The current on the Castor was nuts, I noped out of the dive after it was tough to even get to the ball. The couple by me where I put on and stripped off my drysuit, the husband apparently might have strained or pulled his bicep pulling his way down. So me with my greater drag (drysuit, pony, and camera) was probably right to nope out.
I did go down, but without my camera when the DM was hot dropped on the wreck for a drift ascent. We went down and down and bam there was the wreck a short distance away. We spent a few minutes, I looked at the three hiding near the wheel house, until he released the down line. After I saw the down line pull a Linda Ronstadt, I pulled out my DSMB to deploy it. I put what felt like a full breath and it went away. Around 50 foot I noticed that my line was not the 45 degrees up I would've expected and instead was down below me. Whatever I was reeling it in. At around 30 feet the prodigal son returned and started drifting upward and finally to the surface.
I need to practice DSMB deployment and blue water ascents. But it was workable, I wouldn't want to do deco on that ascent, but workable for rec.
Dive 2 was on the Boynton Ledge, not much to see, but lots and lots of barrel sponges. Many was wide or wider than a 55 gal drum, and a number taller to. I saw at least a 4 foot long parrot fish, I thought it was a Goliath at first until it turned. Also a friendly 4ft Nurse Shark, probably looking for a free meal. And a number of good sized Lobster.
Overall I like Starfish, the crew is helpful, and the boat isn't overly packed. In fact there was plenty of room to gear up, and even get out away from the sun, as they don't pack the boat with divers bow to stern. That being said, if I do Castor again it was will a hot drop with a drift ascent.
Sorry to
@CosbySweater I didn't talk much, I was trying to stay out of the sun.
. In all seriousness 4 kt what was I heard but no one was out there measuring. Whatever it was it was movin.
