AfterDark
Contributor
Dive 2083 8-22-2019 FTW Jamestown Solo night
A clammy bug filled night greeted me at FTW last night. I just got done rebuilding my new/old Aqua Lung regulator and thought I'd give it a try. I picked the right night, I usually just nav back and out on a night dive because I don't leave a light on shore or follow much of the rest of the night diving protocols so I just use my compass, the bottom and the direction of the surge or current to get home. Last night there was a class. I thought I was at La Salette shrine at Christmas time! Lights every where, on shore, on truck roll bars, flashing lights, red, green and white lights!
I was concerned I might get a seizure!
Anyway air temp a clammy 79F water temp 70F at max depth 20FSW 66F. FTW is the only site I dive where there is bad vis at night! A very cloudy particle suspended 5' vis, maybe less if I'm wrong I'm being generous. I beat the class in too so it wasn't them. Got some descent pictures and saw a lot of life, flat fish, blue carbs were everywhere if you like blue crabs now is your time, although a lot were egg bearing. A small Black Sea Bass that was real camera hog! Also one lonely small squid. The surge was too much near the rocks so I confined my picture taking to the sand. After 45 minutes I headed back knowing my air was low, no J-valve or SPG on this dive, Old Bold Divers don't require such things to dive. The reg worked well but I need to tighten the crotch strap more, the tank was mounted on my B/P/wing so I think the reg body was lifted up too high by the wing. Once I get the strap tighten so that I sound like I'm using helium when I talk it'll be good.
Blue crabs where everywhere a lot were carrying eggs!
This one was a curious little fish, he got this close, of course there was no pressure wave from exhaled bubbles because they were coming out the back!
A clammy bug filled night greeted me at FTW last night. I just got done rebuilding my new/old Aqua Lung regulator and thought I'd give it a try. I picked the right night, I usually just nav back and out on a night dive because I don't leave a light on shore or follow much of the rest of the night diving protocols so I just use my compass, the bottom and the direction of the surge or current to get home. Last night there was a class. I thought I was at La Salette shrine at Christmas time! Lights every where, on shore, on truck roll bars, flashing lights, red, green and white lights!
I was concerned I might get a seizure!
Anyway air temp a clammy 79F water temp 70F at max depth 20FSW 66F. FTW is the only site I dive where there is bad vis at night! A very cloudy particle suspended 5' vis, maybe less if I'm wrong I'm being generous. I beat the class in too so it wasn't them. Got some descent pictures and saw a lot of life, flat fish, blue carbs were everywhere if you like blue crabs now is your time, although a lot were egg bearing. A small Black Sea Bass that was real camera hog! Also one lonely small squid. The surge was too much near the rocks so I confined my picture taking to the sand. After 45 minutes I headed back knowing my air was low, no J-valve or SPG on this dive, Old Bold Divers don't require such things to dive. The reg worked well but I need to tighten the crotch strap more, the tank was mounted on my B/P/wing so I think the reg body was lifted up too high by the wing. Once I get the strap tighten so that I sound like I'm using helium when I talk it'll be good.
Blue crabs where everywhere a lot were carrying eggs!
This one was a curious little fish, he got this close, of course there was no pressure wave from exhaled bubbles because they were coming out the back!
I was alone, didn't know if anyone would be at the site for sure although I suspected there would. The regulator was an unknown, I bought it off Ebay and just got done servicing it; will it work? That's why I'm there. All my safety gear is in a pouch on the waist belt of my harness and I thought having floatation was prudent. I did orally inflate the wing! 
