olddiver2
Guest
I'm new in town, and just getting to know the area. ScubaBoard has been great for learning about local sites. After we did our PADI refresher with Divers Unlimited in Pembroke Pines, my buddy and I decided to try the Hollywood Beach dive we had read about. Divers U. is a big, friendly shop with their own dive boat and a dandy indoor pool.
We met at the Michgan Street lot at 7:30 and headed down to the beach. On this particular morning (08/20/05) the beach renourishment pipes were about 100 yards South of Michigan, the air was 91 and the water 89. Light seas made the swim just a bit challenging for newbies, but we had little trouble swimming East until we thought we were over the "first tier" natural reef.
Sure enough, we found it. Low viz (10-15 feet) and silt stifled our lobster hunt, but we had a good time looking under the ledges and watching fish. Periodic compass references kept us on a Northerly course. After about 10 minutes, we hit a heavy cloud of sediment (-3 feet viz) that reminded me of the muck dives in the Midwest and convinced us to have a surface discussion. With a bottom depth of only 25 feet, we weren't too concerned about saw-toothing.
Our brief surface talk in the bright sun, and a visit with some free divers looking for the Rockpile made us want to drop down again, but our search for this illusive destination proved fruitless. We didn't find out until later, that the "Rockpile," an artifical reef of concrete blocks, is in a straight line with the power poles on Michigan. Next time we will find it.
Equipment notes:
That new Pinnicle Lobster bag on the bottom close to shore is mine. Guess I didn't tie it on too good.
My old retro-look German depth guage from 1973 works great. I bought this unused gem on eBay for $10, and had it as a backup for the computer.
My drag line for the dive flag was wrapped around a filled water bottle which provided a refreshing drink while we were on the surface. Not a bad idea!
A leaky O ring almost stopped us in the parking lot, but a spare and a wrench saved the dive.
Now I need to find out more about those Conch Divers. I like conch chowder.
Best regards,
"Life without diving can be very dry."
We met at the Michgan Street lot at 7:30 and headed down to the beach. On this particular morning (08/20/05) the beach renourishment pipes were about 100 yards South of Michigan, the air was 91 and the water 89. Light seas made the swim just a bit challenging for newbies, but we had little trouble swimming East until we thought we were over the "first tier" natural reef.
Sure enough, we found it. Low viz (10-15 feet) and silt stifled our lobster hunt, but we had a good time looking under the ledges and watching fish. Periodic compass references kept us on a Northerly course. After about 10 minutes, we hit a heavy cloud of sediment (-3 feet viz) that reminded me of the muck dives in the Midwest and convinced us to have a surface discussion. With a bottom depth of only 25 feet, we weren't too concerned about saw-toothing.
Our brief surface talk in the bright sun, and a visit with some free divers looking for the Rockpile made us want to drop down again, but our search for this illusive destination proved fruitless. We didn't find out until later, that the "Rockpile," an artifical reef of concrete blocks, is in a straight line with the power poles on Michigan. Next time we will find it.
Equipment notes:
That new Pinnicle Lobster bag on the bottom close to shore is mine. Guess I didn't tie it on too good.
My old retro-look German depth guage from 1973 works great. I bought this unused gem on eBay for $10, and had it as a backup for the computer.
My drag line for the dive flag was wrapped around a filled water bottle which provided a refreshing drink while we were on the surface. Not a bad idea!
A leaky O ring almost stopped us in the parking lot, but a spare and a wrench saved the dive.
Now I need to find out more about those Conch Divers. I like conch chowder.
Best regards,
"Life without diving can be very dry."
