Nov 12.....
Got up early in order to meet Paul,Kathrin, and Bud to head out in the boat. The boat is one of 12 made and perfect for diving. Twin hulls and 32' x 10' beam and an open stern for accessing the water. Got to their place around 6:15 and we began loading stuff into the boat. Bud had brought 8 tanks of air 6, 70cf and 2 90's. (That's a lot of air) When all was loaded Bud (coffee cup in hand) began lowering the electric boatlift while standing on the dock. The power for the lift is a very heavy extension cord with a multiple outlet just belown the switches. Well he spilled his coffee on the outlet and really lit up the dock. Pink flames and black smoke. Thinking he was seeing things he tried it twice more. Same thing. But now the flames were even better. He's darn lucky he didn't wet his pants when the first lightning bolt exploded or he may have lost his ground wire. He then told Paul that he had a problem. Paul managed to fix the burned up wiring and away we went out into Terra Ceia Bay. There was a pretty good chop on the water which increased as we headed out towards Egmont Key and the last of the sheltered water.
Now it really picked up. Kathrin suggested after about a half an hour and some pretty wild surfing (the wind was coming from behind us) that maybe they should turn around and take a test run into the waves to see if we'd be able to get back in one piece. No chance. Bud was driving and his skills left a little to be desired as we were surfing and it's critical that you don't go to fast or to slow. When climbing up the back of the waves it was all the 2 115hp Yamaha's could do to move us when flat out! We caught a big one and Paul got soaked. We weren't far behind in midships. Katherin and I got off the chairs and sat on the floor rather than get knocked to the floor. The spray and waves were really getting up there. This is around 7:30 am We took quite a pounding until Paul took the wheel and things got somewhat better. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at this time as I'd put the camera in a waterproof locker. Kathrin at one point said a wave had just passed behind me and was 2-3' above my shoulder while sitting on the chair. Trust me it was wet!
The reef we were headed to was roughly 20 miles out. Seven miles short of our goal it was agreed that this wasn't pretty so we headed South to an alternate dive site. We marked the first potential site with a unique little buouy. It's about 10" in diameter and made of styrofoam out of which protrudes a handle and a weight that weighs approx a couple of lbs.. when it hits the water it releases a line that goes to the bottom. Because it's spring loaded it maintains its position as the waves pass by. We then headed further south for 2 miles to a secondary location where the three of them went in. I stayed on board to watch the two anchors and make sure the boat was still there when they came back. The reef was in around 80'of water and not having a wet suit I couldn't have gone down anyway w/o severe anatomical changes to my body which I can ill afford. They returned after around an hour and Bud had speared some kind of midget snapper (which he said was legal) Paul produced a lobster which I was informed was a slipper lobster or shovelnose lobster take your pick. They went into the cooler afterwhich Bud told us about the ones that got away.
We then went to another site where Paul nailed a 30" fish that had swum onto his spear. Off we go to the original site where we'd left the marker and there it was right where we'd left it in spite of the large rollers. This is where a gps pays for itself. Paul got another lobster. The wind died off while they were on the reef and when they came up it was a reasonable chop and the wind had died. It was around 3:45 by this time so we headed back. We arrived back at the dock at 5 pm and the three of them had used up all the air and all their allocated time at the depth they were diving. (8 tanks worth)
I was asked to stay for supper and they made lobster tails, blue cheeze burgers and cauliflower w/ sauce. Damn fine food! We had just sat down and their dining room window faces over the pool and into the bay and there were two dolphins swimming by. I snapped a quick picture while Paul was telling me how they sometimes catch a fish by slapping it out of the water with their tail to stun it and then swim up and eat it. When I ran out to get another picture sure enough. A fish flew through the air for about 20' and they both took off to gobble up supper. I've got some dolphin pictures to upload but they can wait until tomorrow. Now it's off to bed for me.
Bud showing Paul how to clean the Slipper Lobster
Al in the pool after we got back
The lighthouse on Egmont Key where there are also ruins of an old fort from the Spanish/American war. It is now where sailors from the large tankers wait there turn to be towed by tugs into the harbor.
Going in (the backflip)
Rocking and rolling
Bud was steering in rough seas and miscalculated a wave. Paul paid the price
Suited up and ready to go in and spear the "big one"
Got up early in order to meet Paul,Kathrin, and Bud to head out in the boat. The boat is one of 12 made and perfect for diving. Twin hulls and 32' x 10' beam and an open stern for accessing the water. Got to their place around 6:15 and we began loading stuff into the boat. Bud had brought 8 tanks of air 6, 70cf and 2 90's. (That's a lot of air) When all was loaded Bud (coffee cup in hand) began lowering the electric boatlift while standing on the dock. The power for the lift is a very heavy extension cord with a multiple outlet just belown the switches. Well he spilled his coffee on the outlet and really lit up the dock. Pink flames and black smoke. Thinking he was seeing things he tried it twice more. Same thing. But now the flames were even better. He's darn lucky he didn't wet his pants when the first lightning bolt exploded or he may have lost his ground wire. He then told Paul that he had a problem. Paul managed to fix the burned up wiring and away we went out into Terra Ceia Bay. There was a pretty good chop on the water which increased as we headed out towards Egmont Key and the last of the sheltered water.
Now it really picked up. Kathrin suggested after about a half an hour and some pretty wild surfing (the wind was coming from behind us) that maybe they should turn around and take a test run into the waves to see if we'd be able to get back in one piece. No chance. Bud was driving and his skills left a little to be desired as we were surfing and it's critical that you don't go to fast or to slow. When climbing up the back of the waves it was all the 2 115hp Yamaha's could do to move us when flat out! We caught a big one and Paul got soaked. We weren't far behind in midships. Katherin and I got off the chairs and sat on the floor rather than get knocked to the floor. The spray and waves were really getting up there. This is around 7:30 am We took quite a pounding until Paul took the wheel and things got somewhat better. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at this time as I'd put the camera in a waterproof locker. Kathrin at one point said a wave had just passed behind me and was 2-3' above my shoulder while sitting on the chair. Trust me it was wet!
The reef we were headed to was roughly 20 miles out. Seven miles short of our goal it was agreed that this wasn't pretty so we headed South to an alternate dive site. We marked the first potential site with a unique little buouy. It's about 10" in diameter and made of styrofoam out of which protrudes a handle and a weight that weighs approx a couple of lbs.. when it hits the water it releases a line that goes to the bottom. Because it's spring loaded it maintains its position as the waves pass by. We then headed further south for 2 miles to a secondary location where the three of them went in. I stayed on board to watch the two anchors and make sure the boat was still there when they came back. The reef was in around 80'of water and not having a wet suit I couldn't have gone down anyway w/o severe anatomical changes to my body which I can ill afford. They returned after around an hour and Bud had speared some kind of midget snapper (which he said was legal) Paul produced a lobster which I was informed was a slipper lobster or shovelnose lobster take your pick. They went into the cooler afterwhich Bud told us about the ones that got away.
We then went to another site where Paul nailed a 30" fish that had swum onto his spear. Off we go to the original site where we'd left the marker and there it was right where we'd left it in spite of the large rollers. This is where a gps pays for itself. Paul got another lobster. The wind died off while they were on the reef and when they came up it was a reasonable chop and the wind had died. It was around 3:45 by this time so we headed back. We arrived back at the dock at 5 pm and the three of them had used up all the air and all their allocated time at the depth they were diving. (8 tanks worth)
I was asked to stay for supper and they made lobster tails, blue cheeze burgers and cauliflower w/ sauce. Damn fine food! We had just sat down and their dining room window faces over the pool and into the bay and there were two dolphins swimming by. I snapped a quick picture while Paul was telling me how they sometimes catch a fish by slapping it out of the water with their tail to stun it and then swim up and eat it. When I ran out to get another picture sure enough. A fish flew through the air for about 20' and they both took off to gobble up supper. I've got some dolphin pictures to upload but they can wait until tomorrow. Now it's off to bed for me.
Bud showing Paul how to clean the Slipper Lobster
Al in the pool after we got back
The lighthouse on Egmont Key where there are also ruins of an old fort from the Spanish/American war. It is now where sailors from the large tankers wait there turn to be towed by tugs into the harbor.
Going in (the backflip)
Rocking and rolling
Bud was steering in rough seas and miscalculated a wave. Paul paid the price
Suited up and ready to go in and spear the "big one"
posted by AL COTTON | 5:39 PM
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