Ricther's first two open water dives

Ric met me at the South Beach parking lot after he got off work, and we walked down to look at the surf and discuss the dive. The Lifeguards had gone from a yellow flag to a red flag with the rising wind, but the currents actually looked less complicated. We decided to dive.

We geared up and got in the water together. We walked out through the surf, going over some waves and under others. When we got to chest deep water, we were out past the breaking waves and we finned up, put air in our inner tubes and swam out past the swim buoy line. We descended in about 14 ft of water. Ric paused a bit at the surface  before descending and I was afraid he was holding his breath since we put 14 pounds on him for the dive, but he came down just fine. I somehow managed to leave my compass at the truck, but the sun was low on the horizon and it was pretty easy to navigate East or West. We got to the 3-tiered reef and were only in 19 feet of water, so I went North to go around and look for 24 feet of water. I did not find it, but I got into 23 feet and I signalled Ric that we should surface. He came up by changing his buoyancy with his breathing.

Water temperature was 76 degrees, dive time was 31 minutes; consumption was 32.58 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate was 21.94 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

During the surface interval, I reeled in the flagline, but still got in tangled behind my tank and was struggling to untangle myself before we went back down. Ric saw, evaluated and assisted without my directing him. We then descended to 22 feet of water after. We swam South looking for the Jacks, but we must have drifted well North during the surface interval. We swam SW until we found the reef and then went due West. Swam easily but slowly West across the sand and over the Algae Patch to the white sand before the beach. Surfaced in about 8 ft of water to warn Ric about getting out of his fins and to try to control the flagline. Put a gauge on Ric's tank when we got to the truck, and he had 1500 psi left.

Water temperature was 76 degrees, dive time was 31 minutes; consumption was 28.87 psi/minute at an average depth of 14 feet; SAC rate was 20.27 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

More diving on the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Got to the South Beach parking lot a little after 8:00 am and read for a bit. Calm at the beach and not much surf. Geared up and got in the water about 8:30 am and swam on the surface to the swim buoy line. Let the current carry me South off my marks. Ran into an unattached Man 'o War tentacle that lit me up, so I descended in case there were others. Got over the algae patch to the sand but only in 20 feet of water as a wave passed, then up to 18 feet. Headed North and swam under the North line of the 3-tiered reef. Got into 24-24 feet of water and surfaced.

Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 55 minutes; consumption was 26.40 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 17.08 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Swam South on the surface during my surface interval. Descended to 24 feet of water. Found a really large and well decorated gaudy natica, which made it home with me. Found a number of Moonsails. Went South towards the Jacks, then headed SW onto the 3-tiered reef and headed for the beach. I left the Jacks with 1600 psi, but surge was a problem for me and I was burning through air a little faster. Got on the Algae Patch, but really didn't recognize where I was. Thought I saw the white sand before the beach, so I killed some time and used 500 psi, but turns out I saw a bed of sand on the Algae Patch. I was hustling to get over the patch and into the swimming area. Made it with air to spare.

Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 59 minutes; consumption was 26.19 psi/minute at an average depth of 15 feet; SAC rate was 18.00 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Another Dive on the Yankee Clipper Jacks

Got to the beach a little after 8:00 am. Surf was up, but manageable. Decided against taking the camera. The wind was lighter than predicted and at least one surfer was taking a wave just South of me as I headed out. I swam out to the swim buoy and decided to go down there. I let the current take me North of the swim buoy before descending, then headed East to the sand and, I thought, the sand East of the 3-tiered reef. I found several shells and I picked up one Moonsail shell that was distinctly decorated in black and while. Unfortunately that shell was not in my pocket when I got back to the truck, leaving me to wonder if I really saw it at all. It could have dropped out of my pocket as I put another shell in. Anyway, I got to 25 ft of water and came up after 52 minutes.

Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 52 minutes; consumption was 26.29 psi/minute at an average depth of 19 feet; SAC rate was 16.68 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

During the surface interval, I looked to see if the Lifeguards were in their towers, and I think they were, suggesting that they opened up before 9:30 am. Bad for me. After 5 minutes, I descended to 25 feet and headed SW. I was burning through air faster than the first dive and I was still North of the Jacks. Left the 3-tiered reef at 1100 psi and got within sight of the white sand by 500 psi. Tripped 40 minutes and I launched on the surge to the beach. Two minutes later I was in 8 feet of water and decided to surface, control the flagline and swim in. I got my fins off in chest deep water, but was getting pushed to the shore and shallow water. The undertow was substantial and took my feet out from under me in about 2 feet of water. I went down, rolled on the tank then onto my side and pushed back to water deep enough to get back on my feet. Second time I was a little more together and actually got up the ledge and onto to the beach.

Water temperature was 75 degrees; dive time was 42 minutes; consumption was 33.05 psi/minute at an average depth of 17 feet; SAC rate was 21.81 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.

Diving the Yankee Clipper Jacks in the morning

The sun was just coming up as I headed for the beach. Read a little, then decided I ought to get in the water early just in case the lifeguards had changed their schedule. Decided to take the camera, though it was readily apparent once I got in the water that visibility was next to nothing and there would be no photographs this morning. I also took my new fins, since I noticed during the buoyancy dive I did with Ric in the pool yesterday that the old blue fins were cracked just under the footings.

I swam over the Algae Patch and out to the sand. Water was rough, visibility was poor and I was using air pretty quickly. Came to the 3-tiered reef, so I went North and around to get to 24 feet of water on the sand North of the Jacks. I turned and headed South and went up after 40 minutes.

Water temperature was 73 degrees; dive time was  42 minutes; consumption was 28.27 psi/minute at an average depth of 16 feet; SAC rate was 17.60 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.


Swam NE during the surface interval and descended to 26 feet. Came SW looking for shells and the Jacks. Found the 3-tiered reef and headed West, but would turn into the current if I wasn't watching the compass. Went through the Caves looking for something to photograph, but saw very few fish. Pretty barren. Still blowing through air and a little concerned about making it to the beach, so I folded up the camera since I wasn't taking any pictures, anyway, and focused on swimming in.

I was pulling myself along over the Algae Patch and happened to grab a handhold in which a Purplemouth Moray Eel was waiting. Scared him too, but neither of us hurt the other. Did make me think I ought to pay more attention to my handholds, however.

Made the white sand at 400 psi, but the flagline got caught on some sea rods and I spent some time getting free, then moving on into the beach. I was coming out in knee deep water and just dropped to my knees. rolled onto my side and pushed back into deeper water and got my legs under me. A tourist rushed out to help me, but I was just walking out as he came up to me. Got a nice little assist from the waves and walked out just like I'd done it before.

When I got home, I downloaded the 20-30 pictures I shot and threw all but two of them away. I kept this shot of a Hogfish and

this close-up of a Triggerfish not because they were so good, but to remind me that if the visibility is poor I probably should not risk flooding or otherwise damaging the camera for anything as pathetic as these two shots.



Water temperature was 73 degrees; dive time was 45 minutes; consumption was 36.29 psi/minute at an average depth of 18 feet; SAC rate was 23.48 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.