Double Dutch

One of the local dive shops had a “customer appreciation” sort of event out at Dutch Springs. Since I occasionally use their services, I felt that I was eligible to participate in their little soirée!   Rob told me about it, and gave me $2.00 off coupon from the shop and said “free food” so we were in business!   The Mrs. was out of town today so I didn’t have to feel guilty getting up so early, although the cat wasn’t my biggest fan at 5:45am when I got up! (Hey, I had to give her some meds before I left so…she probably slept the rest of the day, anyway)  I met Rob & John at Sheetz at 6:45 and consumed a double sausage croissant and a hash brown with my large coffee! (tasted better than the energy bars I usually eat when I’m diving that early)  After loading our gear, we set off and headed out to Dutch. 

When we got there we unpacked and checked on the festivities of the day.  We were set up in one of the pavilions behind where the Aqua Park part of the quarry, and what seemed to be miles away from the water.  (but close to the young ladies in bikini’s that were sunbathing)  Not our usual set up under the trees and 20 steps from the water when we’re there during the week. As people arrived we figured out that we would be accompanying the group out to the far regions of the quarry for the first part of THEIR dive, so it was a hurry up and wait sort of scene, thankfully the weather was mild and we weren’t sweltering in our dry suits.

The order was finally given to hit the water!  Once I set up and got my mask and fins on, I just popped out and waited.  (and waited)  We were then informed that we were leading so we dropped down to 20 ft.  One thing I don’t like about Dutch vs. Bainbridge is that there is really no reference when you are descending off of some of the platforms, so I get to depth, then start to rise, then dump some air, and…well…it’s just a thing I need to work out, let’s say that!   After about five minutes, we were still the only ones at depth, so we ascended for a few minutes until things were worked out. Finally we descended, and started out towards the Trolley. John the Navigator lead, and I followed a few feet below  him and Rob.  Once we got to the Trolley, it was a swarm of people trying to get through it, so I followed Rob around the side, and  watched everyone go through (been through it before…not a must do)  After everyone went through, we popped around the back, and  slid down the hill to the “Army Truck” (as it’s listed on my one map)  or the “Duece and a half”  as Rob and John refer to it (or the Duisenberg according to someone else?!?!?!)  Again as we hit depth, the swarm was all over it, so I just followed Rob, and headed off to the side. Once everyone had their chance to see it, I think the order was to head out to the Crane, but I wasn’t sure who all was going with us (we were diving double’s and the majority of the rest were diving single 80’s)  When we got to the Crane, we waited for a few minutes, then figured that everyone went elsewhere, so we kept going. John took his heading, and we swam along the bottom of the Island, and ended up at the Helicopter (ok, what’s LEFT of the helicopter!!)  We took a quick run through that, and started back towards the Silver Comet. Passing the Comet, we then hit the platforms.  As we ascended by them, Rob pointed to some of the “markers” that were for the scavenger hunt. He apparently had his, so I grabbed mine!  After we passed the platforms, we found our exit point, and did our five minute safety stop.  After we were done, we ascended and finished our dive.

Duration:  59 Minutes

Deepest Depth: 78 feet

Coldest Temp: 46º

Not a great dive, I felt a little off kilter most of the dive, and never really got comfortable, so I only semi-enjoyed it.  Also, as I took off my gloves, I realized that my right one leaked, and thought that I should have used my wet gloves since the water here isn’t quite as cold as Bainbridge… I just thought that was a “sign” so I pulled my 7mm’s out of my box to use the next dive.  My sweatshirt was also soaked, so I pulled that off, and put on my cut off sweatshirt…I didn’t leak, but I think I was sweating so much that it got wet…Rob said “you get that way when dealing with students”  So no problem…

After everyone was back up to the pavilion, lunch was grilled and served.  Our plan for the second dive was to try to find the rest of the markers for the scavenger hunt, and just tool around the platforms and what-nots. 

We went back to the water, and Rob, John and I dropped down to our 20 ft. bubble check. Rob had a little glove leak issue at first, but resolved it.  We started to the platforms, and looked around for the errant markers; the one we THOUGHT was under the platform, ended up being a dead fish. We made it down to about 55 feet, and lost John.  Rob and I started heading to where we thought he was at the surface, and saw him.  So we ascended. As we ascended, we saw John descending again, Rob kept me on the surface long enough to tell me that he was having a nasty leak in his glove and was bailing, but to go back down and keep going with John. I made sure he was OK to get back to the platform, and descended to where John was at the platform.  When I got there, John gave me a “where’s Rob?” kind of look, so I tried to get my pencil and write on my slate. The pencil wasn’t cooperating, so John handed me HIS pencil. I tried writing “Rob bailed, has a leak” on his slate, but it came out garbled…so I kept his pencil and wrote it on MY slate. This time he got it and we kept going.  Under the platform, and out past the dead fish we went again. I followed John for a while, and we weren’t seeing anything. The visibility wasn’t great, so I was glad I had my light with me. We kept swimming, and kept seeing nothing.  John looked at me and shrugged, I agreed, so we pressed on. After a little while I happened to see a line running across our path, and a little higher than us. I tapped John and pointed. He shrugged, and we started following the line. Soon we were at the crane, and he gave me a very puzzled look.  We turned, and kept following the bottom. Some of what we saw was foreign to us, and when John saw some lines bobbing up and down, figured that we were under the Aqua Park. I had no clue where we were (nothing we don’t know) and thought we were at an entirely different part of the quarry.  Soon we were at a wall (that I thought was the island) and John motioned that we should ascend for our safety stop.  When I looked up I saw an entry platform and though “ok!” Five minutes later we finished. John turned over a “clay pigeon” that was another local dive shop's prize markers, and we were done with dive number two!

Duration: 50 minutes

Deepest Depth: 60 feet

Coldest Temp: 49º

From a “technique” standpoint, a much better dive than the first one, but from a sightseeing perspective, one to forget!  I never realized that Dutch had so many points of nothing!  This was almost as bad as when I did a few dives with my cousin back in 2008, and the first dive where we saw squat!  (Ok, I was leading the dive, so no big revelation there!) I told John, when my wife and I have a bad day doing something she always says “At least we were together”...this one wasn’t really ever good enough for that!   We found Rob back at the platform. Once he resolved his glove issue, he took a guy who wasn’t totally certified, and did some platform stuff with him.  Good deal for that guy!  (and Rob got to play a little more in the water)

After everyone was done, more grilling was done, and the prizes were awarded.  I won some new spring straps! Rob won another pair of shears!   Good enough!   We finished, and waited for John’s wife to come pick him up, then headed back to Hershey.  We’re planning on getting back out on Wednesday. The summer is slowly going away, so get them in while you can!  

LOST….The Sequel!

After a very long weekend of being out and about, traipsing about in different states, I’m home, and got my fills in time for a Wednesday night.  I was able to get out of Hershey at a decent hour and actually beat Rob to the quarry for once (not by much, but I was there first) It’s always nice to have my usual table, and beat the rush, but it was a little bit of a quieter Wednesday. (Maybe people heard that Annette was coming out, and weren’t sure if John brought the tarp or not...you remember what happened that LAST time that scenario played out!)  Well we knew that John was going to be there, and that Jane (the tarp) would be in tow!  So thankfully the weather held of rather nicely!

Last week my computer started giving me some trouble because the battery was dying, so I made sure that I put in new ones, and (as usual) was skeptical about my seal job on the battery compartments, so I grabbed my back up and had that activated just in case. (However this week it was only six feet deeper than my primary!)

Once we knew what we were up against, Rob and I started getting ready, and were soon wandering down the steep path to the water.  Everything looked good, so we dropped to the tree for a bubble check. Nothing to report at the tree, all of the bubbles were coming from the right places, so we kept going past the boats and towards the pipe.  The visibility was getting a little foggier as we went, but we were still seeing the shadows where we expected them to be.  Pretty soon we ran into the pipe. Rob took the high road; I took the low road and went under it.  We slowly followed it down, and were soon looking at the CAT.  Rob looked at me and gave me an OK sign, I returned it, and he pointed to the left of the CAT, and down the deeper path. I agreed, and we continued following the pipe.  At the Pump House, we continued down, and Rob pointed at the steps, so we followed those down to the Deep Deep Boat.  At the boat, Rob gave me the back up the steps signal, and I agreed, and followed.  At the top of the hill we checked in and continued until we saw the Deep Boat.  We kept on, and headed to the bottom of the hill. We turned left and followed the bottom over the 110ft. Trench, and out over the boulders.  When Rob saw the Tripod Tree, we checked in, and continued until we hit the Outhouse.  Passing the Outhouse, we looked for the Big Boulder in the fog, and met behind it. It was good to see it this time, the last time I was having mask issues. Rob checked with me, and I was still ok, so we continued around the Boulder, out towards the left, and headed out to what I thought was the other side of the Trench, and towards the Steam Shovel Bucket.  After swimming over nothing for a little while, I noticed that Rob seemed to be moving a little fast, I just thought I was narced, and admiring the foggy-ness over the Trench.  Soon we saw one of the lines that run through the muck, and were at the pipes not far from the Deep Boat.  At the Deep Boat, Rob continued, and started up towards the CAT.  At the CAT, he turned to me and pointed to his wrist slate which still had “LOST” written on it!  I had a SLIGHT feeling, but wasn’t thinking that we were THAT out of it, and felt like my brain was probably a little wonky from the time at depth.  We followed past the CAT, then wandered around the Bowl and through trees for a bit, and ended up by the Pennsy. After a trip around that we hit some of the large beams, and steam shovel arms, and headed over to our safety stop point.  At 20 ft. we took a break, and I got a kick out of watching the fish swarm Rob…I was wondering if he had a tuna sandwich for lunch or something.  Five minutes up, and we started over to the exit point, and we were done!

Duration: 47 minutes

Deepest Depth: 117ft.

Coldest Temp:  37º

If he didn’t tell me we were lost, I never would have thought it, and still would swear that I was narced, and lagging behind over the barren wasteland. (which I MIGH T add was pretty cool, I was trying to determine that if what I was seeing was fog, or the bottom…or just my imagination…but it was neat!)   I’m still diving in the 119’s, and not really loving them in comparison to the 130’s. I feel better trim-wise in the 130’s. I just need to get them inspected and back on my back! I might also need to see if it’s possible where they are oriented on my back is causing a little bottom heaviness.  I also need to get my Dive Rite regulators serviced; I really miss them at the deeper depths. Not to detract from the Zeagles, but the Hurricanes just breathe so smoothly!

After John and Annette surfaced, we packed our gear and met a strange man over at PizzAtown for dinner.  We’re still holding out that he’ll join us at the quarry one of these nights…but as good divers, we aren’t holding our breath!

I’m hoping to get out this weekend, so stay tuned for that...but, I am out of here for now!

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

The GMP Factor…

Don’t ask me what GMP means…it was the result of a conversation with Ron that took a HORRIBLE turn!   (it takes a lot for me to have nothing to say!)  It also was the beginning of a few things that almost kept me from wanting to dive tonight.  Ever have one of those evenings when a few things just DON’T go in the right direction, and you think “Hmmm…maybe not”!  Well I was ALMOST at that point.  It was a “three strikes, you’re out” kind of thing, but I had a full count and the basses were loaded, and I ended up walking, and left it for someone else to hit us in.  I’m NOT going to count that my wife wasn’t exactly on time when I went to pick her up from work… so that’s out, but when I first put my regulators on my 119’s, the Dive Rite reg started to leak a little and I couldn’t get it to stop… Ok, time to get them in for service.  So I quickly converted my computer transmitter to my trusty Zeagles, and they worked straight away!  After I analyzed my gas, and turned on my computer in order to get THAT set up, I got a “battery fault” and thought “crap, I need to change the battery right now”  But I was sort of fooled, and when I turned it back on, it seemed to be fine.  So as a backup, I grabbed my old computer, and set THAT up just in case (even though it’s a few feet different…ok SEVEN feet deeper…but we’ll talk about THAT later)  As I was finishing my set up, I noticed that Rob was anxious to get into the water, and about five minutes ahead of me setting up…no problem, I just kept at my pace, and still made sure that everything I needed was working and in the place I wanted it to be. (and I ended up only a minute slower in walking down the steep path)  (and lived to tell about it!)

Again, we BOTH were experiencing allergy issues, and kept our dive plan at a “we’ll see where we end up” sort of thing.  Once we gave each other a cursory glance and told each other that he looked good, we put our regulators in our mouths and agreed to meet at our favorite tree at 20 ft.  It took a few seconds longer to get down there, but I was able to clear. I didn’t get any problem signals from Rob, so when we looked at each other at 20ft. we were ready to roll.  This time we were able to go through our usual path, and found the correct boats, and correct trees until we hit the correct pipe.  We checked in, and still no major sinus issues. My ears were “singing” each time I cleared, but nothing felt worse than any other time.  Everything felt good, so I kept going. Rob kept giving me “OK” signals, so it was working for him as well.  Following the pipe, we made it to the CAT in the sketchy visibility.  We checked in again, and still were ready to keep moving.  We were going a little slower than usual, but soon enough we were at the Deep Boat.  We kept going at the Deep Boat, and for a minute I thought Rob was going to take a trip down the hill to either the old Pump Building, or even the Deep Deep Boat, but I guess he thought “let’s not push our luck” and we followed back around and headed over towards the wall.  At the wall we kept moving out over the Deep Trench and over the boulders to the Tripod Tree.  A few second later we were at the Outhouse (and saw who we think was the “rebreather guy” on a solo dive)  We turned and started back over the hole and ended up at the bottom of the wall.  We started up and went past the Pump House, and checked on the Lobster who is still surviving “Mini Lobster Season” (although we aren’t in the Florida Keys, so he has a chance)  Up the slope at a little bit of an angle and we surfaced at the top of the wall a bit further to the right of the Aqua Adventures truck. Rob corrected course, and we were at the back of it in no time flat. And swimming along the line at 60 feet as a “deep stop”.  Arriving at the CAT, we turned and followed the line in through the trees, and into the bowl.  We passed a few trees, and some cable, and were soon back around by the Steam Shovel Arm, and headed to the twin boats.  Rob cleaned off the Fuzzy Caterpillar and we were soon at our safety stop. I looked for crawfish, and tried to keep my foot from cramping, and Rob turned over a few rocks.  After five minutes we were ready to roll and headed to the exit point, and we were done! (lots of little fishies in the underbrush)

Duration: 44 minutes

Deepest Depth:   T3- 95ft.  (Atmos 2- 102 ft.)

Coldest Temp: 36º

Despite all of the funky issues prior to the dive, it turned out to be a pretty good one.  I focused on keeping my trim better with the 119’s and felt a lot better than I had in the past.  Except for the foot cramp, I felt good the whole dive.  My allergies were decent for the most part.  Rob said that this was the best he felt in recent dives. So it was all good!

We packed and helped Ron decide on a new dive light (neither one of us knew the model of ours so we weren’t a lot of help)   But pretty much told him that what WE have is already obsolete, and unless he buys used, he’s stuck!  (mine was a close out special so…) 

We headed to PizzAtown for the usual post dive festivities!   I’ll be out of town this weekend, but expect to be back in action again next Wednesday!   We hope to see you soon, August is here already, and we only have so many Wednesday Night dives to go!

Have fun!

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Bass Ackwards!?!?

The Dutch Springs trip we had planned for Friday didn’t go off.  Rob and I were still suffering with the allergy issues, and decided that we should probably hold off, but we kept the option for the weekend open for Bainbridge.  Rob decided to try some Allegra, and that seems to help him out.  I’ve been on that stuff for years, and I think it works.   (just not the generic)(it helps to be married to a Pharmacist, to know this sort of thing!)

The weather looked a little questionable, so I texted him and said I was going to leave shortly and go see if I could get us tables in one of the pavilions.  As I hit send, my phone rang and it was Rob checking in to see if I was still up for a dive.  We also agreed that it would probably be empty today looking at the weather, and the fact that most of the local dive operations had classes the past few weeks.  So I wasn’t in QUITE as much of a hurry as I was two minutes earlier.  When I got there, I saw that there were a lot of people signed in, and several instructors…I first thought that maybe they just used the sign in sheet from the day before, until I got to the pavilion area and saw that it was full.  There were several tables at Upper A taken, so no one is afraid to get wet! I texted Rob and said “nothing in the pavilion” He got back and was there in a few.

After Wednesday, we were hoping to get a little more out of it today, but we were still being careful. As we got to the bottom of the steep access, there were a few people standing there, (strange that a class was entering there) so we had to swim around them to descend.  Rob went first, and I followed.  As I passed the people, I started a little over towards the left, thinking we were headed to our usual tree…but I didn’t see Rob’s light…so I did a few 360’s and then I saw his shine….I went over to him, and we did our quick check.  All systems go and we were off.  Since we weren’t at our usual tree, and the visibility was pretty cruddy, we had a tough time finding the pipe.  We swam through trees, around things, under things, and over things and didn’t see anything I recognized. Rob looked at me at one point and pointed to his ear, so I thought maybe he was just taking a long circuitous way to get to our probable destination, and hoped that his ears would settle, until he turned to me, and wrote on his slate “lost”… Ok, we WERE lost….so he sort of re-grouped it, and we started back, and soon we saw a boat, and one of the big steam shovel arms, then the Pennsy magically appeared!  (I also found a rather expensive looking snorkel, and wondered if it was the one Susie told us to keep an eye out for a few weeks back) After passing the Pennsy, Rob had the line of where we were going, and we were soon following the pipe down towards the CAT.  At the CAT, he looked at me and was making some hand signals, I didn’t understand, so he just grabbed the snorkel and stuck it in one of his pockets… I wasn’t thinking there was a “stick that snorkel in your pocket” signal in the PADI manual, so I didn’t get it right off the bat (there might be one in the IANTD manual, but I haven’t really learned those yet)  So we started down the slope to the Deep Boat.  We had it a little better today, and approached from our usual angle.  At the Deep Boat, Rob pointed out to the wall, so I agreed, and we followed over the void until we were at the wall.  We followed along over the 110ft. Trench (which looked pretty eerie) and along the bottom of the hill out towards the Outhouse. We were soon passing the tripod tree, and there was the Outhouse.  Rob pointed back in, and I agreed once again.  As we followed, I saw what looked like a rather large dead fish…maybe the aforementioned “Bass”, but he was big!  As we went back over the trench, I HAD to slide into it a little, so I did...and it WAS eerie!  At the bottom of the wall, we started our ascent, and checked on the little Lobster on top of the Pump House.  He was good, just a little dusty.  Up the hill, and we were soon at the Aqua Adventures truck. I pointed my light at the line, and Rob agreed, so we followed that back over to the CAT, at the CAT, Rob turned along the other line, and we headed to our safety stop.  I seem to do ok the first few minutes, but the last minute or two I always tend to get a little bouncy, I need to work on that.  (well, I can use the excuse today that my 119’s were getting a little light, since I didn’t get a fill, but, I usually bounce a little) After our five minutes were up, we went back through the brush, feeling the nice warm thermocline as we did, and we were done!

Duration: 50 Minutes

Deepest Depth: 97ft.

Coldest Temp:  37º

Except for being the opposite of our usual path, it was a pretty good dive!   I still seem to feel a little awkward in the 119’s, and have to use the 130’s up, so I can get them in for their annual.  I was considering hanging on to them a little longer, to see if I could stretch them into September, but I really like how they feel.  But all in all it was a good dive!

When we got back up, there was no rain, so we didn’t get wetter!   On my way out after packing, I stopped and gave Susie the snorkel; she does think that it’s the one someone was missing, so hopefully it gets to its rightful owner!   As I said it looks like an expensive one, but…it’s a snorkel!  Rob said he didn’t like those anyway.

Ok, looks like we’ll be back again Wednesday…not sure who’s going to be back in town, but I’ll keep you posted on things.