Key Largo : Jan 15 and 16th
#1
Posted 04 January 2005 - 11:50 AM
Sat 15th (morning) - 3 tank dive with Divers City (diverscityusa.com)
Sunday 16th (morning) - 2 tank dive with Blue Water Divers (www.bluewaterdiver.net)
Looks like wrecks & reefs on both days (and weather permitting - Speigel Grove on the Sun)
...anyone want to join us ?
Stuart
#2
Posted 04 January 2005 - 12:53 PM
I may want to join you. Don't think I can handle a full day on the water for a three tanker......gets just too chilly.....but may contemplate popping down Sat. PM and diving Sunday. Keep me informed as we get closer.
Where will you be staying....Marina del Mar again?
#3
Posted 04 January 2005 - 04:06 PM
Hope you can make it - we can get together for dinner on the Sat night.
#4
Posted 04 January 2005 - 06:24 PM
Boat should be setting off about 8:30 am on Sun.
-- S
#5
Posted 05 January 2005 - 01:32 PM
I imagine I can handle dinner; when?
#6
Posted 05 January 2005 - 01:44 PM
Jeff
#7
Posted 05 January 2005 - 02:11 PM
I'm not wreck certified, and do not enter any overheads on wrecks, other than simple swim throughs...there's usually plenty to see without penetrating them.
However, as Stu said, if we plan the Speigel Grove, it does get fairly deep (100+ ft.), which can be considered a bit more advanced. It depends on your own training, experience and comfort level whether you're comfortable diving it. If the current is ripping like it often does, all you can really do is hold on and stay close.
Water temp......in mid December was @72 or so.......getting darn chilly!
#8
Posted 05 January 2005 - 03:30 PM
The basic plan as it stands is a wreck then a reef or 2 wrecks...or if strong current it could be 2 reefs
The best idea would probably be to give Blue Water Divers a call and talk to Brent.
..mmmm...does sound a little chilly - I'll have to break out the wetsuit.
For Marina Del Mar - yes - Brent could only get a $119 rate (+ taxes etc.), so the special on expedia [$107+] was the best. [Marriott was $280!!!$@$!] -I didn't check things like the Hungry Pelican though
#9
Posted 05 January 2005 - 04:53 PM
The last time I dove it (2 weekends ago) my buddy and I started at the midships line, went all the way aft to see the screw (propeller for you landlubber types), made it all the way to the bow line and back to the midships line for the ascent in about 24 minutes. Granted, we were moving kind of fast, but we saw the whole ship and never exceeded 88 feet. You certainly can if you wish, I believe sand at the deepest point is at 135', but since the ship is on its side, once you have seen the upper half, you have essentially seen it all.
And for the last few weeks, at least when I was on her, the current was VERY light. Of course, YMMV, so assume there will be some current.
The weather here has been atrocious for the last 10 days. Small craft advisories, wind 15-20kts out of the east (worst direction for boating) every single day. Calling for more of the same this weekend, but it HAS to end. Hopefully by the following weekend!
I may try to join you guys, the Spiegel is one of my favorite dives.
mmm
#10
Posted 05 January 2005 - 08:04 PM
the deepest spot on the Speigal is 138fsw. and every now and then there is a ray or two hangin out there.
even with current, you can usualy duck over the side and escape the current, as long as ya stay near the wreck.
something else to check out is the massive welldeck. usualy a ton of fish hanging out at the opening.
good to hear BlueWater has their boat back up and running.
week before Christmas some friends of mine were headed out to a wreck with them when the engine blew out.
#11
Posted 06 January 2005 - 02:13 PM
#12
Posted 06 January 2005 - 03:02 PM
Not sure of your dive history so I'll just add the following (ignore if you are already Nitrox certified or do deep dives etc.]::::
Not sure if you are Nitrox certified - a couple of people coming [one from my LDS and one from another board] have contacted DiversCity so they can do their Nitrox certification on the Saturday (the dive shop will mail them the books etc. and then they will do the dives on Nitrox and take the test on the Sat)..they will then do the Sunday with BlueWater on Nitrox [let BWater know you want nitrox tanks in advance]
...alternatively, if you're not interested in Nitrox at this point, your available bottom time will just be a little less. Remember you use Nitrox at the same rate as air, so if you generally use the air fairly quickly at depth (so usually need to surface well before you come close to your NDL) it will not add any bottom time for you - if you use air fairly slowly you wil see the benefits with Nitrox with the extended time.
If you need any gear, let the dive ops know - you could always buy yourself any late christmas gifts (as there are lots of dive shops in the area) or rent any stuff you dont have.
PM me if you have any questions etc.
-- S
#13
Posted 06 January 2005 - 06:42 PM
Phone is (305) 453-9600
Two tank dive ends up being @ 75-$80 (just quoting from memory). This includes tanks, though I always bring my own.
And Diver's City:
Diver's City
Phone: (305) 852-0430
Website states a three-tank (air tanks) is $85 (plus tax, I'm sure).
See ya'll Saturday PM....stay warm!
#14
Posted 06 January 2005 - 07:38 PM
Jeff
#15
Posted 06 January 2005 - 07:46 PM
I would just add that, from personal experience, I use regular air at a faster rate than Nitrox. I believe this to be for the following reason:your available bottom time will just be a little less. Remember you use Nitrox at the same rate as air,
Nitrox is a higher concentration of O2, so for every breath, you are getting more 'bang for the breath' so your body compensates and you tend to breathe more slowly.
This was also covered in the classroom sessions of my Nitrox course. Again, this is just my personal experience, and YMMV.
Of course, the first time I used it, I burned thru it like it was going out of style. The combination of being deep on the 'new stuff', and the ensuing excitement because of it was the reason, I assume.
Anyway, Nitrox is cool, certainly worth considering. Lets you have more of what we all want submerged: time.
(also minimizes the narcing at depth, a good thing at any cost)
mmm
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