paulwall
Contributor
So, in preparation for our Mardi Gras Cruise, I wanted to get the BIL's and NIL's out on a boat dive to show them that it wasn't all fun and games, and to drop them into some deeper water.
The vis forecast was not promising, but the air (61*) and wave (1-2') forecast was too good to scrub the trip, even with a 43* air temp at 8am.
We booked with Pensacola Dive Pros and Dr. Dive for the trip. We picked up one spearfisher and filled the boat with 6 people. Four were on their first boat trip, me as the mother hen, and the spearfisherman.
Besides the two 13year olds acting like they were used to having sherpas handle all of their gear, we managed to get fitted into 6.5mil wetsuits, bc's and regs at the dive shop before heading out to the boat for a 9:30 departure.
We got everyone dressed, and rigged and loaded onto the boat in time. In addition to the first boat trip this was also the first time any of them had worn 6.5mm, weight belts or hoods. Let's just say it was a learning experience.
We made our way out of Seville Marina under Beautiful blue and sunny skies. It had not yet hit 55* when we left, so we were all pretty much fully dressed all the way out to the Three Coal Barges.
These barges have been down more than 25 years, and I used to dive them in the early 90's. It was a quick trip on the Dr. Dive (A 26' Glacier Bay Catamaran with dual outboard Yamahas). Capt. Jim dropped the anchor and let out LOTS of scope for a stubborn surface current. Viz wasn't horrible, I could see the anchor line pretty well for quite a distance.
Chris (The speargunner from Chicago) splashed first. I gave him a few minutes lead and went next. The plan was I would wait on the anchor line at 15' for final checks before sending each of the father/son teams down.
So, I waited, and waited, and finally Nephew #1 shows up. I help him with a mask problem and send him a little further down to compress his wetsuit a little. His father shows up a minute later, and I buddy them up and swim them to the wreck.
I then head back up and wait for team #2. Ten minutes later, I head back to the boat to find them both struggling with a weight belt and extra weight. They get sorted out, and I lead them to the anchor line. I instruct them to deflate the BC and head down. I drop down the line to 15' and wait. And wait. Apparently they decided to scrub the dive. I head down to find team #1, and see Chris coming back up with a spadefish on his stringer. I start to look around the wreck near the anchor, running a little line around the wreck for reference.
When I come back to the anchor line (Full circle) I turn around and start reeling the line back in and then notice that instead of being horizontal, the end of my line, on the anchor chain, is now somewhere over my head and closer to the boat than I remember. Then, I see the anchor dragging through the air toward me! I snag it and hook it into the last possible portion of the wreck just in time, surmising that team #1 was making its way up the line, and their buoyancy had pulled the anchor loose.
I swam around for a few more minutes, enjoying the solitude, and headed back up.
Max depth 54', max temp 62* on the bottom, dive time 46 minutes, vis a good 20'
When I get back on the boat, I count heads, everyone is present, but Team #1 is seasick, and short 1 fin.
Team 2 has lost a weight belt under the bow of the boat. So, I determine to do a SAR dive on the second trip to the bottom
The vis forecast was not promising, but the air (61*) and wave (1-2') forecast was too good to scrub the trip, even with a 43* air temp at 8am.
We booked with Pensacola Dive Pros and Dr. Dive for the trip. We picked up one spearfisher and filled the boat with 6 people. Four were on their first boat trip, me as the mother hen, and the spearfisherman.
Besides the two 13year olds acting like they were used to having sherpas handle all of their gear, we managed to get fitted into 6.5mil wetsuits, bc's and regs at the dive shop before heading out to the boat for a 9:30 departure.
We got everyone dressed, and rigged and loaded onto the boat in time. In addition to the first boat trip this was also the first time any of them had worn 6.5mm, weight belts or hoods. Let's just say it was a learning experience.
We made our way out of Seville Marina under Beautiful blue and sunny skies. It had not yet hit 55* when we left, so we were all pretty much fully dressed all the way out to the Three Coal Barges.
These barges have been down more than 25 years, and I used to dive them in the early 90's. It was a quick trip on the Dr. Dive (A 26' Glacier Bay Catamaran with dual outboard Yamahas). Capt. Jim dropped the anchor and let out LOTS of scope for a stubborn surface current. Viz wasn't horrible, I could see the anchor line pretty well for quite a distance.
Chris (The speargunner from Chicago) splashed first. I gave him a few minutes lead and went next. The plan was I would wait on the anchor line at 15' for final checks before sending each of the father/son teams down.
So, I waited, and waited, and finally Nephew #1 shows up. I help him with a mask problem and send him a little further down to compress his wetsuit a little. His father shows up a minute later, and I buddy them up and swim them to the wreck.
I then head back up and wait for team #2. Ten minutes later, I head back to the boat to find them both struggling with a weight belt and extra weight. They get sorted out, and I lead them to the anchor line. I instruct them to deflate the BC and head down. I drop down the line to 15' and wait. And wait. Apparently they decided to scrub the dive. I head down to find team #1, and see Chris coming back up with a spadefish on his stringer. I start to look around the wreck near the anchor, running a little line around the wreck for reference.
When I come back to the anchor line (Full circle) I turn around and start reeling the line back in and then notice that instead of being horizontal, the end of my line, on the anchor chain, is now somewhere over my head and closer to the boat than I remember. Then, I see the anchor dragging through the air toward me! I snag it and hook it into the last possible portion of the wreck just in time, surmising that team #1 was making its way up the line, and their buoyancy had pulled the anchor loose.
I swam around for a few more minutes, enjoying the solitude, and headed back up.
Max depth 54', max temp 62* on the bottom, dive time 46 minutes, vis a good 20'
When I get back on the boat, I count heads, everyone is present, but Team #1 is seasick, and short 1 fin.
Team 2 has lost a weight belt under the bow of the boat. So, I determine to do a SAR dive on the second trip to the bottom
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