We left Montgomery at noon-thirty on Friday and set out on yet another adventurous weekend. Neal and Alden needed their certification by Monday so we did check-out dives with them Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The spring was virtually deserted both days and the water clear and refreshing. I ventured off between dives and found a few nice fossils and one piece of pottery. Dinner at Sallys followed and we stayed at the Motor Lodge. Saturday morning we finished the certification dives and headed to Panama City.
We at lunch at the Blue Top and stopped in to see friends at various dive shops and finally to PCDC. Despite a prediction of one to two footers we noticed that the wind was whipping around pretty smartly. Alas, the boats were calling in telling stories of water coming over the bow and they scrubbed the trip at the last minute. Steve said that he was out in the storm at Destin and it was really rough there too. We tried to do the jetties but low tide wasnt until 7:30 and divers coming out told tales of two-foot visibility and a ripping current. We decided instead to watch the sunset from Uncle Ernies. Those who had never been there were amused that the directions included Turn right at Tan Fannies and were impressed at the amount of great food that we enjoyed out on the back deck.
We didnt have any trouble falling off to sleep. The La Quinta Inn that Scott set us up with is absolutely wonderful. Clean and new, it sets the environment for a restful night. In the morning we enjoyed a poolside breakfast.
The unpredicted summer squall blew over as quickly as it came and Sunday was absolutely great. Smooth seas beckoned us and we went forth with burning anticipation. We rode the Reef Runner and were pleasantly surprised to learn that Katie has her Captains license now. Our old friend Captain Dennis decked for her and little Katie did an outstanding job putting the big boat on the site first time with no problems.
We dive the Black Bart often and always seem to see something new. There was another boat on first so we tied to the stern. The aggravating mild thermocline at about ten feet off the bottom made visibility a little limited near the sand but great above the layer. We found an octopus peering from the end of a pipe. I made way to the wheelhouse and found my first ever in Panama City Pencil Urchin. Unfortunately he was in a crack so small that I couldnt get a picture. The skeleton in the wheelhouse is all but gone. There is a baseball cap attached to the wreck that acts as a memorial to someone named Ferris. Interesting! On ascent, I got an interesting picture of a group of baby jacks riding inside the tentacles of a jellyfish.
Bridge Span 14 was equally fantastic. The silt layer still covered the bottom but visibility was all the way across the span at the top. On ascent I found a moon jellyfish with some sort of luminescent creature inside. Every time the jelly moved the creature inside shone like a jewel. The wind was picking up a little and the trip back bumpy. Once again Katie did a fantastic job.
The worst part of the weekend, as always, was the long drive home knowing that another work week would soon begin.
We at lunch at the Blue Top and stopped in to see friends at various dive shops and finally to PCDC. Despite a prediction of one to two footers we noticed that the wind was whipping around pretty smartly. Alas, the boats were calling in telling stories of water coming over the bow and they scrubbed the trip at the last minute. Steve said that he was out in the storm at Destin and it was really rough there too. We tried to do the jetties but low tide wasnt until 7:30 and divers coming out told tales of two-foot visibility and a ripping current. We decided instead to watch the sunset from Uncle Ernies. Those who had never been there were amused that the directions included Turn right at Tan Fannies and were impressed at the amount of great food that we enjoyed out on the back deck.
We didnt have any trouble falling off to sleep. The La Quinta Inn that Scott set us up with is absolutely wonderful. Clean and new, it sets the environment for a restful night. In the morning we enjoyed a poolside breakfast.
The unpredicted summer squall blew over as quickly as it came and Sunday was absolutely great. Smooth seas beckoned us and we went forth with burning anticipation. We rode the Reef Runner and were pleasantly surprised to learn that Katie has her Captains license now. Our old friend Captain Dennis decked for her and little Katie did an outstanding job putting the big boat on the site first time with no problems.
We dive the Black Bart often and always seem to see something new. There was another boat on first so we tied to the stern. The aggravating mild thermocline at about ten feet off the bottom made visibility a little limited near the sand but great above the layer. We found an octopus peering from the end of a pipe. I made way to the wheelhouse and found my first ever in Panama City Pencil Urchin. Unfortunately he was in a crack so small that I couldnt get a picture. The skeleton in the wheelhouse is all but gone. There is a baseball cap attached to the wreck that acts as a memorial to someone named Ferris. Interesting! On ascent, I got an interesting picture of a group of baby jacks riding inside the tentacles of a jellyfish.
Bridge Span 14 was equally fantastic. The silt layer still covered the bottom but visibility was all the way across the span at the top. On ascent I found a moon jellyfish with some sort of luminescent creature inside. Every time the jelly moved the creature inside shone like a jewel. The wind was picking up a little and the trip back bumpy. Once again Katie did a fantastic job.
The worst part of the weekend, as always, was the long drive home knowing that another work week would soon begin.
