reefseal
Contributor
First back.. So glad went out. Details..
Met John at BK's at 7:30. Great morning for dive. The American Flag at BKs was completely still. As John had never dove Lanes cove, went there first to show him. Conditions were ideal. The sun was out with occasional clouds. light variable winds from south made for calm water at entry point. Air temp when we arrived was just under 32..
Was surprised to see a seal as was checking the conditions.. By the time we were suited up and in, it was gone. We were hoping would bump into it. I kept looking up hoping would have stayed to hang out. I've never seen a seal at Rockport, only at Isle of Shoals.
First dive, headed North towards direction of "mini Wall" Turned right along wall and immediately saw the 1st of 3 "Lobzillas" we encountered over our 2 dives. This sucker was fricken' huge.. One of those big momma's hunkered in with broken tickle sticks near its claws, divers fingers.. You know the kind.. Definately oversized and nothing can do about it. As I was diving Dry (DUI CF200) and John was diving wet, kept checking on him and he was ok temp wise..Water temp at surface was 48, at depth, hit thermoclines where temp varied between chilly 41 and 47. Max depth on first dive was around 50.. (I'm too lazy to go out to where gear hanging to read official depth, bottom times..) Bottom time on dive one about 35 min? Came up to calm winds, sun. not too many pots. Only snagged my flag once. There were lobster fisherman picking up pots. No problems with locals in water or topside. (we weren't bugging) After brief surface interval, did dive 2. Pretty much same dive, bit longer (40 min?) went a bit further along wall. Dive 2 saw Lobzilla's 2 and 3. I suspect one of the 2 would have been legal size but likely egger. No tickle stick to prod out of its nook to check.
As for vis was better at entry point. (15 -20 feet?) As got to wall, vis was worse (10 feet?)
Definately one of my favorites as can suit up near entry point and not killer hike. Drop down at about 10 feet, swim North. Drops to 20 or so feet then depth rises briefly again (12-15 feet?) before drops dramatically to wall. The best part of wall is looking in all nooks and crannies. there is no point going further beyond wall. Flat sand.
glad went out. John will agree was good day. Had he had a 3rd tank and more time, he would have been good for a 3rd. He had to head back, I stay suited up and checked Folly.. The tide was by this time low so bagged doing a 3rd solo.. I hate Folly at low tide. Plus was getting cloudy.
Driving back from Cape ann, it started snowing as crossed NH border. Couldn't tell that an hour and 1/2 earlier, was diving!
Met John at BK's at 7:30. Great morning for dive. The American Flag at BKs was completely still. As John had never dove Lanes cove, went there first to show him. Conditions were ideal. The sun was out with occasional clouds. light variable winds from south made for calm water at entry point. Air temp when we arrived was just under 32..
Was surprised to see a seal as was checking the conditions.. By the time we were suited up and in, it was gone. We were hoping would bump into it. I kept looking up hoping would have stayed to hang out. I've never seen a seal at Rockport, only at Isle of Shoals.
First dive, headed North towards direction of "mini Wall" Turned right along wall and immediately saw the 1st of 3 "Lobzillas" we encountered over our 2 dives. This sucker was fricken' huge.. One of those big momma's hunkered in with broken tickle sticks near its claws, divers fingers.. You know the kind.. Definately oversized and nothing can do about it. As I was diving Dry (DUI CF200) and John was diving wet, kept checking on him and he was ok temp wise..Water temp at surface was 48, at depth, hit thermoclines where temp varied between chilly 41 and 47. Max depth on first dive was around 50.. (I'm too lazy to go out to where gear hanging to read official depth, bottom times..) Bottom time on dive one about 35 min? Came up to calm winds, sun. not too many pots. Only snagged my flag once. There were lobster fisherman picking up pots. No problems with locals in water or topside. (we weren't bugging) After brief surface interval, did dive 2. Pretty much same dive, bit longer (40 min?) went a bit further along wall. Dive 2 saw Lobzilla's 2 and 3. I suspect one of the 2 would have been legal size but likely egger. No tickle stick to prod out of its nook to check.
As for vis was better at entry point. (15 -20 feet?) As got to wall, vis was worse (10 feet?)
Definately one of my favorites as can suit up near entry point and not killer hike. Drop down at about 10 feet, swim North. Drops to 20 or so feet then depth rises briefly again (12-15 feet?) before drops dramatically to wall. The best part of wall is looking in all nooks and crannies. there is no point going further beyond wall. Flat sand.
glad went out. John will agree was good day. Had he had a 3rd tank and more time, he would have been good for a 3rd. He had to head back, I stay suited up and checked Folly.. The tide was by this time low so bagged doing a 3rd solo.. I hate Folly at low tide. Plus was getting cloudy.
Driving back from Cape ann, it started snowing as crossed NH border. Couldn't tell that an hour and 1/2 earlier, was diving!
It's definately different in winter.. Often times, better vis (esp. a few days after a storm) as don't have that plankton stuff that is in warmer months. also, less crowds, no hassles parking and can park near site and not worry about ticketing.. You really got to love the sport to do this.. For me, it's not when in water cold but topside. When you think about water temp being same as air temp, it's not bad when you're properly insulated. Yes, I understand your body loses heat much more in water.. My last dive was a couple mos. ago diving fresh water springs in fla. (Ginnie, Devils den, Blue grotto) Funny watching locals with their 5 and 7 mm and I'm in 3 mil.. 72 degrees water...
I have yet to get a keeper in RI and I've got that license - which prevents me from actually purchasing one in a store, if you know what I mean.
