socaldiver
Contributor
The plan for this past weekend was to meet Bob, NetDoc and friends to do a couple of dives on the Spiegel Grove. So, on Xmas Day my mind was on leaving in the morning to head to sunny Florida. I hit the road at 9:55 AM 12/26, planning on driving to Orlando (12 hour drive) and then stop for the night. All was going well until Atlanta traffic caused a delay of over 1 hour. I reached Orlando in just over 13 hours and jumped on the turnpike, expecting to find a motel just off the turnpike somewhere around Kissimmee (sp?). Good plan, only problem I didn't see any signs or motels right off the turnpke. So, I drove and drove and drove until it was 5:30 in the morn and I was in Key Largo. I managed to scrunch in my little red tomato and grab a few winks off and on throughout the rest of the morning. After eating breakfast I walked around the harbor watching the dive boats and fishing boats heading out to sea. Bob pulled up around noon time and we decided we would go and find a room before the afternoon dives. The place we planned on staying at, Reef Resort could only put us up for that night, and it was going to cost $150. The lady behind the counter was explaining that Key Largo was booked for the holidays and the cheapest room available was $115. She was kind enough to call around to see if anybody had anything available at a lesser rate. The Chamber of Commerce told her of a place in Tavernier, the Tropic Vista Motel. It was $80 a night, we booked for Friday and Saturday and were pleased. More on this later.
We went back to the dock where we were scheduled to do some afternoon dives with Bluewater Divers. Bob has gone out with them before and was pleased so I said why not. We boarded the boat with 3 other divers, Cap'n Glen and KeyLargo Brent who would be the DM. We decided to do our first dive of the day on Pickles Reef and the second dive would be a wreck dive on the Benwood. The wind was blowing pretty good, somewhere in the 20 knot range and the seas were between 2 to 3 feet, I think.
Dive 1: Pickles Reef
Air Temp 70
Water Temp 75 surface/73 at depth
Vis 50 fsw
Max Depth 53 fsw
Bottom time 47 minutes
Brent gave us a very detailed brief of the site and what we could expect to see - I would have to say one of the best dive briefings I have ever heard. This would be my first dive in about 2 1/2 months so I was glad the seas wern't bad and we would be doing an easy dive. Descending down with Bob as my dive buddy was uneventful. When we reached the reef we folowed it in a northerly direction with a very slight current. There was a considerable amount of marine life: coral, sponges, fans and fish. Bob saw a good size lobster crawl down into a hole, I snapped a picture of it. Took a few more pics of other fish on the reef. after doing our safety stop we surfaced with plenty of air left in the tank, probably could have stayed another 15 minutes or so at depth, but it was still good.
Dive 2: Benwood Wreck
S. I. 32 minutes
Air Temp 66
Water Temp 73
Vis 30+
Depth 47 fsw
Bottom time 56 minutes
After another thorough dive briefing Bob and me descended on the wreck. The ship was deteriated (sp?) a great deal (but after 60 years of underwater what wouldn't be). There were some nice size brain coral about the deck and a large school of fairly good size drums hanging around. Other fish also populated the wreck. We went to the bow of the ship and then proceeded to head back towards the stern, Bob was peeking in holes in the wreck trying to locate other marine life. I was hovering above him about 5 feet when I got the feeling the something was watching me. I started looking around and when I looked up and over my right shoulder there was a school of barracuda just hanging there watching, or so it seemed. I snapped off a picture real quick and then made Bob aware of their presence. They disappeared just as quickly as they arrived. We did our safety stop and ascended to the boat, I had 900 psi left in the tank and Bob had a little more than that. My legs had started cramping so I was glad to end the dive, besides I was starting to feel the affects of lack of sleep from the night before. Another great dive.
Bob and I had dinner and headed back to our room. I was anxiously awaiting a nice hot shower and then study the back of my eyelids as Saturday would be a big day.
We got up Saturday morning and I felt a lot of anxiety as this would be the day I dove the Spiegel Grove. When I was in the Navy, the ship I was on was an amphibious troop transporter. the squadron we were attached to made several cruises to the Med with Marines on board. On 2 cruises the Spiegel Grove was in our squadron and I actually had to board her onetime. So to dive on her know was nostalgic to say the least. The winds were whipping as bad as the day before, the air temp was 50. We met NetDoc and his buddies at the dock where we proceeded to load our gear and head out to sea. the plan for the day called for 2 dives in the morning on the Spiegel Grove and after a surface interval which included lunch then 2 dives on the reefs in the afternoon.
Dive 3: Spiegel Grove
Air Temp 64
Water Temp 73
Vis 50+
Max Depth 87 fsw
Bottom time 33 minutes
The seas and the weather were not cooperating. the wind was still gusting to over 20 knots and the seas were between 4 to 6 feet and sometimes I would say maybe even 8 foot. Bob jumped in first and headed to the buoy line where he descended below the waves where it wasn't as rough. I proceeded to jump in with dive light on the left wrist and camera on the right wrist. Pulling myself along the tag line to the buoy I managed to get my light and camera tangled in the lines. Frustrating and exerting a lot of energy to get to the buoy I consumed a fair amount of air. I descended down to where Bob was waiting and after a brief moment we descended to the "Grove". We reached the ship in about 50 fsw and by this time I had more control on my breathing but was still frustrated that I wasted so much air on the surface. We moved toward the stern of the ship, NetDoc and his buddies in front, followed by Bob and then myself drawing up the rear taking pics. Not paying any attention because of the picture taking I manged to get seperated from the group for an instant. Bob peeked around the corner and are eyes met and I could tell he was relieved. Sorry Bob, didn't mean to scare ya. Let me add here that Bob is an excellent dive buddy from the time you board the boat until back at dockside. He and I constantly looked at the other to make sure things were ok (with the exception of this one little incident). After we passed the props we started ascending as my air was starting to get low. We looked around a little more near where the buoy line is tied off on the ship. We went and did our safety stop and then proceeded to board the boat, this was an adventure in itself because of the sea conditions. When we got back on board I had made up my mind that I would not do a second dive that day under those conditions. To my delight, bob felt the same way. NetDoc and his buddies did a second dive and when they reboarded to came back to port, unloaded the gear, called the rest of the day off and went and ate lunch.
Overall, it was a great 2 days of diving. Unfortunately it wasn't Chamber of Commerce weather conditions but hey, we still got 3 dives in and I got to meet some fantastic people and a great dive ops. It was a pleasure diving with everyone.
I hope to get my pics back this afternoon from the developer and scan tomorrow so I can post on Thursday.
We went back to the dock where we were scheduled to do some afternoon dives with Bluewater Divers. Bob has gone out with them before and was pleased so I said why not. We boarded the boat with 3 other divers, Cap'n Glen and KeyLargo Brent who would be the DM. We decided to do our first dive of the day on Pickles Reef and the second dive would be a wreck dive on the Benwood. The wind was blowing pretty good, somewhere in the 20 knot range and the seas were between 2 to 3 feet, I think.
Dive 1: Pickles Reef
Air Temp 70
Water Temp 75 surface/73 at depth
Vis 50 fsw
Max Depth 53 fsw
Bottom time 47 minutes
Brent gave us a very detailed brief of the site and what we could expect to see - I would have to say one of the best dive briefings I have ever heard. This would be my first dive in about 2 1/2 months so I was glad the seas wern't bad and we would be doing an easy dive. Descending down with Bob as my dive buddy was uneventful. When we reached the reef we folowed it in a northerly direction with a very slight current. There was a considerable amount of marine life: coral, sponges, fans and fish. Bob saw a good size lobster crawl down into a hole, I snapped a picture of it. Took a few more pics of other fish on the reef. after doing our safety stop we surfaced with plenty of air left in the tank, probably could have stayed another 15 minutes or so at depth, but it was still good.
Dive 2: Benwood Wreck
S. I. 32 minutes
Air Temp 66
Water Temp 73
Vis 30+
Depth 47 fsw
Bottom time 56 minutes
After another thorough dive briefing Bob and me descended on the wreck. The ship was deteriated (sp?) a great deal (but after 60 years of underwater what wouldn't be). There were some nice size brain coral about the deck and a large school of fairly good size drums hanging around. Other fish also populated the wreck. We went to the bow of the ship and then proceeded to head back towards the stern, Bob was peeking in holes in the wreck trying to locate other marine life. I was hovering above him about 5 feet when I got the feeling the something was watching me. I started looking around and when I looked up and over my right shoulder there was a school of barracuda just hanging there watching, or so it seemed. I snapped off a picture real quick and then made Bob aware of their presence. They disappeared just as quickly as they arrived. We did our safety stop and ascended to the boat, I had 900 psi left in the tank and Bob had a little more than that. My legs had started cramping so I was glad to end the dive, besides I was starting to feel the affects of lack of sleep from the night before. Another great dive.
Bob and I had dinner and headed back to our room. I was anxiously awaiting a nice hot shower and then study the back of my eyelids as Saturday would be a big day.
We got up Saturday morning and I felt a lot of anxiety as this would be the day I dove the Spiegel Grove. When I was in the Navy, the ship I was on was an amphibious troop transporter. the squadron we were attached to made several cruises to the Med with Marines on board. On 2 cruises the Spiegel Grove was in our squadron and I actually had to board her onetime. So to dive on her know was nostalgic to say the least. The winds were whipping as bad as the day before, the air temp was 50. We met NetDoc and his buddies at the dock where we proceeded to load our gear and head out to sea. the plan for the day called for 2 dives in the morning on the Spiegel Grove and after a surface interval which included lunch then 2 dives on the reefs in the afternoon.
Dive 3: Spiegel Grove
Air Temp 64
Water Temp 73
Vis 50+
Max Depth 87 fsw
Bottom time 33 minutes
The seas and the weather were not cooperating. the wind was still gusting to over 20 knots and the seas were between 4 to 6 feet and sometimes I would say maybe even 8 foot. Bob jumped in first and headed to the buoy line where he descended below the waves where it wasn't as rough. I proceeded to jump in with dive light on the left wrist and camera on the right wrist. Pulling myself along the tag line to the buoy I managed to get my light and camera tangled in the lines. Frustrating and exerting a lot of energy to get to the buoy I consumed a fair amount of air. I descended down to where Bob was waiting and after a brief moment we descended to the "Grove". We reached the ship in about 50 fsw and by this time I had more control on my breathing but was still frustrated that I wasted so much air on the surface. We moved toward the stern of the ship, NetDoc and his buddies in front, followed by Bob and then myself drawing up the rear taking pics. Not paying any attention because of the picture taking I manged to get seperated from the group for an instant. Bob peeked around the corner and are eyes met and I could tell he was relieved. Sorry Bob, didn't mean to scare ya. Let me add here that Bob is an excellent dive buddy from the time you board the boat until back at dockside. He and I constantly looked at the other to make sure things were ok (with the exception of this one little incident). After we passed the props we started ascending as my air was starting to get low. We looked around a little more near where the buoy line is tied off on the ship. We went and did our safety stop and then proceeded to board the boat, this was an adventure in itself because of the sea conditions. When we got back on board I had made up my mind that I would not do a second dive that day under those conditions. To my delight, bob felt the same way. NetDoc and his buddies did a second dive and when they reboarded to came back to port, unloaded the gear, called the rest of the day off and went and ate lunch.
Overall, it was a great 2 days of diving. Unfortunately it wasn't Chamber of Commerce weather conditions but hey, we still got 3 dives in and I got to meet some fantastic people and a great dive ops. It was a pleasure diving with everyone.
I hope to get my pics back this afternoon from the developer and scan tomorrow so I can post on Thursday.
:tree: Bob
I won't have the chance to scan until Sunday so hopefully Sunday night or Monday I will post them. Got 1 good shot of a cuda and the school of cudas over the Benwood is so so. Got a real good picture of the Tropic Vista though 
