My So-Called Dive Life

7/19/2006 - Trip Report, USCG Duane, SB Invades the Keys July 14, 2006

Dive #1 Max Depth: 119 feet Bottom time: 21 minutes (you'll see why so short if you keep reading) Gas mix:  30% enriched air Wow what a weekend!  Those Scubaboarder's know how to party it up right!  Friday night, I made it down to Key Largo for my night dive on the Duane.  Now...as many of you know, I have been looking forward to this dive ALOT.  It's a great artificial reef, really the best you could hope for.  Scuttled in 1987, in an area known for currents, it is TEEMING with life.  It's hull is covered in soft corals, it attracts all the schooling fish and bait fish one could ever hope to see it.  It's GORGEOUS.  And diving it at night is something I've always wanted to do.  So Friday was the night!  Unfortunately, I was beset with technical difficulties that somewhat dampened my enthusiasm.  While trying to change the backlight settings on my computer, I somehow messed up the settings and it wasn't functioning as an SPG.  Hmmm....that's not very comforting.  I messed with it as long as I could, and then gave up and used a rental console from Captain Gary's stocks.  So I was a little flustered at that point, but still going with it.   (I only altered my plan by opting to leave my camera on the boat.  Without a good strobe, and with the added taskloading of unfamiliar gauges, it decided just not to deal with it. ) All was fine til I jumped off and SWWOOOSH!  MASSIVE freeflow from my safe second that no dunking could stop.  I made it back to the boat and had my valve turned off, and unhooked the LPI hose and hooked it back it and it seemed to stop the problem.  Unfortunately...it stopped the problem only after losing 1400 psi.  So...dropping down to over 100 feet on a night dive with only 1800 psi left?  Not using my familiar computer gauges?   On a site known to be advanced and unpredictable?  I thought about it for...a nanosecond, waved to the boat, and descended.  I soon forgot ALL my frustration as I descended the line to the boat.  I had to practically push the barracudas out of the way on the descent, they were so thick.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  Schooling baitfish were swirling around the hull, the corals were alive and open, the current was slack.  As I descended onto the bow of the Duane, I interrupted a large school of spadefish hanging there.  Looking up through the water, i could see the large barracudas on the prowl in the waters above.  Knowing my air supply was limited, I kept it a tight circular tour of the boat.  Down along the starboard side, up and around the wheelhouse, and back around to the port side to the line.  No large groupers and really no surprises on this dive, but it was gorgeous none the less.  I started my ascent up, did my stops, and was back on the boat with my one-third air intact at a short but very enjoyable 21 minutes later.  From there I headed over to Irishman's for the Margarita Party!  Wooo those were tasty!!!  I gotta get the recipe, George!

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