April on the Ocean

In days of old
When divers were cold
And before dry suits were invented
The best latrine
Was neoprene
Especially if it was rented

It’s been weeks….seems longer but it has only been weeks since I was last in the ocean and I was truly looking forward to today.

The morning was sunny and the seas were flat…..so different than the last few weekends and as we sat at the dock waiting for the Lady Godiver to arrive we hoped the visibility gods would smile on us as well. We were going diving. Myself, Mark, Jim, Bart, Jack and Francis. Now all we needed was Howard….and the boat.

When you miss a few weeks of diving you should always be prepared for things to have changed. And change they did. Howard arrived on cue for his first day back at his summer dock in Waretown. There was some fresh paint to be viewed. The door to the cabin was clean and white, and as I placed our gear on the cabin benches I noted that the normally slightly tight quarters were a little tighter than usual. Why is that? Must be the new HEAD! I couldn’t believe it, but it’s true. Some changes are good…really good.

This was also to be my maiden boat dive for my doubles and for Mark’s new dry gloves. Can the good news keep on coming? Hmmm…..

We headed out for the Harry Rush. This wreck holds a special place in Jack’s heart as he pulled a huge lobster off of her last summer. This wooden sailing ship sunk on February 17, 1943 in 80 feet of water, in what appears to be a run for shore according to her orientation. What is left of the wreck lies low to the sand and we hooked into the west end at the chain locker. As we went over the side you could see that we were to be content with the warm sunny day and calm seas, as the visibility was less than perfect.

Marks new gloves did not cooperate for him and he was back to his trusty 5mls and my doubles and I arrived in the water at the same time, always a good thing. We were off. There was a slight surface current and particulate in the cloudy green water as we descended. And the water felt colder than the 44 F my computer was registering. As we reached the sand there was a slight surge and the water cleared a bit, we were to have 5-10 ft of viz this dive, and that was being generous.

Mark tied in his reel and we set out looking about. The area we were in was a bit small and mounds and lines of chain abounded. We set out doing sweeps looking for another section, coming across small pieces here and there but never really finding what we were looking for. I took this opportunity to work on my buoyancy and trim and can honestly say I never shot to the surface or face planted in the sand. A little more work may still be in order though.

The lack of sea life was blaringly obvious. There was the occasional starfish lying about and one lone hermit crab scurrying along looking like he had missed his bus. There were no other fish and we never found the body of the wreck which had held Jack’s prize lobster last season, so we headed on back to the line and up.

While my doubles and I had exited the boat with some ease, my return was less than triumphant. With a little help from my friends I was back on board. Along with Jack…….who had managed to find the main wreckage and one studly lobster…..and a few not so studly ones too. And while Captain Bart watched the boat, Howard went down and found himself some lobster also. Not a bad haul for dive #1.

We headed over to the San Saba for our second dive and saw a lobster boat over the wreck. We headed over to see if we could share and discovered that the pot lines were caught and could not be hauled in. The lobsterman was stuck.

Jack offered to go down and free them and over the side he went, appearing some time later with lines in hand. Our new friend was very grateful and presented us with a generous lobstery thank you for Jack’s trouble. And we got the skinny on our next dive…..right over the boilers, same water temps and marginally better visibility. Worked for me, and over we went.

The San Saba was a freighter named after a river in Texas which sunk on October 4, 1918 after hitting a mine laid by the U-117. Being a navigational hazard, she was demolished and is now mangled wreckage that lies in 80- ft of water.

The water was only a smidgeon clearer but there was much more life here. Bergall swam all about the wreckage and some small sea bass were hidden back in the boilers. Huge clam shells were strewn about and the usual growth covered the wreckage.

We swam about and I taxed myself as I managed my buoyancy, kept an eye on Mark so as not to get lost, and poked and prodded the fishies…..life is good. As we moved about I saw a single antennae peeking out from under a piece of wreckage and made a grab for what was surely to be my first lobster of the season. But alas…..all I got was a single antennae…..he was wedged in there pretty good and not coming out to play. We looked about a bit more and then headed on up the line.

Again a huge thank you for the assist on climbing aboard and we looked about to see what the others had found. Bart was busy trying to remove the chain from his new anchor and not fairing well. Let it be noted in this dive report that he was less than happy with his progress. I had rescued some sinkers from their fate of being tied to the wreckage and they found a new home in Howards tackle box. One last lobster joined us for the ride in and we set sail for home.

The sun was still shining, the air was warm, the seas were flat and the company outstanding. What a nice day to get out.

Opening Day At Dutch Springs 2008

Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great….. ~ Orison Swett Marden

Opportunity….

We were supposed to be on a boat on the calm Atlantic, enjoying the gentle breezes and first warm days of spring. Ahhh…….

Unfortunately rain, cold and 35 knot gusts put a damper on our plans. Not to be deterred, we took advantage of the “opportunity” and immediately changed course for opening day at Dutch Springs 2008. Not our planned destination but a great “opportunity” to get wet, meet up with old friends, and dial in the new wing and doubles. Not a bad plan.

In the manner of all diving, we set forth at O’Dark Thirty. Mark, to the minute on time, as usual. It was cold and raining, and the outlook was bleak, but we were getting wet…one way or another. Up the Parkway we headed and met up with Josh and we were on our way, arriving at Dutch Springs at 8AM and the official opening. The weather had cleared some and it was no longer raining…..things were looking up.

We unloaded the truck and set out looking for familiar faces before gearing up. In addition to myself, Mark O and Josh, aka YBLdiver, on the next table over was Nick, aka Puddles and or Bubblehead, who has a brandy new dry suit without a drop of aquaseal on it, I hardly recognized him….and Ann. She has to be a saint to join us in such gray weather and not even be a diver. Catching up, their youngest got married over the winter and they have a new grandchild on the way. Congrats guys!

And then there was Frnak, aka Darthlobster or even sometimes…..Frank. Watching him unload is an event. He pulls up in a little car and pops the trunk and like a clown car in the circus begins to pull out enough dive gear to fill a dump truck. Absolutely amazing job of packing. Sherwood, my apologies for not knowing your name, is on the next table setting up his gear and behind him pulls Terry. Terry is a lurker on Wreck Valley and NJDive and we really should give him a name, although Terrythelurker will do for now. Bill B. was unable to make it due to some family goings on but we did spot Brandon, aka Mcjangles and some others.

In short time we are greeting Jack, aka our own lovable Spratman. He is getting back in the water after a too long and trying dry spell, and sporting his new Weezles, dry suit and doubles! And he is followed by Tony, aka NJdiverTony and his secret stash of Dogbreath Ale, aka Dog Fish Head Ale whatever…..an opening day tradition now.

Ahhh….social hour is over and its time to dive. I have a new doubles wing to break in and break it does. Upon setting up my tanks Mark immediately asks…..What’s that noise? My inflator is leaking and no amount of coaxing is convincing it to stop. Luckily I brought a single setup just in case and we switch out the inflators and I am ready to go.

Jack still won’t carry my gear, so I set out for the dock on my own and slowly inch into the cold clear water. As we step off the platform and descend I am greeted by 42 F water that for some reason felt much colder and an ice cream headache. I immediately scrunch my eyes and grab my forehead to warm it and upon reaching the bottom and opening my eyes….I am greeted with about 50 foot or more of viz…sweet!

We are taking things slowly, as I want to take this “opportunity” to play with the new wing and Josh is trying out his new dry suit and doubles for the first time and we take a leisurely stroll on the well traveled route to the school bus, honestly seeing all the sights along the way as I never have before. I have never been here with viz like this…I like it, although, according to Mark who was behind me, he only had about 5 foot of viz. Wise a** (wasn’t me…must have been Josh). I had not raised an inch of silt since my ice cream headache landing. We arrive at the bus and except for struggling with the inflator hose which is way too long, the new wing is fine and the doubles are under control.

We continue on out past the new Hellcat, around the boat, over the river and through the woods, around the tanker up the wall and on home in seconds shy of an hour.

We are cold and hungry and some lunch is in order. First though, I give Jack a little assist with some of the more delicate technical parts of his gear…. twice, and he and Tony are now off to run the same circuit and work out the same bugs. Funny how that works out.

Dive two is shorter and involves the trolley and some other sights, along with an exit at the other docks but still a fun little time and it is time for goodbyes and the ride home.

It was great to see everyone and catch up. And there was talk of some shore diving and notes on boat trips and vacations. There are some plans for future weekends and talk of some future trips. I enjoyed the “opportunity” to catch up with everyone and look forward to seeing them again.