Greetings Divers

From Mark Myers . . . Surface Interval
Ok, so there really isn’t a report from the Surface Interval. Once again Chris Mayo signed up for the dive, so it was blown out. When I checked the buoy reports Sunday night, the waves had been running about 6 ft all day. Several of us already had hotel and child care plans, so we headed down anyway for an evening of restaurant hopping and day of outlet shopping in Rehoboth Beach. Although it was cold, rainy and miserable most of the day, it was nice to get out of Lancaster County. Cindy and her son headed to Cape Henlopen to muck around in the sand for the afternoon. Karen and I hit the boardwalk, and then some outlets. The highlight of the day would be watching us try to cram the new sofa we got on sale into the back of my “Dive Car” the Subaru station wagon.


From Chris "Newbie" Thompson . . .
What a great day for diving! The morning was brisk but it was not cold. The water was in the 40's and very clear with nearly 60 foot vis. I had a rough start when I was setting up my gear. The metal hook that holds the tank strap clamp bent when I was strapping down my tank. I was able to get the metal "hammered" back into shape and was able to finish setting up.

Once in the water the diving was great. We went to the Helicopter, and the bus. I started getting cold at that point so Vern and I went to the old fire truck for a safety stop and then ascended.

The second dive was just as much fun. I was the first out of the water again due to getting cold in my wetsuit.


From Jess “The Thursday Night Girl” Zellers . . .
WoHwowow, - two days, three dives, and well over 3hours of bottom time- Here's the short version.

Thursday- Starting with the important stuff, food. After a long absence food has reappeared at Myerstown. We were top heavy with junk food and desserts, we may try for more effort in this next week. Tom said he wanted to do a dive that hasn't been working out for him, starting by the that thing and heading that way... I said I'd follow him. Out at the Quest I think he lost his map. So we hit the bottom and I came up with a second half to the dive. From the bow of the Quest we headed in a straight line into the bowl, which had a bottom that usual isn't in the bowl! Then a few more things weren't looking right. Then we ran into something that gave us a firm reference, and conformation that this is the worst nav I have ever done!! Now Tom either honesty didn't see my reaction or is just being really nice by saying he didn't. But when I saw the PIPE!!!! I said and did many things that if I attempted to reproduce them here Mark would edit me. We had a new guy this week!! Tom II. And he even said he was coming back.

Sunday, Bainbridge- Sunday it rained. Which means Greg Kulp and I were diving!! Every time we go diving it rains, except for the one day when it snowed and sleeted.... but it rain that day too. Strapping beautiful 120's again, one for her two for him. First dive we went out to the hole, deep pipe, step van, and barn. The barn's a bit smaller that I had pictured it. Came back in at lesser depth, and cut across the bowl mid-water to our hang. For our topside time, went to get air and visit John Gross and Liz at B... they were being antisocial. We had the entire top of A with no one else there, but Nnooo they wanted a place just to themselves. They were 'just getting ready' to get things together for their second dive when I walked up. After some mandatory harassment I left them to their second and Kulp and I decided where to go for ours. We headed down to the hole again and went the other way! Right on first dive, Left on second. Nutzed around on the wall, came back on the road. In the pond the bottom was kicked up pretty good when we got there. Half fin viz... you can see half your partner's fins if you're in the rear. The viz in the pond was really really bad, a catfish running from Kulp nailed me in the face! Poor fish, never saw me. Until we hit the pond and earlier brief foray in the bowl viz was pretty good, scratch that- Viz in the hole was pretty good. The Nitrogen Demons are pleased with this generous offering... despite Kulp using O2 for the hang. If you think we're joking about the fact that it always rains when Kulp and I dive together... As soon as I pulled out onto 441- the sky clears, the sun is shining, and it warms up!!! As soon as I pulled out!! So long as the diving's good like it's been, we'll gladly take the crappy weather... and extra picnic tables that comes with it. Get out and dive, even if the weather's crappy. It's not raining once you're under! Don't let us get spoiled with have a whole picnic table for each of us.

Well Tom's off to Italy for two weeks, he said everyone was to dive reports twice as long to cover the space left by his absence.


From "Uptown" Jim Brown . . .
A few early sprinkles attempted to dampen our spirits but Darth and I drove to Dutch in our dry suits and the sky cleared. Well, sort of. We met Nate "Lightening" Brommer, Chris "The Handsome One" Mayo and Christopher Thompson at Smokey's for a 6:30am departure to Dutch Springs. The Rock and Instructor Ray Becker drove separately in the little black love wagon and met us there. After we cruised through the DUI demo tent, Instructor Kent Hirsch came trotting through the parking lot looking for a group of hoodlum Smokey's divers (actually he was soliciting a gear wench to haul his doubles around).

I'll keep this report a short as I actually have to work today! Darth and I retraced our path from last Saturday on the surface to the helo. Everybody poked their face under the surface on the way out and just couldn't believe the vis! Did I mention the vis was fantastic? We dropped down to the Sikorsky and obliged with our usual penetrations and fanfare. The whole bird was in view again, nose to tail. A few photo opps documented the appropriate Kodak moments (thanks again to Joe & Kris Jordan for keeping their Ikelite Auto 35 in service! - I'm going to owe them big time!)

We cruised NE over the ridge to the big wooden cruiser then turned east over the Bowl to the bus. Hopefully the photos of the big Palomino laying eggs (so it seemed) will turn out. I got up close and personal so these pics should be good. The bus opened her belly and the gang made their way through. Here was taken the gayest photo of the century; a big man, a proud man, an accomplished diver earning his stripes, learning, training, staying in control, living the adventure, BUT THE MASK! Oh my god, has he looked in the mirror with that thing on? We'll see if the photo evidence helps him see more clearly than that gay mask! Only time will tell. We believe it leaked for a reason. God works in strange ways - saying, take it back, take it back, with every little squirt of water around that big schnozz! We love our Rock!

Did I mention the vis was incredible and this would be a short report? The Silver Comet was next, the island and Cessna, then on to the crane. Back across open water to the Comet and around the watchout point to the exit. We enjoyed many zebra mussels, a few bass and a few Palominos. Kudos to Darth for attending to Christopher's abbreviated dive plan in a wet suit in this 43F water. A nice dive to 61' for 59 minutes.

The surface interval sun was welcomed as we opened the cooler for nourishment. There were a variety of snacks and Rock & Ray head for the chow wagon and a little local grub. They report it is a bit more sophisticated with a lengthy gourmet menu compared to the BSC snack shack. Not sure how gourmet and burger go together...must have been the lettuce and mayo. I'm pleased to report my peanut butter bark was a big hit. They still don't think I made it. Just one more reason to get out and dive - learn new recipes! Kent had to shove off and missed the second dive.

Dive #2 dropped us in at the west entrance, down to the training platform and due south to the trolley car. This was our first visit here. The entire car was in view, sitting on the bottom at 71'. It's a cool place to visit as the ridge runs just south of the trolley and opens up a whole expanse of water to the south and west, dropping down to 90'. We made a turn out over the hole but missed the car that rests beyond the trolley. Back to the island, crane and to the east of the island. A quick check around on air and we moved back to the premier attraction, the whirly bird. Off to the NE over the ridge, past the wooden cruiser, over the grass beds to the utility van. We turned north past the diamond reef buoyancy platform and picked up the line to the west to the school bus. Off we went, hand over hand to conserve air and give our weary legs a rest. Due west from the bus we stopped for our hang before exiting. Another fine dive to 75' for 60 minutes.

That's about all from the peanut butter bark gallery for this dive adventure. We still visit Wabank during the week when the schedule permits and you'll find us out on the weekends as well. I'll be back in the (weekend) water on May 31, destination tba. Be sure to visit the Wet Set home page to get a good look at the vis we enjoyed.


From Darth Vern . . .
Friday Morning - found me and Chris "I'll give ya a ride so I can dive too" Mayo meeting Cindy "I still don't know her last name" and Fran "My gear is screwed up" Rebert at Wabank. Mayop was nice enuff to give me a ride, since my suv is still in the shop from my accident 2 weeks ago. My back is finally getting back to normal [strained hauling my big butt around] but ready for diving [more on that lower]. We dropped in off the platform to 80' and navigated over to Ms. Peaches. After a quick spin around her and wishing I had 21% so I could drop into the hole, we headed off along the penninsula over to the wall and up to The Spur of the Moment. We then headed up the line, Mayo took a quick bathroom break at the outhouse and we hit the Tug. Over to the 60' platform and then to the "tube". [a quick note - never let me go thru first, if I am in a good mood] I took the liberty of giving Mayo some blackwater swim-thru practice. I purposely shifted every piece of silt in there. His flashlight didn't even shine thru. Well anyway, back to the hangbar to watch Mayo shoot his Signal Sausage attached to his wreck reel as a modified upline. He looked pretty good hoveing mid-water and working, good bouyancy. Then I was off to hide on the platform to parachute off and scare Cindy and Fran finning underneath.

Sunday, what a great day of diving. I still hold the principle that the surface interval is better than the actual dive sometimes. We had a blast, everyone was fair game. I know Diver Dan was looking down on us, with a huge smile on Sunday!!! It was my first real conversation iwth Instructor Ray "Just buy a margarita and shut up" Becker. He further proves that some instructors are good divers but knuckleheads in my book! I don't think I ever ribbed anyone so hard in my life. We all took turns pokin fun at Rock's new "fairy Yellow" Mares X-Factor Mask [avaiable at the shop in other colors] GREAT MASK - GAY COLOR!!!! I had the pleasure of keeping an eye on the "newbie" who did well. We signaled me his air and signaled when he was too cold and wanted out. I cut my dive short to return Chris to shore and then headed back out to find the group both times. I actully did find the group, both times, a testament to "PLAN THE DIVE - DIVE THE PLAN" and also to Uptown Brown's superior navigation skills. I finally realized why my nav skills are so poor, I never look at my compass when I dive ith Jim, he always knows where we are. So now I am practicing my nav skills on my next few dives.

One last caveat of information was passed onto me by Kent "Dr Deco" Hirsch on Suday. Therm-Care disposable back warmers. I always thought these "gadgets" were a stupid idea till I tried one of these! This thing was awesome, and I even used it on the 2nd dive. They last 8 hours and keep the whole inside of your suit warm and cozy. My neck seal leaked pretty good and my whole front was wet, I didn't pee honest, but my back was still toasty. I have already bought 2 packs for my next few dives. I will have a bunch of these for my Vancouver trip as well. Check them out online at CVS!!!!!

Get Out and Dive and Live The Adventure!!!