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From Mark Myers . . .
Well, Saturday, it was truly the “Amish Caribbean” again but this time at Bainbridge. We knew it was going to be an interesting day with Kent “Dr. Deco” Hirsch showed up even though he had a room reserved and paid for in Freeport. The story he told was something about 18” of snow in Charlotte which meant his flights were canceled.
Nate Brommer, Scott “The Rock,” Bryan Palmer, Huck, Kent Hirsch, Nick Caloyianias and myself all were out enjoying the ice. Jim Zimmerman and son Corbin were out for surface and moral support. There are probably only one or two weeks left of ice diving. It’s thin enough now that you can pretty easily break through it, which if you’ve ever been ice diving is pretty thin. Water temps were a balmy warm 38 degrees, but visibility under the ice was easily 30 - 40 ft.
We headed in three groups and did about 35 minutes before taking to the picnic tables for munchies. After brownies, and trail mix, Nick and I headed back into the “lagoon” area to try and take some pictures of the fish. Nick found a “Amish Lobster” -- see the pictures. We don’t think it was a keeper, but since it was already long gone, we went ahead and brought it up for pictures.
From Tom Pritchard . . .
James-Eye View
James Zimmerman dove with Gerhard Maree and me last night, but he got more out of it somehow. First, he got to watch us navigate, if that's the right word, to the Quest. After bumping into Bubba, we made an adjustment, and missed the whole damn Quest. After stumbling into a quarry line and 55 gallon drum, we backtracked to the Quest and then headed off to the fire truck and along the wall toward the caboose. After missing the caboose again, we turned the dive at about 60 minutes and headed back. Gerhard and I spotted the rabbit hole, but swam merrily by the caboose which James saw. (Next week, James leads us to the caboose!) I wasn't lost, but then again, I wasn't really found either. I knew we were near the fire truck, VWs or weeds, but at 70 minutes, my air was getting down a bit. All of a sudden everyone paused. Gerhard wasn't doing anything; James, who had just swum into the fire truck a moment earlier, was just hanging onto it - which in the limited viz, was out of my sight. I decided it was time for decisive action; I would lead us to safety by compass. Since James had a stranglehold on the fire truck and could see the yellow quarry line above my head, he wasn't particularly struck by my "bold" compass move. Nevertheless, I led and they followed - and 20 feet later, we hit the VWs. Now that we were all saved, we headed back to the lobster shack. 45 degrees and 81 minutes - and yes, I had air left. Of course, another 5 minutes and I would have been sucking the air out of my drysuit. Or, if I didn't want to show off, I would have used my pony bottle.
James used his full face mask for the first time and reported a downside that I hadn't considered. When you get a runny nose with a full face mask, you can't just wipe your nose on the sleeve of your websuit/drysuit. (Sometimes the bad viz at Willow is a good thing!)
Elsewhere in the quarry, George Heck and Jay Bell found the elusive lost fin near the bomb. I don't feel too stupid losing the fin now that I know that it had a defective tit that allowed the entire strap to pop off. I hate defective tits, even when they're on fins!
From Bryan Palmer . . .
Sunday - Kent and I did a quick Sunday morning dive. We met at 9 geared up and in the water by 930 I would say, WOW that must be a RECORD for 2 smokeys divers! Kent was intent on practicing with his new/old underwater video camera meaning he rewound the tap the night before! I feel like I am diving the Bahamas when he has the lights on that housing on, as I am sure he is kicking himself for not getting there this weekend! All in all it was a good dive, a minute shy of 40 minutes the whole place to our self, and I am getting a video of my dive out of it! Kent looked good even though he said it is a lot of task loading! I give him 2 thumbs up and look for him in next years OSCARS for "Best New Comer of the YEAR". I heard Dennie is off to sunny Florida with Beautiful bud and Dave Moyer to do some cavern/spring diving this week! I will not be around this weekend for diving. I am heading to Boston with Mark and Smokey for the Boston Sea Rovers and for some Family events, So look for a report next week on our adventures.Were out diving all the time, so call in to the shop they can always set you up with someone. there are pleny of us to go around.
From Darth Vern . . .
Well my ICE prediction was off, yeah way off, but THIS WEEK looks like the last week for ice! BUT I am going to get my last ICE dive in this Saturday. I am banking on the Huckster and whoever else I can swindle into coming!!! Come on out and dive!!! The weather will be great and the sound bites even better!!!!
Keep on diving and LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!
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