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.

Diving the Little Coral Knoll

Since the tunnel was the only access to the beach, I decided to park near the park entry and walk along Sunrise Blvd to get to the beach. It beat trying to go up and down the tunnel stairs at the end of my dive.

I had a little trouble getting out through the surf because the bottom was very uneven. Peaks and valleys. But I got out and swam to the swim buoy off Tower 15, but I missed the Big Rock and searched for several minutes before finding it. Found a Lionfish on the Rock and got this shot.

Visibility over the sand was only about 3 ft, maybe less. From the Big Rock, everything went as it should except the current pushed me to the North and I had to adjust my bearing by 5-10 degrees to hold 120 degrees. Got to the knoll, but went slowly and it took time to get there. Just hung out and took pictures, for the most part.

Got this shot of a Juvenile Lane Snapper,

 This shot of a Hogfish,

and this shot of some Mat Zoanthid.

Surfaced at 1600 psi instead of 1500 psi because I couldn't read my computer very well.






Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 57 minutes; consumption was 24.51 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet and my SAC rate was 16.51 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.




I thought I spent my surface interval above the knoll, but when I descended I found that I had drifted to the North with the current. As I came down, I spotted a small Green Sea Turtle in one of several holes in the reef. I set up my camera and got some pictures of the turtle. We even swam together for a little bit.

Then I spotted a landmark and headed West to the knoll. I stayed at the knoll until I got down to 900 psi, then I headed to the Porthole Rocks, where I spotted a Purplemouth Moray Eel swimming in the open.

Got a couple of pictures then headed West to the beach near Tower 14, where I had entered the water.

Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 53 minutes; consumption was 25.64 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet and my SAC rate was 17.27 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Diving the Little Coral Knoll, sort of

Went to Birch State Park this morning since the whole South Beach parking lot is closed until next Monday. Geared up and got in the water, which was relatively warm but bouncy. I swam out to the swim buoy and descended. visibility was 3 ft or less, but I managed to find the old buoy pin and then the Big Rock.

I took a couple of pictures on the Big Rock, but visibility was really poor. I headed South to the smaller rock but ended up at the knee-high coral and went from there to the decorated sea rods, the dead sea rods and the counter-weight. That's as close as I got to the knoll. Think I got set North. In the low visibility, I just couldn't find the knoll.

I just swam around and got this shot of an Initial Phase Redband Parrotfish  

and this shot of a red-tipped Fire Worm.  I spent about an hour swimming and looking, then surfaced to find I was pretty much East of Tower 15.





Bottom Temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 60 minutes; consumption was 25.07 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 16.22 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.




After a 5 minute surface interval, I guessed that I was North of the knoll, so I descended to 18 feet and then moved South to 22 feet of water, but I never found the knoll or any of the various landmarks I know in the area. I picked up some shells and took some pictures, but visibility was so bad that I wasn't optimistic.

 I got this sot of a Juvenile Queen Angelfish

and this shot of an Orange Spotted Filefish.

I had to surface at about 700 psi to see where I was and how best to get to the beach. Turns out I was well South of Tower 15 at that point and since the A1A project had blocked the street entrance to the beach, I would have to go down the stairs, through the tunnel and up the other stairs to get back to the truck even if I did swim back to Tower 15. I decided to exit onto Sunrise and walk in the main entrance to the park. It was a longer walk, but no stairs would be involved. After being weightless for almost 2 hours it was important that no stairs would be involved.


Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 51 minutes; consumption was 25.84 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 16.72 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Looking for the Anchor in all the wrong places

Although I woke up early, I just did not want to race to the beach and make a night dive. I have a hard time tracking my location. Just as well, as Luis texted me to let me know he was ill and would not be diving this morning. I decided to head to the beach at 8:00 am and try to locate the anchor I saw yesterday morning.

I took both the SMB and my lift bag just in case I did find it. Swam on the surface out to the swim buoy, then headed ENE and got to the the area we dove with Leo yesterday. I tried to cover the area in an organized fashion, but since I have no landmarks underwater, I was going to be spending a lot of time at the surface, so I opted to just look around. Maybe I can get Leo and Luis to help with an organized search. Or maybe I can learn the area and  use underwater landmarks rather than hotels on the beach.

I got some pictures, like the Gray Angelfish above, and this Gaudy Natica.

 Got this shot of a Hogfish,

 this shot of an Orange Spotted Filefish

 and this shot of a Rough File Clam.

What I did not find was the anchor.






Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 63 minutes; consumption was 23.62 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was 15.28 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


I closed up the camera on this second dive, and focused on my search of the plow anchor. I descended to 26 feet and started working my way along the West side of a sand corridor. Problem is that I found the anchor in 20 ft of water and off of the Marriot Courtyard. While I do not know what the tides were yesterday, I'm guessing they aren't 6 ft higher this morning. So I decided I was looking in the wrong place and moved West to find shallower water. It didn't help. I ended up just swimming into the beach.

Bottom temperature is 76 degrees; dive time was 55 minutes; consumption was 24.58 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 feet and my SAC rate was 15.60 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Luis and then Leo join me off Catamaran Beach

Luis parked behind me shortly after I got my tank off. I was cold and needed a long surface interval to dry off
 and warm up. Once I had, we geared up and got in the water.



We descended just past the swim buoy off Tower 4, but then headed out NNE. Spotted a lot of fish on a 3 foot ledge, so we headed there and followed the ledge around.

I got this shot of an Intermediate French Angelfish









and this shot of a Social Feather Duster.

Then we headed out due East. The topography was nothing like I expected. It was flat and grassy. There was one spot that looked like a ledge, but it was filled in with sand above and opened to a large sandy area. I found a large Gaudy Natica.

We turned the dive at 1500 psi, but Luis was cold and in a hurry to get out of the water. I was hoping to drag the return trip out so that I would get 2 hours, but I surfaced with 400 psi still in my tank. I could have made 6 minutes on that.

Bottom temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 114 minutes; consumption was 21.75 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet and my SAC was 14.08 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Leo was at the beach and waiting for us when we got out from our dive, but I needed some time to warm up. Took an hour. Luis could have taken longer. We geared up and got back in. I explained to Leo that the topography was more interesting to the North so we tended in that direction.

While it is difficult to recognize specific reef or rock formations, we did get into areas that were much more interesting that what Luis and I just dived.


I spotted this Atlantic Guitarfish and took this photo.

Also got this shot of a Sand Diver swimming,

 and this shot of a Spotted Scorpionfish waiting.


I was hoping we might find the anchor, but we didn't. Still it was an interesting dive and we saw a lot of life, though nothing stands out.



Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; dive time was 113 minutes; consumption was 22.90 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet and my SAC rate was 15.12 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Found a Large Plow Anchor While Night Diving off Catamaran Beach

Got to the beach early. Geared up and got in the water. I descended while still over the white sand in about 8 ft of water. Slowly made my way East to the swim buoy, but the current set me to the North. Swam more or less to the NE.


I got into some interesting topography with lots of fish. In one area the formations had eroded into squares, like brownies shaken up in the baking pan. I spotted an interesting pile of either thick snakes or rope and went to investigate.


Turned out to be a plow anchor, its chain rode and a fair amount of anchor line. I thought about marking it with my SMB, but that seemed like a bad idea at night, so I decided to surface and try to get my bearings. I had been set way North and seemed straight out from the Marriot Courtyard. Probably no more than 30 minute out from the beach. I hoped I would be able to find it again, maybe bringing my lift bag.


Bottom temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 44 minutes; consumption rate was 23.20 psi/minute and my SAC rate was 15.32 psi/minute.


After my 6 minute surface interval, I dropped down and already I could not find the anchor. I spent 10 minutes looking, and getting no where. I was now in 23 feet of water, whereas the anchor was in less than 20 feet. I kept

heading East and exploring.



Spotted this Scrawled Filefish and got this shot.  Look at those teeth.

Also found and photographed this Hogfish.

Then I was on a large field of sand. At about 1400 psi, I turned the dive and began swimming West, back to the beach.




Bottom temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 40 minutes; consumption was 22.83 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 feet and my SAC rate had dropped to 14.50 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


After another 6 minute surface interval, I descended to 20 feet and continued making my way West towards the beach. The sun was rising and I was enjoying watching the Sailfin Bennys pop out of their burrows and do their dance. Maybe when it is warmer and I don't need hours between dives to warm up, I'll come out and just shoot pictures of the Blennies.
I got this shot of a White Grunt trying to get a Bluehead to clean its mouth.

Also got this shot of a Smooth Trunkfish searching for its next meal.


I ended up at a swim buoy as I got to the white sand beach, but it was the swim buoy off Tower 2, not the one off Tower 4. I surfaced and then swam on the surface back to Tower 4.

Bottom temperature was 76 degrees; Dive time was 44 minutes; consumption rate was down to 20.91 psi/minute at an averate depth of 18 feet and my SAC rate was at 13.53 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.