Tues. June 10, 2008- After breakfast we made our first dive on Danger Reef. It was a spot where shark- feeding dives are commonly done. The sharks come at the sound of the boats motors. There were probably about a dozen 8-10ft Caribbean reef sharks. Very Cool! I had a maximum depth of 61ft for 42 min. After the dive we moved the boat about ½ mi. to another reef with sharks in tow. The second reef was Amberjack Reef. It was about the same as Danger Reef, sharks & all. I did challenge a grouper for territory & won. I spent most of the dive searching for shark teeth for Rena, but no luck. I did a maximum depth of 58 min for 49 min. The third dive was 3 Peaks Reef. I went with Barb & Trena & I kept Barb company while Trena got busy with the camera. Maximum depth of 54ft for 51 min. After the dive, the partying began. Knowing there was going to be serious drinking, I chose not to drink that day. Later that night, I went back to the boat with the first group & helped everyone get from dinghy to boat. While I was going to the boat myself, Stephanie lost her grip on the boat & I wound up in the drink in my normal clothes. I just swam around to the ladder & climbed out. Nothing but my dignity hurt. Rena & the others got a really big laugh as I came in dripping wet to clean up. Went on to bed after a hot shower.
Wed. June 11,2008- After breakfast Barb & I did the first dive, as Trena was feeling the alcohol from the night before. Hawksbill Reef was a nice reef. Saw a couple of sharks around. Saw the usual critters. Tried to use my camera, but had it in the wrong mode, so no go. Maximum depth of 24ft for 51 min. The second dive was Shroud wall. Once again I went with Rena & Karen. Saw a couple sharks off the wall. Lots of very large fish around. Maximum depth of 85ft for 35 min. We went ashore in the afternoon to see some mangroves. Trena & I took one of the kayaks. We used kiddie float rings explored the estuary. Trena & I manage to flip our kayak over twice on the way back (anyone notice that I had a hard time staying out of the water?). Later that afternoon, we all gathered together for an underwater photo at Hammerhead Gulch Reef, under the watchful eye of a nurse shark. Finished the dive with Trena & Barb. Maximum depth of 29ft for 70 min. After Supper, we did our final night dive on Hammerhead Gulch Reef. The companys other catamaran the Aqua Cat moored nearby fro some night diving. I went with Trena & puttered around while she took pictures. I was stalked by a remora trying to get a free ride for a while. He really didnt like it when I would shine my light on him.
Thurs. June 12, 2008- After breakfast, we did what I considered the best dive of the trip,..... The Blue Hole. It is basically an underwater sink hole that is about 100ft across & a maximum depth of 200ft. At this time of year, it fills up with 3-4 ft long Black Nose Sharks. No one knows why. Trena & I dropped down to our maximum allowed depth for a recreational diver of 130ft. While going down we spooked a bunch of the sharks up, but when we looked down 70ft below us, there were 100- 200 more sharks at the bottom. We slowly ascended & explored the wall & rim, then some small corals on the rim.. Maximum depth of 131ft & bottom time of 47min. The last dive of the trip was a very shallow, easy dive on Periwinkle Reef, just out of Nassau. There were lots of fish that we fed small bags of breakfast cereal to. They swarmed us like crazy. I then shadowed Rena for the rest of the dive. Was a nice one with lots of fish & rays around. Maximum depth 23ft for 65 min. We spent the rest of the day getting back to port, packing & went to Nassaus straw market to shop & a local, popular, watering hole called Senor Frogs. We got back, finished packing & all went to bed, as some had to catch a very early flight.
Fri. June 13, 2008-The flight of the 7 of us that came down together didnt leave until 10:30am. We caught a taxi & got through the airport. We arrived in Miami about 11:30, but got delayed by 3hrs because of severe weather in Chicago & the mid west. Once in the air, we found out that we would have to take the long way around (over Tulsa, OK) to get to Chicago & avoid the bad weather. We missed our connection at OHare & the last flight to Evansville only had 2 seats available. We drew straws, Beth & Rena won, so the rest of us camped out at OHare for the night (not a lot of fun or very comfortable), but with 5 of us, we at least had safety in numbers.
Sat. June 14, 2008- We left on the first flight out to Evansville at 7:15 & touched down about 8:30am. We were tired & dirty, but none the worse for the wear. An interesting end for an interesting trip of Aquatechs Cat Ppalu Cat Girls.
