pidgiepoo
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I'd take the craziness anytime...just to see a pod of Dolphins ! What a treat. 
Craziness continues
- Thread starter jd950
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jd950
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We did an afternoon dive at Palancar Caves and a night dive yesterday at Paradise and conditions were perfect. Today the currents were not bad but visibility was crappy at Punta Tunich, Santa Rosa wall and Columbia deep. We might try way South tomorrow and see what we can do.
On the positive side, I was in front of a large hawksbill to take a photo and he had absolutely no concern about my presence. Kept coming and very calmly and slowly he pretty much climbed over me and the camera on his way, pushing me down and sliding over me as he did so. Very cool. I'll try to post a photo when I get back.
On the positive side, I was in front of a large hawksbill to take a photo and he had absolutely no concern about my presence. Kept coming and very calmly and slowly he pretty much climbed over me and the camera on his way, pushing me down and sliding over me as he did so. Very cool. I'll try to post a photo when I get back.
Hawksbills are pretty diver friendly. Good luck in your coming dives in search of decent conditions.
parrotheaddiver
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it always seems at this time of year I start reading these reports regarding underwater sand storms currents wonky and wild....wondering if it has anything to do with the changing of the seasons....
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jd950
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I thought maybe the currents were dying down but they took a less entertaining turn today. We tried to go to Punta Sur but strong currents and bad vis caused us to head back north. We went to Planacar Horseshoe and within about 60 seconds of dropping down, most of my group got caught in a sudden down-welling. I got blown from 72' to 107'. Despite finning as hard as I could and fully inflating my BC I was only able to slow then stop my descent by finning both up and away from the reef. I did not have to even consider venting the BC until I was up around 40' and a long way out from the reef.
My dive lasted 22 minutes and except for maybe 2 minutes at the start of the dive and about a 5 minute safety stop out in the blue, the entire time I was either descending involuntarily or swimming up. The others who got caught got blown down to between 91 and 103 feet but were able to get under some outcropping and then got to where they could ascend. Due to my absence and the current, the DM of course aborted the dive and got everyone back to the boat.
I have thought about it quite a bit and I don't really think there is anything else I could have done. I was seriously considering dropping my weights but manged to stop my descent before I felt it was necessary and did not want to end up with an out-of-control ascent later. Besides, I only had 4 lbs, so I don't know how much difference it would have made given that a fully inflated 35 lb wing wasn't overcoming the downdraft.
We talked to another group later who had gone through the area just before us. They said everything was fine and then saw this rush of sand headed for the edge of the reef.
I ended up floating out quite away from the reef with my SMB. The DM had called for help so other boats were looking for me and one came by and called my boat. Unfortunately, at the same time as my little incident another group got into trouble on Santa Rosa and lost a diver. We saw the helicopter up and boats out looking for her. Last I heard, after three hours she had not been found. I don't know the current status.
Dangerous day today.
My dive lasted 22 minutes and except for maybe 2 minutes at the start of the dive and about a 5 minute safety stop out in the blue, the entire time I was either descending involuntarily or swimming up. The others who got caught got blown down to between 91 and 103 feet but were able to get under some outcropping and then got to where they could ascend. Due to my absence and the current, the DM of course aborted the dive and got everyone back to the boat.
I have thought about it quite a bit and I don't really think there is anything else I could have done. I was seriously considering dropping my weights but manged to stop my descent before I felt it was necessary and did not want to end up with an out-of-control ascent later. Besides, I only had 4 lbs, so I don't know how much difference it would have made given that a fully inflated 35 lb wing wasn't overcoming the downdraft.
We talked to another group later who had gone through the area just before us. They said everything was fine and then saw this rush of sand headed for the edge of the reef.
I ended up floating out quite away from the reef with my SMB. The DM had called for help so other boats were looking for me and one came by and called my boat. Unfortunately, at the same time as my little incident another group got into trouble on Santa Rosa and lost a diver. We saw the helicopter up and boats out looking for her. Last I heard, after three hours she had not been found. I don't know the current status.
Dangerous day today.
robint
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yikes, that sounds horrible! Glad you are okay.
Santa Rosa was the reef we had wacky currents on that day (posted earlier in this thread).
robin
Santa Rosa was the reef we had wacky currents on that day (posted earlier in this thread).
robin
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Dang it! Hoping for good news...
stevep4444
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Glad to hear that you and your group are fine! Sounds like some crazy and potential dangerous currents on some dive sites today. Hope the other diver is found safe and sound!
deeper thoughts
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Thats scary hope the diver is found and all is well
suprane
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