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See Uptown Jim Brown's report and pictures from his trip to Senca Lake NY!
From Kent "Dr Deco" Hirsch . . .
Greetings, faithful readers. The good Dr. and his trusty sidekick, Mike Nast, once again took to the high seas in search of underwater adventures. We were booked on a charter out of Virginian Beach on the Miss Lindsey for an overnighter. Unfortunately, the weather report soured and was calling for 5-8 foot waves Saturday night through Sunday, so the trip was scrubbed leaving us with our gear packed and tanks full of Nitrox. A quick call to Captain Anthony at LBI's Gypsy Blood dive boat, and we were set for a Saturday dive to the Vizcaya, a steamer sunk in a collision with the Hargraves, October 30, 1890.
We boarded the boat at 6:30 and pulled away from the dock promptly at 7:00. Anthony was joined today by captain Angelo, our friend and former owner of the Jersey Devil. Sorry, Angelo, but the Jersey Devil was one of the least comfortable boats we were ever on. It was a head-boat, perfect for a day of fishing, but lousy for diving. To enter the water, you sat on the railing 10 ft above the waves, held a trapeze, and when ready, plummeted backwards head over heels into the ocean. The Gypsy Blood is designed for diving- there is ample bench space to store gear and tanks, there are two head, hot water to rinse yourself and your gear, and lunch and drinks are available. Entering the water is a breeze. You simply giant stride off the stern, as there is no transom to negotiate. Twin screws had us 8 miles out at the Vizcaya in 40 minutes. We dropped a marker buoy and the pool was open. On the surface we had 2-3 foot waves with surface chop. On the sand, at 80 ft, we were met with 20 ft viz, no current and water temps of 69 degrees! Thank you Isabel. Its been unusually cold all season, but Isabel seems to have brought in tropical conditions. The Vizcaya is a huge debris field with prominent boilers and an engine as the only vertical relief. The remainder of the wreck contains plenty of lobster holes to explore. The combination of warm temps and relatively shallow depth made for 2 dives of 78 minutes. During dive one, I grabbed 6 lobsters. Picking was so good that I released all but two, keeping a couple of 2-3 pounders. Poor Mike was getting frustrated as he came up empty-handed.
After a 90 minute surface interval, we stepped off the stern for round two. This time Mike scored the biggest bug as soon as we hit bottom. All in all we pulled over a dozen lobsters out of their holes. I found a crowbar which came in handy as a tickle stick to persuade more than one bug out into the open.
One time my enthusiasm got the better of me. Mike was winding up his wreck line and I stopped to grab a lobster. It was a female with eggs, so I let her go, then looked around to realize I didn't have a reference line back to the anchor. Just as I was tying off my safety spool to begin a sweep search, my buddy came back looking for me. That's why we always dive in teams. Both divers need to be alert for trouble. Thank you, Mike.
We were back on shore by 2:00 and home in Lancaster by 5:30 with 4 nice lobsters for dinner. Call the shop to check on the Gypsy Blood's availability. Its a great boat where divers of all ability levels are given personalized attention. Conditions should remain ideal through early November, so get out and take advantage of the proximity of the Jersey shore. Live the adventure!.
From Dave McLain . . .
Dive report from Cozumel 9-22-03 thru 9-26-03.
Dive Paradise dive shop, fast boats, afternoon dives. Weather-great every day, sunny, some clouds, no rain, water temp approximately 85, air temp approximately 92. Vis 90'+
9-22-03
Palincar caves, and Paradise Reef. Lots of swim thrus, moray eels, sea turtles,
9-23-03
Tormentos and Chakanab. Lots of marine life, great coral, large nurse shark, several barracuda.
9-24-03
Santa Rosa Wall, and Cedar Pass. Wall was awesome for my first wall dive, lots of swim throughs, saw nurse sharks, barracuda, huge grouper and my first squid. The squid was neat, swam right in front of my mask about 4' away, up & down, back and forth. Cedar pass had the best marine life of all the dives.
9-25-03
C-53 wreck and Los Palmas Wall. Wreck in about 70' of water, Wall was great with very little current. Spotted and Octopus and pointed it out to the rest of the group. The DM said it was a big one. I did not know, since I had never seen one before. It's head was between the size of a large grapefruit and a volleyball. It was the highlight of my trip.
9-26-03
Columbia Reef and Los Palmas Wall again. More great drift diving and lots of marine life.
From Bryan Palmer . . .
Well As mentioned last week I ordered My Dive Rite Dry suit Monday, after some anticipation I received an an email from Cindy Lu saying your suit is in!!! Well most of it they forgot the underwear but no need to worry Dive Rite has what I consider a good turn around, meaning I received the underwear Friday!!!
Saturday morning Arrived and I was out doing some class work with Scott the rock we were being 2 DIT's ( Divemaster in Training) no not the other meaning, for Bill Seweics open water class, also assisting us was DM Beth Hess. students Patrick, Ben, Tom, and Kristin did a great job in the water and we were accompanied by bill friend sue who is trying to get some Dry suit dives in before a trip in Feb.. All in all after some anticipation I think more on the part of Scott and myself more then the students everyone had a great day and some good dives.
John gross was out with Pete Bohling to get a FUN dive in before working a ADV OW class which I notice a new dive buddy on mine was in Ron Lobb. they all looked good, and looked like they were having fun, note for taking a class with john. from what I saw looks like he brings a "stock of food" Oreos, drinks, other candies, mmmmm, I refrained but maybe next time when john goes in he might be missing some food :)!!!
ps a quick side notes - freshwater jelly fish are out so get out and see then before they are gone till next year
So that was the first part of Saturday. so I headed over to the shop a "LITTLE LATE" to meet my college buddy Steve Mooney, has been diving 8-10 years form that "other dive shop across the river in York, no hard feeling it is great just to get people out diving no matter where they are from :). we heard out trip was a go as of 4 on sat so we headed down to Delaware to stay the night, meet up with Dennie Leese and and head out to get some lunch for Sunday and check out the board walk. Sunday came "really early" up and about at 5:15 to a wet, dark morning. headed over to the boat and was SO ECSTATIC to find out we are going. We were quickly joined by Cindy Lu, Beautiful Bud, Nate Brommer, Tom Pritchard & James(sorry I don't remember your last name). We had the Great battle with the mosquito, I think they won. before leaving the dock. Marty(i.e. MARTIN) and was introduced to Beautiful Bud delightful humor!!! I.E. Martin Tried to find his OFF button only to find out he does have one, great people and great entertainment. First dive patty's pitcher brought lots or anticipation- what's the VIZ?? after many different descriptions came down to the VIZ was nothing but Dismal at best 2-4 feet in 105. Dive buddy Steve and I stayed close and ran a line all over the place, a few snags on line here and there but nothing major, we had 30 minutes about 33 minutes on the bottom and with all the hanging and everything came out 50 minutes after entering. what is your description Bryan first thing I was asked back on the boat. "not to bad" what are you crazy where did you go? my response was look it only gets better from here!! Ritchie burr had and "encounter with a toutog, neither saw each they ran into each other and both with BLAHHHHGGGG and swam away (must be getting ready for the Halloween season)!!
We decide to go to the E. Palmer for the second 80 ft tables. after our surface interval jumped in for and additional 5 feet of viz in areas Steve and I ran about 125-150 feet of line off my wreck reel but had no real idea where were were but that we had about 8 feet of viz and we were on the wreck still :) all in all no bugs were brought up but any day diving is a good day :) Four dives on my new Dive Rite Drysuit both fresh and Salt and I have nothing but good things to say about it. My only question is can they put Dive Rite on it any more times?
Get Out And Dive - LIVE THE ADVENTURE!!!
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