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Click To Enlarge
From Tom Pritchard . . .
Unlike last week's dive report, this one is politically correct. To wit, the objectionable phrase "elephant ###" has been replaced with "excessive effluent from the elephant fertility festival" or "3E2F." Over the last week most of the 3E2F apparently swam off into the sunset so the viz was about 10 ft at Willow, at least east of the cement dock. Greg Kulp, Gerhard Maree, and I splashed in and made our way to the east end where we had no trouble finding the boat, truck, and snowmobile. After our return to the platform, GMan and I practiced running our reels in anticipation of this weekend's wreck dives from the Gypsy Blood. This was my first chance to try my Halcyon reel with it retractable handle; it rocks! Even though my air was fading, GMan and I decided to make a quick round trip to the pipe. As we left the platform and approached the swimming area, the site of last week's fornicatorium, the viz dropped to about 5 ft - but my air was dropping faster. We were probably 6 ft from the pipe when we turned the dive and steamed back to the dock with about a whiff and half of air in my tank. 80 minutes, 54 degrees. Great dive! Much better than diving in elephant baby batter!
From Uptown Jim Brown . . .
Wednesday, 6/2/04, BSC
Divers are taking advantage of their memberships at BSC by diving Wednesday evenings. This is a great way to get return on your money after just 10 visits to the site. Cindy and Josh were out with Dwight and Bob, new OW divers, to get more acquainted with neoprene and diving. Everyone is welcome to dive with the gang, beginner or experienced, we'll be sure you have a good dive and a good time! Dennis Boyle of Camp Hill joined their group as he was trying out a new 7mil wet suit. Nate and Chris made a tour of the bottom and swear they located a new UW feature. Ahem, I'll have to check up on them based on their description of where it was sighted. Becky Tallman and Joe Dormer were dressed in neo again and had a third person along (I'm sorry I didn't get her name). Joe is an OW diver (May 03) and slated for his AOW this month. He swears he's been bitten by the scuba bug and it shows in his enthusiasm and excitement. I made a tour through the Bowl, around Steve's guys doing platform maintenance, dropped down to the pumphouse, circled the deep boat, hit the (N) flats and stairs and relocated the BSC turtle. Can you locate him? I actually found a new feature (for real) that I knew existed but never saw. In the old days of the quarry op, they moved the steam shovel along RR tracks to excavate the walls. A set of tracks comes up out of the hole on the north wall, stopping at around 70'. The rails are apparent and a few RR ties remain at the shallow end of the tracks. This week I'll get a pic. Let me conclude by reminding everyone the vis between 15' and 50' is still blurry but for those dressed and trained to go below, its spectacular! The entire deep boat is in view with plenty of sight distance fore and aft. Its pretty cool and very enjoyable! I had a nice run to 105ffw for 47 minutes on air.
Friday, 6/4/04, Tuna Seazure - New Jersey
It was a motley crew for a day on the high seas. Mike Nast arranged a bachelor party dive day on this very fast and comfortable six-pack fishing boat out of Little Egg Harbor Inlet, just north of Atlantic City. Captain Bill said he prefers taking divers out and actually hasn't had fishermen on the boat yet this year. This boat caters to divers with large, deep benches and a great fin ladder. Vern and I stayed on the boat Thursday night. It was very comfortable for two. The v-berth sleeps three and the "table sofa" could sleep two. A WaWa is just three miles up the road and the local marina restaurant has an extensive menu and good coffee, opening at 6am. Our charter pushed off by 7am.
The marine forecast was pretty good but the ocean wasn't having any part of it. Our first destination was occupied, the second destination couldn't be hooked due to wind and current, we got bumped off the third destination by a BIG fishing boat that hooked the wreck the first time so we ended up on a nice little wreck called the John Marvin, a clam dredge that went down in 1991. Word has it the skipper scuttled the ship to collect the insurance money but coast guard divers verified all doors and hatches were not only open, but fully removed AND that all electronics were removed from the vessel. Sounds fishy, or clammy, and the skipper apparently received no insurance money; but such are the dive tales of the big blue.
The wind kicked up the seas and current below was pretty strong. Bryan was the first one in and tied off the hook with a little sisal rope. This wreck sits in 70fsw upright and intact; a great wreck for 15' vis and current. Mike and Bryan struck out on lobsters although sighted two. A few mussels were scattered about the deck. Easy to navigate and penetrate, the Marvin is a good choice for new ocean divers. All of us were breathing at least 30% gas to extend bottom time w/o deco. My first run was 66fsw for 48 minutes. For a change of pace I stayed with Vern and ended the dive with him due to new surroundings and prevailing conditions.
The surface was pretty snotty on the SI and reclaimed a couple of breakfasts. Three divers sat out on dive two. The other three made another stab at it and enjoyed thorough tours of the wreck. Mike took me inside one room where I captured his Darth-like appearance. I also got a good shot of the head overflowing with anemones. This second run was to 66fsw for 49, bottom temp of 47F. I love my new camera setup with the wide angle lens. Thanks to Bryan, Dennie, Nate and Kent for field testing this basic setup and convincing me it was ok to make the switch. I now have a Sony P-10 in the Sony marine pak housing on a Sea & Sea DX stay. A S&S 16mm wide angle lens ensures capturing maximum ambient light and subject matter. An Ikelite handle w/wing nut holds my rocking DS-125 digital strobe with manual EV controller. Now, that all sounds pretty cool but I need a lot more practice to get better pics; but its a start.
Mike claims he had a good time but the pics tell a different story. Not only did he sleep in the v-berth, but pixels don't lie; he was sleeping with another man in the v-berth. Apparently Mike and mate Joe have a history. Oh well, at least bride-to-be Julie can be sure Mike was NOT with another woman on his bachelor party dive expedition! Thanks for organizing a great day Mike!
Keep on diving and LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!
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