Jarhead
Contributor
September 22, 2002
Panama City Beach, FL
Operator: Hydrospace (7-11am trip)
Dive Shop: Sand Dollar Dive Center
Vessel: M/V Reef Runner
Captain: Kevin
Mate: Dino
We drove down on Saturday afternoon, arriving in PCB at about 5:30 CST. We checked into the St. Andrews State Park Campground and pitched our tents in site #70. Everyone else was staying at the Holiday Lodge, so we met up there for Dinner. Kirbys favorite is Hunts Oyster Bar near the City Marina, so we figured we try there first. The wait for a table was not long. The eight of us went through twelve dozen oysters, two pounds of steamed shrimp, an order of mahi-mahi and an order of Frog Legs. We knew we had to be on the dock at 6:30 the next morning, so most of us turned-in for the night. The night was hot and humid, so it wasnt a good nights sleep in a tent with no A/C.
Sunday morning dawned with blue skies and just a few scattered clouds. We skipped breakfast and just picked something to eat on the boat (mistake #1). We were the first of our group at the dock; so we found out which boat we were on and staged our gear, filled out waivers, etc. Loading the boat went smoothly. The boat was going smoothly in the bay and then we cleared the jetties. Thanks to Isadore, the swells are 4-6 feet. We proceed out to Bridge Span#14 for our first of the day.
Dive #1
Bridge Span #14
Water Temp: 86f
Max. Depth: 76 fsw
Avg. Depth: 52 fsw
Bottom Time: 26 minutes
Buddy: Joshua Alexander
Due to the rolling and pitching of the boat, gearing up was interesting. We quickly learned that it was easier to just sit and wait for your turn to giant stride off the boat, than get in line to wait. Im using new spring straps on my fins (thanks to the efforts of Ben Ginnins) on this trip. After entering the water, I pulled down to 15 fsw on the ascent/descent line to get under the surge but even at 15 ft. it was pretty stout. After Joshua joined me there, we did our buddy checks and descended to the span. At the top of the span (~50fsw), Vis is 20-40ft. We continued down to the base and Vis decreased to ~3ft. with a noticeable current. After traveling to the other end of the span at the base, we ascended to the top of the span where Vis was better. There was still a slight current at this depth. This dive was the first time I had ever seen banded-butterfly fish. I made sure to point them out to Josh. We continued around and through the upper portion of the span until Joshua reached 1200psi. Then we returned to the ascent line, and did a slow ascent (10 fpm) to our safety stop at 15ft. Once again the surge was beating us up pretty bad. I had Josh board the boat first. Then I followed. The new spring straps on my fins made fin removal at the ladder a breeze. Which was good considering the way it was bouncing around.
Once everyone was aboard, Kevin moved the boat closer to shore, hoping that the land would help shield us from the wind and waves. Didnt work.
We had an hour for our surface interval.
Dive #2
Sand Barge
Water Temp: 86f
Max. Depth: 58 fsw
Avg. Depth: 43 fsw
Bottom Time: 16 minutes
Joshua wasnt feeling very good and decided to sit this one out. Apparently, Im not that smart. Although, I think it was more lack-of-sleep and Dramamine-on-an-empty-stomach, than Sea-sickness. I wasnt feeling very well either. I joined up with Kirby and Jo Anne for this dive. After mooring, Dino came aboard and announced that there was a stiff current and Vis was about 3 ft. We decided to try it anyway. On entering the water, I pulled down to 15 feet. Looking back, the boat was really taking a beating. I was glad I was off of it. After buddy checks, I followed Jo Ann down to the wreck. If her fins hadnt been bright pink, I wouldve never been able to keep track of her. After moving 10-12 from the mooring line, Jo Ann lost Kirby. It didnt take him but minute to notice and he came back to her. Jo Ann immediately called the dive. Kirby agreed with her but suggested I join one of the other pairs. I agreed, but accompanied them back to the mooring line. After they began their ascent, I moved 30 feet up the starboard side of the barge. I could see neither bubbles or lights from any of the other three pairs. I moved back to the mooring line, across the stern and up the port side about 30 feet and still saw no one. I decided they must have called their dives, too. I moved back to the mooring ling and began a slow ascent (10fpm). I was still watching below for lights and/or bubbles, but the murk was too thick. I took my three minutes at 15 ft. I think the surface conditions were getting worse. Then I moved to the stern and boarded the boat. In turns out that the other three pairs were still in the water. Two pair had been pushed off the barge by the current. One pair was able to find the barge again but the other had to make a free ascent and swim back to the boat.
Upon return to the dock, I was able to meet Rick Murchison. He and his group from Adventure Sports II in Montgomery were to go out on the Reef Runners next trip. It was really great to meet someone from the Scubaboard face to face. I introduced him to Josh and he introduced me some of his group and invited me to go out with them, but I had had enough for one day. I look forward to the opportunity to dive with them sometime in the near future. Maybe I can get him to go out on the Empire Mica with us October 25th.
The trip home was uneventful. We stopped from gas and dinner in Dothan, AL and were home by 5pm EST.
Jarhead
Panama City Beach, FL
Operator: Hydrospace (7-11am trip)
Dive Shop: Sand Dollar Dive Center
Vessel: M/V Reef Runner
Captain: Kevin
Mate: Dino
We drove down on Saturday afternoon, arriving in PCB at about 5:30 CST. We checked into the St. Andrews State Park Campground and pitched our tents in site #70. Everyone else was staying at the Holiday Lodge, so we met up there for Dinner. Kirbys favorite is Hunts Oyster Bar near the City Marina, so we figured we try there first. The wait for a table was not long. The eight of us went through twelve dozen oysters, two pounds of steamed shrimp, an order of mahi-mahi and an order of Frog Legs. We knew we had to be on the dock at 6:30 the next morning, so most of us turned-in for the night. The night was hot and humid, so it wasnt a good nights sleep in a tent with no A/C.
Sunday morning dawned with blue skies and just a few scattered clouds. We skipped breakfast and just picked something to eat on the boat (mistake #1). We were the first of our group at the dock; so we found out which boat we were on and staged our gear, filled out waivers, etc. Loading the boat went smoothly. The boat was going smoothly in the bay and then we cleared the jetties. Thanks to Isadore, the swells are 4-6 feet. We proceed out to Bridge Span#14 for our first of the day.
Dive #1
Bridge Span #14
Water Temp: 86f
Max. Depth: 76 fsw
Avg. Depth: 52 fsw
Bottom Time: 26 minutes
Buddy: Joshua Alexander
Due to the rolling and pitching of the boat, gearing up was interesting. We quickly learned that it was easier to just sit and wait for your turn to giant stride off the boat, than get in line to wait. Im using new spring straps on my fins (thanks to the efforts of Ben Ginnins) on this trip. After entering the water, I pulled down to 15 fsw on the ascent/descent line to get under the surge but even at 15 ft. it was pretty stout. After Joshua joined me there, we did our buddy checks and descended to the span. At the top of the span (~50fsw), Vis is 20-40ft. We continued down to the base and Vis decreased to ~3ft. with a noticeable current. After traveling to the other end of the span at the base, we ascended to the top of the span where Vis was better. There was still a slight current at this depth. This dive was the first time I had ever seen banded-butterfly fish. I made sure to point them out to Josh. We continued around and through the upper portion of the span until Joshua reached 1200psi. Then we returned to the ascent line, and did a slow ascent (10 fpm) to our safety stop at 15ft. Once again the surge was beating us up pretty bad. I had Josh board the boat first. Then I followed. The new spring straps on my fins made fin removal at the ladder a breeze. Which was good considering the way it was bouncing around.
Once everyone was aboard, Kevin moved the boat closer to shore, hoping that the land would help shield us from the wind and waves. Didnt work.
We had an hour for our surface interval.
Dive #2
Sand Barge
Water Temp: 86f
Max. Depth: 58 fsw
Avg. Depth: 43 fsw
Bottom Time: 16 minutes
Joshua wasnt feeling very good and decided to sit this one out. Apparently, Im not that smart. Although, I think it was more lack-of-sleep and Dramamine-on-an-empty-stomach, than Sea-sickness. I wasnt feeling very well either. I joined up with Kirby and Jo Anne for this dive. After mooring, Dino came aboard and announced that there was a stiff current and Vis was about 3 ft. We decided to try it anyway. On entering the water, I pulled down to 15 feet. Looking back, the boat was really taking a beating. I was glad I was off of it. After buddy checks, I followed Jo Ann down to the wreck. If her fins hadnt been bright pink, I wouldve never been able to keep track of her. After moving 10-12 from the mooring line, Jo Ann lost Kirby. It didnt take him but minute to notice and he came back to her. Jo Ann immediately called the dive. Kirby agreed with her but suggested I join one of the other pairs. I agreed, but accompanied them back to the mooring line. After they began their ascent, I moved 30 feet up the starboard side of the barge. I could see neither bubbles or lights from any of the other three pairs. I moved back to the mooring line, across the stern and up the port side about 30 feet and still saw no one. I decided they must have called their dives, too. I moved back to the mooring ling and began a slow ascent (10fpm). I was still watching below for lights and/or bubbles, but the murk was too thick. I took my three minutes at 15 ft. I think the surface conditions were getting worse. Then I moved to the stern and boarded the boat. In turns out that the other three pairs were still in the water. Two pair had been pushed off the barge by the current. One pair was able to find the barge again but the other had to make a free ascent and swim back to the boat.
Upon return to the dock, I was able to meet Rick Murchison. He and his group from Adventure Sports II in Montgomery were to go out on the Reef Runners next trip. It was really great to meet someone from the Scubaboard face to face. I introduced him to Josh and he introduced me some of his group and invited me to go out with them, but I had had enough for one day. I look forward to the opportunity to dive with them sometime in the near future. Maybe I can get him to go out on the Empire Mica with us October 25th.
The trip home was uneventful. We stopped from gas and dinner in Dothan, AL and were home by 5pm EST.
Jarhead