Dive Report: Hazzard Ave, Narragansett, RI (7/30/05)

[RIOceanographer]

The dive team of Dr. Chris (me) and Mr. Chris (my highly streamlined buddy from CT) just did an excellent dive at Hazzard Ave in Narragansett, RI. We had some of the best dive conditions I have seen all summer in RI.

Hazzard was actually our second dive of the day, our first dive was at Weekapaug Pt, which also had good conditions (15ft vis, 64-68 degree F water temps with some minor surge) but it was boring by comparison to Hazzard so I am skipping to the good part.

At Hazzard we probably had around 20-25 ft visibility. Water temps were between 68 and 70 degrees F! Max depth was 43ft, average depth was 21ft. Hazzard ave is a great site with lots of rock canyons and crevices and quite a lot of life (including a jellyfish that nailed me in the face, but the dive was so good I didn't care to much). The entry and exit at this site from the rocks is relatively advanced and diving here is very dependent on having good sea conditions.

 

[ScubaSarus]

I'm still in awe after that dive. That was in the top 10 of my total shore dives. You should have eel like properties to dive it like we did. At one point we entered a tight cavern went in 20 yards to find no exit. Only a thin crack covered with kelp prevented it from being a cave. As the kelp move with the surge it darkened the canyon (lights out) what an experience. We had to lobster our way back out. Now we know a little what it is like to be a lobster. We also found a neat dive thru and I was happy to see Dr Chris make it thru. Tautog was humongus, lobsters galore, at one spot in the main canyon on entry vis to me was like 40 ft and we were surrounded by freindly fish. My shouldrs are sore from sqeezing thru the passages. And my butt is sore from all that finning we had to do at Weekapaug (oly surge and mild current).

At Weekapaug we came upon a boulder with large claws protruding from it. It appears the lobster was dead. We couldn't remove it. Is it possible the lobster got so big it couldn't get out of its den you know like Winnie the Poo type of deal?

Well good luck tommorow at the arches Chris and I hope you ScubaBruce, and Grab a Shell Dude have a great time and find them. Yo Estudio Mucho Espanol Domingo.

Thanks for dragging me out there it was rad.
Signed
Chris. Hopefully soon you can call me B.S. Chris. No wise cracks please.

 

[RIOceanographer]

No wise cracks please.

Must.... resist.....strength failing.......have to......fight it.....

 

[ScubaSarus]

Ok Ok. I may have gotten too exicted and I'm sure I wasn't narced at 43'. You didn't need to be like an eel and my shoulders we not exactly sore. The fish didn't actually make freinds with us. The claws sticking out of the rock were big but not gigantic and the tautog were big but not humongus although I swore I saw one real big one. The cavern wasn't exactly pitch black when the surge pushed the kelp over it but it did become dark. But the vis in the begining of the crevas was quite clear.

lol