Dive #67 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log
© Copyright 2010 Rich Torkington Mesa, Arizona

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Bottom Time to Date:

52h
43m


Dive Info:

Dive Start:
11:30AM

Bottom Time:
62 minutes

Maximum Depth:
26 feet

Safety Stop:
n/a

Beginning Air:
3000 psi

Ending Air:
1200 psi

Weather Conditions:
Sunny 95°F

Surface Conditions:
Calm

Surface Water Temperature:
81°F

Bottom Water Temperature:
81°F

Visibility:
0-3 feet
67
TITLE
*˝
June 2,
2001
MARTINI COVE
SAN CARLOS - SONORA, MEXICO
PADI Advanced Open Water Certification Dive No. 5 - Search and Recovery
TRAINING DIVE
 
Linda (buddy), Feliza Rios (Instructor)
El Mar Diving Center
http://www.elmar.com/
Photo
So where the hell is it?
Vidcap by Linda Torkington in Mexico 2001  
Dive Journal: We are instructed to find 2 one gallon containers full of rocks, located in the proximity of the buoy anchor. To find the first we are to use a circular rope technique, the second a U-pattern technique. How tough could this be?

We start the rope pattern, but get immediately tangled up in the open water divers, who are occupying the same area. Not only are their legs obstacles to the rope, but they have totally kicked up the bottom, turning our visibility from bad to nearly zero. We patiently wait them out, and perform the search, but no bottle is to be found. We extend the range of the search, well out on the rope, and even cover a nearby rock formation, looking in all the crevices. We come across a splendid crowns of thorns starfish, but still no bottle.

After about 45 minutes of searching in these tough conditions, Linda has had enough, and we surface to tell Feliza that “someone” has already taken the bottles (ha-ha). Feliza and I head back down to the buoy anchor, and she then uses her compass to locate the bottles. But she can’t find either one of them either!

She says this is the first time this has happened, and that the buoy anchor must have moved in the surge. I think it is also possible that Linda and I may have dragged its position during the circular pattern drill, or that the open water divers somehow moved it. In any case, Feliza gives us the thumbs up on this cert dive, due mostly to our effort I think. Although we were unsuccesful, it is still a good exercise in these bad conditions.

Hooray! I am now a PADI certified Advanced Open Water diver!

More
Dive
Info:
Fins:
Mares Avanti Quattro
Computer:
U S Divers Matrix
Tank:
80 ft3 Al
BCD:
SeaQuest Spectrum 4
Dive Type:
BOAT (Granny Slick)
Body of Water:
Sea of Cortez
Mask:
U S Divers
Protection:
3mm full wetsuit
Regulator:
SeaQuest
Spectrum XR2
plus Oceanic
Slimline octopus
Weight:
13 lb
Water Type:
Salt
Video Equipment:
None