Dive #245 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log
© Copyright 2010 Rich Torkington Mesa, Arizona

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Bottom Time to Date:

213h
41m


Dive Info:

Dive Start:
1:30PM

Bottom Time:
58 minutes

Maximum Depth:
77 feet

Safety Stop:
3 minutes

Beginning Air:
3000 psi

Ending Air:
900 psi

Weather Conditions:
Sunny 85°F

Surface Conditions:
Calm

Surface Water Temperature:
80°F

Bottom Water Temperature:
80°F

Visibility:
60+ feet

Gas:
Air
245
TITLE
* * * *
July 15,
2006
NORTH STAR
ST. CROIX, U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
SHORE DIVE
 
Linda (buddy)
2Dive4 St Croix Villa
http://www.2dive4.net/
Tubes
This blazing scrawled filefish was defending a nest, we think.
Videocap by Rich Torkington in the USVIs 2006 

Dive Journal: We all do another late morning at the house, and Linda and I study the notebooks around the house that describe nearby shore dives. We finally decide to give one a try called North Star. The site is located west of Cane Bay, but the entry looks OK with only mild surf over some rocks and rubble.

We take a 330° heading on a surface swim to an offshore buoy, then swim further 6 to 9 minutes due west with the depth around 35 feet. Finally we submerge and head a bit further north, following the wall downward to about 65 feet.

We are nicely rewarded with a near vertical wall as we turn back east at depth. We come across a hollowed out cavern in the side of the wall and take a look. There is a huge green moray eel perched on the floor, sitting fully exposed, covered with gobies. We are very careful not to disturb him and I get some dark video, lit mostly by our small day dive lights.

We then see an unusual type of lobster huddled up in crevices near the top of the cavern and go closer to inspect. They are red banded lobsters, this is the first time I’ve ever seen them. Paul Human writes that these guys are both uncommon and wary.

We continue to explore the reef east of the cave for another 15 to 20 minutes, finally vectoring back on a heading around 160 to 180° to make it back to the parked car. In one shallower reef area, we come across a vibrant scrawled filefish with brilliant blue streaks. We decide that he is guarding a nearby nest, for he clearly is trying to intimidate us away.

Added to all this, we spot a fleeing turtle at the very end of the dive. Great dive!
More
Dive
Info:
Fins:
Mares Avanti Quattro
Computer:
U S Divers Matrix
Tank:
80 ft3 Aluminum
BCD:
SeaQuest Spectrum 4
Dive Type:
Shore
Body of Water:
Caribbean
Mask:
U S Divers
Protection:
3mm shorty
Regulator:
SeaQuest
Spectrum XR2
plus Oceanic
Slimline octopus
Weight:
8 lb
Water Type:
Salt
Video Equipment:
Sony DCR-TRV227 digital handycam in Top Dawg housing