A working camera on the Yankee Clipper Jacks

I swam on the surface out to the Jacks this morning. Turns out that the parking lot lamp and the Fire House chimney put me well North of the Jacks, but if I swim on the bearing defined by the Yankee Clipper and the building behind it, I get right on the Jacks. So I descended on the South side of the Jacks and took some photos,

 Shot this Giant Anemone on the Jacks.














Got this shot of an Initial Phase Queen Parrotfish,

and this one of a Terminal Phase Queen Parrotfish.

 Got this photo of a Sand Diver,

and then this one of a Scrawled Filefish near my flagline.








I went over the Jacks and swam North looking for shells. Found several, including a small Lightning Welk. Then I swam back to the Jacks and ascended to warm up.

Water temperature was 73 degrees; Dive Time was 51 minutes; Consumption was 27.02 psi/minute at an average depth of 20 feet; SAC rate was 16.82 psi/minute on an aluminum 80 tank.


Stayed on the surface for several minutes looking at bearings and position, then descended just North of the Jacks and headed NW over the 3-tiered reef looking for the single Jack, which I now know is located well North of the Jacks.

Got this shot of a small school of Chub as I was leaving the Jacks.

 Picked up several Triggerfish when I was on the sand and got this interesting shot of one of the bigger ones.

I also found and got this shot of a Sheepshead Porgy along the sand North of the Jacks.

I shifted to due West once I found the single Jack and went up just before the white sand to find I was just East of the swim buoy in front of Tower 1. I killed some time, then went in.  Came up in 8 feet of water and secured the reel and the flag. Got my fins off and was walking in, but fell, rolled over on my tank so I was turtled and really struggled to get back into water deep enough to get my legs under me. Must have looked bad because a tourist came off the beach and asked if I needed help. I told him it was really just a matter of timing and successfully rode the next wave onto the beach and walked out of the water.


Water temperature was 73 degrees; Dive time was 51 minutes; consumption was 29.90 psi/minute at an average depth of 15 feet; SAC rate was 20.56 psi/minute on an aluminum 80 tank.

No Stobe again on the Jacks

I thought I had checked out the strobe before I left home and it worked fine. When I set up the camera in the parking lot, however, I had no charge in the battery and no strobe. So I left the camera in the truck.

Visibility was much worse today than yesterday, but it still would have been nice to have the camera. Had a close face-to-face meeting with a Spotted Moray Eel as I went up the 3-tiered reef. Both of us were startled but I just swam on. Got to 24 feet of water and spent some time looking for shells before turning South to the Jacks. I came up after 50 minutes.

Water temperature was 73 degrees; Dive time was 51 minutes; consumption was 27.69 psi/minute at 19 feet average depth; SAC rate was 17.57 on an aluminum 80 tank


Stayed over the Jacks while on the surface, then descended to 24 feet just North of the Jacks. I swam West along the North side of the Jacks and left the Jacks with about 1500 psi. The surge was strong past the Jacks and I flew over the reef to the sand.

Kept looking for more Gaudy Naticas, but did not find any. Swam easily over the Algae Patch and to the sand at 800 psi. Ran down the tank to 300 psi and headed to the beach. Came up in 8 feet of water. Reeled in the flag and swam into shallow water. Strong undertow and crashing breakers, but quickly got out of the water and walked to the truck.

Water temperature was 73 degrees; Dive time was 53 minutes; consumption was 28.09 psi/minute at 15 feet average depth; SAC rate was 19.31 on an aluminum 80 tank.

Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Found that my second battery works on the strobe. I don't know why the first doesn't. Took the camera, but not much to shoot, really. Swam over the Algae Patch to the sand before descending.

Found this Black Spotted Feather Duster just West of the sand when I first went down.

Saw and photographed this Queen Conch along the sand before the 3-tiered reef.  Got a close of up the Conch's eyes.

Found this Slippery Dick on the 3-tiered reef. Swam over the 3-tiered reef then headed South to the Jacks before coming up at 46 minutes.












Water temperature was 71 degrees; dive time was 46 minutes; consumption was 25.83 psi/minute at an average depth of 20 feet; SAC rate was 16.08 on an aluminum 80.


I warmed up a bit on the surface, then went back down to 25 ft just North of the Jacks. Got this shot of an Atlantic Spadefish as I approached the Jacks.

Also took this shot of a pair of French Angelfish

Unfortunately, I found a Lionfish on the Jacks. Didn't take my spear.

 Found this Sand Diver.

 Found this Spotted Burrfish on the Jacks.

Also found this Yellowtail Snapper.








I left the Jacks and headed West to the beach. Found a very large but broken Gaudy Natica in about 16 ft of water just getting onto the Algae Patch. Biggest one yet, but not in great condition. Wish I had taken a picture of it.

Water temperature 71 degrees; Dive Time 51 minutes; consumption 28.1 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate of 18.92 psi/minute on an aluminum 80 tank.

Diving on the Yankee Clipper Jacks off the South Beach parking lot

Water was rough and the air was cold all last week.  I had not been diving since the boys earned their Open Water certifications on the 15th.

I got to the beach only to discover that either the strobe or the strobe battery was dysfunctional. I took a fully charged battery off the charger before I left, but nothing lit up at the beach. Left the camera in the truck.

I got into the water and swam out beyond the swim buoy to descend. Water was cold. Went slowly East across the Algae Patch, the sand, then a leg of the 3-tiered reef. I got on more sand, but at only 21 feet and was beginning to think that the tide was out,  It wasn't. I came to another patch of reef and 24 feet of water after that.

My medium 3 mm neoprene jacket came Saturday and I brought it today. It worked better than the large, but I still felt cold mater move through the jacket if I moved my arms. I went South and found the Jacks, then went up to the surface to warm up.

Water temperature was 71 degrees; Dive time was 52 minutes; consumption was 26.73 at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 17.3 on an aluminum 80.

I was careful not to touch the computer mode button, but just let it time out. It didn't. It ran for 10 minutes before it kicked over to a second dive. When it did, I went down to 25 ft and headed West along the North side of the Jacks.

There were some fish on the Jacks, but not an overwhelming number. Probably didn't miss any shots except maybe a Spotted Moray Eel in the Caves just West of the Jacks on the 3-tiered reef. I might have gotten a good shot of that. Not much else was unusual or presented itself. I came back in just a minute more than it took to go out. Nice dive, but cold. Might have made a second dive if the Lifeguards weren't there.  The water was exceptionally calm and the visibility was good.

Water temperature was 71 degrees; Dive time was 53 minutes; consumption was 28.17 at an average depth of 17 feet; SAC rate was 18.59 on an aluminum 80.

Finn and Jerry make their 3rd and 4th Open Water dives

I popped my knee cap yesterday morning and it was swollen by the time I got home. It got stiff and weak over night and I was having some trouble walking on it. Should be fun getting out of the surf. Getting in was fine, there were some slow rollers that were breaking at the sand bar, but getting out was easy. Getting the guys to swim to the Ledge was more of a challenge.

Probably took more than 30 minutes to swim out to the Ledge. Finn complained the entire time we swam out. We finally got there and the sun was still up, so it was okay. We descended to 30 feet and I took Finn up on an alternate air source ascent. He was breathing up, sort of as we had discussed, but he was going much too slowly. We descended and I took Jerry up. He may have been trying to breathe up, but he wasn't going up at all. If I dropped him, he went down. I got him to kick, but his kick was more like shuffling his feet. We eventually made it to the surface.

We went back down and I did a CESA with Finn. This time, he moved right along. Finally, Jerry and I went up and this time, he, too, moved right along. Got some warnings on my computer, but the Suunto is set for 30 ft/min and not PADI's 60 ft/minute.  Once they had each made the ascents, we swam back to Tower 15 along the bottom. I had trouble getting out and Finn came back to lend me a hand.

Water temperature was 69 degrees; consumption at an average depth of 18 feet was 40.86 psi/minute; SAC rate was 26.44 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


The guys took their final exams during our surface interval, which stretched out to well over 2 hours. Finn passed and Jerry did not. Jerry missed the hierarchy of ascents question and most of the buoyancy questions. Finally, we got back in the water around 2 pm and headed for the Little Coral Knoll.

We found the Big Rock, but missed the smaller rock. I spotted the knee-high coral and got back on track. Went to the sea rods, across the sand sea to the bigger sea rods, the counter-weight and the knoll. Not bad, though I doubt that either Finn or Jerry appreciated the difficulty in trying to navigate.

We swam around looking at fish until Finn got down to 1000 psi, so I turned the dive and we came back. Missed the dead rods and just crossed the sand sea to the Big Rock. From there it was easy to get to the beach. Came up in 4 ft of water near the beach, but I had trouble getting out. I fell and twisted my knee. Jerry and Finn could not pick me up and I couldn't put weight on the knee, so I crawled out and managed to stand up on my own, slowly.

Water temperature was 69 degrees; Dive Time was 31 minutes; consumption was 27.55 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 ft; SAC rate was 18.18 on an aluminum 80.

Finn and Jerry make their first two Open Water Dives off Tower 3

Finn and Jerry, my students, were late, but the parking lot had been taken over for some festival or other. Ryan O'Connor showed showed up. He and Luis buddied up, which was a good thing.

Leo helped me with the students. Weighted them heavy and planned on putting air in their BCDs to adjust the buoyancy. Before we got in, I noticed Jerry's tank was really low, so I took that opportunity to discuss and demonstrate the loose tank band skill.

Despite being at least 4 pounds over-weighted , both Finn and Jerry had trouble getting down and staying down, but neither of them seemed light. As we were grouping on the bottom, Jerry headed to the surface. I went after him trying to slow him down. We surfaced together and I asked what happened. Jerry said that he got soap in his eyes from the anti-fog he put on his mask. He washed it off and we went back down.

Finn initially swam head up suggesting he was over weighted. Jerry did a little better, but he was dragging in the sand at the beginning of the dive. When I got to 2500 psi, I checked their air: both of them claimed to have 2000 psi left. Leo had the flag and was with Jerry just behind Finn and I. At 2000 psi, I checked again, and Jerry was down to 1300 psi, so I turned the dive and we headed back.

We moved a little faster on the way back and Jerry shared air with Leo part of the way back. On the Algae Patch we found an Atlantic Guitarfish which Finn claims not to have seen but Leo, Jerry and I watched it for quite awhile before it swam away. We swam into 4 ft of water and stood up, walked to the beach and up to the parking lot.

Water temperature was 69 degrees; Dive time was 65 minutes; consumption was 31.02 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet; SAC rate was 20.47 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

We were out of the water for almost 2 hours trying to warm up. The sun felt really good, but I wasn't really getting warm. Reluctantly, we decided to gear up and get back in the water for the second dive. Neither Jerry nor Finn wanted to change weights. I'm not sure it would matter. I think they are still getting comfortable and learning to breath to adjust their buoyancy.

Anyway, we got back in and swam out on the surface to a sandy spot and went down. Finn was slow getting down, but he did make it. We then went through the various skills. Both Finn and Jerry were having problems hovering, so I inflated their BCDs until they could perform the skill.  We would have a conversation on the surface about their being too light to descend yet too heavy to hover. After we had gone through all of the skills, I checked on their air and we headed East. At about 24 ft we turned South and headed up towards the Jacks, but along the way, Jerry signalled that he was down to 1600 psi, so we turned the dive and headed back.

Again, we went faster on the way back and Finn and I lost Leo and Jerry at one point, so we surfaced and I chased the flag, getting to it just as Leo and Jerry surfaced to look for us. We went back down to swim in. I had trouble getting up the step onto the beach and Finn kindly came back to give me a hand. I popped my knee-cap loading the truck and it swelled up during our dives. I was limping on the way back to the parking lot.

Water temperature was 69 degrees; Dive time was 56 minutes; consumption was 33.75 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 21.84 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Another Surprising Dive on the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Slept late, but got to the beach by 8:15 am. Read a little then geared  up. Shot one picture and everything seemed to be working, but the second one didn't fire. Seemed as if the battery was dead, but I had changed it this morning. Took the camera anyway, since it promised to be a bright and sunny day, but the the calm flat surface of the ocean was hiding a mass of currents with lots of surge and very little visibility.

I stepped in between breaking waves and was suddenly in over by head. The next wave pushed me onto a 2-foot shelf and I had to push back into deep water to get my legs under me. I started East to get beyond the breakers, but the ocean floor was pitted with deep holes and quick rises. I finned up and swam out, keeping air out of my BCD and exhaling to go under incoming waves and breakers. I got out, but it was work. I thought about taking the camera back to the truck, but decided against it. The Lifeguards would be coming soon, and I had not figured out exactly when that was. Didn't want to be beached for "my own good." So I swam out over the algae patch and then descended just before the sand. Found a couple of nice Gaudy Naticas and eventually got to the 24 ft section, where I ended the first dive and went up.

Water temperature was 71 degrees; consumption was 30.11 psi/minute at an average depth of 20 feet; SAC rate was 18.75 and RMV was 0.48 ft3/minute.


When I descended, I was still North of the Jacks by about 30 feet. I almost swam into them. Stayed North and stayed away from the Jacks. I couldn't control the flag line in the surge and I was afraid it would be hung up on the Jacks. I headed West past a single Jack and then over the sand. Seemed like I was either flying West or hanging onto the reef to avoid the counter-surge to the East. I did take some pictures, but they didn't come out very well.

 Got this shot of a Smooth Trunkfish,

and this shot of a Spotted Scorpionfish, though I had handholds to the East and West of him and had to take my shot as I flew by in the surge.

Found this little Yellow Sand Ray on the Algae Patch. It let me scratch the underside of its wings a couple of times then moved off slowly.

I got onto the white sand of the beach and went up even though I still had 1000 psi of air. I was in front of Tower 1, but there were guys riding boards down what appeared to be really large breaking waves. I swam in and timed things so I got into shallow water between breakers. I quickly got my fins off and stood up, only to be knocked down by the next wave that came along. I rolled on my side to protect the camera and managed to push back into deeper water and try again. Second time was the charm, I got pushed up the beach and held on.

Water temperature was 71 degrees; consumption was 32.47 psi/minute; SAC rate was 21.87 psi/minute with an aluminum 80 tank.

Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Got to the parking lot early, but the wind was up and I was cold standing around, so I geared up and got in. Wind was at least 10 knots, but out of the West, so the ocean was flat. Swam South to the cut out, then East to the sand. Drifted way North and went East along the bottom of the 3-tiered reef to 25 feet of water and turned South. Went up at 55 minutes.

 Got this shot of a Balloonfish over the Algae Patch,

then this shot of a Bearded Fireworm on a patch of sand,

 This shot of a Flamingo Tongue walking along the bottom, and

this shot of a Smooth Trunkfish over a small patch of coral.








Water temperature as 73 degrees; consumption was 27.13 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 ft; SAC rate on an 80 ft3 tank was 17.21 psi/minute.




I did not mess with the computer on the surface this time. I descended after a short surface interval and went to 24 feet of water. Headed Southwest and hit the Jacks.


Stayed on the North Side of the Jacks and swam West. Got this shot of a Giant Anemone as the Jacks cut into the 3-tiered reef.

Got this shot of a Planhead Filefish on the sand North of the Jacks.

Kept going West over the reef to the Algae Patch where I again searched for the juvenile reef squid, but didn't find any. I did find this Rock-boring Urchin along the South edge of the Algae Patch.










Swam West slowly and spotted the buoy in front of Tower 1. As I crossed onto the lighter sand, I got this shot of what I think is a Horse-eye Jack. Went out on the sand to 9 feet and came up.





Water Temperature was 73 degrees; consumption was 26.88 psi/minute at 15 ft average depth; SAC rate was 18.48 and RMV was 0.48 ft3/minute.

Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Turns out the ocean was very calm this morning. Should have made a couple of night dives, but slept in, instead. I got to the parking lot at 7:30 am, geared up. I swam out towards the swim buoy and noticed someone on a board paddling along on his belly. I considered that it might be a lifeguard seeking to force me to turn back, so I sped up. As I crossed the buoy line, Bill Evans said hello from his board.  Nice to see him.  I continued swimming out onto the Algae Patch and descended by a little after 8:00 am.

Visibility was surprisingly good: over 20 ft. Still, it was early and there were not a lot of fish around. I swam slowly East and got lost in my own daydreams. Got turned around once and was going West for who knows how long before I looked at the compass and recognized the problem. Found some shells. Got some pictures.

 Got this shot of a Juvenile French Grunt,

 this shot of a Yellowhead Wrasse,

this action shot of a Yellow Sand Ray,

and this shot of a Smooth Trunkfish.

I spotted an Atlantic Guitarfish on the sand North of the Jacks, but wasn't fast enough to get a picture. We were both startled, but that Guitarfish really shot out of there. I ascended at 1700 psi and 46 minutes, just a bit North of the Jacks.

Water Temperature was 73; consumption was 28.8 psi/minute at an average depth of 20 feet; SAC rate was 17.93 psi/minute and RMV was 0.46 ft3/minute.



Just relaxed on the surface. Sky was overcast, but light. Storm clouds to the South. Tried to change mode on the computer to see the water temperature, but the computer would not do it. Did extend the 5 minute turn over time, so I stayed up for 12 minutes before I got to a new dive. Descended to about 25 feet and swam promptly up to the Jacks. Lots of fish on the Jacks and I got some okay pictures.

Got this shot of a Blue Tang on the Jacks,

and this shot of a Glassyeye Snapper,

Unfortunately, I also found a got this photograph of a Lionfish on the Jacks.

Also got this shot of a Porkfish along the top of the Jacks.


I went up and over the Jacks, then swam West on the South side of the Jacks. Reeled the flag line in, as the line got hung up on the Jacks once.  Left the Jacks with about 1400 psi. Went across the sand then drifted a little South and went slowly across the Algae Patch looking for a little reef squid, but I didn't see anything. Swam across the sand to the beach and came up in 10 feet of water.

Water temperature 71; consumption rate was 26.30 at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate was 17.71 and RMV was .46 ft3/minute.

Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks

I swam out to the swim buoys and descended, then slowly swam to the East. I took my camera this morning, but visibility was not much better than yesterday and there just were very few fish around on the Algae Patch.

 I got this shot of a Bicolor Damselfish.

 Then this shot of a Reef Butterflyfish.

When I got on the sand, I got this shot of a Saucereye Porgy.


I overcompensated for the current and went North some, too.  Swam across the sand to about 25 feet and turned South.  I ascended at 1774 psi and just floated for a short surface interval.


Water temperature was 71 degrees; consumption was 34.12 psi/minute at an average depth of 21 feet; SAC rate was 20.85 and the RMV was 0.54 ft3/minute.


While on the surface warming myself, I swam SW. I descended to 24 feet and continued heading SW.  Picked up some shells, but nothing spectacular. Swam to the Jacks and then along the North side of the Jacks and SW to the beach.

I got this shot of a Spotfin Butterflyfish on the Jacks.








Then this shot of a Hogfish, also on the Jacks.








I got this shot of what I think is Ivory Coral on the Algae Patch headed back to the beach.


I came out well South of Tower 1, but the slope of the beach was not so bad.  There was no step, or, probably more correctly, the step was lost in the high tide and I got to walk out without a great deal of trouble, except that the slope was sort of steep and I had little time to get my fins off and get organized for the walk out.

Water temperature was 71 degrees; consumption was 34.74 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate was 23.4 psi/minute and RMV was 0.60 ft3/minute.