limeyx(Offline)

We set off for Catalina again this weekend, once more on the Sundiver.

Today's ride was an open boat, but we planned to do a tech1 dive for our first dive, then follow it up with two recreational profiles.

As usually, I was moderatlely seasick on the way out (2.5 hours of feeling like you are going to hurl takes its toll after a while), but thankfully never got as far as feeding the fishies.

Dive 1



We ran over the plan. Since the dive site had to take account of recreational profiles also, we weren't certain what kind of reef we'd encounter. We planned for 25 @ 150 but knew there was a good chance we'd end up shallower. We went over a 20 and 25 minute deco to account for both.

Since I'm the newest diver, I was elected to lead and run deco. Luckily the plan was to deco up the slope toward the rock, but there was also a chance of a free ascent if we (I) screwed up.

Took a bearing and we headed down to find ... sand, and a lot of it. We cruised around at 140 for about 10 mins before giving up and heading toward our "deco rock" where we found a reef along the backside at about 120.

Revised the dive for 120 average, and continued out along the wall. The wall was cool to look at but not too much wildlife. I called the dive a little early as I was uncertain how far back along the side of the rock we'd have to go, so we ended up with 30 mins at 130.

We did our deep stops up the slope, and I decided to run the 20 min deco option. This was a case of the deco making the dive. We slowly ascended up the slope with a sheer vertical wall on one side, covered in sea fans. We could see at least 50 feet vertically, maybe more, so it was an outstanding sight (makes me wish I was experienced enough to bring a camera on these dives). We wound our way through rock formations on our right side, and through the kelp. The way the light filters down on a sunny day is just amazing.

During our 20 foot stop, we (Gina) found a rock ledge with plenty of huge lobsters hiding under it. Sadly they aren't in season for a few more months.

Dive 2 "Red Crane"

We planned an average 60 feet dive, runtime 40 mins. Thankfully I didn't get to lead this time (so we made it out and back with no issues!)

This weekend we are in the middle of a heat wave, and the water was correspondingly warm (61+ at 30-40 feet). We made our way out, and I got to watch as the leader fed a kelp strand to an abalone attached to a rock. I'd never really seen one underwater before. Amazing the way it sensed the kelp and peeled itself off the rock to feed.

At about our turn point we saw a bat ray off in the distance, swimming lazily along. Sadly it was soon out of range. We turned, and as we were almost back to the boat, another huge bat ray zoomed in from deeper water and homed in on us. I thought it was going to come over and check us out at first, but I think our bubbles distracted it, and it made for deeper water (but no, I'm still not going to get a re-breather

Dive 3 "Big Geiger"

Captain Ray told us that this site had been "Taken over" by bat rays, and we'd likely see some more of these gorgrous beasts.

We ran the dive along the same plans as dive 2 (nothing like making it easy on ourselves). We dropped into what I thought was great vis, only to have it degrade to 1-2 feet. Apparently this is partly due to the bat rays feeding and digging up silt.

We kicked our way through the crud and things opened up to 20-30 feet along the outside of the reef.
Saw two more decent sized rays, one digging itself into the side of the reef aparently to get to the worms they like to feed on. It was kicking up considerable dust in the process.

And then all too soon, another fun day was ending. We surfaced slowly and headed back to the boat in 80+F degree weather.

Now I'm beginning to remember how this "Fun" diving was supposed to go

fraser(Offline)

Nice report, thanks for posting. It's really interesting to read about different Tech 1 style dives, generally here in the UK there is nothing nice to look at on deco at all, apart from my team of course

Cheers,

Fraser.

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limeyx(Offline)

Ha, nice save

Maybe you guys should come over and visit sometime. Plenty of sites here in the T1 range (reefs, wrecks etc) and some awesome recreational diving too ...

Clare Gledhill(Offline)

Hmmm.... seem to remember you cuddling your Gavin on the last ascent - what was it you called her again?

Great report - thanks for writing.

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fraser(Offline)

I'd like that, I was considering the trip down from NYC when I was working there but didn't have a buddy sadly.

You leave Dee out of this. I'm considering taking her to see The Da Vinci Code tonight...

Frase.

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limeyx(Offline)

There are more T1 divers out here now (at least 4 this year alone) and if you want to do recreational diving, there is plenty of it too.