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Bottom Time to Date:
107h
35m Dive Info:
Dive Start:
10:50AM Bottom Time: 56 minutes Maximum Depth: 66 feet Safety Stop: 3 minutes Beginning Air: 3000 psi Ending Air: 500 psi Weather Conditions: 90°F Surface Conditions: Calm Surface Water Temperature: 86°F Bottom Water Temperature: 82°F Visibility: 70 feet |
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July 5,
2002 |
THE CAGE
ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA KEYS, USA | BOAT DIVE
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VIDEO
| Linda, Janel, and Johnny
| Ocean Quest Dive Center
http://www.oceanquestdivecenter.com/ | |||||||
As we go, we encounter a very interesting character who swims right up to us, looks us over, swims past, then starts circling and repeating the act. Very peculiar. Each time I see him approach, I see Linda flinch and turn to face him. It’s an adult shark sucker (remora), checking us over to see if we represent a plausible ride for him. I later learn that this guy totally freaks Linda out every time he buzzes us, because she just isn’t sure what this flat headed shark-looking thing is. With no dorsal fin and a big sneaker-like imprint in its head. We continue down the gradual slope, eventually reaching about 60 feet. We’re certainly at a limit for Johnny, in fact maybe a bit past it. That doesn’t stop him from cruising out to the sand flats and burying his depth gauge there, reaching a personal depth record of 71 feet, before we notice. Turkey bait. We find the edge of the reef, then head NE-ish over a variety of sandy patches and reef ridges. There are lots of nooks and crannies but not a whole lot of fish life. There are a few hamlets, barred and butter. There is also a great encounter with a blue angelfish, and I finally get a few very nice video frames of this guy. A great little hawksbill turtle makes a showing, and Janel and I take off slowly flanking him on both side in order to get some close video. He is not too concerned with us, but keeps up a steady pace that tires us out soon. Our pursuit, however, takes us quite a distance from the first sighting of him. We vector back towards the boat, but only in a very general direction. I’ve got an idea where it is, but we’ve swum a long way. Johnny has taken over the video cam and takes a long series of Star-Wars-like Johnnycam. Janel also caught a few frames of a Spanish mackerel. I finally find the boat after a bunch of messing around - and one quick peek from the surface. Sarah is impressed that we are the only divers who have found it until I confess. | |||||||||
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Dive Info: |
Fins:
Mares Avanti Quattro |
Computer:
U S Divers Matrix |
Tank:
80 ft3 Al |
BCD:
SeaQuest Spectrum 4 |
Dive Type:
BOAT |
Body of Water:
Caribbean Sea | |||
Mask:
U S Divers |
Protection:
Lycra |
Regulator:
SeaQuest Spectrum XR2 plus Oceanic Slimline octopus |
Weight:
6 lb |
Water Type:
Salt |
Video Equipment:
Sony DCR-TRV11 digital handycam in Top Dawg housing |