07-14-01 and 07-15-01
The trip was a little tougher on the old body due to the time spent driving. However, diving in the Florida Key's is very calming after spending so much time in the mud off Daytona Beach. We show at the dock at 7:45, load the boat and head out. It was too easy to find the reef, the water was clear enough to see the outline of the reef from an eighth of a mile away. There was very little current either. These are completely different conditions than I prefer for hunting, but it was a long ride in the car and I was there with my teak AB Biller 60 that I love so much.
There were three on the boat hunting, and one came out smelling like a rose.
It wasn't me.
We were diving off a vessel called the Shutterbug out of Marathon. I met the owner Jim on a sales trip to the keys in April. He has a very clean dive shop. That's one of the first things I look for when picking a shop. We talked for a while, and I told him I would call him later. Now, it's later, and we were ready to make our first dive. The teams were set, and we were briefed on the reef layout by the captain Tony. We were going to dive the Thunderbolt first, but rather than sight see, the gang wanted to hunt. We made four dives, starting out in 100' and working our way in to 60'. The profiles were similar to those I dive normally. The only problem I had was that my Suunto solution nitrox computer took a poop and I did not have a backup.
I had already worked the dives out on the tables using EAD, but I had wanted to show the students how much more time a computer would allow. I especially love my solution, but I won't know the outcome until the factory takes a look at it.
The hunters went in first, followed later by the rest of the gang. At least they could have a chance before I bum rush the reef. All the dives had vis from top to bottom. The Capt, Tony, asked how was the vis, and we said it stinks. "It's too good, the fish see you coming." Of course, Andy comes up with a stringer. And another, and another. He was the man this trip.
So far everybody has told me they had a great time, and so did I.
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More details to follow when I get some reports from the gang.
Our next trip is to the Riviera
