paulwall:
I need to get my monthly fix. Relatively Close to New Orleans and less expensive than the rig trip I have scheduled in July.
Well, Gary (
http://www.gulfdiver.net) arranged for me to join the H2O Below for a trip out of Innerarity Point today. He sent 2 Faber 95 LP Steel tanks for me to use (a review of these comes later). It was a beatiful morning to be on the water, but a little early to leave Mobile at 6am to get to the boat by 7:30.
First Dive: Pete Tide - Max Depth 98 ft., dive time 45 minutes, typical depth 79-84 feet.
Surface temp 84*, air Temp 86*, Thermoclines at 20ft (80*) 40ft (76*) and 73ft (72*) Anchored in the stern. Strong, wind-driven surface current. Visibilty on the bottom, under the sides of the boat and around the stern was about 10-15 feet. Really cleared up if you rose up to 60-70 feet (25-35 ft). Lots of particulate in the water, many jellies including stinging ones. Large barracuda, schools of spadefish, juvenile gamefish, and tropicals. Easy, fun, relaxing dive. No pictures.
Second dive: Russian Freighter: max depth 86 ft, dive time 45 minutes, typical depth 65-75 feet. Much better visibility on this site (30-40 feet), lots of fishing line, barracuda, a huge remora, toadfish, tropicals, Huge schools of spadefish and schools of larger amberjack. Same thermoclines experienced. It was really too cold on the bottom for my 3/2 shorty. The broken hull is very interesting, and there are lots of artifacts to be found (fishing line, fishing weights, snagged anchors, and hooked,but unretrieved fish). Really a great dive. No slipper lobster, though. <sigh> No pictures.
