Jeremy, Jessica and Barbara got to the apartment a little before 7:30 am. I was out walking the dog, but got back shortly after they arrived. They were working on the table problems. We went through their gear and got everyone fixed up with a compass then headed to the beach. Luis was there waiting. Leo got there right at 8:00 am. Ryan and Ashley arrived last because Ryan had to go to the shop to fill tanks.
We spent some time talking, then geared up and got in the water. We spent about 20 minutes struggling with weights and gear near the shore, but finally got fins on. Ashley, who was carrying 8 pounds; Jeremy, 4; Jessica, 10; and Barbara 6. I think. We descended in about 6 feet of water and went out slowly on the bottom to avoid equalization problems. We headed more or less East, but did not see much life. Lots of sand. I turned the dive at 25 minutes and we headed back to the beach. I thought about swinging by the Tower 3 swim buoy to get the anchor I left there yesterday, but decided against it. Too far out of the way and too many students with me.
Bottom temperature was 78 degrees; Dive time was 49 minutes; consumption was 27.27 psi/minute at an average depth of 15 feet and my SAC rate was 18.74 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.
Apparently the Lifeguard on Tower 4, Daniel, stopped Leo and informed him that Fort Lauderdale had a rule that there should be a dive flag for every two divers. We were a flag short, but it didn't matter since he knew us. We looked pretty rag-tag to me.
We did ultimately get in the water and swim on the surface out to the swim buoy, where we went through several surface skills: pulling the weights, taking the gear off at the surface and the tired diver's tow. Then we descended and tried to stay together as we made our way East. I found a sandy patch and had everyone kneel while we went through most of the other skills: cramp release, removing and replacing weights underwater; removing and replacing gear underwater; purging the regulator; recovering a regulator; removing the mask. Everyone did well except I did not ask Ashley to remove her mask. Agreed to let her work on that in the pool and we could dive Monday and finish her up. I turned the dive after about 25 minutes and we headed back to the beach.
Bottom temperature 78 degrees; dive time 47 minutes; consumption rate was 21.72 psi/minute at an average depth of 15 feet and my SAC rate was 14.93 psi/minute on an aluminum 80.
A continuing log of dives and commentary on items of interest to students at Cordova Diving.
24 April 2015
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 shot of a Banded Tube dwelling Anemone.
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.
23 April 2015
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,
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.
21 April 2015
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.
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.
20 April 2015
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.
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.
19 April 2015
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.
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.
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.
Then we headed out NE again and found the same rocky area with the reef fish.
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.
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