ChuckRT and friend Kevin hit the Grotto...

[The Chairman]

I hit Hal Watts' 40 Fathom Grotto yesterday with a couple "New Yorkers". They kept trying to chip thru the surface and were surprised to find that waters down here never seem to grow a hard cold "crust". Diving was extremely relaxing and easy as we kept to around 60 feet or so. The water level is W-A-Y up which make the motorcycle look like it is going down a steep incline.

They were awed by the number of sand dollars imbedded in the wall, and I got to see a different side of the grotto. It seems that most of my grotto diving is in the 100ft + range. I found some cool "mini" caves around 45ft range, with some peculiar cutbacks in them. Visibility was not that great which is probably due to the higher water level. It was still way better than many of the dives that Chuck and Kevin do up in the finger lakes of NY. That being said, the vis might have been better lower, where I am used to diving this area.

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Tell ChuckRT that Mike says 'hi' from back home, that is, Mike that knows Karen thru SSI.



I was in the Keys in January and loved it down there. Wife & I are gonna move there in about 2-3 yrs.

 

[The Chairman]

during our surface interval... under blue skies, 85 degree heat, in my swimming trunks, the sun slowly baking my body to a nice tan and watching the gator swim lazily in the grotto, I casually remark... "Gee, I love Florida!!!" Chuck looks at me and says... "You know it was 5 degrees when we left home?" to which I replied more emphatically... "Gee, I love Florida!!!"

 

[chuckrt]

Hi Pete,

Kevin and I had a great time at 40 fathoms! If you recall I did have to chip away a little as the Duck Weed seemed to attach itself to my rig. We also enjoyed meeting Hal and wished he was able tosign our logs but there is always next time and there will be a next time.

We went to Devils Den the next day and were followed in by a group of 36 BSA Venture scouts from OK. While everyones H20 levels were up that week their's was down as well as Blue Grotto's.

I wish to thank Pete for the best Italian dinner, outside of NY, I've eaten. Your spreader plate is on the way today as well. In case anyone wonders that is an oversized BP plate thaat lets someone with an oversized wing, 55lbs., on a single tank work.

We'll be sure to give Pete a call agin the next time we are in Central FL.

chuckrt

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Chuck,
Where can we find more info on this Spreader Plate?

 

[The Chairman]

A friend and I made it a while ago... it is 3/32" aluminum plate that is cut 1" bigger than a backplate all the way around. We used a 4" pole to put a slight bend in it and drilled holes for the STA to fit. Very, very low tech, but it stops the "taco effect" that a normal size wing will have on a single tank. I drilled holes around the perimeter to enable attaching additional gear.

I rarely use it now since I have determined that a back inflate vest such as the Oceanic Chute II, is really better suited for single tank diving. I only use my BP and wings when I dive doubles. However, it enables you to reach all of the air dumps and provides far better stability if you are going to dive your BP and wings with a single tank and do not want to put out for another set of wings.

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Ahh, well I think my bungeed wings would take care of that 'flapping' problem...

 

[The Chairman]

I was diving bungeed wings at the time we made it. They still taco on a single tank. I think for a non-bungeed wing though, you might even add two inches to the dimensions of a BP instead of only an inch. I was noticing this when I watched Chuck in the Grotto.