Where did you solo dive today?

[34109411]

#951
Starfish Bay
Hen & Chicks
Northland
New Zealand

A rare dive from my own boat as I had someone else on board. Pretty dive site and a huge number of fish, but the purpose was to catch a crayfish (lobster) for dinner. I saw one and missed my chance. Never mind!

So you know you i have miserable life when i look at you on this pic. my reality this morning started with 3 inch of snow. I will like to have you home adress there is a Quanta's flight leaving CYUL tomorrow. No worries i have all my gear ready to go. I don't need you boat i will go from shore.

Thank you so much to welcome me !!!!

 

[MB NZ]

So you know you i have miserable life when i look at you on this pic. my reality this morning started with 3 inch of snow. I will like to have you home adress there is a Quanta's flight leaving CYUL tomorrow. No worries i have all my gear ready to go. I don't need you boat i will go from shore.

Thank you so much to welcome me !!!!

I don't do cold, at least not very well! Tell me when your flight arrives and I will get the boat ready

 

[34109411]

I don't do cold, at least not very well! Tell me when your flight arrives and I will get the boat ready

ahh great could not wait !

Greetings from Canada

 

[matt_yates]

Its been a while since posting about my solo adventures. Plenty of diving last summer in the north sea. Mostly in the 30 to 50m depth region. A couple of different warships and the north sea passenger liner the SS Copenhagen.

Yesterday I was able to dive Dinas silica mine, an abandoned mine complex in South Wales.

Its not the easiest sites to access. its a good half mile from the carpark to the mine entrance up and over a steep rocky hill.

The mine has a large cavern as an entrance, the dive starts further back.

It took two trips to move my kit to the waters edge.

The water was a cool 8°c and exceedingly clear at least 20m.

I dived the shallower levels max depth of 9m for 80minutes, the mine shafts are laid out in a grid pattern and can become quite confusing and disorientating so despite there being a permanent line a laid my own safety line.

It was a great feeling to either reach the end of a tunnel or running out of line before starting back and choosing another set to explore.

After the dive it was time to face the hill another 2 times.

Despite the effort to get too and from the water it was well worth the effort.

 

[34109411]

Its been a while since posting about my solo adventures. Plenty of diving last summer in the north sea. Mostly in the 30 to 50m depth region. A couple of different warships and the north sea passenger liner the SS Copenhagen.

Yesterday I was able to dive Dinas silica mine, an abandoned mine complex in South Wales.

Its not the easiest sites to access. its a good half mile from the carpark to the mine entrance up and over a steep rocky hill.View attachment 884859

The mine has a large cavern as an entrance, the dive starts further back.



It took two trips to move my kit to the waters edge.

The water was a cool 8°c and exceedingly clear at least 20m.

I dived the shallower levels max depth of 9m for 80minutes, the mine shafts are laid out in a grid pattern and can become quite confusing and disorientating so despite there being a permanent line a laid my own safety line.

It was a great feeling to either reach the end of a tunnel or running out of line before starting back and choosing another set to explore.

After the dive it was time to face the hill another 2 times.

Despite the effort to get too and from the water it was well worth the effort.

Its been a while since posting about my solo adventures. Plenty of diving last summer in the north sea. Mostly in the 30 to 50m depth region. A couple of different warships and the north sea passenger liner the SS Copenhagen.

Yesterday I was able to dive Dinas silica mine, an abandoned mine complex in South Wales.

Its not the easiest sites to access. its a good half mile from the carpark to the mine entrance up and over a steep rocky hill.View attachment 884859

The mine has a large cavern as an entrance, the dive starts further back.



It took two trips to move my kit to the waters edge.

The water was a cool 8°c and exceedingly clear at least 20m.

I dived the shallower levels max depth of 9m for 80minutes, the mine shafts are laid out in a grid pattern and can become quite confusing and disorientating so despite there being a permanent line a laid my own safety line.

It was a great feeling to either reach the end of a tunnel or running out of line before starting back and choosing another set to explore.

After the dive it was time to face the hill another 2 times.

Despite the effort to get too and from the water it was well worth the effort.

wow this is cool. So you carry all you gear on that trail .

 

[matt_yates]

wow this is cool. So you carry all you gear on that trail .

yep manpacked everything in and out

 

[Jeff_O]

I walked a trail about 8 tenths a mile to get to nice coves, but that is for snorkeling.

A wagon needed now for tank diving, so trails like that probably not possible for me.

Nerve pain in one hand from two areas along nerve path I know I was told. Opted for cubital tunnel surgery on elbow area, cervical spine will just wait and see with PT.

I had long ago used with others in a group, not quite belayed with rope, just used to help if on a very steep trail to Pacific Ocean on Central California Coast, felt boots slipping.

No longer use Aluminum 92CF 3200PSI Tanks, opt for Steel 80CF HP 3400PSI.

If I could, I would find a Sherpa for what I see you accomplishing.

 

[happy-diver]

to carry your chest mount rebreather

 

[SelfDiver]

Andrea II Bonaire

Google Maps

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200ft

 

[Cthippo]

Powder Plant Beach, Ferndale WA.

Mostly what this spot had going for it was close, accessible shore dive, but it actually turned out to be pretty cool.

After a long ride on the struggle bus.

I got out there and struggled into my gear, slogged into the water and immediately broke a fin strap. I thought about calling it there, but I had made a bunch of configuration changes I figured I might as well try out. Dumped my BCD and still couldn't sink, so was pulling myself along the structure hand over hand trying to stay down. Turns out I didn't have all the air out. Oops.

With that sorted I was finally able to get to the bottom and there I discovered that moving 6 lbs from my waist to the upper tank band was a bit much and I was now head heavy and rolling left. OK, annoying but manageable. I swam out a ways and checked out the critters on the bottom until I hit 1300 lbs and turned it. When I popped up I was within 100 feet of where I started and so I'm calling that a navigational win. Unfortunately, when I left the bottom at 8 feet to spyhop I think I lost my weight pouch off the cam band because I could not get back down and it was gone when I got home.

Highlight of the dive was seeing three white lined nudibranchs. They were significantly larger than I expected and I have never seen nudis before.

I need to get another 6 lbs of lead and try putting it on my lower cam band until I get the trim right.

Air 2080 start, 650 end
Pony 2400/2400
Total time about 30 minutes
Max depth 20 feet
Exposure protection 7mm