Dive #212 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log

The large wreck of the Marion.
Videograph by Rich Torkington in Bahamas 2005

Dive Journal: The afternoon dive at the Marion promises to be interesting and I’m eager to go. No one else cares for wreck dives so much, so I’m again onboard without family. I elect to dive with nitrox again since the depth is only a planned 65 feet, and will buddy with Steve and Eathan, guests from Wolfboro, NH.

This wreck site consists of a great layout of the Marion (a big barge), a big truss crane structure, and a large earth-mover-style tractor (Marion’s cargo). The barge is sitting hull down and is completely open on top. There are groups of angelfish and schoolmasters around as we explore the various holds of the barge.

I follow intern divemaster Becky into an opening beneath the hull and soon I’m in a dark space where Becky is searching with her light for eels, etc. We continue through the space and emerge on the other side of the boat – a cool swim through.

Another new fish sighting, a juvenile blackfin snapper, that makes my day. I later read that the adults live only below 200 feet! I get some good video of schoolmasters in the neat backlighting beneath the boat. We all enjoy the vast plains loaded with garden eels between the different pieces of the wreck.

Part of Marion's Cargo, an earth-mover.
Videograph by Rich Torkington in Bahamas 2005

Returning from the dive, cleaning up, and strolling back down the dock, I feel simply great. It occurs to me that the nitrox might be a factor, but I also know my everyday stresses are finally leaving me.