Go deep, stay long

Once again, NOAA could not make up their minds, but they were currently calling for bad conditions. Our original plan involved a long run up to the San Diego. Given the current conditions, and the ever changing forecast, we just figured we would try to get out and get wet. To make a long story short, we hit the Mohawk. The surface looked clear, but with the long period rollers, we knew the bottom would be sloppy.

The surge on the bottom had it’s way with the vis which varied from 10 ft to where’d my hand go. Under these conditions I look for lobster, since you don’t need to see very far to grab one. However better lobstermen than I had returned reporting only shorts.Inflatable Water Slide At this point I figured on tying off and heading into the sand to look for fluke. Fluke season opened last weekend. It was worth a try. Perhaps it’s still too cold (44 Deg), or too early in the season, but I didn’t see any at all.

I gave up after while and tried looking for lobster. There were a few reasonable tog hiding under deck plates, and some rather docile seabass laying in the sand. There seemed to be a lot of shiny lead down there, so the fishermen have been there recently. Again perhaps it’s just been too cold, but the fish were not very active.

On the bright side, it was a great day to practice reel skills. At least the surface water had cleared up a bit. The brown coffee from last weekend was replace with some clean 58 degree water.

Heading out of Manasquan inlet the air was a little crisp, with clear skies and the slightest hint of wind. With mirror flat seas, it was another day on lake Atlantic. There was a clear consensus among the divers: This sure beats work! Some of the divers had 32% mix so we stayed inshore and hit the Pinta.

The Pinta was a freighter carrying a cargo of hardwood. She collided and sank in 1963. We arrived on site quickly, and the crew expeditiously tied in. Obviously every one was excited to dive as they hit the water as soon as the pool was open. The clear surface water of last week, has been replaced with a tea brown soup. However, this was only on the top 20 ft. Once below this layer the vis opened up to a dark 20 ft. Once we switched on our lights, it was actually quite bouncy castle for sale nice (in a Jerseyesque way). There was little to no current on the wreck and the bottom temp was up to a toasty 43 Deg.

The wreck’s structure has opened up since my last visit. We spent our time checking out the inside, poking in every crevice we could find. We scared a few fish off in the process. A few large tog were about, with an occasional seabass. Lobsters, on the other hand, were few and far between. On the way back to the anchor I noticed a large brass valve above the diesel engine. I’ll bring tools on the next dive. Our hour was up, and we ascended the line. The safety stop was a warm 58 degrees, but we were in the tea water. You could barely see your gauges.

The surface interval was spent talking about the dive, the areas everyone had checked out, and how much the wreck has deteriorated. Before long everyone was ready for round two.

This time I jumped in with a few tools in tow. I passed Capt Mark on the way down the line. He was signaling something that I could not quite make out. I was pretty sure it involved a crowbar (one tool I did not have). I signaled OK, and continued my decent. After a false start locating the engine, I arrived there just in time to see Mark approaching, crowbar in hand. I guess we are committed now. The two of us proceeded to work on the steel bolts that were now weakened by rust and time. Video of the event might have been humorous: watching divers try to stand on a crowbar at depth. Between all the prying and pounding, the valve finally came free, and I nearly drained my bailout filling the lift bag to coax it off the bottom. On the way up we did an extra long hang to compensate for the work at depth.

Once on the surface we found that other divers had also found mementos of the day: s

Between the 12 ft seas and Northeasters, it’s been tough to get out diving this spring. This weekend the weather finally cooperated, and the Independence II made a run for it. Blue sky, flat clear water, who could ask for anything else? OK, maybe a few degrees warmer.

The NOAA buoys read 3 ft seas. When we headed out of Manasquan inlet the ocean was flat. Those buoys need to be checked! There was a slight swell, but not more than a foot, and that was inshore. When we arrived at the Stolt, the ocean was mirror flat. There was a slight current at the surface, and you could see the light penetrating deep into the water.

Rumors of 44 degree water had been circulated. Maybe on the surface, but not on the bottom. Lets talk about 41. At this temp, the suit is fine, but neoprene gloves are just not adequate. Dry gloves would have worked better. A clam dredge a little bit away was having it’s way with the bottom vis.

Well it is what is its, and we make due with what we have. My buddy and I jumped in and headed down the line. On the top of the wreck the vis was 30 +, but on bouncy castle for sale the sand it dropped to about 10. The line was tied in at the top of the Stolt. We headed down to the bottom for a look around. Lobster would be nice, anything else is a bonus. My buddy looked under the wreck, while I looked under debris around the wreck. No joy! I did see a small Monkfish and a good size cod, but my knife was not up to the task.

Next thing I know my buddies gone inside the wreck. In 10 foo vis, I’m a bit nervous, but followed after him. The wreck is still opening up. Light can been seen from most holes. It turns out the vis inside was a bit better than out side. At one point my buddy was on the other side of a bulkhead from me. I could see his light through a line of vacant port holes, but I could not see how he got in there. After a few tense minutes on my part, he appeared waving his light, asking if I was OK. I’m fine, and glad to know you are! We poked around in a few more rooms. While I tried to pry a few tiles off the wall/floor, he was digging in the silt.

By this point my computer was wracking up Deco, and at this temp, I was not interested. We both signaled up, and headed for the line. By the time we arrive I was looking at a 20 minutes hang. I could feel my fingers, but they were cold! This was going to hurt! By the time we broke th surface it was a 70 + minute dive. We opted out of the repeat performance. The other divers kept the second dive short.

We headed home in flat seas. A few lobsters in the cooler, and a group of divers happy to start the season. You could not have asked for a better day, top side, or a better group of divers! A great day of diving!