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...