Lake Travis Scuba
Contributor
A group of divers, Downunderjen, IanR33, TLessard and DavidM, went to Wreck Alley today to replace the guidelines and clean up some debris to get the site ready for the dive season. Two teams were replacing line while the third team planned to replace the mooring bottle at Boatel. Photos of the group are attached.
JamesR and I made our way from the deep houseboat past the Toyota Corona Deluxe and around the corner toward Boatel. The line was broken so we continued following the line heading until we ran into a platform that was beyond the Boatel. We turned around, went to the swimming pool shell and turned east to the Boatel, located at the end of the swimming pool shell. When we reached the location of the Boatel we found....IT IS GONE. :homealone:
We circled around, reset our heading and tried again. Still not there.
We completed our task by placing a mooring line on the swimming pool shell and returned to Giant Stride.
Upon surfacing we asked the other team, Downunderjen and IanR33, if they had seen the Boatel and they had not. Shortly after, TLessard and David surfaced after completing their lines and confirmed that the Boatel has indeed gone missing. :shocked2:
Attached is photo evidence that Boatel was in place on November 28, 2009, taken when the lake was at the third lowest level on record. The dingy behind the boat is also gone from the site.
I have said before that the reason for lost masks, fins, wetnotebooks, lights and other dive items is the result of Don Brod's revenge for diving the site without his permission. It is my belief that Don Brod has returned :angel2: to enjoy the full lake and is motoring his Boatel with dingy in tow around Lake Travis so we no longer can enjoy the boat. We wish you Good Sailing, Don.
For all of you who had the chance to dive on Boatel, cherish the memories. There are still many boats to explore as well as the large houseboat, so get your gear checked and ready for the dive season.
Don't forget about the Dive Around Texas challenge, Dive Around Texas 2010. Each dive site on Lake Travis counts as a different site.
And while you are diving on Lake Travis, keep a eye out for the Boatel ghost ship with Don Brod at the helm.
JamesR and I made our way from the deep houseboat past the Toyota Corona Deluxe and around the corner toward Boatel. The line was broken so we continued following the line heading until we ran into a platform that was beyond the Boatel. We turned around, went to the swimming pool shell and turned east to the Boatel, located at the end of the swimming pool shell. When we reached the location of the Boatel we found....IT IS GONE. :homealone:
We circled around, reset our heading and tried again. Still not there.
We completed our task by placing a mooring line on the swimming pool shell and returned to Giant Stride.
Upon surfacing we asked the other team, Downunderjen and IanR33, if they had seen the Boatel and they had not. Shortly after, TLessard and David surfaced after completing their lines and confirmed that the Boatel has indeed gone missing. :shocked2:
Attached is photo evidence that Boatel was in place on November 28, 2009, taken when the lake was at the third lowest level on record. The dingy behind the boat is also gone from the site.
I have said before that the reason for lost masks, fins, wetnotebooks, lights and other dive items is the result of Don Brod's revenge for diving the site without his permission. It is my belief that Don Brod has returned :angel2: to enjoy the full lake and is motoring his Boatel with dingy in tow around Lake Travis so we no longer can enjoy the boat. We wish you Good Sailing, Don.
For all of you who had the chance to dive on Boatel, cherish the memories. There are still many boats to explore as well as the large houseboat, so get your gear checked and ready for the dive season.
Don't forget about the Dive Around Texas challenge, Dive Around Texas 2010. Each dive site on Lake Travis counts as a different site.
And while you are diving on Lake Travis, keep a eye out for the Boatel ghost ship with Don Brod at the helm.
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