First off the GPS numbers were to a bunch of sand.
So we loped over to the nearest pile of rocks.
Dropped anchor and Sue (wife).
Sue popped out so fast it was amazing.
This may have been her last wetsuit dive.
Her teeth were already chattering.
Her new drysuit just arrived.

E and I went down to find a very cragged volcanic area.
Lots of vertical walls all covered in standard PV UW Flora.
But a LOT of sponges. Quite a few octos and a few fish.
Many ledges. I saw my first IRL lobster crowd (IRL=in real life, unlike URL)
Then I turned the corner to see the Skipper's light signaling to come
As I got closer I saw his light beckoning but no diver.
He was in the arch.
It is big enough that you have to turn your head to see all of it.
We swam through it a lot!

We and I ditched the E the photog and did a big arc across the nearby sand for no reason that I could think of. Then he wrote on a wetnotes that he wanted to go into the shallows.

When we got there there was a kelp forest in sand. HUGE holdfasts gripping who knows what. There were four in a line about 5 feet apart. They looked like welcoming sentinels to a new land.

They were much like the kelp at Malaga, but were spaced out more. No tangles.
This kelp was like rainforest canopy. little light came through. We swam a bit and ran into the HUGEST sea hare. easy 10-20% bigger than a basketball. They are so cool. So black you can barely see any of their organs. We all 3 wowed when Elaine showed up.
Just 10 feet away was a sea Hare orgy. Easily 15 of them. They were smaller, around 3/4 of a basketball. Eggs sticking out everywhere. Looked like gastropod day at the Playboy Mansion.

Well that was it for me time to bolt for the anchor line. Where is that confounded anchor line anyway? Oh well, I did my stop sitting on a pinnacle that was at 17 FSW.

Then there is the SLOOOOWEST 3 minutes of all time. I swear that we perceive time differently when off gassing.
I pretended that I was Triton keeping a close watch on my kingdom.

Then theres apprehension as your face breaks the water. How close will I be? Oh good I am up current and 100 feet away!

Now I have to practice lying to Sue...
(Jeff thinking)
"Oh, it was so so."
"Good thing you stayed on board."
"What arch?"
I didn't want her to feel bad.

I get back and E is already aboard.

I get on board with my well rehearsed pack of lies.

Sue:"How was the dive?"
Jeff:"Itwassogootthebestdiveeverwesawsomuchandthearchgirlyoureallymisseditandthentherewasthisreallycool..."

So much for Jeff the fibber.

Anyway I call this one of my best dives ever.

Then it was Victory at Sea all the way home.

Wish you were there!

-J

• Thank you!!! Max Bottomtime 22:07:11 11/13/07 (0)