If you have read about any of my Scuba classes, you know that I like to do shore dives with a student before progressing to boat dives. I do this for several reasons, first it's cheaper for the student as I usually hit Pennekamp's Cannon Beach and it's $7 to get in. Second, I find that shore dives are less stressful for the student. They can concentrate more on their skills and not on boat etiquette and they don't have to answer to a Captain's time line. We dive when they're ready, not when someone tells us to get off of their boat. As an instructor, I take the time to teach them about shore currents (Long and Rip), how to read them and why they need to know it. Over all, it's just a lot more relaxed and a great learning environment... at least if the temps aren't too hot.
Two weeks ago, while diving Pennekamp, I recorded an absolute record high temp for me while diving: 97F. It was 91 on the surface and then we experienced a reverse thermocline and horrible visibility. Moreover, the stench of sulfur made my eyes burn. Half way through the first dive, and I called it. My solid divers in the pool were train wrecks in this crud. This was nuts!
Last week, I took my AOW student to Jule's Undersea Lodge for his training. It wasn't as unpleasant as Cannon Beach, but I did record 91F. Lots of fish to see, and we got all of our work done.
This week, there was just no question where I should take my OW student and it was back to Jule's. Unfortunately, someone peed in our pool and the bottom temps were 94F. There's just a touch of sulfur in the water and my eyes are burning post diving. Worse, the vis is way down and most of the fishies are gone. We accomplished what we needed to do, and Natalia had fun but the heat just about wore me out. I'm ready for fall!
Two weeks ago, while diving Pennekamp, I recorded an absolute record high temp for me while diving: 97F. It was 91 on the surface and then we experienced a reverse thermocline and horrible visibility. Moreover, the stench of sulfur made my eyes burn. Half way through the first dive, and I called it. My solid divers in the pool were train wrecks in this crud. This was nuts!
Last week, I took my AOW student to Jule's Undersea Lodge for his training. It wasn't as unpleasant as Cannon Beach, but I did record 91F. Lots of fish to see, and we got all of our work done.
This week, there was just no question where I should take my OW student and it was back to Jule's. Unfortunately, someone peed in our pool and the bottom temps were 94F. There's just a touch of sulfur in the water and my eyes are burning post diving. Worse, the vis is way down and most of the fishies are gone. We accomplished what we needed to do, and Natalia had fun but the heat just about wore me out. I'm ready for fall!
