I went out today after work for a tune up dive. Lessons learned, overweighted still but got it figured out, mask still leaks because of my face dimensions, boots too big and turn into water bags during the dive, new wetsuit was great.
The way you learn and get better is by doing it, so good job!
It was pretty amazing to be at such a beautiful dive spot right after work. I was thinking about it as I was diving and might start making this a weekly event.
Definitely do this. What days of the week and times of day work best for you? This is important in finding buddies who can align schedules and join you. I'd invite you on a dive, but I'll be out of the water for the next 6 weeks for a minor surgical procedure. I do have a buddy who's looking for people to dive with.
Went in the water at 5:45pm and got out a little around 7:15pm.
1.5 hours, not a bad start. Are you diving with an AL80 tank?
Towards the end the water started churning up and visibility went to 15-20ft maybe, is that normal towards the tide change? I was always told to go out an hour before or after high tide is best but maybe it's better the first hour.
If we think about what happening with the tide, it'll make sense. As the tide comes in, it's bringing in the ocean water through the inlet and pushing the river water back. The river water is brown, low vis, and just yucky. Upriver, the river current is pushing against the tide and is mixing. Once the tide shifts, that water mix starts to make its way back down to the bridge. Some days are worse than others. I've seen 20ft of vis turn to 5ft at the flip of a switch.
As you learn the site more and more, you'll find a timing pattern which works best for you. I dive with a steel 120. I can do a 3.5 to 4hr dive, if I'm doing photography. In order to do this, I will likely get in 1.5 hours prior to HT. I won't head straight for the bridge spans. Instead, I'll poke around in front of the beach in 6-9ft looking for macro critters to take pictures of. I might even find seahorses and frogfish. I've actually done 3.5 hours without leaving the beach area because there was so much to find.
Typically, we tell people to go in 1 hour prior and you'll have 1 hour after, for a 2 hour dive. Spend 30 min or so along the beach or snorkel trail, then drift into the bridge with the light current. The light current should go slack soon. Once the tide shifts and you feel the current picking up, head back towards the beach exit.
Saw these huge french angel fish, had to be the size of automobile tires. Beautiful! Also as I was fidgeting with the dive flag, new to this, I literally got ran into by an eel making it's way from one rock structure to the other. Kinda freaked me out but I guess I was in his way. Great day and can't wait to go again.
Cheers -Matt
Very cool, sounds like you saw some cool stuff. Keep at it. Find people to dive with. Continue refining your skills. Have fun!
