My First Lesser Electric Ray off Catamaran Beach

Got to the beach about 5:15 am. Geared up and got in the water. looked for the swim buoy, but could not find it in the dark. Headed off to the NE, against a slight South current. Seemed like I was in 18 feet of water forever. Missed the staghorn coral. Missed the large Coral heads.








I did run into what I first thought was a small Atlantic Guitarfish, maybe 18 inches long, but which I now think is a Lesser Electric Ray. Unlike the Guitarfish, which has a triangular head and pectoral fins, this fish has a rounded, almost circular head.


I spent some time following this guy, who was not particularly shy, but did not like the strobe.






I ended up North of the Marriott Courtyard in an algae patch area about 15 feet deep. Came back South for deeper water and got into 20 feet as I got to 60 minutes. Surfaced with just over 1500 psi.




Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 61 minutes; consumption was 28.18 psi/minute at an average depth of 15 feet. and my SAC rate was 19.37 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


When I descended, it was more twilight than night. I spent my surface interval swimming to get South of the Marriott Courtyard. I dropped to about 20 feet and swam to the SW once on the bottom. I got into the Coral Heads and found some fish.

Got this shot of a White Grunt,

 this closeup of a Scrawled Cowfish,

 this shot of a Planehead Filefish, and

 this shot of a Banded Tube dwelling Anemone.

about 20 minutes into the dive I came across the plow anchor I had been looking for the last two weeks. It was due East of Tower 4. I went up 3 different times to get bearings and landmarks. I think I can find it again when I have some tools to disconnect the chain and the lift bag to help carry it. I was beginning to think I would never find it, of course, I never would have found it looking North of the Marriott.

On the way back to the beach, I found a nice looking Danforth Anchor with some chain rode. I carried it down to the swim buoy in front of Tower 3 and dropped it to the NE about 30 feet. I didn't think I could manage the camera, my fins, the flag and an anchor.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 52 minutes; consumption rate was 25.17 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet and my SAC rate was 16.61 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


I called Ashley as soon as I got out of the water and then drove up to Ryan's to pick her up. We drove back down to the South Beach lot and parked right in front of the entry. We geared up and got in the water a little after 9:00 am. Since the lifeguards were here, we swam on the surface out to the swim buoy and she had a little trouble equalizing as she descended, but she got it done. She was heavy at 12 pounds, but she was wearing a shorty as well as a full suit. I ended up putting air in her Inner Tube so she could stay off the bottom.

We swam to the East a bit and then got on the sand to run through some skills. She did fine until we got to the mask removal and replace skill. She refused to take her mask off. Just shook her head "no." I asked twice. She refused twice. We moved on. We swam out to the sand and then headed back. I wanted to go by the swim buoy off Tower 2 and pick up the anchor I left there last dive, but as we got near, I found two other cheaper danforth style anchors, so I carried those two back to the beach. Ashley helped me get them both back to the truck.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; Dive time was 83 minutes; consumption was 26.48 psi/minute at an average depth of 15 feet and my SAC rate was 18.21 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Night Diving off Catamaran Beach early in the morning

It was difficult getting up this morning. I slept too much yesterday morning and afternoon, and I had a hard time sleeping last night. Nonetheless, I got to the beach, set up my gear and got in the water. I descended on the sand before the reef and before the swim buoy. I thought I would swim out to the buoy and then head North past the blocks and then NE. Instead, I swam North well past the Marriott. I was in about 12 feet of water for much of the way and nothing looked familiar.

Got this shot of a Gray Angelfish,

as well as this shot of a French Angelfish,

and this shot of a Townsend Angelfish, just to round things out.


Finally, I focused on heading East and made it to 19.5 ft at 60 minutes. I took a few pictures, but not many. It was pretty quiet on the reef.


Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 60 minutes; consumption was 27.65 psi/minute at an average depth of 14 feet and my SAC rate was 19.41 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.



When I got to the surface, I saw that I was North of the Marriott so I spent the surface interval swimming South and East. I descended to just shy of 20 ft and began swimming SW. I got into familiar territory and found a large coral head with a number fish swimming.

I also spotted a Sailfin Blenny who was greeting the morning and other Blennies with a little dance and a waive of his fin.









Spotted a number of Caribbean Reef Squid and got some pictures, including these two shots.

I began to wonder if I had enough gas to make it to the beach, so I closed up the camera and concentrated on heading SW. I surfaced at 750 psi to see that I was still a ways from Tower 4, and again at 500 psi. But I made it back to the swim buoy, just was the swim buoy to the North of the one I wanted. So I had a little surface swim to get back to my beach.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 52 minutes; consumption was 22.62 psi/minute at an average depth of 14 feet and my SAC rate was 15.88 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Three 40-minute dives off Catamaran Beach

Awoke at 3:30 am, but still tired from yesterday's dive, so I went back to bed. Finally got up about 6:00 am, but wasn't really ready until after 8:00 am. Got to the beach about 8:40 am. Sky was overcast and threatening rain, which started as I was gearing up.

I set up the camera and checked that it worked and the strobe flashed as it should. I walked onto the beach in the rain and swam out to the swim buoy before I descended. I looked around and spotted a pile of maybe 10 concrete blocks just East of the buoy pin. Swam NE from there, but seemed to be over sand or algae and in less than 20 ft. I tried taking a picture, but the camera would not focus, just like it wouldn't focus yesterday on the United Caribbean. I tried different apertures and different ISO settings, but the lens would change focus just a bit and then quit, like it was bumping into something that stopped it from moving.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption was 24.02 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet and my SAC rate was 16.18 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


When I went up for my surface interval, I found that I was North of the Marriott. I used the camera for some shots of the beach and it seemed to work just fine. After the surface interval, I descended to 27 feet and headed South. I soon came to the umbrella stands just South of the Marriott. I continued South looking for the anchor I first saw weeks ago, but I never found it.

I did spot the small Southern Atlantic Stingray, again. This looked like the same stingray I photographed when Carlota pointed it out on Sunday. I tried to use the camera, but it would not focus on the stingray. I don't know what the problem is. Decided to keep going South but the little corridor I was swimming in closed off so I decided to head East a little. I found another corridor of sand with interesting rock outcroppings. I surfaced and found I was in front of the yellow building. I descended and decided to swim North until I got 40 minutes of bottom time. I ascended to find I was ESE of the Marriott.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; bottom time was 40 minutes; consumption was 24.88 psi/minute at an average depth of 20 ft and my SAC rate was 15.49 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


After a 5 minute surface interval, I descended to 25.6 ft and headed WSW for the  beach, looking for the concrete blocks and the swim buoy. I went slowly, conserving my air and looking for shells. I got to smooth sand and surfaced to see that I was just West and South of the swim buoy. I dropped back down and swam in to 8 feet to finish.

Bottom temperature remained a 78 degrees; bottom time was 50 minutes; consumption was 22.72 at an average depth of 19 feet and my SAC rate was down to 14.42 psi/minute on an aluminum 80. I was cold and happy to get out of the water.

Ricther and I dive the United Caribbean and make a Reverse Profile Dive to 108 feet

Ric came by at 8:00 am. We went over the table problem I sent him, then he gathered his gear and we headed up to the boat at Sands Harbor Marina, unloaded tanks and gear, parked the truck behind the hotel, signed our release forms and got on the boat. Doug had assigned us seats on the long bench in the stern, but I put the camera under the seats inside, then moved to the port side of the boat so it would be balanced and Ricther moved back to join me.

Enzo had asked us to dive a reverse profile and I agreed since he was, afterall doing us a favor even going out. Doug tied off on the United Caribbean and then it was our turn. I went in the water backwards holding my camera and sank. I saw that Ric had gotten in and he was moving along the line. I tried to take a picture, but the camera refused to focus. Something was sticking and preventing the lens from focusing, so I closed the camera up and shut it off.

I slowly descended along the line and Ricther caught up to me. We were tied off to the top of the stern of the UC but "fell" all the way to the sand. We slowly ascended up the North face of the stern, then dropped to the sand again on the West side. We then moved South to a portion of the main part of the wreck and found a large Green Moray Eel. I sure could have used a working camera. We then swam NE along the other section of the UC and to the Rocks. We followed the rocks over to the Sea Emperor and Ric spotted a Goliath Grouper to the South. The Grouper went under the Sea Emperor and inside. We swam along the top. I did not want to enter and get caught in a confined space with the 400 pound fish in case it should freak.

We headed SE over the concrete culverts to the Rocks and back to the UC stern. We came up the line with everyone else, except we were off to the side and holding our buoyancy to make the safety stop. When we got out of the water and back on the boat, my left foot was cramping and swollen. I had two knots across the top of the foot and I had trouble walking on it.

Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 38 minutes; consumption was 49.03 psi/minute at an average depth of 56 feet and my SAC rate was 18.18 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


By the time Bob was ready to drop us in deep water, my foot had returned to its normal size and I was feeling good. We went over backwards, again, signaled the boat and got the flag. Then we dropped.

I was maybe 10-15 feet below Ricther and watched as a large Loggerhead Turtle head right to him. We both stopped and watched the turtle turn and stop about 3 feet North of Ric, who by that time was vertical in the water, suggesting that he is too heavy at 12 pounds. It would have been a terrific picture, if I had my camera and it were working. Essentially a silhouette shot at 40 ft. Ric managed to not reach out and touch the turtle and it left.

We continued our descent to the bottom at 108 feet. I indicated to Ric that he should open the combination lock, but he just looked at me, so we swam for a bit then began our ascent. Because of the residual nitrogen from our first dive and the depth of this dive, we had only 5 minutes of bottom time according to the tables, though as I would expect, my computer gave me a longer bottom time.

I had planned to make Pyle Stops on the ascent, but made the 54 ft stop at 41, when Ric called my attention to it. We made a second  1 minute stop at 27 ft and then a 3 minute safety stop at 15 feet. Then we went to the surface and found Doug and Bob waiting for us. They picked us up and we went over to where the others were drift diving Turtle Ledge and waited for them to finish their dives.

Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time rounded up to 17 minutes; consumption was 55.29 psi/minute at an average depth of 56 ft and my SAC was up to 20.5 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Javier Dives Catamaran Beach

Arantxa, Javier and Carlots were a little late getting to the apartment so we were a little late leaving the apartment and got to the beach about 8:15 am. Luis was there and had asked a fellow to move his car so that I could park next to Luis. The guy did so which was nice, but unexpected.

We swam out to the swim buoy and descended then headed off to the NE.

As we turned East, I got this shot of a Purplemouth Moray Eel.











Just a few yards to the East, I spotted and photographed this Red Grouper.

We ended up in the rocky area, which was really nice. lots of fish, but we really fought the South current to get there. Didn't see anything really special, but mostly a lot of reef fish.

 For example, got this shot of a Scrawled Cowfish

and this shot of a Graysby.








Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 86 minutes; consumption rate was 21.92 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet and my SAC rate was 14.47 psi/minute.


Arantxa was complaining about her right ear, so she and Carlota decided to bail on this second dive. Javier, Luis and I, went, however. I spotted a little octopus squeezed into a space behind a rock. Luis and I both got pictures, then I pulled the rock out, but the octopus did not vanish.

He moved away and ultimately hid from us in one of the swiss cheese holes in the reef, but we followed him for several minutes.




Then we headed out NE again and found the same rocky area with the reef fish.

 I got this shot of a Bicolor Damselfish

and then this shot of an Orange Spotted Filefish.



We turned the dive and I thought we were too far South, but it turns out we were too far North. Anyway, we had to make some corrections to get out near the exit.

Bottom temperature was 78, again, Dive time was 106 minutes with plenty of air left; consumption was 22.45 pai/minute at an average depth of 16 feet and my SAC rate was 15.12 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Open Water Dives 3 and 4 on the Little Coral Knoll

Javier and the girls got to the apartment at 7:30 am, but we sorted through gear for a bit and didn't get to the Park until 8:15 am. Luis was waiting. Leo got there closer to 9:00 am. We geared up and walked to the beach, swam out to the swim buoy and kept swimming on the surface out to the Eastern Ledge. I wanted to find 40 feet of water for the CESA, but the current was to the South despite the North wind. We spent about 30 minutes swimming to the ledge and another 10 or 15 trying to head North.

I finally gave up and we did the ascents from 27 feet. The ascent rate under the RDP table is 60 ft/minute, but Suunto uses a 30 ft/minute rate, so my computer is screaming at me during the controlled emergency swimming ascents. But the students all made the ascents just fine, including the CESAs.

After completing the ascents, we swam West along the bottom to the beach. Got set to the South quite a bit, but we made the beach.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 62 minutes; consumption rate was 31.74 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 20.54 psi/minute on an aluminum 80

Leo lead the dive to the Little Coral Knoll. We swam on the surface out to the swim buoy, then descended on the Big Rock. I got this shot of a Spotted Scorpionfish on the Rock.

I also got this shot of a Porkfish on top of the Rock.

Then we all headed to the smaller rock and I got this shot of a Gray Angelfish along the way.

This is the Giant Anemone on the smaller rock just South of the Big Rock off Tower 15.


From the smaller rock, I sort of wandered along my landmark path past the knee high coral, the decorated sea rod and to the Sand Sea. At the Sand Sea, I looked back saw that the students were following me, not Leo. We went across the Sand Sea and then South to the counter weight then 120 degrees past the bare sea rod, the red and green coral but then, of course, I missed the knoll. We were close, so I poked my head up and saw Leo's flag. We swam that way and found the knoll.


We hovered over the knoll for a while, and I got this shot of a Bicolor Damselfish.

and this shot of a White Grunt on the knoll.

Leo headed off to the Porthole Rocks with the students. I followed and noticed that he no longer had the flag. I caught him and asked, but he had not noticed it was missing. I went up again and spotted it about 20 yards North, so I swam after it. Once I caught it, I swam South, hoping to meet up with the group, which I did.








We went back to the knoll for a bit, then swam in to the beach. Spotted a little Green Sea Turtle as we got to the white sand and I got this shot.

Nice dive.



Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 92 minutes, consumption was 24.82 psi/minute at an average depth of 14 feet and my SAC rate was 17.42 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Open Water Dives 1 and 2 with Arantxa and Carlota

Carlota and Arantxa got a little lost and were about 10 minutes late when they got to the apartment. We packed up and headed to the beach. Carlota started off with 11 pounds, should have been 12, but one of the black packets was 2 and not 3 pounds. She was also concerned about getting in the water. She was breathing through her regulator while just swimming on the surface. Arantxa had 10 pounds. By 9:00 am, we had reached the swim buoy and descended. Carlota just sank, but Arantxa had trouble descending. She made it, slowly, and we headed off to the NE.

The current moved us right along and the girls stuck pretty close, though Arantxa would often strike out on her own only to stop and find we were swimming in a different direction. Arantxa was too light. I picked up some rocks for her to carry and though she was initially confused, she soon figured it out. The extra weight helped considerably and she relaxed more in the water.





Carlota spotted a little Southern Atlantic Stingray.










We also found a ledge with the two large Porcupinefish, which buzzed all around me this morning.


Before the algae flats, Arantxa ran out of air, but came to me and took my octopus. She also held onto my tank but was off to the side so I could kick. We made it to the beach.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 69 minutes; consumption rate was 32.94 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet and my SAC rate was 22.19 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


As we were swimming out to the swim buoy for our second dive, Colata spotted a Tarpon swimming beneath us and quickly asked what it was. I got my head in the water as it swam by. I haven't seen one of them for a while now.

I was more aware of the current and my need to adjust for it on this dive. The current was a little stronger.  We swam out quite a ways then stopped on the sand and went through the skills. Swam a bit more and took the gear off and put it back on underwater. Both women were competent and calm. Nice to see.

We turned the dive when Carlota hit 1600 psi and headed to the beach. It seemed to take forever to get to there, but that may be because we were swimming hard against the current and ended up in front of Tower 2 instead of Tower 4.

This time, Arantxa had another 2 pounds of weight and did not spend so much time and energy trying to stay down. She did much better on air. Colata seemed like she was light at the end of the dive, but was doing well for the first 2/3rds of the dive. We had taken only one pound off her: from 11 to 10 pounds. She has a shorty suit under the 1.5 mm skin, but she has no body fat to speak of. I think it is her breathing.

Bottom temperature was still 78 degrees; dive time was 81 minutes; consumption was down to 30.30 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 19.60 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Looking for the Plow Anchor

Woke up about 3:30 am, spent time checking email and watching TV. Decided I'd rather walk the dog than head to the beach for some night dives, so that is what I did.

I went to the beach around 8:00 am and got in the water a few minutes later. Swam out to the swim buoy off Tower 4. On the way out, I saw a rainbow over the beach and I shot this picture. Then I descended and swam off to the NE. Went through a ledge with lots of fish and life.

 I got this shot of a Christmas Tree Worm on Fire Coral,

and this shot of an Initial Phase Redband Parrotfish,


After the ledge, I was on the sand. I swam due North for a while looking for familiar topography. Got to 40 minutes and surfaced to find that I was North of the Marriott.


Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption rate was 27.50 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet and my SAC rate was 27.50 psi/minute on an Aluminum 80.


During the surface interval, I swam South and got South of the Marriott, though I was still well North of Tower 4. I descended to about 25 feet of water on a large sandy area. From there, I continued South or Southwest taking pictures and looking for shells.

Got this shot of a Dusky Jawfish,

and ths shot of a Juvenile Cocoa Damselfish,

and this shot of a Queen Angelfish.






Bottom temperature remained at 78 degrees, though I frequently saw 79 degrees on my computer; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption was 25.82 psi/minute at an average depth of 21 feet and my SAC rate was 15.78 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Diving off Catamaran Beach

Woke up about 3:30 am, spent time checking email and watching TV. Decided I'd rather walk the dog than head to the beach for some night dives, so I did. Went to the beach around 8:00 am and got in the water a few minutes later. Swam out to the swim buoy off Tower 4, descended and then swam off to the NE. Went through the ledge with lots of fish, but ended up on the sand, so I swam due North for a while looking for some rocks and fish. Got to 40 minutes and surfaced to find that I was North of the Marriot Courtyard.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption rate was 27.50 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet and my SAC rate was 27.50 psi/minute on an Aluminum 80.


During the surface interval, I swam South and got South of the Marriot, though I was still well North of Tower 4. I descended to about 25 feet of water on a large sandy area. From there, I continued South or Southwest taking pictures and looking for shells. Found a nice Gaudy Natica, but not at all as large as the one I found yesterday. As I reached 40 minutes, I surfaced to find I was NE of Tower 4.

Bottom temperature remained at 78 degrees, though I frequently saw 79 degrees on my computer; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption was 25.82 psi/minute at an average depth of 21 feet and my SAC rate was 15.78 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Searching for the Plow Anchor

Got up early, but decided against any night dives, so I waited and got to the beach a little before 8:00 am. It does not look as if any work was done tearing down the Tortuga Music Festival. Only the North 1/3 of the parking lot is open. The beach was worked over, but the ocean is full of beer cans and bottles. Great. What a waste of time and effort. Looked kind of bumpy, so I decided not to take the camera. I swam out to the swim buoy and descended. I spotted a Green Sea Turtle tucked up under the reef and swam over to look. The turtle was calm, but pulled back to stick its head up and watch me. I headed NE, just picking my way along the bottom looking for shells and hoping to locate the anchor. I was North of where I should have been, almost all the way to the Marriot Courtyard. I did not find the anchor, but saw lots of reef fish.

Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption rate was 26.43 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 feet and my SAC rate was 16.77 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Descended to 24 feet at the end of my 5-minute surface interval. Thought about swimming South, but decided to drift with the current and maybe swim West, too, looking for more shells, and I found a huge Gaudy Natica, among many other shells. went far enough North that I found the roped umbrella bases. I did not find the anchor. Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption rate was 24.40 psi/minute at an average depth of 22 feet and my SAC rate was 14.64 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.