From John Gross ...

We arrived at Bainbridge on Sat afternoon.  The class consisted of 5 students, Lynne Cover, Andrew Mercer, Matthew Millisap, Brian Cinkutis and Holly Nordall.  We and started our advanced class with Peak Performance Buoyancy.  Jeff Raykos and Mike Grogan set up the Diamond Reef System and I took the class out underwater to the platform.  There was another class on the platform and some of my students got confused with the class on the platform.  A short while later we had everyone back in our group and the other class left the platform.  I demonstrated how to use the Diamond Reef system everyone had fun swimming through the reef and practicing their hovering technique.  Then we went on a tour of the beach area for fun.   Of course the other class had kicked it up pretty good to viz went from 20 feet to zero in some areas.  But we did manage to see the boat, pipe and several fish.   

After Jeff & Mike retrieved the Diamond Reef System and had a chance to run the 100 ft line I took the class back out for several navigating skills.  Everyone did really great both with natural navigating and with compass navigation.  In no time at all everyone had perfected their navigation skills.  So they took another tour for fun and to practice the buoyancy and navigation.

By now it was time for dinner and I cooked up some hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone.  After everyone had a chance to eat and log their dives we went over the night diving skills. Unfortunately, Brian was not feeling well and decided to sit out the night dive.  We waited till dark and proceeded to the platform where we sat for several minutes with no lights.  It is amazing how much you can see underwater without lights.  From there everyone did and out and back, reciprocal, compass navigation and then it was off for another tour.  I was able to find a fish and hold it in the palms of my hand and show it to everyone.  After the night dive we all headed home for a well deserved night of sleep.

The following morning everyone returned except Brian who was now running a fever and feeling very sick.  I encouraged him to stay home and we would finish his class at a later date.  So Sunday morning we proceeded to do the deep dive with the remaining four students.  We went down to the 60 foot platform and checked our depth gauges, did a math problem, and broke some raw eggs to see the effect of the water pressure on the egg yolk.  From there we went down to the deep boat.  Since everyone seemed comfortable we proceeded up the hill to the dozer.  We went up the cable at the dozer and around the platform to the line to the surface float and did our 3 minute safety stop at 15 feet.  After everyone surfaced we proceeded back to shore for lunch.

For lunch I grilled some more hamburgers and hot dogs and I gave everyone a chance to try out my DPV (Dive Propulsion Vehicle).  Everyone enjoyed playing with it while Jeff and Mike were out loosing my bolt for the search & recovery dive.  After everyone had found the bolt they set out to find the lost cement block.  In no time at all both teams had sent up their marker buoys and shortly after the lift bags appeared.

After all the paperwork was completed we exchanged contact information and headed for home.  What a great weekend everyone had!

John Gross

When Captain Zero told me that there were spots on the May 7th John Jack open boat, James Zimmerman and I jumped on it.  Little did we know that JZ and I would be the only customers, so we had the run of the boat.  Gerhard Maree, Roger Heins, and John McErlain were crewing with Captain Steve and Zero at the helm.  [A good group  [and great customers :) ]   After leaving the dock we found out the wreck-de jour would be the Pinta. There are three wrecks that everyone and their grandmother has dove: The Mohawk, the Tolten, and the Pinta. I've got the Mohawk covered with a half dozen dives, but the Tolten and the Pinta have evaded me.  We dove the Pinta. The Pinta is a freighter that sank in 1963 following a collision with the City of Perth. The Pinta now lies partially intact in 90 ft of water, with 25 ft of relief. The viz was a cloudy but fairly bright 15 ft and the water temp slightly chilly at 48 degrees.  The Pinta's cargo of lumber is strewn all over and parts of the deck have begun to collapse. JZ and I tied off and swam along the hull looking for lobster; finding none, we circled back and plowed through the woodpile. On the second dive I went forward and found the bow of the boat, then came back, circled the mast and then got serious about getting some lobster. They were either too small or too fast, so I came away empty handed. A great day on the John Jack and the Pinta. Although chilly in the morning, it warmed up and with 2 ft seas, it doesn't get much better than that.  The Pinta is another good wreck for beginners. So what are you waiting for -- Get out and dive!

From Jodi Gibbs ...

All in all, things went well for the weekend. I learned a few very important things. specifically speak up if I don't fully hear the plan. When we went for our first dive, I had problems "sinking". by the time I got a few feet under water, I couldn't see anyone. Little did I know, John was holding onto my tank the entire time. He came around were I could see him, just before I started to panic :) and I preceded to follow. Swam by some trees, and he pointed out some fish. I don't have much to gauge things by, but I could see fine. 'Course, we didn't go any more than 20 feet down, but this was mostly a get comfortable with diving, and our new gear. We haven't been since our certification over a year ago. After John led me back to the group we swam around a little more. Joe had us kneel at the platform. he and the rest of the group went to the dump truck at 60 feet. Jeremy and I "went west" and got out for a little while. The water at 20 feet was in the low 60s. i know that's not terribly cold in the scheme of things, but my wetsuit kept me nice & toasty! and the hood of course. 

A little while later, Jeremy and i went in on our own in the "kiddie pool". Mostly to get used to paying attention to each other, and to use up the rest of the air in Jeremy's tank. that only took 9 minutes, but I think it was worth it. I followed Jeremy, and he did well checking back on me. I definitely feel more comfortable with the idea of going diving just the two of us when the Smokey's group is on other trips.

I'm stilling having problems "sinking", even after adding a couple pounds for the 2nd dive. but once I'm down, i don't have any problems. Jeremy and i talked about it later. Its either "nervous air" in my lungs as Jim suggested, or my wetsuit is keeping me super buoyant! Both Jeremy and i love our new gear. We're also very glad that we decided to get our own stuff. It makes it much easier to decide on short notice to go diving. We only need to worry about picking up a tank. 'Course, Jeremy likes steel tanks so I'm sure that purchase is also in the future.

Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Diana also said to give her a call if we decided to go to Dutch Springs. She said she and Viviane would be willing to join us. I know you mentioned it before Joe, but its still nice to see how wonderful everyone is! and how folks took us in. I definitely look forward to future excursions with the group.

Sinking a Sink.
Gerhard is a lot sicker than he looks.  On his way to Willow yesterday he passed a house with some household items at the curb with sign that read, "Free for the Taking."  In this modest pile was a pedestal-style porcelain sink. The owner probably figured his sink would end up gracing someone's power room; Gerhard had other ideas.  Knowing that the quarry has lots of water but no sink, GM picked up the sink and threw it in the back of his Jeep - an hour later it was at the bottom of the quarry.  Two plus years ago during a hurricane, GM and I sank my worthless lawn mower at Willow; last night was perfect weather for a sinking: Rainy and windy as hell with 1 ft chop on the surface. We threw the sink off the dock and hooked it up to my 50# bag and Martzall's 100# bag that fizzles air from a thousand microscopic holes. Lugging went OK until I had to stop in mid-water for a full 5 minutes to clear my ears. By the time I cleared, I had lost sight of the rope and needed my compass to find the platform.  GM, the sink, and I headed east off the lines into the featureless flat east of the step van. Every time I turned, GM had the sink in mid-water and was swimming right behind me - until the last time I turned.  Gone like a fart in the wind!  I swam back, but alas, they were gone - up, I later learned. I naved back to the platform and swam east until the viz looked like someone had dragged a sink through the silt. I found the sink at the bottom of a dense cloud, but no GM.  Time for a new dive plan. I compassed further east, wondering if that was the correct heading for the Mystery Boat; it's not (Now I'm guessing 70 deg from the step van).  I ended up in the middle of nowhere, but at least the viz was 15+ ft.  Fearful I was going to end up in Dave Gellert territory at the east end, I gave up on "east" and took a NW heading, found a tree, then went West and hit the bow of the Mystery Boat. Then South, and wonder of wonder, I hit Bubba dead on. On the way back I swam through the windshield of the school bus and back to the platform where GM was hanging out.  Back on compass, we found the sink in short order.  Twice we tried to upright the pedestal sink and twice we failed. Damn that sucker is heavy! Although we got our asses kicked by the sink, we put a real whuppin' on the visibility. After some more milling around, it was time to get out and chow down some roast chicken, bread, and cake.  71 minutes. The TNI Spring migration to the cement dock takes place next week. Join us!

Keep on diving and LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!