TRIP REPORT PEPPER PARK FROM THE YAK
Lately the weather has been turning nasty around 1500 hours with high winds, rain and lighting. I jumped up at the crack of 1100 today so I could get to Pepper Park and get a dive in before the lighting started.
I pulled into the North Parking area and four divers were having their sandwichs and drinks. They dove off a canoe actually a Ghanoe so I knew I'd be okay in the OK.
The loaded yak is pretty heavy with a serious rear balance point. The Wheeleez go almost under the gear well and still it is a little nose heavy. The tires really flattened out with that much weight on it. I am going to get a low pressure gauge and play with the tire pressure later this week to see where I want it. I assume it is 4# now and 8# should make the difference.
The large cart fits into the front hatch jim dandy so you have the cart whenever you decided to go ashore. I rode the wave in today just fine. It was MUCH easier in 1' waves and with the extra 60# pounds in the rear well.
The Vis was about 15' and the temp 77 to 76 degrees. I saw nice Hogfish, many Porkfish, Juvinile drum, Spadefish, very small Yellowtail snapper(guessing) , Large French Angel, Blue Striped Grunt, Juvie Yellow Tail Damsel, A spotted drum, and around 1k blennies / gobys, 1k sea cucumbers, and 5k urchins.
The diving operation from the yak went smoothly. I really need to cut off the bungee and install straps soon though I hate that part. I forgot my flag tether as I float my flag from the rear. I used about 20' of rope I had in my truck. I liked it. I am going to run it this way from now on as a tag line. The current was fairly stiff and the yak could be pulled but I decided to just float north and paddle south later.
The three pound anchor seems just right for this yak diving 15' with 25' of line. IT could use long line but this works. In the future I am going to surface store my gear then free dive mask only for the anchor THEN get back on board. I had my sunglasses, hat and water bottle out then learned the anchor was dead fast. I masked up and easily got it W/O fins but it was sisscored in there.
I liked this rig and in the future plan to do lots more diving like this. I picked up a few sea biscuits and DID NOT bring back a small ballast stone I found around the third reef line because that would be wrong. :blinking:
NO LOBSTERS seen?? It was overcast though and I did not have a light. Just as I got back it began raining. As I drove over the bridge lighting started hitting.. I have good timing.
See ya next time at the beach-- come dive at the Historic training area of the First Navy SEALS---
Lately the weather has been turning nasty around 1500 hours with high winds, rain and lighting. I jumped up at the crack of 1100 today so I could get to Pepper Park and get a dive in before the lighting started.
I pulled into the North Parking area and four divers were having their sandwichs and drinks. They dove off a canoe actually a Ghanoe so I knew I'd be okay in the OK.
The loaded yak is pretty heavy with a serious rear balance point. The Wheeleez go almost under the gear well and still it is a little nose heavy. The tires really flattened out with that much weight on it. I am going to get a low pressure gauge and play with the tire pressure later this week to see where I want it. I assume it is 4# now and 8# should make the difference.
The large cart fits into the front hatch jim dandy so you have the cart whenever you decided to go ashore. I rode the wave in today just fine. It was MUCH easier in 1' waves and with the extra 60# pounds in the rear well.
The Vis was about 15' and the temp 77 to 76 degrees. I saw nice Hogfish, many Porkfish, Juvinile drum, Spadefish, very small Yellowtail snapper(guessing) , Large French Angel, Blue Striped Grunt, Juvie Yellow Tail Damsel, A spotted drum, and around 1k blennies / gobys, 1k sea cucumbers, and 5k urchins.
The diving operation from the yak went smoothly. I really need to cut off the bungee and install straps soon though I hate that part. I forgot my flag tether as I float my flag from the rear. I used about 20' of rope I had in my truck. I liked it. I am going to run it this way from now on as a tag line. The current was fairly stiff and the yak could be pulled but I decided to just float north and paddle south later.
The three pound anchor seems just right for this yak diving 15' with 25' of line. IT could use long line but this works. In the future I am going to surface store my gear then free dive mask only for the anchor THEN get back on board. I had my sunglasses, hat and water bottle out then learned the anchor was dead fast. I masked up and easily got it W/O fins but it was sisscored in there.
I liked this rig and in the future plan to do lots more diving like this. I picked up a few sea biscuits and DID NOT bring back a small ballast stone I found around the third reef line because that would be wrong. :blinking:
NO LOBSTERS seen?? It was overcast though and I did not have a light. Just as I got back it began raining. As I drove over the bridge lighting started hitting.. I have good timing.
See ya next time at the beach-- come dive at the Historic training area of the First Navy SEALS---
