This past weekend was the absolutely best diving for an awful long time. Nineteen hearty souls set off at 6 am in search of adventure on Saturday and Sunday mornings. There were lots of sleepy eyes but all were glad for the early start when we arrived at the sites ahead of everyone else. Especially great was Sunday when we arrived at the Oriskany to find no other boats in sight. As we went out of the Bay Saturday we were escorted by dolphins running with our wake.
First dive Saturday was the San Pablo also known as the Russian Freighter. The San Pablo was torpedoed off the coast of South America during World War II and sank in a storm when it was being towed to Pensacola for repairs. There is not a lot of recognizable structure left but the rubble pile is magnificent. We watched in wonder at the variety of marine life that hides in the rusting ribs. The two boilers are the only part of the ship left standing. I was skeptical of this site at first but found it to be an outstanding dive. It was my first dive here in 16 years.
Next we visited the Pete Tide II. This is an oil-field re-supply boat almost identical to the Black Bart. The Pete Tide II was dragging for a drilling platform anchor and ruptured a 36 inch gas line back in the seventies. The resultant fire gutted the boat and killed most of her crew. She makes a fine dive site with a multitude of marine animals calling her home. The blennies on top of the wheelhouse put on quite a show for us. Blennies, along with Hermit Crabs are natures Vaudeville show. Put there for the sole purpose of making divers smile.
Then we moved to Three Coal Barges. The barges are pretty much scattered now after a few hurricanes but still a great dive site. Lulu saw a Southern Stingray at least five feet across. There was a three-foot barracuda who thought he was hiding in a cage like structure. We went underneath the barge and the struts glowed in the blue sunlight filtering through from numerous holes in the deck. It was another absolutely fine dive. We saw two large leatherback turtles sunning on the surface.
The best part was the outstanding customer service by Scuba Shack. The Wet Dream is a roomy boat and is set up especially with divers in mind. There is a hot water shower on board with shampoo and crème rinse furnished. The crew cut pineapple and watermelon on the surface interval and we enjoyed hand cranked ice cream both days. Mint with chocolate chips on Saturday and Strawberry on Sunday. Did I mention the hot water shower?
When we arrived at the pier there was complementary pizza from Georgios waiting for us. The owners allowed us to store our equipment in their gear room so we didnt have to schlep it back to the car.
Saturday night we all met at the Crazy Horse Cafe for dinner. We claimed the last two bowls of Banana Pudding and with the size of servings here, not a soul went away hungry. It was a fitting meal for the end of an exciting day.
Sunday we headed off again bound for the Oriskany. Our gear was already at the dock so we loaded up quickly and headed out. The seas were even calmer than Saturday. The trip out takes about two to two and a half hours and is a relaxing trip. When we arrived there was not another boat in sight.
We explored the front part of the island and went inside both the operational bridge and the Flag Bridge. We looked in various rooms and slowly worked our way aft to the Air Boss room. Then back to the top of the wreck where we watched blennies, orange filefish, and crabs playing. Someone made the comment that there couldnt be blennies because there are no barnacles yet. Inside the end of each pipe and each drain hole there are indeed blennies. We unfurled the flag on the mast and found another larger flag on the deck. The visibility was greater than 100 feet.
During the surface interval we jumped off the front of the boat and drifted to the back only to climb the ladder and do it all over again. Then we did high dives and jumps from the top deck of the boat. We did teams of ones, twos, and threes holding hands and making the big jump. We would have done more but thats all the room we had to line them up.
The deco (I mean safety) stops are the best part. The zoo plankton could provide entertainment for hours. Squigglies of every shape and size were just drifting in the current. The usual complement of Barracuda and remora were there too. We began the second dive with a happy sadness knowing that after it was done we headed home. On the ride back there was ample time to solve all the worlds problems, especially while Dave was driving the boat.
Scuba Shack treated us like royalty the entire weekend. Something that is missing in our daily lives now is customer service. I wish all dive operations could learn from the outstanding service rendered by Gene, Eileen, Kathy, Shay, and the whole crew this weekend.
Our hats go off and a hearty salute goes to you Scuba Shack.
First dive Saturday was the San Pablo also known as the Russian Freighter. The San Pablo was torpedoed off the coast of South America during World War II and sank in a storm when it was being towed to Pensacola for repairs. There is not a lot of recognizable structure left but the rubble pile is magnificent. We watched in wonder at the variety of marine life that hides in the rusting ribs. The two boilers are the only part of the ship left standing. I was skeptical of this site at first but found it to be an outstanding dive. It was my first dive here in 16 years.
Next we visited the Pete Tide II. This is an oil-field re-supply boat almost identical to the Black Bart. The Pete Tide II was dragging for a drilling platform anchor and ruptured a 36 inch gas line back in the seventies. The resultant fire gutted the boat and killed most of her crew. She makes a fine dive site with a multitude of marine animals calling her home. The blennies on top of the wheelhouse put on quite a show for us. Blennies, along with Hermit Crabs are natures Vaudeville show. Put there for the sole purpose of making divers smile.
Then we moved to Three Coal Barges. The barges are pretty much scattered now after a few hurricanes but still a great dive site. Lulu saw a Southern Stingray at least five feet across. There was a three-foot barracuda who thought he was hiding in a cage like structure. We went underneath the barge and the struts glowed in the blue sunlight filtering through from numerous holes in the deck. It was another absolutely fine dive. We saw two large leatherback turtles sunning on the surface.
The best part was the outstanding customer service by Scuba Shack. The Wet Dream is a roomy boat and is set up especially with divers in mind. There is a hot water shower on board with shampoo and crème rinse furnished. The crew cut pineapple and watermelon on the surface interval and we enjoyed hand cranked ice cream both days. Mint with chocolate chips on Saturday and Strawberry on Sunday. Did I mention the hot water shower?
When we arrived at the pier there was complementary pizza from Georgios waiting for us. The owners allowed us to store our equipment in their gear room so we didnt have to schlep it back to the car.
Saturday night we all met at the Crazy Horse Cafe for dinner. We claimed the last two bowls of Banana Pudding and with the size of servings here, not a soul went away hungry. It was a fitting meal for the end of an exciting day.
Sunday we headed off again bound for the Oriskany. Our gear was already at the dock so we loaded up quickly and headed out. The seas were even calmer than Saturday. The trip out takes about two to two and a half hours and is a relaxing trip. When we arrived there was not another boat in sight.
We explored the front part of the island and went inside both the operational bridge and the Flag Bridge. We looked in various rooms and slowly worked our way aft to the Air Boss room. Then back to the top of the wreck where we watched blennies, orange filefish, and crabs playing. Someone made the comment that there couldnt be blennies because there are no barnacles yet. Inside the end of each pipe and each drain hole there are indeed blennies. We unfurled the flag on the mast and found another larger flag on the deck. The visibility was greater than 100 feet.
During the surface interval we jumped off the front of the boat and drifted to the back only to climb the ladder and do it all over again. Then we did high dives and jumps from the top deck of the boat. We did teams of ones, twos, and threes holding hands and making the big jump. We would have done more but thats all the room we had to line them up.
The deco (I mean safety) stops are the best part. The zoo plankton could provide entertainment for hours. Squigglies of every shape and size were just drifting in the current. The usual complement of Barracuda and remora were there too. We began the second dive with a happy sadness knowing that after it was done we headed home. On the ride back there was ample time to solve all the worlds problems, especially while Dave was driving the boat.
Scuba Shack treated us like royalty the entire weekend. Something that is missing in our daily lives now is customer service. I wish all dive operations could learn from the outstanding service rendered by Gene, Eileen, Kathy, Shay, and the whole crew this weekend.
Our hats go off and a hearty salute goes to you Scuba Shack.
