dive with you guys again. For those of you who took pictures, maybe you could upload and post them? Or at least email them to me!
:tails:
