Solo Dive on the Ledge of Turtles

      When I went to Underseas Sports to fill tanks yesterday, I picked up some new Lithium Ion batteries for the strobe.  Charged the batteries last night and set them up to use them this morning.  When I turned the switch on, the ready light came on within seconds.  The auto-focus got switched off, but my pre-dive check shot picked up that problem and I fixed it before I got in the water.

      The water seemed colder and the surf was definitely more difficult to swim through this morning, but I made it out.  Dropped right on the Rock Pile and headed off at 120 degrees, but 20 minutes later I was obviously off course.  I didn't know which way I was off, but I started swimming SW a bit and ran into the Ledge.  Spent most of the dive on the Ledge taking pictures.  I was a little disappointed not to find any squid,

but I did get some good shots of a Squirrelfish,

a Hogfish,

a Juvenile Porkfish,

A Yellowtail Damselfish (Golden Variation),

a Yellowtail Snapper,

and a Sand Diver, though usually I try to get a shot head on.


My computer tells me that the water temperature was 75.2 degrees, same as its been all week, but it seemed colder to me.  I was shivering when I got out and had no desire to make a second dive, though the poor visibility had a lot to do with that decision.