Wil
Contributor
Another beautiful day on the water off Virginia Beach. Though the NOAA forecast didn't exactly come true... The ride outbound was a bit bumpy, making about 22-28 knots; we occasionally hit one of those dominant waves and sent gear shifting. We departed Vinings Landing (Little Creek inlet) at 0715 and had our first divers in the water at 1010. Diving today was Joe (Dive Quarters), Bobby (RAD Diver), Kevin (Kevin_K), Randy (Randy g), Wendy (Diving Wife), and I.
The surface water temps were 76 deg and the thermocline (deeper than three weeks earlier) at 65ft. Water temps below the thermocline to the bottom were a welcome 66deg. Visibility average about 10ft, not the best but diveable with a wreck reel.
We'd tied in near the stern, between the boilers and propeller shaft. Wendy and I headed aft on our first dive and explored the stern. We found a few lobsters but after wrestling them from their holes found them to be a bit on the small size. Following the dive our computers showed a max depth of 94ft and total dive time of 45 minutes (with a 3 minute safety stop). We were the second divers to hit the water after the others re-boarded. During our ascent Wendy gave me the dreaded "ears aren't clearing" sign at 68ft but with plenty of reserve air (33% NITROX) we took a long while to work through the issue. She made a textbook ascent and we decided to not chance another dive on that day. While doing our safety stop we were greeted by a friendly barracuda.
I'll let the other divers add their dives to the post. There's tales of Flounder wrestling (That would be bagging up Flounders with only using your hands - NO spear and NO knife) and lobsters.
They were a great group of divers and it was a pleasure to welcome Randy aboard the boat.
Safe Diving,
Wil
The surface water temps were 76 deg and the thermocline (deeper than three weeks earlier) at 65ft. Water temps below the thermocline to the bottom were a welcome 66deg. Visibility average about 10ft, not the best but diveable with a wreck reel.
We'd tied in near the stern, between the boilers and propeller shaft. Wendy and I headed aft on our first dive and explored the stern. We found a few lobsters but after wrestling them from their holes found them to be a bit on the small size. Following the dive our computers showed a max depth of 94ft and total dive time of 45 minutes (with a 3 minute safety stop). We were the second divers to hit the water after the others re-boarded. During our ascent Wendy gave me the dreaded "ears aren't clearing" sign at 68ft but with plenty of reserve air (33% NITROX) we took a long while to work through the issue. She made a textbook ascent and we decided to not chance another dive on that day. While doing our safety stop we were greeted by a friendly barracuda.
I'll let the other divers add their dives to the post. There's tales of Flounder wrestling (That would be bagging up Flounders with only using your hands - NO spear and NO knife) and lobsters.
They were a great group of divers and it was a pleasure to welcome Randy aboard the boat.
Safe Diving,
Wil