Dive Trip Report to:
Purpose: To Dive in Florida FOR LOBSTER
Dive #1: Wednesday, 26-July-2000, Morning Dive. My Dive #318
A. Dive Boat / Location:
It's-U-&-I / LDennis (approx 5 miles off of the Loran Tower, between Stuart and Jupiter Inlets)
B. Conditions:
Visibility: 40 ft
Seas: 2 - 3 ft
Water Temp: 69 - 70 deg
Skies: SCBS (Sunny Clear Blue Skies)
Air Temp: 80 - 90's
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 77 ft for 40 min,
Analog - 76 ft,
Cochran Captain (Very Unreliable Dive Computer) - 75 ft for 40 min.
Air consumption:
Me: 3700 to 700 lb (120 cu ft) - It's amazing how much extra air you'll use up on the 1st dive for lobster!
Current:Very Strong, measured at close to 2 knots!
Description: Well, with poor Beach Dive Conditions, I decided to dive out of Stuart! This is a great boat, great Capt (Capt Bob)! The vis was good, the seas a little rough! The current was strong - not for the beginner! The water temp was definately full wet suit - below 70! Five Bugs were caught!
Dive #2: Wednesday, 26-July-2000, Morning Dive. My Dive #319
A. Dive Boat / Location:
It's-U-&-I / Wrasse Bass (similar location to the above)
B. Conditions:
Visibility: 30 ft (gone down some)
Seas: 2 -3 ft.
Water Temp: 70 deg
Skies: SCBS (Sunny Clear Blue Skies)
Air Temp: 80 - 90's
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 83 ft for 24 min,
Analog - 88 ft,
Cochran Captain (Very Unreliable Dive Computer) - 80 ft for 34 min.
Air consumption:
Me: 3200 to 1400 lb, limited by computer bottom time (120 cu ft)
Current: Again, a strong current.
Description: Only got one bug this dive, missed a few and lot's of females with eggs! We drifted some, holding the anchor off the bottom! We did see one baracuda on the way down, no sharks!
Dive #3: Wednesday, 26-July-2000, Afternoon Dive. My Dive #320
A. Dive Boat / Location:
It's-U-&-I / Inshore Loran Ledge
B. Conditions:
Visibility: 30 ft
Seas:
Water Temp:
Skies: SCBS (Sunny Clear Blue Skies)
Air Temp: 80 - 90's
C. Dive Information:
Depth & Time:
Me: Genesis Nitrox Dive Computer - 73 ft for 22 min,
Analog - 68 ft,
Cochran Captain (Very Unreliable Dive Computer) - 69 for 22.
Air consumption:
Me: 2700 - 700 (80 cu ft)
Current: Very Very Strong - measured at 2.5 knots!
Description: This was a great diving ledge - not many bugs, lot's of females. The very very strong current was a challange. My dive partner was on NITROX and I was on air. So, I came up first. Holding onto the anchor line at 15 ft in the 2.5 knot current took both hands. It was very difficult just to look at my gauges while decompressing. On the way up, watching the bow of the boat bounce up and down several feet was enough to make your hair stand up! On the drift to the stern of the boat, ya had to grab the T-ladder. Again, this was a challange. Half way up the ladder, I slipped and fell back into the water. I was 20 ft behind the boat and drifting further away very fast in a second. I did manage to swim over to the stern bouy line and pull myself back to the ladder. It took all my energy to climb back into the boat! A 2 knott current is now my upper diving limit - 2.5 knots is toooo strong!
But WE did get some bugs, we did have Lobster and Steak for Dinner!!
And a trip report from ScubaGirl:
Totally wiped out in Vero in and off shore, have tried both. Oh well, have to wait until regular season....very disappointing for the locals, considering that up until a week ago we had pretty good vis for a few weeks.
Lobsters 1 Vero Beach divers 0 Enjoy your bugs!