Dive Report: Ft. Pickens: 17 Oct 2009 Night Dive

[MRXRAY]

Met up with Redtexan, Recharge and Grouper for a night dive at Ft. Pickens last Saturday night. First let me say that it was really, really cold outside before we even got into the water and as I decided to do a quick recon as I waited for the others to show up I soon discovered that this "Quick dive" was a mistake of monumental proportions! The cold wind on a wet wetsuit made the conditions really, really, really cold! I ultimately found myself back in my car with the heater on full still waiting for the others to show up. So after a brief rewarming the others did show up right on time and we quickly geared up (Me...Again) and hit the water at about 7:30 PM. I left my ice Scrapper up north so I can't give you a good reading on my computer for air temp, but I'd guess it was in the lower 60's with a wind chill around 10* below zero! As we entered the water it was apparent quickly that the water was not a bunch colder than the air which I had found earlier on my first dive, but as we got to about 20 feet the temp increased significantly to around 78*, and man did the water feel great down here. We made our way to my tie in at the big vertical tire and then down to the organ and then West along the sand bouncing up and down the rocks as we went. The viz was around 10-20' and was fluctuating due to the influx of silt from the rough seas both offshore and in the bay. We scampered west until the rocks ended and I then U-Turned us back East to the Organ again and then onto the Car body and then the Golf Cart. It was a real nice dive with great friends and well worth he freezing temps. I didn't see any Octopus this trip but the others in the group saw one briefly, but we did have a second encounter with attacking minnows! I have to guess that the fact that redtexan is diving with a 1 million candle watt torch that the minnows going into some sort of feeding frenzy and go into attack mode. they were just pelting us like crazy and one even entered my ear which was a very intense moment. I got a few pics and one short video of some arrow crabs battling it out...Rock 'em sock 'em crabs? It was entertaining! We ended up with just about a 1 hour dive with a max depth of 44 feet. And I had a min temp of 71*!

Rock 'em Sock 'em Crabs:

We came upon a big school of squid here was a single from earlier:

 

[SeaYoda]

Are you sure those crabs were fighting and not making more crabs? Looks kind'a suspicious to me ...

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thanks for the report

 

[Hetland]

Nice find on the inshore butterflyfish too. I can't remember ever seeing one in less than 80ft around here.

 

[Redtexan7]

Great pics my man and yes it was FREAKIN cold!!! The dive was awesome and I'm loving night time activity...I wish there were more Octo's.....and sharks!! haha I agree with SeaYoda...they were making more crabs! haha P.S. my light is 1.5 million watt.......

 

[jhayes75]

I agree, Nothing like make up sex after a good fight. Great pics and video. I am outfitting my camera for night pictures.

 

[Recharge]

Great dive, but very cold, wind made it feel a lot colder than it was. Super video. I think they were fighting. Next night dive, lets check the wind. Redtexan7 wants to do a boat dive this weekend with his lady. Seas don't look too great, maybe something close in (mass). Any ideas?

 

[wjefferis]

Nice find on the inshore butterflyfish too. I can't remember ever seeing one in less than 80ft around here.

I have been seeing butterfly fish at Ft. Pickens pretty consistantly throughout the summer. I would guess that will soon be taking of for deeper (warmer) water very soon.

Met up with Redtexan, Recharge and Grouper for a night dive at Ft. Pickens last Saturday night. First let me say that it was really, really cold outside before we even got into the water and as I decided to do a quick recon as I waited for the others to show up I soon discovered that this "Quick dive" was a mistake of monumental proportions! The cold wind on a wet wetsuit made the conditions really, really, really cold! I ultimately found myself back in my car with the heater on full still waiting for the others to show up. So after a brief rewarming the others did show up right on time and we quickly geared up (Me...Again) and hit the water at about 7:30 PM. I left my ice Scrapper up north so I can't give you a good reading on my computer for air temp, but I'd guess it was in the lower 60's with a wind chill around 10* below zero! As we entered the water it was apparent quickly that the water was not a bunch colder than the air which I had found earlier on my first dive, but as we got to about 20 feet the temp increased significantly to around 78*, and man did the water feel great down here. We made our way to my tie in at the big vertical tire and then down to the organ and then West along the sand bouncing up and down the rocks as we went. The viz was around 10-20' and was fluctuating due to the influx of silt from the rough seas both offshore and in the bay. We scampered west until the rocks ended and I then U-Turned us back East to the Organ again and then onto the Car body and then the Golf Cart. It was a real nice dive with great friends and well worth he freezing temps.
http://s511.photobucket.com/albums/... 10-17-2009/?action=view&current=PA175947.flv

I noticed that in you report you didn't go out to the culvert and the rocks beyond it. Was the current or visibility a factor or did you guys just decide to keep it close in?

Great report. I hope I can join you guys soon for a night dive out there. I sent my canister light in last week and hopefully I will get it back soon. Once it is back in my hands it is game on for night dives. Maybe we could start scheduling a night dive at Ft. Pickens each month during the full moon. Sound like a good idea ??????

 

[MRXRAY]

We didn't make it out to the culvert, I must have swam right by the mark for it and with the silt in the water I can see why. I did wnat to make sure I took them to the Gulf Cart this time so we did more East/West then South this time.

A full moon dive once a month sounds good to me if the tides will work with the weather!

I have been seeing butterfly fish at Ft. Pickens pretty consistantly throughout the summer. I would guess that will soon be taking of for deeper (warmer) water very soon.



I noticed that in you report you didn't go out to the culvert and the rocks beyond it. Was the current or visibility a factor or did you guys just decide to keep it close in?

Great report. I hope I can join you guys soon for a night dive out there. I sent my canister light in last week and hopefully I will get it back soon. Once it is back in my hands it is game on for night dives. Maybe we could start scheduling a night dive at Ft. Pickens each month during the full moon. Sound like a good idea ??????

 

[MRXRAY]

Tides look upside down for the Mass this weekend and they don't straighten out until we get a neap tide next weekend. 2-3's though for the weekend as of right now with the wind out of the North it could be less! I'd think something closer (Shallower) though with her being such a new diver! Freighter, Pete Tide II ?

Great dive, but very cold, wind made it feel a lot colder than it was. Super video. I think they were fighting. Next night dive, lets check the wind. Redtexan7 wants to do a boat dive this weekend with his lady. Seas don't look too great, maybe something close in (mass). Any ideas?