I had to think hard about this now my head hurts! I've had a ton of great dives but this dive is the one that still comes to mind when I think about dives from the past. I've been in clearer water, deeper water even better more intact wrecks than the Ashkhabad but for reasons that I can't put into words this dive was special. I remember looking at my SPGs trying to figure out how I can extend my bottom time what tactics will work to keep this dive going even another few minutes. I thought I was the only diver on it towards the end as even my buddy had surfaced! I got to the hang line with a little more than 200psi, I used the regs they had hanging at the line to do my SS so I'd have enough air for a couple of tries at the ladder if needed. I broke a few rules but didn't get caught or called on it and came away uninjured, and I'd do it again if offered the same conditions.
Saturday June 4 2011 Wreck of the Ashkhabad / Dive Boat Olympus
Dive two, last of the day. Clouds and sun, seas choppy the water looks beautiful! The bottom is a short 60fsw. Ambient light is good for pictures. It didnt take long for the strobe to stop working again. I removed the optics cable ring enabling the use of the cameras flash, not much but better than nothing.
Visibility is 60+ I can see forever! There are a lot of amberjack and other fish that Im not familiar with. Again bait balls are thick and plentiful. This for some reason turns out being the best dive IMO of the 9. The water was so clear and warm 68F @ 61fsw. I swam this wreck over and over it was hypnotic. Before I knew it 50 minutes had gone by and my bottom time was down to a few minutes and my air was low. I hung on the line @ 15fsw and watched some other divers below that I hadn't run into during the dive.