From Dennie Leese . . .
A group of 19 of us just returned from our trip to Prescott, Canada on Monday (some on Tuesday because they just couldn't tear themselves away). We had our usual great time again this year. The weather could have been a little warmer, but it turned out to be better then the weather we had around here. It was about 73 for the daytime high this year. Saturday night we could see our breath (brrr). The diving was great as usual. We stayed at the Dewar's Inn on the River in Prescott and dove with Kevin Bemish from See 'N Sky scuba on the SeeWay Vision boat. We did the Muscallonge, a tug that burned and sank, the Robert Gaskin, a 3 masted schooner that actually sank 3 times (that boat was jinxed), the America, a Barge that blew itself up while dynamiting the shipping channel (dumbshits), and the Keystorm, a freighter that hit a shoal and sank (take a Nav Specialty for crying out loud). Viz was good, averaging more then 50 feet. Water temp was a balmy 71 with no thermoclines. Most of us dove in wetsuits. We had plenty of entertainment this year as usual. Beautiful Bud actually went along for a change, so there was no shortage of laughter and disgusting comments aboard the boat. Dave Moyer sported his gay little Backpurse again (not a Back PACK, but a Back PURSE). Neal Banner, Lisa Mays, Chris & Norma Presler, Brian Palmer, Mark Muenzen, Kelly Stewart & Kais Jamali, Bill Hockley, Liz Zyla, Tim Moody and his buddy Mark, whose last name I can neither pronounce OR spell, Jim Zimmerman, Greg Kulp, Bud's wife Christine, myself and Marianne rounded out the rest of this motley crew. Several did shore dives over the weekend on the wreck of the Rothesay, a sidewheel paddleboat that sank just offshore in only 25 ft. of water. (How convenient for us). Myself, Brian, Kelly, Kais, Tim, Mark K, Jim and Mark M. did a night dive on this one on Sunday night. Saw a nice size Pike and a fat old carp and Brian caught several very large Seaway Lobster (aka Crayfish). The cigars rolled out Sunday evening after the night dive. The Dewars treated us to another of their annual pizza parties (we need some plain and pepperoni next time though). The favorite wreck of the week had to be the Keystorm. Its a bit of a hassle to dive it since you have to clear US Customs to cross the line in the St. Lawrence Seaway to dive this wreck and the America also, and then return back through Canadian Customs. Lots of pics were taken. Check the website pics attached to this report. We didn't have any major blunders to write about. Everybody seemed to actually know what they were doing for a change. The highlight would have to be the dive on the America. Me and Brian Palmer headed down to the wreck of the barge and I led him under and through the wreck twice. The only problem is that there is a large pool of crude oil laying on the bottom of the channel that leaked from the barge and if you get into the bottom, you get into the oil. Well after the dive we're hanging and I'm noticing that Brian has some dark crud smeared all over his right cheek. I'm figuring he had to take a dump really BAD and the pressure must have squeezed it right up thru his wetsuit. This didn't turn out to be the case though. Seems Brian had gotten into the oil with his hands and had smeared it across his face without knowing it. He had it on his gloves, face and wetsuit. Needless to say, Kevin, the boat Captain, wouldn't let Brian back onboard with all the oil on him, so he squirted him down with a solution of Simple Green and made him jump back into the river to wash off first! We now have a contest going on to pick the best nickname that fits for Brian. Choose from either Slick 50, Prescott Valdez or Oil Can Brian. Please send in your votes so we know what to call him from now on. We had a great time and it looks like we'll be going back next year, but over the 4th of July weekend since my trip to Isla Mujeres is so close to Labor Day next year. If you'd like to go, NOW is the time to let me know. Lots of people are already planning on going back so space will be limited, and 4 people are already signed on. Check out the pics from the trip here on the dive report and I'll probably print a few to put in the shop. If we can get it up and running, I have a great little video clip of Kelly Stewart ripping off Beautiful Bud's wetsuit drawers aboard the boat. It's comical, to say the least. Sign up early for next year's trip. Space is limited to a maximum of 20 divers. Cost will probably be the same as this year, $235 per diver.
