Dive #208 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log
© Copyright 2010 Rich Torkington Mesa, Arizona

PREVIOUS 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 HOME INDEX Next

Bottom Time to Date:

180h
7m


Dive Info:

Dive Start:
9:30AM

Bottom Time:
43 minutes

Maximum Depth:
99 feet

Safety Stop:
3 minutes

Beginning Air:
3300 psi

Ending Air:
600 psi

Weather Conditions:
Clear 75°F windy

Surface Conditions:
Choppy

Surface Water Temperature:
75°F

Bottom Water Temperature:
75°F

Visibility:
100+ feet
208
TITLE
* * *½
March 16,
2005
TOP OF THE WALL
ANDROS ISLAND, BAHAMAS
BOAT DIVE
VIDEO
Linda
Small Hope Bay Lodge
Andros Island, Bahamas
http://www.smallhope.com/
Photo
These painted bulb tunicates look like flowers.
Videograph by Rich Torkington in Bahamas 2005 
Dive Journal: This morning’s dive is scheduled at a site named simply “Top of the Wall”. This dive is at the edge of the Tongue of the Ocean, the very deep channel of water just east of Andros Island. SHBL offers specialty dives here that go much deeper if you are so inclined.

The wall consists of a double ridge that starts at about 65 feet, ramps down to 90 feet, then goes vertical into the depths. The exploring along the ridges is good, and we also keep a eye on the deep blue midwater for pelagics.

I’m drawn to several patches of a creature called a painted bulb tunicate and take some video. Near the end of the dive, Linda calls me over to examine a very cooling looking fish with a spiny dorsal fin and a sort of helmet. We later identify him as a quillfin blenny – a new fish for us!

More
Dive
Info:
Fins:
Mares Avanti Quattro
Computer:
Oceanic Véo 200
Tank:
80 ft3 Al
BCD:
SeaQuest Spectrum 4
Breathing Gas:
32% O2 Nitrox
Body of Water:
Caribbean Sea
Mask:
U S Divers
Protection:
3mm full wetsuit
Regulator:
SeaQuest
Spectrum XR2
plus Oceanic
Slimline octopus
Weight:
10 lb
Water Type:
Salt
Video Equipment:
Sony DCR-TRV11 digital handycam in Top Dawg housing