Errol Kalayci
Contributor
John Adair and I dove the wrecks of the RBJ and Corey and Chris today. For those that do not know, they lay perpendicular to each other with one on top of the other. We were greeted with slightly warmer temps this morning (55) and flat seas when we boarded Avid Diver. I decided it is time to start using the drysuit again so broke that out for todays dive with 6cf inflation bottle strapped to backplate. We used double AL 80s for the dive with 10/70 in our back gas, a 70 bottle and Oxygen. The plan was to tour both wrecks perimeters with the Halcyon DPVs and scooter through the swim through where there is a gap along the bottom.
At the surface, there was little to no current. As normal for us, we deployed the torpedo float and headed to the wreck with the dpvs in tight formation. Leveling out at 200, we tied the reel off to the mast section on the SW corner dropped down to 220 and took off toward the east. Vis on this side of the wreck was about 50 of pretty dark blue mist looking water. We spotted a nice black grouper about 30 pounds and a school of amberjack swimming off the wreck. Otherwise, there was little fish on the wreck today. Water was a consistent 77 degrees to the bottom. After making the L shape and doubling back around we scootered through the gap between the wrecks along the bottom and looked around the hull as we continued south before turning west. Reaching the SW corner where we tied off it was remarkable how much the wreck has collapsed over the years and how everything list toward the North in the direction of the current. The vis was much greater on the upward current side while the current was blowing at about 1 knot. Coming around the north side of the RBJ John was leading and did not notice a 7 reef shark getting antsy. It bowed it back and started pacing quickly back and forth, I flashed him down with the light and told him to hold as we were in a good spot if it attacked, no sooner had we let go of the trigger did the shark settle down relax its back, make a few wide arcing half circles and swim away. That was very unusual and a little unsettling. I kept looking back for a few minutes as we dropped deeper onto the other wreck and scooter around to the north point wherein we were traveling at 260fsw. The wreck on the north side was especially damaged. Another circuit around the first wreck and it was time to go. We unclipped the reel, scootered off the wreck and began our decompression. Decompression went without issue. A short ride back into the inlet ended a great dive.
At the surface, there was little to no current. As normal for us, we deployed the torpedo float and headed to the wreck with the dpvs in tight formation. Leveling out at 200, we tied the reel off to the mast section on the SW corner dropped down to 220 and took off toward the east. Vis on this side of the wreck was about 50 of pretty dark blue mist looking water. We spotted a nice black grouper about 30 pounds and a school of amberjack swimming off the wreck. Otherwise, there was little fish on the wreck today. Water was a consistent 77 degrees to the bottom. After making the L shape and doubling back around we scootered through the gap between the wrecks along the bottom and looked around the hull as we continued south before turning west. Reaching the SW corner where we tied off it was remarkable how much the wreck has collapsed over the years and how everything list toward the North in the direction of the current. The vis was much greater on the upward current side while the current was blowing at about 1 knot. Coming around the north side of the RBJ John was leading and did not notice a 7 reef shark getting antsy. It bowed it back and started pacing quickly back and forth, I flashed him down with the light and told him to hold as we were in a good spot if it attacked, no sooner had we let go of the trigger did the shark settle down relax its back, make a few wide arcing half circles and swim away. That was very unusual and a little unsettling. I kept looking back for a few minutes as we dropped deeper onto the other wreck and scooter around to the north point wherein we were traveling at 260fsw. The wreck on the north side was especially damaged. Another circuit around the first wreck and it was time to go. We unclipped the reel, scootered off the wreck and began our decompression. Decompression went without issue. A short ride back into the inlet ended a great dive.
Out of curiosity...what was your time spent total on the wrecks before starting the ascent?
