Had an interesting week out of MHC. Started the week with a rough trip to the Indra on Wednesday. 20' of viz and a blacktip hung out around the hang line until a few divers got in the water. That's the first one I've seen on the Indra ever.
Thursday- Rocks near Big Ten. 40' viz, tons of grouper and flounder. A few even made it to my table that night. Beautiful day
Now the good stuff: Friday- Lobster Wreck, and Esso Nashville- 65' viz. Seemed like every lobster I picked up was full of eggs. Finally found a nice spiney that had no eggs and deposited in my bag along with a couple of slipper lobster. I only get to dive these two wrecks about 3-5 times a years so was excited about this trip.
Sat: Tamapaluis (Far East Tanker)- Tried to dive the Yancey but way too much current so we make the long trip NE to the FET. What a treat. As I bounced in to tie the hook, I passed a manta ray about 110'. This guy was huge. Only the 2nd one I've seen off our coast. The current had carried the hook a little off the mark so as I got to the bottom to retreive it, I noticed a welk that was about 2 and a half feet across, laying eggs I assume as there were jelly like spirals streaming out of it. Didn't have time to inspect is closer as I searched for some height which to tie to. Best I could do was 145' which severly limited my bottom time and exploration. At my 40' stop, I could look down and make out pieces of the wreck and tons of sand tigers milling about. Viz was easily 80' with a toasty 71deg on the bottom. Not bad for 156'. When I untied, as I was drifting off the wreck, I noticed a 4' mako shark trailing along behind me. After all the shark stuff in Fla, I sort of got my heart pumping. He followed about 30' away my entire hang and finally backed off when I got near the boat. I'm sure he was just curious but I had some interesting thoughts running through my mind. All in all, a wonderful day on a great wreck. Wish I could get to this one more often.
Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th. I'll post some more updates when I get 'em.
coop
Thursday- Rocks near Big Ten. 40' viz, tons of grouper and flounder. A few even made it to my table that night. Beautiful day
Now the good stuff: Friday- Lobster Wreck, and Esso Nashville- 65' viz. Seemed like every lobster I picked up was full of eggs. Finally found a nice spiney that had no eggs and deposited in my bag along with a couple of slipper lobster. I only get to dive these two wrecks about 3-5 times a years so was excited about this trip.
Sat: Tamapaluis (Far East Tanker)- Tried to dive the Yancey but way too much current so we make the long trip NE to the FET. What a treat. As I bounced in to tie the hook, I passed a manta ray about 110'. This guy was huge. Only the 2nd one I've seen off our coast. The current had carried the hook a little off the mark so as I got to the bottom to retreive it, I noticed a welk that was about 2 and a half feet across, laying eggs I assume as there were jelly like spirals streaming out of it. Didn't have time to inspect is closer as I searched for some height which to tie to. Best I could do was 145' which severly limited my bottom time and exploration. At my 40' stop, I could look down and make out pieces of the wreck and tons of sand tigers milling about. Viz was easily 80' with a toasty 71deg on the bottom. Not bad for 156'. When I untied, as I was drifting off the wreck, I noticed a 4' mako shark trailing along behind me. After all the shark stuff in Fla, I sort of got my heart pumping. He followed about 30' away my entire hang and finally backed off when I got near the boat. I'm sure he was just curious but I had some interesting thoughts running through my mind. All in all, a wonderful day on a great wreck. Wish I could get to this one more often.
Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th. I'll post some more updates when I get 'em.
coop
