Surrounded By Tropicals

[ScubaSarus]

Well actually we saw 2 tropicals

After a fun deep dive around the Ft Wetherill Island with RIoceanographer and Mstudley we headed out to Hazard Ave to do some diving thru the nooks and crannies. The surge was strong and we had fun shooting thru the canyons with the surge. In the shallows, we came across a Spotfin Butterfly and a small Lion Fish. At first the lion fish hid in the side of a rock looking like white strings protruding from the rock. After I nudged it a bit it swam for us and opened up its wing like pectoral fins. It was hard to believe what we were seeing. On the way back to the exit, I stayed in the shallows hoping to spot more tropical and it wasn’t very good judgment of mine because at about the 75th minute the ocean decided we had enough fun and kicked us out with a unannounced swell. Best to make sure your at least in 15 ft of water before surfacing at this site to avoid my mistake; then take a bearing and proceed to exit or continue your dive.

Also wondering how Gidds made out at Ft Wetherill we saw her there getting ready to head into the cove?

Other notes:
Lost about 4-5 lbs of water weight even after drinking plenty so please stay hydrated out there and use sunscreen because the sun was intense. Surface temp to 15 ft about 70 F. Vis was good a Ft Wetherill 10-15 ft. The vis was spotty at Hazard Ave; some areas are nice but it was mostly poor vis due to the surge.

Se swells from distant Tropical Storm Maria may reach the waters S and E of Nantucket Mon. I saw the small lines coming in at Point Judith.

Safe Diving everyone.

 

[Gidds]

Brief report as requested: I didn't actually catch any tropicals but I saw quite a few groupers. They were not in good shape since the water was much cooler today than it has been when I was in previously. One definately had a parasitic infection. The other NEADC folks there caught some nice little butterflyfish about the size of a dime that were just little gems! Did you guys see the GIANT school of menhaden?

 

[ScubaSarus]

Actually I dont know what menhadens looklike. We did see schools of small silver fish. You all actually saw groupers. I plan on taking our resident videographer thru the crevass on the right wall of the cove you dove in today. Do you think we'll have any look photographing a tropical or 2. I'm glad you seemed to have a productive day. Were the butterflys caught at Ft Wetherill and save some for us .

Take care Gidds.

 

[Gidds]

Yeah they caught the butterflies at Ft. Wetherill although I'm not sure exactly where. They are soooooo tiny, I haven't figured out this whole fish-catching thing yet If you want to photograph them go early before all the overly-enthusiastic amateurs get there and stir up the water. I've been finding that the vis is much better around low tide lately. Oh the menhaden are the tear drop shaped silver fish, the cigar shaped ones are silversides and the oval ones are usually juvenile bluefish aka "schoolies".

 

[johnnyseko]

go early before all the overly-enthusiastic amateurs get there and stir up the water.

Hey!!! Who are you calling an amateur!! LOL Just because my daughter wanted to snorkel "her way"....... Standing in a foot of water, bending down so that only the mask touches and her face doesn't get wet is perfect technique!

 

[Gidds]

I was referring to the two middle-aged couples, the three 9-17 kids belonging to one said couple, the three eight year olds throwing rocks and seaweed and SCREECHING (whom I was tempted to drown), and the idgit who parked his sail boat right where I wanted to snorkel. None of the above indviduals had any clue about proper finning technique to avoid silting and were invading my personal space.

YOUR kids were cute and the technique they were using wouldn't have stirred up the water

ScubaSarus- what crevasse where, how deep, and how scary? I'm a wimp but it sounds intriguing

 

[RIOceanographer]

The pure power of that "unannounced swell" at Hazard Ave was incredible. We were at around 10 ft deep. The seas had been calm with a moderate amount of surge in the shallows.

Then all of a sudden I felt this massive out-rush of water and I had just enough time to think "This isn't going to be good."

The next thing I knew a huge wave came through. As the trough at the leading edge of the wave hit 10 feet of water became about 4-5 ft like the tide had just instantly gone out on us and the wave then just picked me up and rushed me in 30 ft toward shore put me onto the rocks in seconds. All I could see around me was the foam from the wave and the force was so great the only thing for me to do was cover my head and go for a ride. It even ripped my right fin clean off (it actually tore the strap out of the buckle under the force).

When I landed against the solid rock face on the shore and my fin that broke loose amazingly ended up hitting me in the chest so I was able to recover it. This entire event only took seconds. The other two ended up going for rides of their own but we all came out unharmed.

The seas were relatively calm before this happened, and oddly enough the seas were calm again by the time we broke our gear down and went back to take another look. The Atlantic can be moody.

 

[Gidds]

*pictures the Ocean spitting out three things it decided weren't edible*
*snicker*
Is that what you call a rogue wave?
Glad you guys had fun, got to see a lionfish, and weren't harmed by the wave

 

[johnnyseko]

Brings to mind the Seinfeld - marine biologist episode - "the sea was angry that day my friend, like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli"...or something like that...

Glad you guys made it out ok. The shoredive book I got recommends that Hazard should only be done from a boat, I guess just for this reason. I read that and thought "yeah whatever", now I may have to reevaluate after your story. That entry/exit is tough on a good day!

 

[ScubaSarus]

To get to that crevas Gidds head along the right wall of the Western most cove. You will see a large rock sticking out of thewater like a tiny island. Go between the rock and the wall at about 20 ft and you will find it. There is a lot of surge in there so go in on a calm day. It may be snorkled but its a hike.

Hope this helps.

P.S. RIoceanographer is telling the truth.