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Click To Enlarge
From Tom Pritchard . . .
Braille Dive II
My HID light took a dump the last two dives, so it's in the shop for a new switch. Then Gerhard's light went kerplunko. Despite what people say, Gerhard and I have standards - not necessarily high standards, but standards just the same. If we can't dive with our good lights, we won't dive with lights. We'll show those Sartek people that "we don't need no stinkin' lights!" And Braille Dive II was born. My first and last Braille Dive (self-inflicted siltouts don't count) was with Jess almost two years ago. Despite what you may think about night diving without a dive light, it is incredibly relaxing. GMan and I entered at the Lobster Shack, doused our lights at the platform, and headed for the Quest on the lines. Dark adaptation occurs in two phases: the first is complete in about 8 minutes and the second starts to asymptote (don't you just hate when it does that?) at about 20 minutes and is complete by 40 minutes. Your homework is to check the almost lay summery, [link] more serious students can read the original research by Hecht et al. (1942). (And yet, some people still think the TNIs are nothing but a bunch of handsome studs. Not true; we is smart!). With even partial dark adaptation, we were able to see the torpedo near the platform as we approached it. Up lines were more problematic however, but we could even spot and avoid them eventually. By the time we got to the fire truck, our dark sensitivity had virtually peaked and we could swim close to the ladder without losing our bearings. After dodging a couple of divers at the fire truck who thoughtlessly brought lights, we started back. Then, out of the gloom, a light appeared. Swim to the Light! It was James, his micro-scooter, and his %#&^%!! HID light. James' light burned a small and possibly a permanent hole in my retinae as he passed by. The Dark Ages ended when we reached the platform. We climbed out, slid across the icy dock, and dined like royalty at the Black Dog. 44 minutes; 46 degrees and dark at the bottom. Christmas dinner is next Thursday at Willow. Turkey, stuffing, and all the fixins! Come on Down!
From Jess Zellers . . .
'Twas the night before tomorrow, and all through the house,
This creature was stirring, unable to sleep,
Car keys where placed on the table with care,
A trip to DiveRite in north middle Florida on mind;
This creature lay awake nestled all snug in her bed,
But vision of new dive gear danced in my head;
For that was my purpose, the trip to Lake City,
Finally settled down for a long winter's nap,
When then in the morging there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to end all the matter.
Into the shower I flew like a flash,
The same day I returned, to again leave a few days later,
As a spunky young diver, so lively and trim,
I knew in a moment this day was diving.
More rapid than speed limits I headed to Luraville,
And I thought, and thought, of springs to dive by name;
Dive, Blue Grotto? Dive Manatee? Dive Fanning or Olsen?
Or Charles? Or Troy? err Telford... NOT Ginnie!!!
To the Luraville shop!! I need water conditions!!
Now faster! And faster!... I also need air!!
We Floridains are still burdened by our hurricane days,
Water fell from the sky, places still flooded, unable to dive.
So places are flooded and spring runs too strong,
My handicap, to soon overcome, no cave diving card !!!
And then, in a phone call, a turn of events,
A legal and guided cave tour, with instructor to boot.
My gear? drysuit and reels with wrecks underbelt,
He said no problem, and came with a bound.
We were dressed all in gear, from our head to our feet,
And our suits were well worn with discolor and patches;
A bundle of tanks we had flung our backs,
And this the new layout of my just modified gear.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples grew sly.
Before the dive he had just this question, can I comment on gear?
There's too much redunancy, there's stuff you don't need,
Just absolutle essentials and better routing, Oh there are changes to be made !!
I knew cave would bring changes, I thought they were small,
For the past two years I've been gearing to this event;
But now to be told a drysuit's for warmth, adds only to drag,
And never to touch it, unless you fell squeeze.
This I tried, the senations were new, no lift in my legs,
A habit of three years, BC control only with suit, this will take work.
But now on the dive with more stable trim
Tie offs were made and limestone abound;
We spoke not a word, but went straight to our work,
For lights were enough talk; then came a jerk,
The reel in his hand had turned empty,
The dive was over, gear back in the car;
He sprang to his van, and me to my car,
And away we both flew, off to the Country Store.
But now hear me exclaim, as I draft this dive report,
I have seen the springs, and the springs they are good !!!
From Uptown Jim Brown . . .
Sunday, 12/12/2004
Twas the Third Annual UW Christmas Tree Decorating to benefit the OCNA in memory of Lorraine Mutchler. Nah, that's not even a good beginning to an UW Tree poem. I'll spare you, since Pritch crested the pinnacle with his prose in last week's report. It was a great day with a huge gathering of the Smokey's scuba family. I had a nice second dive with Mark Myers; for you non-believers out there, he does still dive! This is what diving days and adventures are made of. If you missed it, relive the day through the many pics posted last week and in this report. If you were there, well, nuff said. We had a ton of food, folly and tomfoolery. John Gross spent a lot of time behind the video camera and behind the grill! Rumor has it he is almost qualified for his master scuba diver griller certification! Thanks John! The cause is worthy and the participation was exceptional. A number of wet suiters braved the 50F water with us. No excuses next year, we invite one and all to join in the fun. To punctuate this year's event, be sure to share your donation to OCNA on behalf of the Smokey's tree, so that we may rise to the top of the competition, in dollars raised, again this year. Drop a check payable to OCNA at Smokey's or BSC through January 31, 2005.
Saturday, 12/18/2004
Now this was a day of diving! Vern attempted to spearhead a barn run to view and photograph Mike & Kent's plaque placed on the barn last week by JZ and Huckster. Vern was not on Vern time this day, he called 20 minutes before arrival to cancel his attendance due to a family matter. I think he was still in bed. Nevertheless, JZ, Sharon and I populated Upper A on behalf of Smokey's and prepared for our dive. Jim and Paul of D.E.E.P. were there and took great pleasure in updating us on the status of our tree. Well, it was a comedy of errors to start our day: we pushed back the arrival time one hour due to a late night Friday, Vern cancelled, Sharon and I were late, I spilled coffee on my Smokey's sweatshirt, I tried to get out of my car at BSC with the seat belt still secured, JZ had a reg leak when he attached to his right post, Sharon's computer was flooded from her LAST dive, Sharon's light wouldn't stay lit with new batteries in it...need I say more? It didn't take long for all of us to agree that a barn run was NOT in order. We agreed to fix the tree and conduct a more conservative dive.
You'll see in the pics that the tree apparently took on water and ended up star down, hanging off the platform. It seems the principles of proper buoyancy did not apply to our fresh-cut tree this year. Handyman JZ got down to business and tied off the top of the tree to the barrel upline on the platform. There, all better. It was really not a big deal but it played right into the manner in which our dive morning was going. On a brighter note, Sharon was having a blast with JZ's Sea Doo scooter. This thing is a great deal for the money. Can you say late Christmas present? [link]
We traveled down to the dolphin tower, over to the Pennsy (which we could see nose to tail!), down to the dozer and around the ridge to the north, heading out over the flats. The water was crystal clear. A huge swarm, school, gathering, collection, pod of daphnia obscured our vis for a brief moment or two at about 60'. We carried on along the north wall dropping to 97', just above the white cloud layer filling the hole below. A nice easy ascent and safety swim took us up over the road into the lagoon, and nose to nose with two very large bass. We turned west to begin our return all the while Sharon was buzzing about with the Sea Doo. Did I mention this little gig rocks? It was great to watch the performance of this machine in the crystal clear water; I will finally have mine wet this Sunday at BSC.
The boat, weed bed and sunnies, the pipe, the platform and diamond reef were features along our return. This is the clearest I've ever seen the lagoon. We eased up the beach in front of the pavilions to exit with big smiles on our faces. A great run to 97' for 67 minutes, with tree repair, pics and scootering all along the way. Did I mention the vis rocked? Join us Sunday, 12/26, for our second attempt at a barn run. Descending again,
Keep on diving and LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!
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