Bonanza at Ft. Weatherill 4-6-2007

[Tampico_ED]

Hi,

RIO and myself decided to take advantage of the weather break. We met at the second parking lot in the Ft. We heard good vis from divers coming out of the water and got excited.

Once in the water RIO started to scream out loud !! It is cold it is cold....I'm getting water in my Drysuit. Well, he basically had his inflation valve gone. So, I had to proceed myself with a Solo dive.

Without the extra drag from my quick dive buddy. I spent some quality time around the wall 50ft....and found myself with.....see by yourself....

 

[RIOceanographer]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

 

[keelhaul123]

Very nice pix!

 

[ScubaSarus]

Wow !! Nudibrachs at the FT and colored ones 2. We gotta get out there soon. Real nice,\ pics and some of the best Ive ever seen at the FT.

 

[ckjacques53198]

Very nice photos. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to start diving. Still a little too cold.

 

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

Why have I never seen a nudi at Ft Wetherill? Is the bonanza you are referring to a "nudibranch bonanza?"

 

[RIOceanographer]

Why have I never seen a nudi at Ft Wetherill?

You just weren't diving the right time of year. They are mostly around late winter/early spring.

 

[RIOceanographer]

So to elaborate on what Ed was saying happened to me.

The retaining ring that holds the front of the drysuit inflator to the threaded sheath that lets you screw it into the back of the valve on the other side of the suit and still swivel cracked. This caused the front of the valve to pull right out of the swivel sheath but left the rest of the valve still connect to the suit. Essentially this opened a big inch in diameter hole in the front of my drysuit. Talk about a fast flood. And in 39 degree water it wasn't a bit comfy.

Needless to say I didn't make the dive, but I got a new valve over at Ocean State for $50 so I am back in business. Luckily he had one sitting right in the case so I didn't even have to order it.

 

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

Essentially this opened a big inch in diameter hole in the front of my drysuit. Talk about a fast flood. And in 39 degree water it wasn't a bit comfy.

Needless to say I didn't make the dive, but...

I thought you were tougher than that...

 

[Noviz]

Wow, what a day! ... Last time my buddies and i were at the Fort the viz was so bad all we took was a 100' dive.... 50 feet out, 50 feet back. Viz was, literally, zero. Used the afternoon to practice our "don't drown on the surface" skills.