CBBT fourth island

[Don Burke]

I went out to the fourth island (that's northernmost) of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel today on Sho-Nuff, the boat from Divers Unlimited in Norfolk.

It was my checkout as captain, so I didn't even bring dive gear with me. We did have six divers aboard, some spearfishing, others gear hunting (a nice Danforth was the best find), and a some practicing stalking in preparation for spearfishing.

We ended up trying both sides of the island to get out of the wind and the bay side was a little better. Eight tautog was the total for the two gunners. Short neoprene was the preferred thermal protection. No one had a thermometer for a bottom temp.

With a depth of 30 feet, long bottom times were the rule.

 

[H2OHead]

Congrats on the captains checkout. I have never been dove around the CCBT, but will soon be moving to the peninsula there and look forward to learning the area dive spots. I was just curious what the vis is like and if summer is the only time the weather is favorable for diving.

 

[Don Burke]

H2OHead once bubbled...
Congrats on the captains checkout. I have never been dove around the CCBT, but will soon be moving to the peninsula there and look forward to learning the area dive spots. I was just curious what the vis is like and if summer is the only time the weather is favorable for diving.

I was told the viz was about twelve feet. That's pretty good for the CBBT.

The islands are normally a weather alternative or a student destination. When I'm at the islands, I like gear hunting for the most part, although I'm going to get into spearfishing.

Much of the area has been dealing with lousy viz this year. Normally at the Chesapeake Light Tower reef we get anywhere from 10 to 50 feet with 15 being pretty typical. This year 10 has been pretty much it. Othe sites have done better, but not by a whole lot.

We dive year round here. Some people dive dry year round. The visibility gets better in winter, so I'd like to get a bunch who dive dry together and go out on a regular basis. Sho-Nuff is only one of several boats that make scheduled trips and dive charters out of Norfolk/Virginia Beach.

We'll get you wet.

 

[Distraction]

Don -

I think you also post on the TidalFish Spearfishing board, right?

I'm planning on diving all winter. I hear the viz gets better in the winter. I'll probably stick to the islands or the tower.

I don't dive dry. Part of it is because it's expensive, part because from what I've seen it takes alot of practice to get bouyancy control down, and part is because I'm used to diving cold water wet.

If you don't mind having a wet diver with you, I might want to tag along. I could bring my boat and we can block off the area with our boats. It's only a 19' CC, so 2 divers with gear is enough to fill it up, but diving with others is more fun!

Hopefully Isabel didn't totally screw up the viz for too long.

Matt

 

[Don Burke]

Distraction once bubbled... Don -

I think you also post on the TidalFish Spearfishing board, right?

Guilty as charged

Distraction once bubbled... I'm planning on diving all winter. I hear the viz gets better in the winter. I'll probably stick to the islands or the tower.

JD wants to run the boat year round except for haulouts. I expect to make most of those trips.

Distraction once bubbled... I don't dive dry. Part of it is because it's expensive, part because from what I've seen it takes alot of practice to get bouyancy control down, and part is because I'm used to diving cold water wet.

Buoyancy with a drysuit is a groove skill much like putting a golf ball.

Get yourself a way to preload your wetsuit with warm water and you'll last quite a while.

Distraction once bubbled... If you don't mind having a wet diver with you, I might want to tag along. I could bring my boat and we can block off the area with our boats. It's only a 19' CC, so 2 divers with gear is enough to fill it up, but diving with others is more fun!

I'd have no problem with that. Actually, I'd hoped to get a boat fare out of you from time to time

Distraction once bubbled... Hopefully Isabel didn't totally screw up the viz for too long.

Matt

It should clear up at the tower reef fairly quickly. The islands may take a while since all of the crap on all of the rivers needs to work it's way out. The James and Potomac alone will be quite a load.

The boat won't be running this weekend since everyone will be up to their butts in salvage work and the Divers Unlimited shop compressor got dunked by the storm and won't be run until a Bauer tech can look it over. With the major chunks floating out there, it's probably for the best anyway.

 

[Distraction]

You might get a boat fare out of me every once in a while...but you'd be about the only charter to do so. I'm what I call a 'Bubba Diver'...I'm poor, my equipment is OK, but not cutting edge, and I try to dive cheap. I can't afford trips out of state, and I choke on paying someone else to take me out locally when I can do it myself. However, for the right price, it might be nice not to have to tow the boat and fool with all the gear. Not to mention changing out of a wetsuit in the winter time in an open boat. BRRRR!

Let me know what you plan for pricing over the winter. Since I went 6 days with no power, my freezer is empty and needs some fish.

Good luck with the salvage efforts. I'm definitely not complaining about being 6 days without power...that was very tolerable, even with a 13-month-old boy. I'm counting my blessings that we didn't get hit as hard as alot of other folks.

Matt