We are in the GC now and are scheduled for a boat dive on the USS Kittiwake in the morning. The conditions are very rough right now (no shore diving anywhere). We have two of our 4 divers that are beginners (very first ocean dive for one, 10th dive for the other). Will the USS Kittiwake be worth going on if the conditions stay as they are and will this be a good dive for the new divers?
USS Kittiwake in Rough Conditions for new diver ???
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Define rough. That ship is really close to shore as I recall
Yeah..about that...maybe get hammered drunk tomorrow instead of diving.
The Kittiwake is one of my favorite dives ever. That being said, I have been on GC when there was no shore diving because of rough conditions, I would not want to make that dive under those conditions. Thumb it and come back another time, the ship will still be there. Spend the money on a nice dinner and some drinks.
EastEndDiver
Contributor
I am on Island and the weather is supposed to build tonight and tomorrow.I was on The Kittiwake/Sand Chutes yesterday and it was churned up and vis was not that good.I would cancel that dive for tomorrow and wait for better weather.
Who are you booked with?
BTW the weather now sucks .
Who are you booked with?
BTW the weather now sucks .
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I wouldn't unless it calms down. It's not getting off the boat that's the problem for new divers...
Whose boat? One with a big fixed swimstep might help..
Whose boat? One with a big fixed swimstep might help..
The wind that is building is coming in from the North East which is the best direction for diving on the Kittiwake (located on the west with a peninsular above to the north). I just drove past West Bay beach and happened to look out over the Kittiwake moorings, there are no boats currently tied off on them but there are no swells at all, the shore line has very little movement and the boats tied off outside of west bay dock are hardly moving. In short I would descride the conditions for the Kittiwake right now as being far from bad. There are some big waves breaking on other parts of the island but the location of the Kittiwake is about the calmest place around. typically there are only a handfull of days a year when the conditions are bad to the point where opperators cancel the trip. As a new diver I would not be concerned with the ocean conditions unless something outside of the forecast comes up.
Doctorfish
Contributor
Agree with scoobydrew. If the conditions were not safe, your dive operator would not be diving that area and would have moved their boat(s) around to a lee shore. If the wind is blowing from NE, the conditions on the west wall should be pretty calm, even if the shore dive sites are blown out. However, if Eastenddiver was there yesterday and conditions were lousy, I'd give the Kittiwake a pass. It will still be there at your next trip to GC and will have more coral and sponge growth.
I have been on GC many times when the ladders were pulled out at Sunset, Turtle Reef etc. and the conditions out on the West Wall were still excellent.
If the weather is really really bad, the dive boats will all be moored south and going south.
While boat diving, If there is some surge at the surface, best to wait on the hang line until your turn to come up the ladder after the previous person is off it as you don't want someone falling back on you. When you get to the ladder always grip the lowest rung only, so that when the ladder and boat swing, you move with them. Hand up your fins, then climb up. Should be no problem, even for a newbie.
A prior responder suggested the Kittiwake was near shore, This is not the case. Out at the wall next to sand Chute.
I have been on GC many times when the ladders were pulled out at Sunset, Turtle Reef etc. and the conditions out on the West Wall were still excellent.
If the weather is really really bad, the dive boats will all be moored south and going south.
While boat diving, If there is some surge at the surface, best to wait on the hang line until your turn to come up the ladder after the previous person is off it as you don't want someone falling back on you. When you get to the ladder always grip the lowest rung only, so that when the ladder and boat swing, you move with them. Hand up your fins, then climb up. Should be no problem, even for a newbie.
A prior responder suggested the Kittiwake was near shore, This is not the case. Out at the wall next to sand Chute.
I just took my dog for a walk on the stretch of beach closest to the kittiwake, waves breaking on the shore were approximately 3-4 inches high.
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