Tjack
Contributor
- Messages
- 998
- Reaction score
- 191
- # of dives
- 500 - 999
Hey what a great weekend of diving in old Santa Rosa. It was a good turn out with most of the Scubaboard hardcores in attendance. Great Vis on Friday declining to murky on Sunday provided some good variety. Friday was reminiscent of one of the Mexican Cenotes and if you were right in the middle Sunday it was like hanging in the big blue ocean. Everyone seemed to be diving well without any buoyancy shenanigans.
There is a noticeable lack of fish this year and signs of geothermal activity in the Hole. There was a black and yellow residue along the walls as if something is venting through the Hole from deep under the earth. I always get the sense that the Hole is a conduit between the surface realm and the bowls of Hades. Also as Ron (RonFrank) pointed out in his trip report it seems as if there is some kind of rock fall occurring, it would be something if this were to occur while people were diving!?
Santa Rosa Stella did show up on Friday afternoon around 4pm, she always seems more than happy to come in for fills if there is a need. Justin (BigBubbaJ) also arrived at that time with a car full of tanks, thanks Bro. Justin, Rick (Waterskier) and I did get an afternoon dive in with exceptional visibility despite many swimmers above.
We did a true night dive with Ron and Dan (DDavies) after a mediocre dinner at the Santa Fe Grill. There is something special about night dives in the Blue Hole with excellent visibility and the lights off in the distance. With its vertical walls the Hole is a great place for underwater shadow puppets.
It’s too bad we missed you DanB (Mintaka). We are usually the ones hanging out at the picnic tables at the back of the lot. Look for us there next time. How was Rock Lake? How can we get in on a permit for the Rock one of these days? It would be great to check out a new lake down there. Robin (Robint) was a no show but we did get to dive with James from Kevin’s (ABQdiver) shop in Albuquerque. James seems like he is getting to be a regular at the Hole but he hasn’t found his way onto the Scubaboard yet.
Saturday was crowded with both divers and swimmers, not sure who was having more fun? I was focused on configuring a 19cf Pony bottle, with lots of advice and opinions from my comrades in scuba. Thanks to Ron for the Pony rigging.
Perch was a hoot on Saturday after the big storm, It must have rained 2 inches in under an hour which made for low vis and a good challenge. Lots of immature Largemouth Bass and a Rainbow Trout were hanging off the tail of the airplane. To me Perch is more like a ‘natural’ lake than the Hole. There is aquatic vegetation and lots of little fish, as well as a nice 10’ wall that forms a circle around the lake at about 40’ deep. The airplane, though small, is a cool wreck and can be used a swim through. Also the variability in visibility and temperature with a distinct thermocline make Perch a different dive every time.
Apparently no one at the Adobe Inn complained about our late night drinking as we were not asked to ‘keep it down’ as usual. Justin’s wife Sara seemed to enjoy Santa Rosa despite not diving. She liked Puerto de Luna, an historic settlement 10 miles down the road, which provides a glimpse of the rich history of New Mexico.
All in all it was great to dive with the gang again.
There is a noticeable lack of fish this year and signs of geothermal activity in the Hole. There was a black and yellow residue along the walls as if something is venting through the Hole from deep under the earth. I always get the sense that the Hole is a conduit between the surface realm and the bowls of Hades. Also as Ron (RonFrank) pointed out in his trip report it seems as if there is some kind of rock fall occurring, it would be something if this were to occur while people were diving!?
Santa Rosa Stella did show up on Friday afternoon around 4pm, she always seems more than happy to come in for fills if there is a need. Justin (BigBubbaJ) also arrived at that time with a car full of tanks, thanks Bro. Justin, Rick (Waterskier) and I did get an afternoon dive in with exceptional visibility despite many swimmers above.
We did a true night dive with Ron and Dan (DDavies) after a mediocre dinner at the Santa Fe Grill. There is something special about night dives in the Blue Hole with excellent visibility and the lights off in the distance. With its vertical walls the Hole is a great place for underwater shadow puppets.
It’s too bad we missed you DanB (Mintaka). We are usually the ones hanging out at the picnic tables at the back of the lot. Look for us there next time. How was Rock Lake? How can we get in on a permit for the Rock one of these days? It would be great to check out a new lake down there. Robin (Robint) was a no show but we did get to dive with James from Kevin’s (ABQdiver) shop in Albuquerque. James seems like he is getting to be a regular at the Hole but he hasn’t found his way onto the Scubaboard yet.
Saturday was crowded with both divers and swimmers, not sure who was having more fun? I was focused on configuring a 19cf Pony bottle, with lots of advice and opinions from my comrades in scuba. Thanks to Ron for the Pony rigging.
Perch was a hoot on Saturday after the big storm, It must have rained 2 inches in under an hour which made for low vis and a good challenge. Lots of immature Largemouth Bass and a Rainbow Trout were hanging off the tail of the airplane. To me Perch is more like a ‘natural’ lake than the Hole. There is aquatic vegetation and lots of little fish, as well as a nice 10’ wall that forms a circle around the lake at about 40’ deep. The airplane, though small, is a cool wreck and can be used a swim through. Also the variability in visibility and temperature with a distinct thermocline make Perch a different dive every time.
Apparently no one at the Adobe Inn complained about our late night drinking as we were not asked to ‘keep it down’ as usual. Justin’s wife Sara seemed to enjoy Santa Rosa despite not diving. She liked Puerto de Luna, an historic settlement 10 miles down the road, which provides a glimpse of the rich history of New Mexico.
All in all it was great to dive with the gang again.
