Blue Hole Oct 17th~18th

[RonFrank]

Yeah it was great seeing and diving with everyone.

One of the instructors Burt (I think), from ABQ had pulled Venus to the surface with a lift bag, and had a better idea for a location. I agree where we put her was somewhat stable, but kinda in a traffic area, and not quite level. Hope the new spot is better, and it sounds like it will be.

 

[Divedoggie]

Yeah it was great seeing and diving with everyone.

One of the instructors Burt (I think), from ABQ had pulled Venus to the surface with a lift bag, and had a better idea for a location. I agree where we put her was somewhat stable, but kinda in a traffic area, and not quite level. Hope the new spot is better, and it sounds like it will be.

On our last dive today I looked at Venus and thought that she should be moved. I'm not sure why anyone would bring her back to the surface, but I'm glad that they took the initiative to move her to a better and hopefully more protected location.
Even though last night's dive was mayhem and the liftbag could salvage a cannon off a wreck, it was super memorable and a ton of fun!

I have to laugh as I recount the story of climbing on top of the bag while tipping the valve up and then sinking about an inch a minute with my BC and drysuit completely empty, and then accelerating into the depths while attempting to equalize my suit, and watching the pony bottle fall off of the rubber hose while I stared at it dumbfoundedly and quite clearly because 20 sets of lights were illuminating the entire ordeal.
Then reattaching the pony and over-inflating the bag before the hose blew off and watching Ron climb back on top of the bag as we started back up. Now I dumped all of the air from my 45 lb wing and and am hanging off the bottom of the bag and looking at venus 10 feet below. I hand the pony bottle to James and abandon the thought of trying to control the buoyancy on the beast of a bag.
Suddenly we plummet again, requiring that I completely fill the 45 lb wing and the drysuit and flare out to slow the descent. Somehow she smoothly touches bottom and now I'm dumping madly from BC and suit.
All the while 20 sets of lights are dancing around the bag, the statue, and the badly stirred up bottom debris.
My favorite memory though is looking at Ron to get his permission to cut the line so we can send that damn bag hurtling back to the surface. He gave me the nod and off it went. It was a bummer to later find it intact!
It was great seeing everyone, and I look forward to enjoying the view of Venus 70 feet below, from now on!

Kent

 

[robint]

Aaaaahhhh, lovely Venus.
before she took the plunge:

wish we had been able to stay around and watch the night dive with her. That would have been great on video.

rest of photos I took: http://www.rnrscuba.net/Blue_Hole_pictures/Oct09_RMO851.JPG

I will work on the video of the day's events, with the Perch dive, and try to get it posted later in the week. Ron finished grouting all the tile yesterday and is back to work. Today I will be on my knees sealing the grout. :depressed:

robin

 

[RonFrank]

....and the liftbag could salvage a cannon off a wreck...

Hmm... Anyone have a cannon they want to see at the bottom of the Blue Hole!

Then reattaching the pony and over-inflating the bag before the hose blew off and watching Ron climb back on top of the bag as we started back up.
Kent

Yeah, Ron (ME) was none too happy after finally getting the thing to sink, and the HP inflation put it right back to the surface for some more squeeze the air out of the bag fun!

Burt was using maybe a 75lbs bag, and that was likely overkill. I think I could have lifted this with my Safety Sausage... But good times!

 

[JJColorado]

Thanks Ron for setting this up. It was great to meet everyone and share some food, fun times and diving. I was thrilled to be there for the Venus event and watching her descend, and then rise, and then descend some more to the depths was epic. Truly a dive to be remembered. I do have to admit to having some dive light envy now though. Can't wait till next time!

James

 

[Tjack]

Great gathering this weekend. I enjoyed putting faces with all the cyber folks on the RMO board. We actually managed two group dives, one at the dreaded Perch Lake and a monumental group effort to place the Venus statue at night.

Somehow she smoothly touches bottom.

Having escorted Venus down I was able to grab the line at the last second. I could easily lift it with one hand underwater so the lift bags might be overkill for relocating her. I have a feeling she will move around quite a bit in the future.

Skyhawk brought a bunch of Koi, which will help repopulate the Hole. The two Goldfish I released went directly over the spillway, hopefully the are happy in the Pecos River.

Sounds like I should have been on the Sunday dive to shoo off all the shark suckers attaching themselves to my buddy Ronfrank.

 

[ABQdiver]

Great story Kent! Kind of makes me regret missing it!! Hell, I could have been the pivot man......

Hope Venus stays put so we can enjoy her for many days to come.

 

[BigBubbaJ]

Sounds like I should have been on the Sunday dive to shoo off all the shark suckers attaching themselves to my buddy Ronfrank.

You would have probably hitched a ride also. You had to be there.

 

[RonFrank]

Well, as long as James had fun! :mooner:

I have hitched a few rides in the past, but I outgrew that...

It was a good dive hitchers and all.

 

[boulderjohn]

Well, I got to see some of you briefly, and it was good to dive (at least in the same water if not in a group) with James and Jason on Saturday.

Of course, no matter how much fun you may have had at the Blue Hole and Perch Lake, you folks missed out on the experience of diving with a rotting cow carcass on the side of the lake. That is something you may never get to do again, and that is why we seek out Rock Lake instead.