Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks with Kenny Barnwell

Kenny Barnwell is a guitar technician from Georgia, who is touring with the large show at the BB&T Center Saturday night. This morning, he wanted to go diving. He came to the apartment. I got him outfitted. We drove to the South Beach parking lot to dive the Jacks.

We swam out to the buoy line and descended. He was underweighted and had trouble just getting down. I handed him a brick of broken off coral to carry and that fixed that problem. We headed across the Algae Patch, the sand, the 3-tiered reef and turned South to the Jacks.

I did not take my camera on this first dive since I didn't have any idea how he would be in the water, but he is fine in the water. We swam along about 1/3 of the Jacks, then headed back to the beach. He was low on air, but we made it just fine.

Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 76 minutes; consumption rate was 30.98 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate was 20.87 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Took a while to dry off and warm up.  I also put my camera together. We geared up and swam out past the buoy line and almost to the sand, before we descended. Both of us were heavier on this dive. We got across the sand and over the 3-tiered reef, turned South and were at the Jacks. We swam East along the North side of the Jacks because of the current. I was busy shooting pictures and looking for the Porcupine fish Kenny had commented upon earlier.

 Got this shot of a Caribbean Spiny Lobster,

 this shot of a Cottonwick,

 this shot of an Initial Phase Queen Parrotfish,

 this shot of a Nurse Shark with three trailing shark suckers, and

this shot of two Smallmouth Grunts on the Jacks.


Kenny tripped 1500 psi as we were almost to the Eastern end of the Jacks, so we turned the dive and scurried back to the beach. Two dives was enough for Kenny. Me too, truth be told. We did a lot of swimming.

Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 75 minutes; consumption was 32.25 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 20.87 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks

I got to the South Beach parking lot about 8:20 am and quickly geared up and got in the water. I swam out past the buoy line on the surface and about half way across the Algae Patch then descended. I was still in only 16 feet of water, I swam ENE. Got to the sand and found a moonsail shell sort of like a Gaudy Natica but only small black lines and no tan or green coloring. It is on the small side but interesting. Went East along the North side of the 3-tiered reef and came up in 24 ft of water for a short surface interval.

Water temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 61 minutes; consumption was 25.20 psi/minute at an average depth of 14 feet and my SAC rate was 15.99 psi/minute on an aluminum 80


During the surface interval, I swam South so when I descended I was close to the Jacks. Swam along the North side of the Jacks and then on the top for a bit taking pictures. Lots of fish, but mostly common reef fish.

Got this shot of an Initial Phase Striped Parrotfish,

 this shot of a Midnight Parrotfish,

this shot of a Sand Perch,

 this Sergeant Major,

this Slippery Dick on the 3-tiered reef,

and this Spotted Trunkfish.


Left the West end of the Jacks with 1400 psi and had a nice swim back across the sand and then the Algae Patch. Hung out on the edge of the white sand to get to 57 minutes, then headed across so that I came up at 60 minutes. Pleasant dive if not the most interesting photographically speaking.

Water temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 60 minutes; consumption was 25.27 psi/minute at an average depth of 14 feet and my SAC rate was 17.74 psi/minute on an aluminum 80

Two Search and Recovery Dives off Tower 17

On Saturday, Brent, who works at the rental office and snack bar at Birch State Park told me that a yacht had recently lost its anchor off Tower 17. He said it was North of the swim buoy on the sand before the reef. I decided to check it out this morning.

Got in the water a little after 9:00, but I swam on the surface out to the buoy line, then North to Tower 17. It took about 45 minutes. Then I descended on the 100 degree bearing off the Tower and over the blocks. Took a few moments to set up once I was on the bottom. I was carrying both my SMB and lift bag so I could recover the anchor should I find it, and both of these were floating next to me and in the way of the camera. From the blocks, I swam up the gunsight and kept going East looking for the Cigar Rock. I did not find it, instead, I found the Green Mountainous Coral near the Perpendicular Rocks. Then went to the Swept Rock and finally to the Knoll.

On the North side of the Knoll I found the Rock Hind I have photographed there over the last two years. It's still as timid as ever, but perhaps that's why its still alive. Anyway, it was nice to see. I hung with the fish on the Knoll for awhile.

I spotted and photographed a Juvenile Stoplight Parrotfish.

 I also got this shot of a Juvenile Creole Wrasse.

 Then I found a small Nudibranch and

got two pictures.

I couldn't resist this shot of a pair of Porkfish.













I got this shot of a Sand Diver

and really enjoy this shot of a White Grunt opening his mouth and requesting a cleaning from the small Spanish Hogfish in front of him.

After some time on the Knoll, I swam down to the buoy line to look for the anchor. I swam a U-shape pattern between the reef and the buoy-line then surfaced at 60 minutes.

Bottom temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 60 minutes; consumption rate was 25.58 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 16.55 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

I stayed on the surface for 7 minutes, then descended and finished running my u-shaped pattern well South of Tower 17.  I saw no sign of an anchor, lost or otherwise, and wonder about the accuracy of the location information from Brent. I swam with the current to the South and made really good time all the way to Tower 14, so I could swim back on the surface fighting the current. I found a gaudy natica along the way and a spiral shell which was white with a red spiral line.

Water temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 51 minutes; consumption was 27.75 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 17.95 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Diving the Little Coral Knoll with Leo

Leo got to the Park about quarter to 9:00, which was fine. We geared up and headed down the hill. The gate was open, so we went to the beach and got in the water. Swam on the surface out past the swim buoy and descended on the Big Rock.

Saw several lionfish on the Big Rock, but I didn't take any pictures. Instead, I got a shot of this little Seaweed Blenny

and this Spotted Scorpionfish.  Then Leo and I headed South to the smaller rock. Leo took a few pictures there, and then we headed off at 120 degrees to the knee-high coral, the two decorator sea rods, and across the sand sea to the dead rods. We jogged South to the counter-weight and then got back on our 120 degrees bearing past the bare rod, the green star coral head with the red-boring sponge to the knoll.

We drifted across and around the knoll for awhile, then I decided I wanted to go to the Porthole Rocks. I looked, but couldn't find Leo or his bubbles. I finally decided that he must have gone already.


So I headed off at 45 degrees from the NE tipped Coral Head and about half way to the Porthole rocks ran into an Octopus.











He kept an eye on me as he made his way under the Coral Head beside him

I went to the back of the coral head, but he spotted me as soon as I peeked around.

A large Red Grouper watched the whole thing and inserted himself between me and the Octopus.

Leo and I did a little exploring West of the Porthole Rocks, then swam back to the knoll. At 1000 psi, we turned the dive and headed back to the beach. Hung out in about 7 ft of water until I tripped 120 minutes, then surfaced.


Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 2 hours; consumption was 24.88 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 16.10 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


Leo called his pregnant wife and got permission to make a second dive so long as he got back to Miami by 2:00 pm, so we geared up and got in for a 90 minute dive. Same pattern as the first dive: went to the Little Coral Knoll and hung out with the fish then went over to the Porthole Rocks and explored to the West some more; came back to the knoll and then headed back to the beach.

I got this picture of a Black Spotted Feather Duster,

 this shot of a Graysby on the knoll,

this shot of a Hogfish to the South of the knoll,

and this shot of a Starfish on the sand on the way back to the beach.






Water temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 85 minutes; consumption was 23.72 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet; SAC rate was 15.65 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Diving the Little Coral Knoll with Leo and Luis

So different this morning from two weeks ago when Luis, Finn, Jerry and I tried to get through a navigation dive, but had to call that dive because we couldn't see one another. Today the ocean is calm and the water is clear. Leo (to the right), Luis (below) and I met in the parking lot, geared up hiked down the hill to the beach.

We got in the water and swam on the surface past the
swim buoy and descended by the Big Rock.

Got this picture of one of the two Lionfish we found on the Big Rock.

We then moved South to the smaller rock and then 120 degrees past the knee-high coral, the two sea rods, and across the sand sea. Made a little jog to the South to the counter-weight and then 120 degrees again pas the sea rod by the sand, the gateway rock and the green star coral with the red-boring sponge to the the little coral knoll.

 Hung around the knoll taking pictures of fish, including this picture of a Barred Hamlet

and this shot of a Butter Hamlet.









We then headed off to the Porthole Rocks, where Leo photographed an octopus, found a huge Gaudy Natica



and I photographed a Nurse Shark.

Then we swam back to the Knoll and explored the area to the East a bit until we got down to 1200 psi and headed back to the beach.



Water temperature was 75 degrees, dive time was 109 minutes; consumption rate was 26.09 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 16.88 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.



Luis and I made a second dive after almost a one-hour surface interval. We swam out to the buoy line and descended, missed the smaller rock, but found the 3 dead sea rods and the counter-weight. Made to past the sea rod by the sand, but never found the Green Star Coral with the Red-Boring Sponge. Ended up swimming as far South as Tower 14 and East out the the Ledge.

 On the way back, we swam right to the knoll, where I got this shot of a Red Hind.

I also got this shot of a Redband Parrotfish,

 This shot of a Rock Beauty,

and this shot of several Yellow Jacks.

We left the knoll when Luis hit 1000 psi, and swam straight to the beach.


Water Temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 106 minutes; consumption was 22.75 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet; my SAC rate was 15.01 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Caribbean Reef Squid near the swim buoy off Tower 1

Got up early intending to go night diving, but just couldn't get motivated after flooding the lights 3 days ago and then hanging my pants out to dry so to speak yesterday. So I gathered my gear and double checked everything then got to the beach around 8:10 am. Read for a bit, then geared up and got in the water.

Descended at the cut and got some photos, including this photo of a Bearded Fireworm,













and this shot of an Orange Spotted Filefish,





.

this shot of a Spotted Scorpionfish,

and this shot of a Trumpetfish. Tt was an altogether ordinary dive except visibility was really good. Just wasn't that much to see.


I headed East over the Algae Patch and the sand then along the North edge of the 3-tiered reef. At 9:30 I surfaced to find that none of the 3 towers on the beach were manned yet. I went back down and continued swimming East until I got into 26 feet of water just East of the reef. I went up for a short surface interval




Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 50 minutes; consumption was 27.18 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 feet; SAC rate was 17.25 psi/minute on an aluminum 80 tank.

Swam to the SE during the surface interval and descended to 25 feet of water. Headed South to the Jacks looking for shells and photos. Headed West from the Jacks, constantly fooling with the damn flagline. Left the Jacks with 1400 psi, way more air than I needed to reach the beach. I was on the lookout for eels or anything else interesting all the way across the Algae Patch. Didn't see much.

Turned South at the white sand and near the buoy off Tower 1. I spotted a small Green Turtle swimming along. I turned as it swam by, then decided against chasing it. I turned back to the South and spotted 2 Caribbean Reef Squid

and then 2 more. So I hung with and photographed these 4 squid until I was down to 300 psi and then I wrapped up and headed to the beach. Surfaced in about 8 feet of water, got control of the flag and swam into the beach. Big step getting out, but easily manageable in the small surf.

Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 57 minutes; consumption was 26.65 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate was 17.95 psi/minute. Nice dives.




As I was stowing my gear at the truck, I watched a solo diver walk to the beach along the Southern edge of the parking lot. I couldn't see if he got in the water of if there were other divers waiting for him at the beach, but the lifeguards did not hassle him, so maybe there is hope.

Found some Post-Larval Squid off the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Had planned to make a night dive or two first thing this morning, and even woke up in time to do so, but after ruining at least one of my Intova lights two mornings ago, I decided to sleep in instead. Got to the beach about 8:15 am and read American Outlaw for a while before gearing up and getting in the water.

Once in the water, I swam on the surface out past the swim buoys. The water was so clear and there was no evidence of any current, so I descended. Early in the dive, while still on the Algae Patch, I spotted two post larval squid. I got pictures. One appeared green, the other appeared transparent with a black outline. That was exciting.

 Kept going East off the Algae Patch, across the sand and along the bottom of the 3-tiered reef to 25 feet of water, where I spotted and photographed a Purplemouth Moray Eel in a tire.

Then I came up for a surface interval. On the surface, I was much farther North than I expected, so I swam South a bit.

Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 51 minutes; consumption was 28.75 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 feet; SAC rate was 18.24 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.



After my surface interval, I descended to 25 feet and then swam South towards the Jacks. I was running low on air, however, and decided to swim SW so that I would have the 1200 psi I needed to get to the beach from the West end of the Jacks. I got a shot of a Bearded Fireworm swimming over the 3-tiered reef,

Got this photo of two French Angelfish over the Algae Patch on the way back.

Found this Pederson Shrimp near a Corckscrew Anemone and got a good shot.  Then I swam to the beach. I had just enough air to make the beach. I shut down the camera and slowly surfaced. got the flag line under control and swam to the beach.




Water temperature was 75 degree; dive time was 52 minutes; consumption was 28.08 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; my SAC rate was 18.91 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


I got to the truck and rinsed the camera and put it away, I repacked my dive bag but I left my pants, hooded vest and jacket on the side of the truck to dry out. Unfortunately, I left them on the side of the truck during the drive home and my pants were not in the truck when I got there. Not doing well, flooded the lights and drove off without my pants in two days.