Diving the Turtle Farm Mini Wall East

Tracy and I dove the mini wall right before the strong North Nor'easter hit.
We headed east during the dive as a very light current was in westerly direction. The reef was very active with Morays, many lobsters, trumpet fish and wrasses. We dove for 131 minutes. The last 30 minutes in less than 15 feet of water where we encountered two friendly Caribbean Squid.
That night the wind changed and the North and West side became pretty rough for two days.
Here are some pics from the dive.

Until next dive!

Diving the Balboa Wreck

After a long time spent without visiting the Balboa Wreck, we decided to give it a go during a night dive. We were excited about visiting the place. Well known for prolific marine life, the wreck did not disappointing us. We spent almost two hours diving in about 30 feet. From one piece of the wreck to another, there were creatures after creatures. Many Tiger Groupers of good sizes, Nassau Groupers, plenty of Trumpet Fish and Angel Fish. Sponges of many kinds were all over the place including many at the top of the Boiler's room in very shallow water.
After all these years it still surprises me how much life there is within an area I consider to be under such stress with all the harbor activity.
When I think that plans are to cover or remove the wreck pieces to build the new Cruise Ship Dock I can not help it by hesitate once more that we are taking the wrong steps in trying to find a balance between progress and environment. Obviously as a diver and involved in the water sports business i believe the wreck generates revenue by just lying there. The only thing we have to do is go visit her...

Until next one...

Diving with Nicholas!

I had the pleasure to meet and dive with Nicholas Wilhelm today.
Nicholas comes from California for a few days rest with family members and trying to fit in a couple of dives.
Today our shore dive was from Don Foster's Dive Reef. Conditions were not ideal as we have been having several days of strong North North East winds due to a cold front. But Nicholas and I kitted up for the dive and giant stride in some swell water but soon we were under the surface enjoying what the ocean had for us in store.
Visibility was actually better than expected with a deep blue color over the sand patches. The caves were very pretty with deep blue light braking through the sky lights and Tarpons swimming around. We saw a few Tiger Groupers including a couple in cleaning stations. A couple of Trunk/ Cow Fish crossed pour path. The top of the Coral was teaming with Blue Chromis and Bermuda Chub.
We also so many Rope and Tube sponges. Over the sand we had the opportunity to pet a Furry Sea Cucumber and there were several Conchs and many Garden Eels. On the sand we found a Mantis Shrimp of a pretty good size, the kind that can split your thumb!
Our computer dive profile was 52 Feet for 70 minutes bottom time.
Nicholas is a pretty good diver, very relaxed with great air consumption that allowed us to enjoy a pretty good long dive.

Next dive for Nicholas is on Tuesday from the boat, visiting the Wall and then doing a second reef dive!
We did not take any pictures this time around but I will post some of the creatures we saw during the dive.
Until next dive,
Sergio

Week End of Diving

Friday and Saturday we did two dives at the Don Foster's Casuarina Reef Dive Site. While the winds were pretty much N. North East, conditions were different both days.
Friday was pretty surge over the shallows while we were looking at the family of Banded Jaw fish (like six of them). One of them was nursing the eggs in his/her mouth however we did not get to see them.
The deeper part of the reef was very active with marine life, visibility was pretty good partly due to a bit of north to south current common with this type of wind pattern.
Over the sand patch we found an elusive Pipe Fish amongst the Garden Eels and Conchs

Saturday was still choppy on the surface however there was almost no current. Visibility was pretty decent and the fish were all over the place. Loads of Garden Eels, Angel Fish of several kinds, Big Barracuda, Snappers, hundreds of Blue Cromis too. Several of the Rope sponges were inhabited by Pygmy File Fish.
Many Pike Blennys were popping up from sand mounds all along the 50 feet sand patch.
Here are some of the pics. Until next dive!
Sergio

Passing through of Hurricane Sandy

We managed a couple of dives on the South side of Grand Cayman while Hurricane Sandy was churning away a couple of hundred miles from us.
The storm brought strong Northwest winds for several days.
We dove two sites with beautiful elkhorn coral formations, long tunnels and many fish. Visibility was the best I have seen in a long time (over 100 feet).

The dive team: Romeo, Esteban and myself.

Back to the Island ...back to diving!

After about a month in the mountains we are back to our diving routine.
We got our cameras ready for under water photo and off we went diving Friday and Saturday.
Friday we dove Don Foster's Reef and Saturday we boat dived Twin Peaks (Big Deeper) and Aquarium.

We noticed an abundance of Hamlets especially Masked and Indigo Hamlets. Also green sponges and soft corals seems to be every where and in very good shape.
We did not get many pictures neither great results however, we are happy to be diving again!!!

Last Dive for a while!

Last week end  we did our photo shoot diving the South side of Don Foster's Reef. Although the vis was not the best (due to the Coral reproduction cycle), we found the reef exploding with life, dozens of tube sponges and soft coral in all their splendour. The big school of squid (over 70 of them!) were still hanging around the area. We found some at about 50 feet on the reef and a large group by the Don Foster's Cove.
Two hours dive on Friday and two more on Saturday as this was our last dives for a while. Tracy and I, we are going back to Utah, Wyoming and Montana to work on our outdoor photo skills, hiking in the mountains, fly fishing and may be some more climbing.
Until next dive,

Sergio

Diving with Melody

After several years without scuba diving, Melody decide to go out. We explored Don Foster's Reef and Devil's Grotto. Many Tarpons and Squid.
We had a fantastic dive for over one hour of bottom time.

Here are some of the pic's Tracy took...

Commercial Diving - Divers: Nakai; Esteban & Sergio

Our dive focus changed during the last two week ends. We received a call from a Marine Shipping Agency to locate and move a 3000 lbs anchor and chain gear from a 30 feet deep location to the original 60 feet sand patch. This kind of anchoring systems  are used by the barges and some freighters while at G.T. Harbor.
We set out very early on a Saturday loaded with our commercial equipment and rigging including lift bags, chains, shackles, ropes, etc.
We were told the chain had a marker up on the surface. To our surprise we found the marker way off shore by the actual drop off. Once moored in place, we dove down to investigate. Our findings were the giant mooring buoy was still attached to the chain being held by the weight of the anchor at about 45 feet of water. The anchor was teetering at the very edge of the wall in 140 feet of water and we estimated its weight at over 4000 lbs may be 6000 lbs. In a very precarious position ready to fall into the blue!
We realized the maneuver had to change now from "moving" to "securing" the rigging so as to not loose it.
We worked hard inspecting the deep area, setting up lift bags and finally connecting a tow line from the Bloody Bay tug boat to the chain. With all these forces in place we managed to move the kit up the wall to a more stable area away fro the drop off and about 20 feet shallower. Unfortunately the tug boat Captain was not very delicate and the tow line broke. Having ran out of bottom time and late into the day, we had to stop operations until next week end.
Following Friday and after showing our findings to the shipping agency, we were provided with an extra 6000 lbs lift bag and we set out to complete the job as stage 2.
Two other divers came with us. The Tug Boat took the mooring line attached to the buoy and we rafted next to them. The 6000 lbs bag was taken down and inflated but the anchor stay down. Then we added our own bags and with a total up force of close to 9000 lbs of lift, the anchor was "light" but did not abandoned the sea floor.

Our next and last resort was to connect a deep tow line by the anchor. Esteban and I descended to set the sling and giant tow rope and shackle close to the anchor shank. After our safety stops we descended once more now to 90 feet and 70 feet to re-inflate the bags for maximum lifting power. Back on the surface, we prepared the Tug for the towing operation with the snag that the big floating line and one big shackle drifted under the props of the Tug, so we had to stop and dive for a few minutes to clear the line.
As soon as a light pull was exerted by the Tug, the giant metal buoy and two of the lift bags came to the surface, clearing the anchor from the bottom floor and allowing the Tug to re- position the anchor. The other two divers guided from the surface the direction for the Tug to go and do the drop. A great flat sandy area was found in about 60 feet away from coral heads and the drop off. Anchor was set down, all bags and gear cleared out and the operation was completed before the approaching storm (that is here now!).
Last Sunday though Esteban and I returned to the area and retrieved a  mooring line and thimble for big freighters (weighing about 100 lbs). We found the piece while inspecting the area however we had ran out of bottom time at those depth to effect the salvage at the time.
Until next dive!

Diving, diving and more diving!

We have been busy doing many dives and taking many photos during the last few weeks. Great weather for diving, many creatures and new discoveries kept us all entertained.
As a side project, Romeo, Esteban and I created, designed and built a "diver". The sculpture (as we call it) is to recognize all the hard working Divemasters in their quest to show the under water world to divers, experienced or not.

The project was made with old bicycle parts; bicycles been the main mean of transportation of many Divemasters.
I hope you enjoy the photos!

Don Foster's Dive & Turtle Farm Reefs

Another great week end of diving! Friday Tracy and I dove the South side of Don Foster's Reef. Exploring an area where we found very healthy coral formations with many tube and rope sponges, some of pretty big size. Cleaning stations are abundant in the area and fish life is plenty. Over the sand patch at about 50 feet there are several islands of coral formation. Each of them with their own fish inhabitants. Also two long coral fingers extend from the shallow end all the way to the drop off.

Saturday, Esteban, Romeo Daniel and I explored the east side of the Turtle Farm Reef. Sharp Nose Puffers were everywhere and we saw many big Trumpet fish very active hunting around the coral. A big Green Moray and three Spotted Morays were posing for our cameras. Over the shallows (one of my favorites) in about 8 feet of water with many Blennies of different kinds, we spotted a baby cow fish. Although very camouflaged she/he stayed with us and allowed us to get some pics.