SLS033112A - Friday

I didn't post this right away because I was packed and gone by 03:30 Saturday morning but now I have a little time.
The last day isn't as bad as the first day, but it is a busy day. We started with a quick cold breakfast. We had to get going because it was windy and we knew it would take awhile to get to the dive site. We headed out right after breakfast and we were right...the wind was really blowing, making it a bit 'sporty'. We headed back to Toppino's buoy since we knew we could moor there and be protected from the bigger waves by the reef. We were suspecting poor dive conditions since visibility had been dropping since wednesday but when we arrived we were pleasently suprised. The conditions check reported great visibility with a moderate surge. Not too bad!
The dive went well and everyone enjoyed it. It's good to end the week with a good dive.
The ride back wasn't too bad and everyone spent the time packing their personal gear and scuba gear. WE also managed to have lunch. We had a little trouble docking the boat since the wind was up and it was pushing us off of the dock. Once on the dock we emptied the boat and gave her a good scrubbing.
We said our good-byes, loaded the vans and headed back to base. It was a 1 1/2 hour drive and I think everyone slept. Back at base we unloaded the vans, washed our scuba gear and checked the crew back into the dorms.
We met for flags under the threat of rain and then headed under the dorms for our Luau. The crews that were in attendance performed skits and songs and we were all suprised when young Andy got up in front of everyone and performed a song that he had written. It was great! After the skits and songs we moved over to the volleyball courts for some luau games then it was time for dinner. At dinner Megan awarded the crew their Florida Sea Base patches, Duty to God patches, SCUBA BSA Cards and the Captain's Club Award.

It was a great week with a great crew. Thanks for being so much fun and being civilized.

SLS033112A - Thursday

I woke early to the sounds of a thunderstorm. It didn't seem to wake anyone else. A hard rain is good...it washes all of our gear that's up on deck. We call it a 'Key West Bum Wash'. We we're on the dock overnight for our mid-week break so we had a civilized, cooked breakfast of pancakes and sausage. After breakfast we set out to go diving again. It would be a long ride because we were going west. We filled tanks along the way and tried fishing again. It was a bumpy ride since the winds had been blowing again.


Green Moray Eel



We arrived at Eastern Dry Rocks with a good roll on the ocean. The boat really rocks and rolls when it is tied to a mooring ball, making getting dressed and changing tanks challenging. The conditions were more spring-like rather than the summer-like conditions we had earlier in the week. The visibility was only about 40 feet instead of the 100 feet and there was a good surge below. We found a large Green Moray Eel as soon as we started out.

Golioth Grouper

The next two dives were at Sand Key. This site is marked by a Civil War era lighthouse that has lasted through many storms. We did two dives at two different locations on the reef. The first dive was at a mooring ball that is tied off right next to a hugh coral head. Alot of the divers got turned around and ended up diving out in the deeper side of the reef rather than the shallows. The second dive was down at an end that I had never been at before. I led a group of four divers on an easy tour of the shallows where we encountered a hugh Golioth Grouper.

After the dive we headed back to Key West where our mooring is. We passed by the Sunset Festival crowd at the Mallory Square waterfront. Everyone loves to wave and photograph the boat as it goes by. We tied onto the mooring ball and went about getting dinner ready. This was our last night on board so it's Steak Night! Capt. Denny also cooked up the mackeral that was caught the night before. After dinner was cleaned up we all turned in for the night. Scuba diving is tiring business. 

Capt. Denny 'launches' a diver.

Gustavo hides from the sun.

SLS033112A - Wednesday

This was a quick wake up day. We had alot of miles to cover to get back down to the Key West area so Captain Denny had everyone up and moving. We spent the first part of the morning motoring to Looe Key, having breakfast and filling tanks along the way. We also caught 1 1/2 Mackeral. The 1/2 had been eaten by something big on the way in and all that was left was the head. We kept the whole one to eat ourselves.

The conditions at Looe Key were not as stellar as the day before but they were still great for Spring. The wind had come up a bit overnight causing some wave action which stirs things up a bit. After the dive we headed for Western Sambo, a site close to Stock Island. We had lunch on the way, filled more tanks but didn't catch any more fish or partial fish.

The conditions at Western Sambo were a little better than at Looe Key although we still didn't have the fantastic visibility we had enjoyed previously. Two of the boys decided to go kayaking instead of diving and had a great time in the waves breaking over the reef.

After the dive we returned to the dock at Stock Island for our mid-week break. Here the crew had showers, real toilets, air conditioning and no anchor watch. We all went out to dinner at a favorite local restaurant called the Hogfish. The walk to and from isn't too bad and goes through a 'colorful' neighborhood.

When we returned to the boat everyone hit the bed immediately...a well needed rest and break from anchor watch.

SLS033112A - Tuesday



Gustavo Jr.

 We stayed overnight out on the ocean at Looe Key. Conditions are fantastic. You could almost see a penny on the bottom; it's that still and clear. Here'a a picture of yesterday's fish. Unfortunately it's the only fish caught so far; a large Wahoo. Very tasty.
We started the day with a quick cold breakfast and then hit the reef for the first dive. It was great. There was a group of five large Eagle Rays swimming around which most of the divers got to see. Then there was a large Blacktip Shark swimming about.

We moved on to Sombrero Reef just outside of Marathon, FL. It is marked by a 142' tall lighthouse, the tallest in the Keys. I'll post a pic tomorrow. It was a trip of several hours which gave us a chance to refill tanks and do some more fishing and of course napping. Sombrero was crowded. It's a very popular spot, my favorite dive spot in all the Keys.

Pillar Coral in the backround

The dive conditions were still fantastic. Visibility was around 100' with no surge and no current. The coral, especially the soft corals, are very health here and the sand between the channels of coral is very clean and well defined. There are also many, many types of fish here. There was even a group of five Permit swimming about. We finished the dive and moved down to the other end of the reef to do a second dive. This end is marked by a large Pillar Coral formation. Again the conditions were great.

After diving we headed in for the anchorage outside of Boot Key. We're still out in the ocean but now we're protected by the islands. The crew did a little fishing with 'Cuban Yo-Yo's to catch some bait fish for a shark line we would be putting out at night. Dinner was brautwurst and beans. Denny started the generator so we could run the fans to cool off the cabin before going to bed.

Here's a pic of a diver entering the water:

I really enjoy writing this blog. If you enjoy reading it please leave a comment so I know someone is out there.

SLS033112A - Monday

Today was the crew’s first full day on the water. We started with a normal wake-up at 07:30. Some of the boys were slower than others getting up. They were tired from standing anchor watch. We had a quick, cold breakfast and headed out to the reef. We passed two cruise ships that were docked at the Key West pier then we were on the ocean. The ocean was very calm.


First stop was Western Sambo, Haystacks. The dive site is a large reef complex named Western Sambo. The section where we were diving is called the Haystacks. This is because there are a bunch of coral formations shaped like the old time haystacks. The conditions were great for springtime. The visibility was around 80ft with no current or surge. Everyone had a great dive.

Next we headed for Looe Key. It’s a long ride, several hours, so we put out the trolling lines and headed to deeper water for the trip. Along the way Gustavo Jr. caught a large Wahoo. What a beautiful fish. A lot of the crew also managed to nap along the way; a favorite activity on the Live-Aboard. I have always said it is the civilized cultures that observe the practice of siesta. We arrived at Looe Key around 13:00. Conditions looked fantastic. The surface was smooth and we could see the bottom clearly. Almost everyone got in for this dive. This was my 1000th dive, a special occasion for me. Divers measure their dives by the hundreds usually and 1000 is a major milestone.

After the dive the crew jumped off the boat, went swimming and just relaxed. More napping. We had decided that we would be doing our night dive at Looe Key so we headed out to do some more trolling. We motored around for a while, not catching any fish, then returned to Looe Key to make dinner and prepare for the night dive. Preparing involved more napping and checking the dive lights.

We jumped in right at sunset, which was beautiful, and met on the bottom under the boat. The water was clear, great for a night dive. I led the group up one of the sand channels to a clear spot, checked them then turned them loose. Later in the dive I ran into most of the divers and it became a lead dive again. We ended the dive and moved the boat to another mooring ball whenre we spent the night on the ocean.

1000 Dives

Today I hit 1000 dives; 1001 actually. It was a beautiful dive at Looe Key. I was hoping that it would be a special dive and it was. I did a conditions check and reported great visibility, no current and no surge. The depth was 31 feet so the computer was going to want me to do a safety stop somewhere along the line. After everyone was in I headed up one of the sand channels by mooring ball 20. About halfway to the shallows I ran into a pair of Trunkfish. I have been hoping to see a Trunkfish again. I saw one at Sombrero Reef years ago and didn’t have my camera. This time I did and I got several pictures. I kept moving up into the shallows, hoping to see some reef sharks. I did find a Nurse Shark lying under a ledge in a dead end.


I turned around and started working my way back toward the boat. I ran into the Trunkfish again but there was also a small gaggle of divers that spooked them. I kept taking pictures as I swam and soon I was back at the boat. It wasn’t long before the divers had also returned to the boat. While they were on the surface a large Reef Shark came along and swam under the divers that were on the surface.

1000 dives is a milestone for me. It’s one of my major ‘bucket list’ items. I’m not going to stop diving or stop keeping track but I can stop chasing that number now. Another ‘bucket list’ item related to diving was to become a SCUBA instructor which I achieved in 2005.

In all of those dives I only had one major incident. I was diving the Eagle with my good friend Alex Bergstedt. I had given Alex my pony bottle because he was ever so slightly nervous about deep dives. The dive started normally but soon after we hit the wreck trouble began. My Poseidon regulator went into first stage lock-up. Regulators never go into first stage lock-up. I have yet to meet someone that knows of someone that has had it happen. Anyway, Alex was watching an Angelfish as I signaled to him low air then out of air. His eyes grew big and then he went into action providing me with is alternate air source. In that short time it is amazing how much goes through your head. I contemplated going up the line with one breath, sure death, but Alex was there. We made a ‘shared air’ ascent and turned a near tragedy into a non-event. Practice, proper ‘buddy diving’ and calm nerves made it so. I now know that when ‘the **it hits the fan’ I can keep my wits about me.

If I never properly thanked you before I’m thanking you now buddy! You saved my life!

SLS033112A - First Day on the Water

The first full day was a tough one. The crew was not fully rested from their travels and they had to be up at 07:45 for Flags. After Flags it was breakfast. After breakfast we met at the Commisary where the real work started. First the crew loaded six large coolers with ice. The coolers were loaded into the trailer then a few coolers of food and a bunch of containers with more food. It takes a lot of food to feed 15 people for a week on the ocean. Although the trailer seemed full there was still alot more to be loaded. We moved over to the SCUBA area where we loaded all of the SCUBA gear, the personal gear and 15 tanks into the trailer and a truck. With everything loaded we headed out.


Schooner Conch Pearl

 We were headed to Stock Island a 1 1/2 hour drive from Florida Sea Base. It's the island right next to Key West and is the home of the Conch Pearl. The drive isn't too bad; the scenery is nice.

We arrived at the marina to be greeted by Captains Denny and Holley. Now it was time for the real hard work. Everything that had been loaded into the trailer and truck had to be carried to the boat, about 50 yards away. The trip included a small set of steps. The crew was motivated and completed the task in good time, without any complaining. Once everything was at the boat it all had to be loaded. The food was taken down below and stowed, the SCUBA gear was set up and all of the personal gear was brought on board. Now it was time to set out.

Emmanuel (spelling?)

We untied the Conch Pearl and headed out to the ocean. We had lunch on the way to the dive site. We were headed to Toppino's Buoy, a popular dive site. On the way the ocean was smooth, like summertime and the water was clear. We tied up to mooring ball no. 2 and prepared for our first dive. The first dive is a lead dive, where the crew stays with the instructors. This way we can assess their skills and work out any remaining problems, of which there was only one. One diver couldn't clear his head and had to return to the boat. I lead the dive and Megan followed up. The water was beautiful; no current, no surge and about 80 feet of visibility. Everyone did welll on the first dive so we turned them loose for the second dive; a buddy dive. This is where they go off on their own with their dive buddy. I was in the water for this dive and stayed around the boat watching the divers and taking pictures. This was also an awesome dive.

We motored around Key West, past the Sunset Festival, to our mooring ball. On the way Denny fired the cannon at the Jolly II Rover who in turn returned fire. Arrrrgh! Once we were tied to the mooring ball we had dinner; hamburgers, mac and cheese and salad. After dinner the crew settled into their bunks. I don't know what else took place, I was down for the evening.

SLS033112A - Puerto Rico Troop 35 Arrives

Crew SLS033112A is my last crew for the spring season and probably for the year. I don't expect to return again this year. I may teach at the Divemaster Academy over Christmas...it's too early to commit. I'm working with Megan Ware, world traveler. We worked together last August and it went well so I'm looking forward to a great week.

The crew arrived at around 13:00 which is a good time to arrive. It gives us enough time to complete all of the things that we need to without rushing. The crew is Troop 35 from Puerto Rico. I wasn't sure how the language difference would work out but they speak perfect English. I don't know any Spanish. The crew has these great long sleeve t-shirts for their crew shirt. It's good to see a crew that goes through the trouble of doing something like having shirts made. It serves as a uniform here at Florida Sea Base (FSB).

We went through the usual check-in activities. The crew had their picture taken and then they checked into the dorm. From there we went to the lagoon for a swim test. After the swim test we issued scuba gear to those that needed it. Everyone has their own mask, fins and snorkel which is good for a diver. We issued BCD's and regulators to everyone and headed to the SCUBA pools. In the SCUBA area we issued wet suits and weights. Now everyone had everything they needed to dive. We set up our SCUBA units, briefed the divers on the skills they would have to perform and then we got into the deep pool.

In the deep pool the divers performed a skills review. This is a review of about 15 basic SCUBA skills. Most of the divers are newly certified so the skills are still fresh for them. Everyone did well and there were even a few 'stars'. That's a relief and also impressive. We're always afraid of having divers that can't perform the simple skills. After the pool the crew went back to the lagoon with all of the SCUBA gear to do a salt water buoyancy check. This assures that they are properly weighted for diving in the ocean. After the buoyancy check we packed up our SCUBA gear and headed to dinner. We missed the evening flag ceremony because we were running a little late.

After dinner we headed to the Chart Room for an orientation. It's called the Chart Room because of the table that is in the room. It is very large and has nautical charts of the Florida Keys imbedded in the top. The orientation is a necessary evil that gives us an opportunity to start teaching the crew about their adventure and what to expect with life on a boat. Nobody fell asleep even though they had been up since the wee hours of the morning. 

After the orientation the crew was turned loose to go pack, sleep or do whatever. It's going to be a good week. 

Gear Maintenance

I have alot of time on my hands when I'm am not out on the Conch Pearl. I like to remain busy and feel my time valuable so I like to put it to good use. So I get to work, nap, work, nap and feel productive.

Right now my big project is servicing dive equipment, primarially scuba regulators. We use Aqualung Calypso regulators with ABS alternate air source regulators here at FSB; very durable and reliable regulators. We rebuild them annually to assure safe and reliable use.

I've attended a service class that was given here at FSB a few years ago and I have the service instructions in powerpoint format on my computer so with a little help from Laura I am able to service the regulators. She's been really helpful, checking my work. I've finished a pile of pieces so I'm hoping to take them over to the pool today to test them. I feel that in addition to the recommended tests a final 'real use' test seals the deal.
I'm hoping to finish three regulator sets for use on the Conch Pearl and a few for staff use.

It's alot like my old employment, which involved working on alot of sophisticated life support equipment.

Preparing for SLS033112A

My last crew for the season will be arriving on Saturday. They are from Puerto Rico, which could make things interesting. I know no spanish so I'm hoping they speak passable english. The kids should. I have spoken with the leader and his english was ok with a heavy accent. I sent him an email asking if he had any questions and for him to call us when they are leaving the airport. His answer was "We are almost there". Interesting.

SLS031012A - off to the boat

The crew was up and in 'Class A's' for flags by 07:45, right on time even though we all lost an hour of sleep due to daylights savings time. They had done all of their packing the night before so they were just about ready to go. After flags and a little Sea Base 'excercise' we had breakfast then had our picture taken. With that out of the way it was time to get down to business. The crew went back to the dorm and changed into their bathing suits for the swim review. Right after we started our swim review a large group of snorkelers came into the swim area to use the ladder, screwing everythign up; but like all good divers we adapted and completed our task. Everyone completed the review, although a few of them could have listened to instructions a little better. Next it was off to the scuba pools for the gear and skills review.
On the way to the pools I had to see Steve Willis about a paperwork problem. We were doing something very special and unusual, we had one diver that had to complete his open water dives for certification. We usually don't accomadate such a special request but I think the 'Texas thing' helped. It sure is saving him alot of money. Some of his paperwork was wrong but after a bit of twisting and turning we were able to take care of the problem...a little forethought to get a power of attorney for the boy did the trick.
In the scuba area the crew assembled their gear and got into the 10' pool for a 'scuba review'. For fairly new divers, including the student, they did very well setting up their gear. In the pool we put them through a set of skills to see what we are dealing with. Divemaster Mike and I agreed that there were a few divers that were a little weak but all we able to dive without direct supervision.
With all of that done it was now go time. The food, scuba gear and personal gear was packed into the trailer, we hopped into the vans, and it was off to Stock Island. Stock Island is the island next to the Island of Key West. It is the home to the Conch Pearl and is about a 1/1/2 hour drive from Florida Sea base...that is unless it's Spring Break, and there isn't a Seafood Festival in Maraton and an accident at MM12.
We arrived at Stock Island to be greeted by howling winds. The crew unpacked the vans, transported everything to the boat, and load the boat in record time. This is a highly motivated group! Captains Denny and Holley gave the group the second of their detailed orientations and then it was finally lunch.
We cleaned up lunch and headed out to the ocean. Since the ocean was really 'sporty' due to the winds the captain opted to sail rather than risk a first dive in rough conditions. We  put up the sails and headed to the mooring field on the other side of Key West. We sailed past Mallory Square where everyone was taking pics and waving. As we nearing the mooring ball we spotted the Jolly II Rover...arrrrgh...ready the cannon. Denny fired on them as we passed but they failed to return fire until they were well passed. Another engagement won by the Conch Pearl.
We tied up to our mooring ball and the crew, led by Divemaster Mike, went about fishing for Pinfish with Cuban Yo-Yos.  They caught quite a few; one was going to be used for a shark line later that night. Dinner was prepared, brats and beans, and soon we were sitting down, stuffing our faces. It wasn't long after dinner was cleaned up that some of us went to bed. It had been a long day, daylight savings time, rushing to get to the boat, a late lunch and dinner in the dark.

SLS031012A - finally here

Normal arrival time for SLA crews is somewhere around 13:00. This crew was not expected to arrive until around 18:00. This throws are whole routine off. They actually arrived around 18:20; not too shabby! The Galley held dinner for us so that issue was handled. After dinner we went into the Chart Room for a 'lightning round' orientation. There were very few questions so it was on to the scuba locker to issue BCDs and regulators. We issued everyone the gear they needed and went over to the scuba center to store the gear overnight. Finally we grabbed all of their personal gear and checked them into the scuba dorm. Tomorrow will be another topsy-turvy day, with everything happening out of order. The goal is to get everything done so that we can get them to the boat in time to do a dive or two. Luckily Mike already inventoried all of the food so all we have to do at the Commisary is load the food and ice. Thanks Mike!

SLS031012A - pre-arrival

I contact all of my crews prior to their arrival. I like to send them my 'un-official leaders guide' along with my contact information; in case they have any questions or concerns. This crew is no different. I've been in contact with Terry, their leader, and everything is set. They think their arrival will be some where around 18:00 but I'm betting on more like 19:00-20:00. It's spring break time and traffic is horrible this time of year. Divemaster Mike and I are going to prepare everything we can, including an inventory of the food. This way we can hope to get out of here at a reasonable time tomorrow. Today we're just going to lay low and wait for their arrival; although I will probably fill tanks out of boredom.

SLS022512A - Friday...final dive day

Friday is the last dive day for crews. This crew was up and had breakfast put away faster than any other morning. They were certainly a motivated bunch. We headed out for Toppino's Buoy, even though it was a bit sporty due to winds picking up overnight. On the way a few of us saw a big dolphin leap over the fishing lure we were trolling...sort of flipping us off with his flipper. The conditions weren't as bad as we thought they would be and everyone went in. It was a nice dive.

After the dive we headed back to the dock. On the way we instructed everyone to pack up their scuba gear and personal gear because we were going to be unpacking the boat when we got there. We dropped the sails for the last time and docked the boat.
Once we we tied up it was all business. The boat was unloaded and scrubbed. Then it was lunch and the drive back to FSB.
In the evening we had a great Luau dinner then handed out patches. All in all it was a great crew.

SLS022512A - Thursday

We woke up on the hook at Key Lois to a beautiful sunrise. The winds had died down slightly so we were looking for a little better conditions. We had a quick cold breakfast and headed back out to Looe Key. Looe Key is a fairly large reef complex so we can do alot of dives at different mooring balls and see a 'different' reef each time. The visibility was better than the day before, most likely because the wind was down. Both dives were great. The divers saw lots of fish, a few sharks and on the second dive there was a large (4-5ft) Golioth Grouper hanging around under the boat.
After the second dive we headed for Pelican shoals to do some lobstering. The participants can only snorkel to go for lobster so it is a challenge. After a couple of hours they came back with two keepers. They caught quite a few but the rest were all too small. Apparently some other divers had been there earlier. After lobstering we headed back to the dock for our final dinner...steak night!

SLS022512A - Wednesday...fully rested

Yesterday was a lazy, late wake up. Everyone was well rested from a night on the dock without anchor watch. We had a great breakfast of pancakes and sausage, then it was off to the ocean for another day of diving. The winds were still up so we decided to start local at Western Sambo. Conditions were a little sporty but the reef blocked most of the wave action. Everyone dove and things went without incident. This group has been better than most. It's a pleasure to get a crew that has the ability to listen; especially on 'forget everything Wednesday'.

After the dive Denny made the decision to go east, into the wind, to Looe Key. "No guts, no glory". The waves and wind weren't as bad as expected and no one 'blew chunks', unlike yesterday. It was a long ride to Looe Key so we put out the fishing lines and enjoyed the ride. Unfortunately the fish weren't cooperating.

We arrived at Looe Key and there were no other boats there. It was a little rough for some and late in the afternon so we had the place to ourselves. It was a good dive. There was also a purpose to the dive. It is the same place we were doing the night dive. We dive our night dive site during the day that so we get to see where we will be diving at night in the light. Looe Key is a beautiful dive site. Everyone enjoyed it and a few even saw some sharks.

We finished the dive, had dinner then prepared for the night dive. The dive lights were prepared and we did a dive briefing. It was near dark so we geared everyone up and got in. The crew was divided into two teams, one team for Dave one team for Mike. We took our teams out as a led group and turned them loose as soon as we saw that they were comfortable in the dark. It was another nice dive. The visibility was a little off but still good enough for a good dive.

After the dive we stowed our gear and headed to Key Lois to anchor for the night. The ride was beautiful. Once we turned off the lights the stars came out. Even the half moon was so bright it lit up the ocean. When we arrived at Key Lois we dropped the hook, started the first anchor watch and settled in for the night.

SLS022512A - Tuesday...a full dive day

Tuesday started out with the winds down a bit...but not much; down enough to dive. We headed out after a quick cold breakfast of cereal, pop-tarts, oatmeal and fruit.
Our first dive was at Sand Key. The conditions weren't terrible but it was a bit sporty. There were only a few 'wardrobe malfunctions' and the dive went well. Some divers even saw a reef shark.
Next we moved over to Rock Key. The conditions had improved slightly but it was still sporty and some of the divers were starting to feel the 'motion of the ocean'. The dive went well again.
We took a break for lunch as we headed for Toppino's Buoy. The winds were picking up and lunch was not sitting well with some more of the divers. The conditions at Toppino's did not look great so we moved on to Western Sambo. By now most of the divers had opted to sit out the dive so in we went with five divers. Again, the dive went well and we headed in to the dock for our mid-week break.
For the break we return to the dock where we started where there are real toilets, showers and no anchor watch. The crew took a walk after dinner to a local store for a little after dinner treat and then had their discussion afterward. Me....I passed out as usual.

SLS022512A - Monday...dive day

Monday was our first full day out on the water. The winds were still up, still blowing about 25 knots, when we got up so the days activities were still unknown. We had a slow wake up and a cooked breakfast. After everything was cleaned up we left the mooring ball and headed out.

We decided to head out to the bay side rather than the ocean side. The water is shallow on the bay side so the waves can't build. The site we were headed to was Cottrell Key. It is a shallow site where most of the snorkel boats go when the ocean is too rough. We had to get our initial dive out of the way. The first dive is always a led dive where the divers stay with the divemaster/instructor. This gives us a chance to look over the divers in the water. It's a two stage process. First we had them in the pool where they go through a scuba skills circuit then we take them on their first dive where we watch them dive, check their buoyancy aand make sure that they are comfortable in the water.
The conditions at Cottrell were marginal but still diveable. The bottom is all sand and about 15ft. deep. Visibility was about 10 ft. and there was no current. We did the usual dive briefing then put everyone in the water. Divemaster Mike was sitting out because of an ear problem so I took all 12 of the divers myself. We went to the bottom and met under the boat. Once everyone was together we went for a short tour of the bottom to the reef line and back. The dive went quite well. With the led dive out of the way they were now free to go diving on their own in buddy teams.
After the dive we had lunch then the crew opted to go snorkeling.

We headed back to the mooring ball in Key West harbor for the night. Once we were on the mooring ball a few of the crew fished with Cuban Yo-yos while dinner was prepared. We had crazy dream burgers with mac& cheeze. Then is was off to bed for me.

SLS022512A - Sunday...off to the boat

Sunday started very early for me, like most days, somewhere around 05:00. The wind had come up overnight and was blowing somewhere around 25 knots at the buoys. We were in the pool until about 21:00 last night so there was still a few things to get to.
The crew was up on time and flags was uneventful. After breakfast we met at the Quarterdeck for the 'fast track' version of the orientation. We usually do a powerpoint orientation in the Chart Room that takes about 45 minutes but because of time constraints it was a quick read through that took about 20 minutes. It's not the same without the pictures and videos.
Next it was off to the Commisary to load 5 large coolers with ice and inventory the small mountain of food we would be taking with us. The inventory was a bit difficult as no one was there from the Commisary and some of the portions seemed a little large. Oh well, extra is good...too little is bad.
We managed to get all of the food into the trailer and headed over to the scuba area to load the remaining gear. We somehow managed to add 15 scuba tanks, all of the dive gear and some of the personal gear. The rest of the personal gear was loaded into the back of the vans. That was one heavily loaded little trailer. AQll of the tasks went very well. It's nice having a crew that listens and gets down to business.
With the trailer loaded we loaded the crew into the vans and headed for Stock Island, right outside of Key West; Conch Pearl's home. It was almost 2 hours, with Sunday traffic slowing us down. When we arrived at the boat the crew unloaded the trailer with the same efficiency as they loaded it. Like I said, a pleasure. The crew had everything to the boat and loaded in the same amount of time that most crews take just to unload the trailer and move the gear. We had lunch, untied the boat and headed out. Because of the high winds, and the LDS's crew desire not to dive on Sunday, we went out sailing. With the stiff 25 knot wind the Conch Pearl moves quite well under full sail, something we don't do very often. We made into Key West harbor around 17:30, took down the sails, and headed for our mooring for the night. The Conch Pearl has it's own permanent mooring in the harbor.
While we waited for dinner to cook most of the crew went about fishing with Cuban Yo-yo's, catching plenty of Pinfish to use as bait later on. Dinner was spaghetti, cooked below. Fighting the wind on the grill would have been impossible.
After dinner we put out a 'shark line' with one of the Pinfish as bait. It wasn't too long before we were suprised with a rather large Tarpon, which Tim brought up to the boat. We don't bring a large fish like that on board. After that it was off to bed. Early morning tomorrow. Maybe we'll get to dive.

SLS022512A - Saturday, Arrival Day...part two

Well the crew finally arrived at around 16:15. Airline delays as well as south florida traffic delayed their arrival by about 6 hours, which cancelled the possibility of getting to the boat Saturday night. They're a well motivated group. We finished the swim review and gear issue before dinner. After dinner we put them in the pool for the skills review. There were a few small gear issues but otherwise they did as well as expected. As always, weighting and buoyancy will have to be watched on the first dive. We didn't get to the orientation due to being in the pool, so that will be done tomorrow morning.

SLS022512A - Saturday, Arrival Day...part one

Plans don't always work out the way we want and this crew knows this all too well. The original plan was to arrive about 10:00 but due to airline delays their arrival is postponed until sometime around 15:00. I predict it will be closer to 16:00 but we'll see. We have an awful lot to do in the little bit of time we'll have...and today is the kind of day around here where just getting their picture taken will be a challenge. Unfortunately we won't be able to meet their request to make it to the boat tonight. That will be impossible unless we want to arrive at 22:00; then there's still the matter of stowing all of the gear and provisions on board and sending the drivers back very late. Maybe if we don't do an orientation; but I personally think that would be a BIG mistake.

Goodbye SLS021812A, Hello SLS022512A

Today we stay goodbye to one crew and pick up the next. When you work the live-aboard you don't get much time off. It's 05:00 and I'm doing my laundry. The crew that is arriving today has made a special request. They are primarially an LDS crew (Mormon) and would prefer not to do anything on Sunday. To accomadate their request we're going to try to get them to the boat Saturday night so that they can take Sunday off. That means check-in, photo, swim review, gear issue, scuba pool review, pack up persoal gear for the boat, inventory the food and load the vans and trailers. Somewhere in there we have to have dinner then there's an hour and a half drive to the boat. Once we're at the boat it takes about an hour to stow all of the gear and food. Whew!
I hope we can pull it off. It all depends on the crew; how together and motivated they are.
On another note, the weather has been beautiful.

SLS021812A Day Three, Monday

Today was the first full day on the boat. Wake up was a little slow and very laid back, as it usually is on the boat. We had a slow start because Captain Denny was hoping the winds would die down a bit from overnight. We had a cooked breakfast since it was a slow start. Once we finished breakfast and cleanup we headed out to the reef. We were headed for Sand Key which is a bit of a ride so on the way we put out some fishing lines to troll for whatever we could get. We don't fish for anything specific, just something good to eat. It took awhile but we got a 'fish on'. Josh ran back and grabbed the rod first which gives him the right to bring the fish in, and what a great fish it was; a 31" Cero Mackeral, That's a big fish, and good to eat too. Unfortunately, that was the only fish for the day, although we had a couple more hits.
We did our first dive at Sand Key, a site marked with an old, out of commission, lighthouse tower. There is also a large coral head to explore too. It was their first dive on their own; no divemaster escort. Again, the dive went without incident. We had lunch and moved over to Western Dry Rocks for our second dive. The third and final dive was at Rock Key. As you can see, they weren't really creative when it came to naming the sites.
We headed back in to the mooring ball outside of Key West for our second night and a dinner of Brautwurst and beans.

SLS021812A Day Two, Sunday

Day two is what I consider to be the hardest day. There is so much to do and not alot of time to do it. The crew woke and went to flags at 07:45. Then it was off to breakfast. After breakfast the fun began. They had to clean the dorm they stayed in, pack their gear that they were taking on the boat and stow everything else in lockers. Next was the food and ice. We met at the commisary where they packed 5 large coolers with ice (very heavy) and inventoried a mountain of food. It takes alot of food to feed 16 hungry divers for one week. Thanks to Dave for spearheading the inventory. The inventory sheet doesn't exactly match the items so it can be a bit trying to get it correct. All of the ice and food were loaded into a trailer and it was off to the scuba area to load a second trailer. That trailer was loaded with 30 scuba tanks, the dive gear and all of the remaining personal gear. Once everything was loaded we rounded up all of the stragglers and headed out. It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive to where the Conch Pearl is moored; from milemarker 73.8 to about milemarker 8 down A1A.
Once we arrived at the boat it was time to transfer all of the stuff we brought from the trailers to the boat, about a 50 yard walk and a small flight of stairs. This is the hard part. Once everything is at the boat it all has to be loaded on the boat, everything in it's proper place. All of the ice and food has to be loaded and stowed away, the dive gear and tanks have to be loaded and set up and all of the personal gear has to make it to the bunks. Once all of that is done it's time to slow down and start really enjoying the trip.
We had lunch then headed out to the reef for our first dive. We went to Toppino's Buoy, a nice little reef, good for a first dive. The first dive is a led dive, where the divers stay with the divemaster. Tgis gives them a chance to work on any little problems and also gives the divemaster the opportunity to look the divers over. The visibility was about 50ft. not bad for spring. The dive went quite well without any issues. That's not always the case.
After the dive we headed into the mooring near Key West. As we passed the Key West waterfront all of the people were lined up, waiting for the 'famous' sunset. Once we were attached to the mooring ball we settled down for dinner; burgers.

SLS021812A Day One, Saturday

Crew SLS021812A is our first Live-Aboard crew for the 2012 season. They arrived right when they said they would...that's a good sign. They were fairly rested because they has spent the previous night in a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. Most crews arrive dead tired because they have been traveling since the wee hours of the morning. The check-in went well...pictures, swim test, gear issue and pool skills session. This crew had done a skills review at home before coming here; a real plus for new divers. After the pool was 'flags' We had to go in our swim suits as the pool session ran a little late. Dinner was fried chicken, then it was off to the classroom for an orientation session. It's a bit dry but everyone managed to stay awake. All in all a good group of guys. It's a pleasure when you get that impression right away. Tomorrow it's off to the boat!

Back in the Florida Keys

Well I'm back in the Florida Keys, volunteering at the BSA Florida High Adventure Sea Base again. The drive down was uneventful except for the price of gas! It's hot and humid but that's supposed to change in the next day or so. We're expecting a front to come through tomorrow and drop the temperature a little and blow 15-20...just enough to make it a bit sporty. The first Live Aboard crew of the season is set to arrive in the next few hours, then the real fun begins. Mike Roesel, the divemaster I'll be working with, did a great job getting stuff ready; lights, fishing gear, etc. I've packed most of what I need to take and my scuba gear is set up so things should go smoothly. All I need to do is find a little time to take a short nap before they arrive or else I'll never make it through orientation tonight.

Preparing...already

I am returning to the 'Keys' in four weeks for another two month stint of scuba diving at the Florida Sea Base aboard the Schooner Conch Pearl. I only have four week long trips scheduled on the Conch Pearl but there is plenty of work to do otherwise. I think this is my eighth year there. My first season was the Spring of 2005 and I have been going back to volunteer every year since; sometimes for Spring and sometimes for part of the Summer seasons.
I keep returning for many reasons. First is because they let me. It's an oasis for me...not so much because it's in the beautiful Florida Keys (although that's a big part of it) but because of the people. Some of the best people I have met throughout my life are the people I have met at the Florida Sea Base. I enjoy their company and friendship and have learned much from them. Another reason I return is because it keeps me from getting older or at least it is slowing the process. I went from an active, dynamic, stimulating job to being at home with the dog, disabled. I need the interaction and activity.
I have spent alot of time preparing a detailed packing list for this year's trip. I usually prepare a list but often manage to forget a few items (CRS). This time I'm even putting packing lists in the different containers in hopes that I can keep track of everything. You would be suprised how many little things you need to take along.
Alot of people wonder how I can accomplish this while being disabled with Narcolepsy. I am fortunate that they know about my Narcolepsy at FSB and they allow me to nap pretty much whenever I need to.
So I'm already preparing to go in hopes that an early start will help me to make sure I take everything I need.

It's cold!!!

It's cold here in NJ...less than 10 degrees. I guess I could be at my sister's in Maine. It's below zero. Once it gets that cold measuring seems moot. At least they may have some real snow on their slopes. The ski slopes here are really hurting.
Anyway....what's this got to do with diving? I have to work out in my garage, my unheated garage, going through dive gear. It shouldn't take long but it has to be done. Maybe I'll put it off for a day or two. Temps are supposed to move up to 50 degrees in the next day or two.

DMA Day 14

New Year's Eve 2011. Today was our last dive day. We started the day heading out for our last deep dive, dive 4 of 4 , for the deep dive specialty. The conditions on the ocean were great; it was sunny and the seas were down. I was lucky enough to have my wife, Barbara, along for the ride. She was bummed because she is a diver but was not allowed to dive with us because it was a training dive. We pulled up to the Eagle to find great conditions. There was no current to speak of and the visibility looked great. We got our teams ready and entered the water.
I had the yellow team again...Paul, Emily J., Garett, Kevin and Jake. We had a simple dive plan...do a controlled descent, meet on the deck, go to the sand to measure the depth then tour until 1500psi of air (back on the line). The dive went as planned with the exception that Emily J. seemed a little anxious about being at 1600psi so we started to start up. I say that because so did most of the other two groups which made for a crowded ascent line. The divers had the option of ascedning off of the line, using it for a reference, but the majority felt the need to keep contact with the line. We did our 50ft safety stop then at about 20ft headed for the deco bars below the boat. There the team did a 3 minute stop then they headed for the surface. I stayed below. There was still a team doing an extended 8 minute safety stop so I stayed below as an extra 'safety diver' and to off gas a little more. Why not...I had about 1500psi left in the tank.
Once everyone was back on board we headed over to Rocky Top, a 25ft. patch reef. This was a buddy dive, where we turned everyone loose to dive on their own as a 'fun dive'. It was the first fun dive, without a training purpose. I dove with Alex as I did not remember Rocky Top and I wanted to check it out. It was a pretty little reef with lots of Grunts and Snappers. We were getting chilled so Alex and I headed for the boat but not before seeing bad diving...divers crashing the bottom, bad kicking, screwing around, tank riding etc. What a disappointment.
When we returned to the dock we completely emptied the boat and headed to the scuba area. Alex gave a briefing on how to break down, clean and put up gear, the Sea Base way.
I gave my gear a thorough washing since I won't be using it until February. The instructors even soaked all of our wetsuits and pieces in 'sink the stink' solutionn overnight.
The rest of the afternoonn was spent in the classroom doing paperwork. A bunch of the candidates still needed pictures for their cert. cards so Alex and I loaded them into two vans and off to CVS we went. There the photo guy worked out a deal for them so they only paid for a print rather than 'passport photos'.
We returned just in time for dinner and to get ready to head out to Key Wset for New Year's.