HattDiver
Guest
The coolest thing happened last Sunday when we were anchored on the Dixie Arrow, over ten miles off Ocracoke Island NC. After completing the day's second dive, we noticed a Coast Guard C-130 in the distance. Didn't think much of it, as it's from the Elizabeth City CG station and is often seen patrolling the coast.
Well, it made three relatively tight circles around us and remained banked towards us the whole time. Then it seemed to almost get out of site until it turned around and came straight towards us and it couldn't have been more than 500 feet off the water. It went perfectly over us from bow to stern and was a completely awesome sight. We speculated that a new pilot was in training and they chose us as a "target" vessel in need of help. That last low run may have been a practice drop run of a life raft they would have done in a real situation.
Anyway, I have always been a big fan of the CG. The knowledge that they are around when we are offshore is always a comfort. Plus, that C-130 is definitely a neat piece of machinery. And to think it flies over the Wright Brothers monument in Kill Devil Hills every day. Wonder what Wilbur and Orville would have thought seeing something like that!
Well, it made three relatively tight circles around us and remained banked towards us the whole time. Then it seemed to almost get out of site until it turned around and came straight towards us and it couldn't have been more than 500 feet off the water. It went perfectly over us from bow to stern and was a completely awesome sight. We speculated that a new pilot was in training and they chose us as a "target" vessel in need of help. That last low run may have been a practice drop run of a life raft they would have done in a real situation.
Anyway, I have always been a big fan of the CG. The knowledge that they are around when we are offshore is always a comfort. Plus, that C-130 is definitely a neat piece of machinery. And to think it flies over the Wright Brothers monument in Kill Devil Hills every day. Wonder what Wilbur and Orville would have thought seeing something like that!