Dive #151 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log

Janel, Linda, and Capt. Mark Bailey enjoying another masterpiece by Jim
Videograph by Rich Torkington in Bahamas 2003

Dive Journal: We all enjoy an extended surface interval, reading, napping, filling out dive logs, and working on PADI certification studies (Johnny). Following another gourmet feast in the main salon, and trying to avoid the alcohol, we finally begin preparations for our night dive. Unfortunately, Johnny has a cranky stomach already, possibly due to Jim’s wonderful but rich fare, and so he elects to pass on this dive.

Night diving over the Mahoney is certainly fun, and our senses are heightened as usual in the blackness. There is a big school of bar jacks hovering under the two boat hulls. Shortly into the dive, we see two always gorgeous spotted reef lobsters. There are also lots of trunkfish around, and Linda spends some trying to pet them. While I’m busy scoping out a big porcupine fish, Linda and Janel spy a good-sized bluish-hued octopus, who quickly moves under cover.

We also manage to light up a reef squid in our dive lights midwater, another welcome sight. We enjoy the usual night dive activities, too, like feeding the coral polyps and playing with the bioluminescence. There seem to be sleeping parrotfish and feeding soldierfish everywhere here!

Nearing the end of the dive, we discover a greyish-yellowish cucumber, one with a starry shaped mouth. We later determine this to be a tiger tail sea cucumber.

Got to love that night diving! One of Janel’s favorite ways to dive.

The AquaCat returns to the marina at Paradise Island for the evening, and it is most pleasurable to watch the scenery pass by at night from the top deck with a cold beer in hand.