7/2/2006 - Nice Way To Start July Off
Yesterday July1 my dive buddy Tim and i started July off the right way by doing two good dives and a BBQ at our home away from home Haigh Quarry down in Kankakee IL.The weather was great 88 degrees, Wind out of the West at 25 mph water temp was 72 surface to 15 ft,68degrees to 25ft and at 45 ft it was 49 to 50 degrees.
On the first dive it was up to me to pick the dive so i wanted to do a deep water entry off the West dock and float out about 100yard s to the marker for the SS Flamingo which lays at 45 ft.She is a 33 foot all steel Cabin cruiser and i have been wanting to do this dive since i was certified two years ago.
So we got suited up wore gloves this time but no hoods again check each other gear got in and floated out to the marker. Now once we got to the marker Tim said since you have a compass take a heading on the nearest marker so when were done on the boat we could over there and check out the pile of pipe. No problem i take the heading show him and we start down to the boat. down we go warm then a little cold and then colder. We ladn on the money on the aft deck Tim takes a reading on his computer were at 45 ft water temp is 49 were ok. Hang around the boat for about 10 minutes then wer off on the heading to the next marker to see a pile of pipe.
Well as were going along there was a rise in the bottom and then a drop off and there it was not a pile of pipe but a US Marine Corps LARC 5 Amphibious Vehicle from the Vietnam War sitting at 45 ft.Hey my mistake and look what we found and i did good on my Nav dives in my OW class two year s ago i guess i had a case of CRS you know Cant Remember S^%T lol. Any we decide to come up and we did a Surface stop for 3 minutes at 15ft in nice warm water. When we got on the surface we notice we went at least 100 more yards out of our way. Now it s time to float back to the dock. Oh and there is also a US Marine 2.5 ton dump truck sitting at 50ft no far from wher we are but that will wait til Aug. First dive was 45 ft for 30 minutes and 30ft vis.
After a nice long SI sitting around talking to outher divers it s time for dive 2 which tim said we would do a deep water entry float over to the other end and hang out over by the Rock Crusher area and around some small walls. But first before we get suited up it s time to light of the BBQ grill so things will be ready to cook when we get back.
Got suited up go off the dock float to the other side and down we go to 24 ft along a wall for about 10 minutes then over to the Crusher. The fish were every where you looked in this area. We did not see one fish at all on the first dive there all over here . Tim was taking pictures and at one point of our dive i could see his bubbles and fins so i drop down to see what was going on and as i came around a corner i almost had a head on with a 6lb bass and Tim who was trying to get a picture. Second dive 24ft 28 minutes vis in this area 20 to 25ft.
Now it s time to throw the chicken on the grill for Tim s famous Jerk Chicken. Boy after two great dives the Jerk Chicken really hit the spot. Pack up our gear load the truck and suv and head for home.He s comming back on the 16th of July for the Haigh Memorial Dive thats held every year. I was planning on going but i will be flying out to my old home town of San Diego Calif on Friday the 14th to see the folks and friends for a week .
So until next time everyone have a safe and happy 4th of July Tuesday and Dive Safe Dive Often.
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