Get Bent Scuba Diving Blog
This is my combination Scuba Diving Log and Blog. I'll post dive reports, underwater pictures and video here. I'll discuss scuba diving related articles and diving, ocean & marine related news and throw in my 2 psi. I may even announce new designs and promotions in our store. Feel free to comment on any post.Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Talk like a Pirate Day!
Aye, today be Talk Like a Pirate Day! On this fine day, everyone can talk like a pirate all day long. ‘Tis a fine way t’be speakin’, and if ye’ disagree I may make ye’ walk the ol’ plank and send ye’ ta’ ol’ Davy Jones’ Locker!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Dive #82 - Lake Pleasant
Another early morning scuba dive at the lake with Jay. Arrived at the same spot we've been scuba diving the last month. Weldon had previously told me of a wall, so we decided to go try to find it and check it out. Found another small sinkhole in over 40', was black inside even with flashlights, to small to decend into so passed it up. Found a wall at 45' that dropped to depths of conceivably 70' plus. Was a nice wall with lots of cracks and overhangs, explored the wall in the mid 50' depth range. The wall kept turning farther from shore. Jay signaled he was at 800 psi and so we headed to shallower depths but got turned around because of the topography, I wanted to head to shallower water to conserve his remaining air. Once we hit 25' the direction we were heading started to drop off again. I took a heading and realized we were heading North while our trucks were Southwest. Jay was now at 500 psi so we ascended and did our safety stop. A boat passed overhead, later we realized it was the Diver Down dive boat heading to the Sherrif's dock. We ended up ascending between two buoys marking the no boat zone for the Sherrif's dock. Nice low viz dive, the wall was cool, could've payed more attention to navigation and buddy's air consumption, maybe towed our buoy, something to place in the memory banks for next time.
Time In: 07:45
Viz: 2-7'
Bottom Temp: 71F (Thermocline @ 50')
Bottom Time: 00:39
Max Depth: 57'
Buddie(s): Jay
Coupon:
Code: SUBTLYWINDOW Good for: $5 off $20 Expires: 9/24/06
Time In: 07:45
Viz: 2-7'
Bottom Temp: 71F (Thermocline @ 50')
Bottom Time: 00:39
Max Depth: 57'
Buddie(s): Jay
Coupon:
Code: SUBTLYWINDOW Good for: $5 off $20 Expires: 9/24/06
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Dive #81
Headed to Lake Pleasant this morning to meet Jay for a quick scuba dive before the College Football games start and were greeted by a good sized thunder storm. We waited it out in our trucks for about 15 minutes until the rain slowed. Proceeded to the end of Desert Tortoise Rd. where I took my advanced class and found the sinkhole. There was a Rescue class going on at this area, but it seemed as good as any. The wind was still strong but the rain had stopped temporarily so we geared up and headed in. As we entered it started to rain again but the water temp was nice and viz was decent. Found the sinkhole in 27', showed Jay, took a peek inside and spent most of the dive in the mid 40's depth range. The viz was actually quite good at this depth and no thermocline. I went in search of the thermocline and hit it at 51'. Tooled around didn't see anything new, nice relaxing scuba dive with good company.
Time In: 09:15
Viz: 5-10'
Bottom Temp: 74F
Bottom Time: 01:01
Max Depth: 51'
Buddie(s): Jay
Coupon:
Code: SUBTLYBARKS Good for: $5 off $20 Expires: 9/15/06
Time In: 09:15
Viz: 5-10'
Bottom Temp: 74F
Bottom Time: 01:01
Max Depth: 51'
Buddie(s): Jay
Coupon:
Code: SUBTLYBARKS Good for: $5 off $20 Expires: 9/15/06
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Crocodile Hunter killed by Stingray
Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter has been killed. Irwin, 44, was killed in a freak accident while diving off the north Queensland coast.
The UK Guardian reports the bitter irony, noting that the man who risked his life handling one of the world's most dangerous reptiles was mortally wounded by a stingray, a usually passive sea creature which attacks only if threatened. Irwin was stung in the chest by the stingray's barbed tail, which whips up in a reflex action.
The accident happened while he was filming a TV documentary called Oceans' Deadliest at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas.
As mentioned, Stingrays are usually passive but are poisonous and also inflict large wounds.
A family friend said Irwin died doing what he loved best.
In his statement, the friend said, "the world has lost a great wildlife icon and one of the proudest dads on the planet."
His producer, John Stainton, told reporters:
"He came over the top of the stingray and the barb went up into his chest and put a hole in his heart." Barely conscious, he was hauled back on to his research vessel, Croc One, and taken to the nearby Low Isles.
Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter.
Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.
Prime Minister John Howard, who invited Irwin to a Lodge barbecue with US President George Bush and others, said he was "terribly distressed" and "deeply saddened" by Irwin's death.
He said Irwin was "the genuine article. What you saw was what you got.
"He took risks, he enjoyed life, he brought immense joy to millions of people, particularly to children, and it's just such a terrible loss. I feel very distressed and I'm quite upset at the circumstances of it.
"He was a larrikin, yes, but he was a really warm-hearted bloke as well and he cared passionately about Australia and he cared passionately about the Australian environment."
The Steve Irwin death video has been turned over to the coroner. Steve Irwin's manager has revealed the video footage capturing the wildlife experts dying was "shocking" in TV interviews. Irwin, 44, was fatally injured when a stingray pierced his chest with its poisonous barbed tail, while filming a documentary in Australia's Great Barrier Reef yesterday.
Boat owner Peter West viewed the footage soon afterwards and told the Australian: "The footage shows him swimming in the water, the ray stopped and turned and that was it.
There was no blood in the water, it was not that obvious, something happened with this animal that made it rear and he was at the wrong position at the wrong time and if it hit him anywhere else we would not be talking about a fatality."
His manager John Stainton said the film made for painful watching.
He said at a press conference today: "It shows that Steve came over the top of the ray and the tail came up, and spiked him here in the chest. He pulled it out and the next minute he's gone. The cameraman had to shut down.
"He always pushed himself to the very limits but I thought he was invulnerable and I think he did too. It's a very hard thing to watch because you're actually witnessing somebody die... it's terrible."
A report from Contact Music UK claims Irwin's family are determined to respect his last wishes and allow the harrowing footage to be broadcast.
CMUK reports that Irwin once insisted, "My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it's shaky or slightly out of focus, I don't give a rip. "Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, 'Crikey!' just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me."
An insider tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "This is exactly what Steve would have wanted. He knew the dangers and was totally up for the cameras to get everything."
Monday, September 04, 2006
Labor Day Weekend (Dives #77-80)
Dive #77: Montage Resort (aka Treasure Island)
Date: 8/2/2006
Time In: 07:54
Viz: 10-25'
Bottom Temp: 63F
Bottom Time: 01:23
Max Depth: 24'
Buddie(s): Kevin, Mitchell
Dive #78: Shaw's Cove
Date: 8/2/2006
Time In: 10:42
Viz: 10-25'
Bottom Temp: 64F
Bottom Time: 00:39
Max Depth: 26'
Buddie(s): Various
Dive #79: Shaw's Cove
Date: 8/3/2006
Time In: 09:07
Viz: 5-20'
Bottom Temp: 65F
Bottom Time: 00:57
Max Depth: 24'
Buddie(s): Enrique
Dive #80: N. Crescent Bay (Pinnacles)
Date: 8/4/2006
Time In: 07:29
Viz: 10-20'
Bottom Temp: 60F
Bottom Time: 01:01
Max Depth: 36'
Buddie(s): Kevin
Headed to Orange County for Labor Day weekend to do some scuba diving. Couldn't have asked for better conditions, the visability was great the water was warm and saw some cool critters.
Saturday, met up with Kevin and Mitchell at Laguna Sea Sports early and decided to dive at the Montage Resort aka Treasure Island. This was my first scuba dive at this dive site. We were greeted with ankle slappers, 20-25' viz and water temps in the mid 60's. Besides the usual creatures, we spotted two large horn sharks, one was 4.5' and the other about 3', these are the largest I've seen, I seem to say that every time I see one, a huge moray eel, very fat and very long. Wonderful shallow reef dive with good buddies. No camera for me at a new site, it's my rule (for now) and always seems to bite me in the...(you know where), I'll have to rethink it.
Kevin and Mitchell had other things to do after our Montage scuba dive but I didn't, so I drove over to Shaw's Cove in search of another buddy to do another scuba dive. This approach hasn't been too bad for me in the past but today was the exception. Found a parking space right in front of the stairs and spotted a small group gearing up, I asked if I could join, 'the leader' said they already had 4 but if the Laguna Beach lifeguard didn't mind I was free to tag along while he did a guided tour of the inner reef, his tone wasn't so nice but I figured whatever, I just need a buddy to get in and out to avoid any hassles or citations from the LBLG.
I introduced myself on the beach to the rest of the group and we kicked out and dropped down near 'The Arch'. At depth, they all started swimming in the arch, I however noticed we were short one scuba diver. I looked up to the surface to see him/her still on the surface, I tugged on the closest diver and made him aware that they were short a diver and he swam over to the leader, who either didn't understand or didn't care and continued into 'The Arch' while the other two followed. I hung back a little and watched the other diver, who was now attempting to decend but was having a problem, I thought he/she was either inexperienced or underweighted, I then went and signaled that there was a problem to another diver in the group who went and had a look, but he/she had inflated their BC and started kicking back to shore. I proceeded through 'The Arch' with the other three divers. 'The Guide' wasn't doing much guiding but rather just taking pictures while we clogged up the entrance to the inner reef, conditions were great so there were alot of scuba divers out, eventually another group got by us and proceeded through a swim through and down a vein of the reef (see the picture above), well one of our group must have gotten confused and started following the wrong group, once again the leader either was not concerned we had lost yet another diver or didn't care and this was getting very old for me. Finally instead of exploring the inner reef, the remaining two divers exited through 'The Arch' while I followed, I was looking into the cracks and hugging the bottom while they swam about 10' above, next thing I knew they were gone as well, with 20'+ viz, it's kindof hard to lose a buddy unless you don't care or it's on purpose. At the same time I saw another lonely scuba diver swimming along after looking for my two lost buddies, I swam over and gave him the 'let's buddy up sign', he said 'OK', so we explored the outer reef for a few minutes until he signaled he was getting low on air and we had to head in. Short frustrating dive, but at least I exited with a buddy to avoid any conflicts with the LBLG. Went and got my tanks filled at Laguna Sea Sports, where I saw Steve a buddy I've dove with a couple of times, but I was done for the day.
Sunday, headed to Laguna Beach early where I was supposed to meet up with Mitchell, when I was about 10 minutes away he called and said he couldn't make it, so I proceeded to Shaw's Cove to try to find a buddy yet again, hopefully with different results from the day before. Met Rick(?) and Enrique and buddied up, Rick was helping with a class of Los Angeles County high school students doing their final checkout dive. To make a long story short, eventually Enrique and I had a very nice dive exploring the inner reef and beyond. He was only there for one dive and by the time our dive had ended, the beach crowd had taken over and very few divers remained, I couldn't find a buddy to go do a second dive, so I called it a day. Saw the usual creatures and snapped a few photos (see link at the end of this post).
Monday, no buddy issues (Hooray). Met up with Kevin and ? (I'm bad with names), decided to dive the Pinnacles of N. Crescent Bay. I seem to always see the coolest stuff of the trip on my final dive. This scuba dive was no exception, I saw seals!! One seal even came over and layed on the sand in front of me, kind of like a dog who gets down on his front legs with his butt in the air wagging his tail, of course as I tried to snap a picture he swam off. Was a great dive, with good buddies, the conditions were still great but the surge was picking up presumably from Hurricane John off of Baja and there was some particulate in the water which never bodes well for me and my camera with lack of strobe.
All in all a good trip, after all I dived everyday, in great conditions, next time my usual buddies will be back in town and I'll have contingency plans for repetitive dives.
Click below to visit my photo album.
Saturday, met up with Kevin and Mitchell at Laguna Sea Sports early and decided to dive at the Montage Resort aka Treasure Island. This was my first scuba dive at this dive site. We were greeted with ankle slappers, 20-25' viz and water temps in the mid 60's. Besides the usual creatures, we spotted two large horn sharks, one was 4.5' and the other about 3', these are the largest I've seen, I seem to say that every time I see one, a huge moray eel, very fat and very long. Wonderful shallow reef dive with good buddies. No camera for me at a new site, it's my rule (for now) and always seems to bite me in the...(you know where), I'll have to rethink it.
Kevin and Mitchell had other things to do after our Montage scuba dive but I didn't, so I drove over to Shaw's Cove in search of another buddy to do another scuba dive. This approach hasn't been too bad for me in the past but today was the exception. Found a parking space right in front of the stairs and spotted a small group gearing up, I asked if I could join, 'the leader' said they already had 4 but if the Laguna Beach lifeguard didn't mind I was free to tag along while he did a guided tour of the inner reef, his tone wasn't so nice but I figured whatever, I just need a buddy to get in and out to avoid any hassles or citations from the LBLG.
I introduced myself on the beach to the rest of the group and we kicked out and dropped down near 'The Arch'. At depth, they all started swimming in the arch, I however noticed we were short one scuba diver. I looked up to the surface to see him/her still on the surface, I tugged on the closest diver and made him aware that they were short a diver and he swam over to the leader, who either didn't understand or didn't care and continued into 'The Arch' while the other two followed. I hung back a little and watched the other diver, who was now attempting to decend but was having a problem, I thought he/she was either inexperienced or underweighted, I then went and signaled that there was a problem to another diver in the group who went and had a look, but he/she had inflated their BC and started kicking back to shore. I proceeded through 'The Arch' with the other three divers. 'The Guide' wasn't doing much guiding but rather just taking pictures while we clogged up the entrance to the inner reef, conditions were great so there were alot of scuba divers out, eventually another group got by us and proceeded through a swim through and down a vein of the reef (see the picture above), well one of our group must have gotten confused and started following the wrong group, once again the leader either was not concerned we had lost yet another diver or didn't care and this was getting very old for me. Finally instead of exploring the inner reef, the remaining two divers exited through 'The Arch' while I followed, I was looking into the cracks and hugging the bottom while they swam about 10' above, next thing I knew they were gone as well, with 20'+ viz, it's kindof hard to lose a buddy unless you don't care or it's on purpose. At the same time I saw another lonely scuba diver swimming along after looking for my two lost buddies, I swam over and gave him the 'let's buddy up sign', he said 'OK', so we explored the outer reef for a few minutes until he signaled he was getting low on air and we had to head in. Short frustrating dive, but at least I exited with a buddy to avoid any conflicts with the LBLG. Went and got my tanks filled at Laguna Sea Sports, where I saw Steve a buddy I've dove with a couple of times, but I was done for the day.
Sunday, headed to Laguna Beach early where I was supposed to meet up with Mitchell, when I was about 10 minutes away he called and said he couldn't make it, so I proceeded to Shaw's Cove to try to find a buddy yet again, hopefully with different results from the day before. Met Rick(?) and Enrique and buddied up, Rick was helping with a class of Los Angeles County high school students doing their final checkout dive. To make a long story short, eventually Enrique and I had a very nice dive exploring the inner reef and beyond. He was only there for one dive and by the time our dive had ended, the beach crowd had taken over and very few divers remained, I couldn't find a buddy to go do a second dive, so I called it a day. Saw the usual creatures and snapped a few photos (see link at the end of this post).
Monday, no buddy issues (Hooray). Met up with Kevin and ? (I'm bad with names), decided to dive the Pinnacles of N. Crescent Bay. I seem to always see the coolest stuff of the trip on my final dive. This scuba dive was no exception, I saw seals!! One seal even came over and layed on the sand in front of me, kind of like a dog who gets down on his front legs with his butt in the air wagging his tail, of course as I tried to snap a picture he swam off. Was a great dive, with good buddies, the conditions were still great but the surge was picking up presumably from Hurricane John off of Baja and there was some particulate in the water which never bodes well for me and my camera with lack of strobe.
All in all a good trip, after all I dived everyday, in great conditions, next time my usual buddies will be back in town and I'll have contingency plans for repetitive dives.
Click below to visit my photo album.
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