The day started out with our PT testing.
Passed but Im starting to think this is a young mans job. But then again I beat out two of the snot noses.
We have the option of running 1.5 miles or ridding a bike 5 miles in the same time frame. I ride cuz I hate running. Three of us rode and I finished way ahead.
Then we started the revamp on our policy manual. I wrote the current one back in the 80s and even the verbiage is different today. We got some done but the rest was given to a committee to which Im on again.
One change is we are getting rid of our hard-nosed depth limitations. We are going to loosen it up to where with proper training and equipment we can go deeper. The department is even going to let us explore the mixed gas issues other than Nitrox, which for now is still a no no.
Lunch
Load up three boats at the boathouse and head across the lake. We go to the wreck of the Harrison. She is a 150 stern wheeler that was sunk early in the last century. She sits with her stern in about 15 and her bow in 50. It has been a shame to watch her deteriorate over the past 30 years I have been diving her.
Everyone paired up and hit the water. One of our newbes was sick and stayed home. I took the other one under my wing. This was his first team dive as well as his first dry suit dive.
First with just his suit and weight belt be get his buoyancy adjusted. Then in 20 of water I have him do some basic skills to which he did very well. We were on a smaller wreck of the same era so there was plenty for him to look at while I observed.
After 5 minutes he was ready to move 75 south and see the Harrison. We get there and I dont think he realized how big she really was.
Now I want him to play with his buoyancy on the wreck. So we go up and down over and around her hull. Prior to the dive I laid the law down and told everyone to stay out of the little bit of her hull that can be penetrated. She is getting just way too fragile to go into.
14 minutes into the dive I look at Snot Nose and he is looking at me upside down. I know, and you can guess whats next. Call NASA the shuttle has left the pad.
We had been down only 50 but at 25 the little bubbles got bigger and so did Snot Noses feet. He knew I was getting a good laugh and he was now putting what he had been told not to do into practice. Big lesson learned.
We then went back to shallower water and practiced what he just FUBARed. In the process we were able to take 7 pounds off of him.
Total air used was 600# and 1600# and you can guess who used what. No problem, hes the new kid on the block, he will learn and get better with time and practice.
Now in getting out of my suit I had something happen that has never happened to me. Zipper wont open. With the aid of two of the guys and a Leatherman they get me opened up. One tooth on my sealing zipper broke off. That is the first zipper failure for me in that suit in almost 10 years. I cant complain about service like that at all.
Then we go do a couple of small little shallow jobs them back to marine for whatever. Took care of some gear issues and got into another spare suit for me.
The Sgt. tells me to go ahead and order 3 new DUIs. Ill do that in the morning prior to picking up all the gear that just came in at the LDS. He tells me to enjoy the new suit. I say I want to just rebuild mine and Ill issue out the new ones. I like the old friend.
Thats about it. Another day of fun, oops, slaving away at the old grindstone and collecting a check to do it.
Somebody has to do it.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The brass is upset that we are not taking advantage of diving on shift. We can, with adequate manpower on slow shifts, break off in pairs and go dive the last couple of hours of the shift. They want us to do it more often. We are required to make 24 dives a year on our own and these would count towards that.
Oh, the tough duty.
Gary D.
Passed but Im starting to think this is a young mans job. But then again I beat out two of the snot noses.
We have the option of running 1.5 miles or ridding a bike 5 miles in the same time frame. I ride cuz I hate running. Three of us rode and I finished way ahead.
Then we started the revamp on our policy manual. I wrote the current one back in the 80s and even the verbiage is different today. We got some done but the rest was given to a committee to which Im on again.
One change is we are getting rid of our hard-nosed depth limitations. We are going to loosen it up to where with proper training and equipment we can go deeper. The department is even going to let us explore the mixed gas issues other than Nitrox, which for now is still a no no.
Lunch
Load up three boats at the boathouse and head across the lake. We go to the wreck of the Harrison. She is a 150 stern wheeler that was sunk early in the last century. She sits with her stern in about 15 and her bow in 50. It has been a shame to watch her deteriorate over the past 30 years I have been diving her.
Everyone paired up and hit the water. One of our newbes was sick and stayed home. I took the other one under my wing. This was his first team dive as well as his first dry suit dive.
First with just his suit and weight belt be get his buoyancy adjusted. Then in 20 of water I have him do some basic skills to which he did very well. We were on a smaller wreck of the same era so there was plenty for him to look at while I observed.
After 5 minutes he was ready to move 75 south and see the Harrison. We get there and I dont think he realized how big she really was.
Now I want him to play with his buoyancy on the wreck. So we go up and down over and around her hull. Prior to the dive I laid the law down and told everyone to stay out of the little bit of her hull that can be penetrated. She is getting just way too fragile to go into.
14 minutes into the dive I look at Snot Nose and he is looking at me upside down. I know, and you can guess whats next. Call NASA the shuttle has left the pad.
We had been down only 50 but at 25 the little bubbles got bigger and so did Snot Noses feet. He knew I was getting a good laugh and he was now putting what he had been told not to do into practice. Big lesson learned.
We then went back to shallower water and practiced what he just FUBARed. In the process we were able to take 7 pounds off of him.
Total air used was 600# and 1600# and you can guess who used what. No problem, hes the new kid on the block, he will learn and get better with time and practice.
Now in getting out of my suit I had something happen that has never happened to me. Zipper wont open. With the aid of two of the guys and a Leatherman they get me opened up. One tooth on my sealing zipper broke off. That is the first zipper failure for me in that suit in almost 10 years. I cant complain about service like that at all.
Then we go do a couple of small little shallow jobs them back to marine for whatever. Took care of some gear issues and got into another spare suit for me.
The Sgt. tells me to go ahead and order 3 new DUIs. Ill do that in the morning prior to picking up all the gear that just came in at the LDS. He tells me to enjoy the new suit. I say I want to just rebuild mine and Ill issue out the new ones. I like the old friend.
Thats about it. Another day of fun, oops, slaving away at the old grindstone and collecting a check to do it.
Somebody has to do it.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The brass is upset that we are not taking advantage of diving on shift. We can, with adequate manpower on slow shifts, break off in pairs and go dive the last couple of hours of the shift. They want us to do it more often. We are required to make 24 dives a year on our own and these would count towards that.
Oh, the tough duty.
Gary D.
We get it if we dive or don't.
