The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
Well today was a fun day. A group of twelve divers, 8 Master Diver candidates, 2 DMs, and 2 Instructors met at Hal Watts Forty Fathom Grotto to give the MD candidates a chance to feel what being narced is all about.
The first dive was a training dive for the 4 professionals. We were given a debriefing of the facilities by Dan, and a training dive by Hal Watts so that we became Grotto Guides. I even got a T-Shirt out of the deal. Diving with Hal was definitely cool. His descents are quick, but his ascents are very gentle. He was quick to make us feel at home on the surface and below. We were obviously on his turf, and he took great pains to show us all that we needed to see, and then some.
Depth: 128 ft on air (AL80), Average depth: 48 ft, Bottom Time: 31 min.
The second dive was back to the submerged boat with a planned 7 min bottom time. My job was to watch my two charges do their math problems and take a compass reading AND KEEP THEM SAFE. The younger diver failed to respond to my OK signals at depth, and only shook his head yes. Both did their math skills correctly, but neither remembered to get the compass bearing. There was some disagreement over when to ascend, and I signaled them higher after 7:20. We did 5 minute stops at 40 ft, 30 ft, and 15 ft.
SI: 1:01, Depth: 129 ft on EanX 27%, Average depth: 60 Ft, Bottom Time: 30 minutes
Third dive was back to the submerged boat and then a tour of the plane, 57 chevy, missile, tires, 12 foot dish antenna, suspended motorcycle, and the INCREDIBLE amount of fossil urchins, sand dollars and sea biscuits that line the walls of the grotto. We ran through mask clearing, and sharing air at our safety stop.
SI: 1:11, Depth 124 ft on EanX 28%, Average depth: 47 ft, Bottom time: 32 minutes
Although Hal referred to himself as the Forty Fathom Fossil I was completely taken back by the MILLIONS of fossilized sand dollars, sea biscuits and urchins that were displayed in the grotto walls. While some of the wrecks were cool, nothing can compare to the fossil record that is so evident here. The surface was covered with duckweed, which was cool and bothersome at the same time. Vis was 60 ft or so, but it was dark at depth due to the duckweed cover. It was the first dive for my FredT backplate, and it was super. What a great product!
The first dive was a training dive for the 4 professionals. We were given a debriefing of the facilities by Dan, and a training dive by Hal Watts so that we became Grotto Guides. I even got a T-Shirt out of the deal. Diving with Hal was definitely cool. His descents are quick, but his ascents are very gentle. He was quick to make us feel at home on the surface and below. We were obviously on his turf, and he took great pains to show us all that we needed to see, and then some.
Depth: 128 ft on air (AL80), Average depth: 48 ft, Bottom Time: 31 min.
The second dive was back to the submerged boat with a planned 7 min bottom time. My job was to watch my two charges do their math problems and take a compass reading AND KEEP THEM SAFE. The younger diver failed to respond to my OK signals at depth, and only shook his head yes. Both did their math skills correctly, but neither remembered to get the compass bearing. There was some disagreement over when to ascend, and I signaled them higher after 7:20. We did 5 minute stops at 40 ft, 30 ft, and 15 ft.
SI: 1:01, Depth: 129 ft on EanX 27%, Average depth: 60 Ft, Bottom Time: 30 minutes
Third dive was back to the submerged boat and then a tour of the plane, 57 chevy, missile, tires, 12 foot dish antenna, suspended motorcycle, and the INCREDIBLE amount of fossil urchins, sand dollars and sea biscuits that line the walls of the grotto. We ran through mask clearing, and sharing air at our safety stop.
SI: 1:11, Depth 124 ft on EanX 28%, Average depth: 47 ft, Bottom time: 32 minutes
Although Hal referred to himself as the Forty Fathom Fossil I was completely taken back by the MILLIONS of fossilized sand dollars, sea biscuits and urchins that were displayed in the grotto walls. While some of the wrecks were cool, nothing can compare to the fossil record that is so evident here. The surface was covered with duckweed, which was cool and bothersome at the same time. Vis was 60 ft or so, but it was dark at depth due to the duckweed cover. It was the first dive for my FredT backplate, and it was super. What a great product!
