Frank O
Contributor
Date: 3/5/06
Dive Location: Old Marineland
Buddy(ies): Claudette
Time: 9:59 a.m.
Run time: 69 min
Max depth: 43 ft
Vis: 10-15 ft, more or less
Wave height: Variable!
Min temp: 54.3 F
Surface temp:~60 F
Tide information: Just past low
Gas mix: 32%
Comments:
The Latin motto of today's dive was Ad Stomatopoda per Aspera ("To the mantis shrimp, through difficulties"). But a great one in the end!
Arriving just after 8 a.m. (to a well-populated parking lot, thanks to Divevets scheduling a visit), we geared up and checked out conditions. Waves in the cove were nearly flat; the point was exposed to a little more swell, but looked doable, so we picked our way down the rocks. Just as we got in position, the swell started picking up big-time. Bam! I was turtled, one hand cradling Jetfins and the other the dual-strobe D70. I righted myself and headed out again. Bam! Turtled again. A good day to have the reg in the mouth. (And a good day to be in a wetsuit rather than the trilam drysuit.) Eventually I concluded that it wasn't happening, so we picked our way up the rocks and headed over to the cove for a stress-free entry.
For our dive plan we decided we'd head out, drop, continue out to about 50 ft, then turn right and head for the reef, checking the sand as we went for any mantis shrimp. We picked a drop point, noting that the water looked mighty green. When we submerged we found ourselves at a depth of about 25-30 ft, but the vis improved at least a little. Then we continued straight out from the cove (which here is due south), and just past 40 ft ran into our friend:
He was out and about, strolling across the sand. We began trailing him like aquatic paparazzi. Every time the strobes went off, he seemed to jump. In time I concluded this might be harassing him, so we let him go on his way.
But soon we ran across the first of a series of several mantis shrimp holes:
This one was home, and periodically stuck its head out, as if to say, "Are they still there?" At other holes we could see mantis deep inside, but of no mind to appear.
In due time we headed on and ran into the reef, where we encountered a good-sized octopus, a couple of nudibranchs and other assorted life. With a steel 80 I found at 69 minutes the gas was running a little short, so we surfaced in about 12 ft and swam in.
It was also a great pleasure to meet Claudette's husband Ted (that would make him "Mr. Hbdivegirl"?), who provided great surface support.
So -- now that I've achieved my life ambition of seeing and photographing a mantis shrimp -- should I sell my dive gear? Or go out again next weekend and try again?
Dive Location: Old Marineland
Buddy(ies): Claudette
Time: 9:59 a.m.
Run time: 69 min
Max depth: 43 ft
Vis: 10-15 ft, more or less
Wave height: Variable!
Min temp: 54.3 F
Surface temp:~60 F
Tide information: Just past low
Gas mix: 32%
Comments:
The Latin motto of today's dive was Ad Stomatopoda per Aspera ("To the mantis shrimp, through difficulties"). But a great one in the end!
Arriving just after 8 a.m. (to a well-populated parking lot, thanks to Divevets scheduling a visit), we geared up and checked out conditions. Waves in the cove were nearly flat; the point was exposed to a little more swell, but looked doable, so we picked our way down the rocks. Just as we got in position, the swell started picking up big-time. Bam! I was turtled, one hand cradling Jetfins and the other the dual-strobe D70. I righted myself and headed out again. Bam! Turtled again. A good day to have the reg in the mouth. (And a good day to be in a wetsuit rather than the trilam drysuit.) Eventually I concluded that it wasn't happening, so we picked our way up the rocks and headed over to the cove for a stress-free entry.
For our dive plan we decided we'd head out, drop, continue out to about 50 ft, then turn right and head for the reef, checking the sand as we went for any mantis shrimp. We picked a drop point, noting that the water looked mighty green. When we submerged we found ourselves at a depth of about 25-30 ft, but the vis improved at least a little. Then we continued straight out from the cove (which here is due south), and just past 40 ft ran into our friend:
He was out and about, strolling across the sand. We began trailing him like aquatic paparazzi. Every time the strobes went off, he seemed to jump. In time I concluded this might be harassing him, so we let him go on his way.
But soon we ran across the first of a series of several mantis shrimp holes:
This one was home, and periodically stuck its head out, as if to say, "Are they still there?" At other holes we could see mantis deep inside, but of no mind to appear.
In due time we headed on and ran into the reef, where we encountered a good-sized octopus, a couple of nudibranchs and other assorted life. With a steel 80 I found at 69 minutes the gas was running a little short, so we surfaced in about 12 ft and swam in.
It was also a great pleasure to meet Claudette's husband Ted (that would make him "Mr. Hbdivegirl"?), who provided great surface support.
So -- now that I've achieved my life ambition of seeing and photographing a mantis shrimp -- should I sell my dive gear? Or go out again next weekend and try again?
