Dive #380

Date: October 22, 2008
Time: 5:00pm
Location: South Crescent
Depth (feet): 29
Dive Time (minutes): 43
Surf (feet): 2-4
Surge (feet): 2-6
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 61
Visibility (feet): 10-15+
Visibility Description: surge-affected, but decent
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Josh and Mick (nice to meet you)...first dive in a few weeks...been fighting off walking pneumonia...felt good to get under. Surf made you wait for a lull...some of the waves were pretty good-sized, but all entered without incident. Swam out only a short way and dropped in about 15 feet of reasonably clear water - a lot of surge sand-roll on the bottom however. Leisurely dive around South Crescent where the reef forms up better - vis over the rockier bottom was nice. Went into the reef and through the "window" swim-through. Dropped into the passageway behind it, and back towards the center of the reef. Got into the "washing machine" area that connects the passages between Shaw's and Cresecent...it lived up to it's name with heavy surge and whiteout. Exited back onto the Crescent side without incident and worked our way back over to the beach. Saw a large brittle star out in the open, and a medium-sized halibut swam under and past me on the way back to the beach. Well-timed exit got us out without any issues, and overall a good time had by all.

Dive #379 - No skunks here

Date: Oct 1, 2008
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Location code 39
Depth (feet): 24
Dive Time (minutes): 82
Surf (feet): 1+
Surge (feet): 2-5
Water Temp (fahrenheit): 57
Visibility (feet): 1-3
Visibility Description: horrible
Notes and Highlights: Dove with Josh - first lobster dive for the season - tally stands at 2. High tide was only a couple of hours away, but the water was still way out...made the walk that much longer...easy surf. Dropped down very quickly - in only a few feet of water, and didn't stay down...couldn't see a hand in front of the face with the sand in the water. Surface swam out a bit further and dropped into negligibly better vis - never better than a few feet during the dive. Picked up a short in the first minute or two, and then a nice, approx 4lb keeper a few minutes later. It's a recent molt - "nerf lobster" as I call it...but it'll still taste good...maybe better if you believe what they say about shedders. Nice start to the season - especially with bad conditions.

Swam for more than another hour - picked up another keeper at about the hour mark. Didn't see many more than 1/2 dozen lobster including the shorts - but then again...couldn't see anything anyways. Strong current and a lot of surge made for a lot of exercise on the way back - Josh picked up a hoop net someone must have lost off a boat...looked brand-new. Two lobsters and some exercise...a hoop net to boot...overall a good time had by all.