Dive #218 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log

Low visibility and cold waters on this dive
Videograph by Rich Torkington in Mexico 2005

Dive Journal: Following our surface interval, we arrive at another site I dove back in 1997 (see dive #7). As we enter the water, however, the view is greenish and the visibility is greatly reduced. There is a medium strong current here today as well.

We pass through a thermocline and the temps dive into the 60s, but at least the visiblity gets better. Linda and Janel immediately signal that they are through with this dive, and start their ascent back to the boat.

Daniella and I pair up underwater and we enjoy a drift down along the reef, hunkering down behind structures, then flying back into the current for another ride downstream. There are lots of fish schools, especially snappers.

We stop behind a small structure and we discover that we’ve lost sight of Bob in the currents. Daniella decides she better go try to locate him, and so she leaves his dive buddy Dorothy with me and indicates that we should wait while she finds Bob. Dorothy and I wait patiently for at least 15 minutes in the one spot, which of course feels like an eternity.

Eventually approaching low air conditions, we shrug, point to our gauges, and decide to swim around exploring using our remaining air. We surface a few minutes later to find Bob and Daniella about 1/3 mile downstream already on the surface.

Saw some HUGE fish on this dive, 5 foot long groupers and mondo dog snappers. Too bad we didn’t explore a bit more.