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Click To Enlarge
From Uptown Jim Brown . . .
It's been a long time since I've had mouse to screen for the dive report. Here's a short version to catch up...
9/24/04
Donna's 10y.o. daughter Stephanie is experiencing public school for the first time in Suburban School District in York. The first three weeks of her class were devoted to studying the oceans. Since I am involved with this elementary school as a Junior Achievement Business Volunteer, and since Donna and I enjoy the UW world together, we offered to conduct a scuba diving introduction and an ocean experience PowerPoint presentation. We hauled all the gear into the classroom and introduced scuba. Now you know this was a high-level affair when I broke out the Bean Cap. I had to reveal the true meaning of scuba to these eager young fifth graders and I chose to raise the bar with the best scuba fashion I know - The Henderson Beaner, the Bean Cap, Darth's diving lid, whatever you choose to call it; it doesn't get any better than this! Darth, I love ya man! The PPT show included pics from trips to Saba, Seneca Lake, St. Lawrence Seaway, Florida, North Carolina and of course our beloved BSC. The kids loved it and Stephanie and her teacher appreciated our participation.
9/25-26/04
John Gross already delivered a report on a most excellent Rescue Diver class at BSC with Keri & Doug Buckwalter, Patrick Lever, Cindi Sites, Gregg Minnick and Dave Barnhart. We had great weather throughout the weekend and shared Sunday with the Smokey's Ladies Diving Day gang. Donna graced us with her breakfast muffins and chocolate cake for dessert. Everyone pitched in goodies to make this a great cookout weekend. John spent some time over the grill so we had energy for the planned diving activities. It's always a party on a Smokey's dive site. Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming adventures.
9-29-04
Another Wednesday night dive at BSC. Chris Sander and Dave Barnhart joined me for a tour of the dozer and deep boat. They got to see the pumphouse for the first time. They also got inside the tunnel for the first time too. The two Bowl boats were a first followed by the Pennsy and steam shovel. They loved the dive and enjoyed running their new steel tanks as well. I was happy to be dry while they braved 49 minutes to 97' in 49F water. It's all good!
10-2-04
Chris returned for more deep punishment on Saturday. He got to the step van and tanker for the first time and helped me deploy a Pelican marker on the tanker. I was just curious to see the position of the tanker on the surface. It's a lot farther out than it seems UW. We crossed the bottom to the Blossom Tree, boulder, blast shack, crossed the pond back to the deep boat and hit the slope past the dozer for our ascent. We cruised the Pennsy and boats to our hang and exit. Chris' wet suit endured 58 minutes to 97' at 42F. He's a champ.
Dive #2 took us to the deep boat marker for a free descent. Chris was tight on time so we dropped straight down, turned north to the top of the stairs (a first), then to the RR tracks and back SSW across the flats at 95'. The familiar exit past the dozer, Pennsy and boats took us to the hang and exit. 44 minutes to 106', also at 42F, gave Chris a real thermal workout. He's a great dive buddy and fun to be with on the site. Just don't tell him I said that.
The evening brought more people to the site for SPLASH Water Sports (Pittsburgh) haunted quarry. John Gross, Pat Gross and Pete geared up with Donna and me at Upper A. I learned later that Doug & Keri Buckwalter were also there, but set up at lower A. I'm sorry that we missed them. It's a worthy cause and a lot of fun to participate in this event. Keep an eye on www.divebsc.com for more scuba events at the site.
10/6,13/04
Joe Dormer and I were alone at BSC on 10/6 and joined by only Mike Nast on 10/13 for the last Wednesday night dives of the season. Joe finally got a look at the step van and tanker. He got a tour of the south wall and blast shack as well. He's another trooper in a wet suit, 48 min, 96', 42F. On the 13th, Mike was back to practice more GUE fundamentals skills on the platforms. We helped Mike by taking snapshots and shooting video for him to see what a clown he is in a wet suit. Uh, was that what we were doing for him? Hmmmm, too long ago, not sure... Joe and I departed and cruised the pumphouse, deep boat, stairs, RR tracks, pipe, dozer, Pennsy, boats and exit. The drop into the pumphouse was pretty cool as a night dive. More bottom time to 96', 48 min, 42F.
10/17/04
Steve Halliwell and I made a planned rendezvous at Access B to retrieve some fiberglass roofing for Steve. Apparently the wind blew it off his dock into the water. So, we logged the beginning plunges to 38' as search and recovery dives. A 20 minute surface swim to A followed so we could descend on the Pelican at the tanker. I rewound the Pelican as we descended and Steve assisted at the tanker as I untied and stuffed it in my goodie bag. Our plan was to head for the Barn, east wall, then back to B but my reg flowed at 96'. Steve was getting pretty chilled too so we ascended to 40' where the flow stopped and the warmth returned. We naved back toward B but I missed an outcropping to the right and we headed straight into a dead end, just west of Access B. We had a good laugh over it and did not record this dive as an UW navigation dive! All in all good fun UW and always fun diving with Steve Halliwell. 42 min, 96'/38', 46F/61F.
10/30/04
Tom Pritchard was kind enough to write the dive report for the oyster harvest. I could not open his non-PC report so I don't even want to know (that's probably an indication of how bad it is). Ralph, Joe Dormer, Gerhard, Tom and I went forth and gathered. At the last minute, Mike Nast claimed work was more important than the oyster thing; not sure about that one but we missed him just the same. It was a great day and the booty was terrific. Captain Charlie, Captain Marcus and Captain Gerry are great guys and fun to be with. The oyster harvests have been great this year. I may try to grab the last date in December as soon as Capt. Gerry announces it. Any takers? Dry suits for sure! Besides, more oysters are better, especially after eating DJ's rockafeller recipe!
11/13/04
Palm and I ventured to Fairfax, VA for our PSI (Professional Scuba Inspectors) certification for VCI (visual cylinder inspection). Dale Fox was our instructor. Class was held in his garage from 8am-5:30pm. We are now mostest smartest about cylinder inspection and you'll see some of our training adapted at Smokey's in the near future.
I've been out of the water for too long due to work travel and a nasty respiratory infection (or was it the oysters?). Vern and I are planning to get in again soon and we're looking at Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday or Sunday perhaps. We need to check our schedules and be sure Steve will be at BSC but stay tuned for diving plans. Further, remember the Christmas tree decorating at BSC on Sunday, December 12th, 9am. Bring an ornament and your checkbook to donate to the OCNA on behalf of Smokey's Divers Den. Until next time, descending again...
Keep on diving and LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!
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