Dive #271 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log
© Copyright 2012 Rich Torkington Mesa, Arizona

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Bottom Time to Date:

238h
4m


Dive Info:

Dive Start:
11:00 AM

Bottom Time:
30 minutes

Maximum Depth:
60 feet

Safety Stop:
3 minutes

Beginning Air:
3000 psi

Ending Air:
1900 psi

Weather Conditions:
Sunny 84°F

Surface Conditions:
Smooth

Surface Water Temperature:
81°F

Bottom Water Temperature:
81°F

Visibility:
50-75 feet

Gas:
Air
271
TITLE
* * * ½
October 23,
2012
BOMBA'S
HOLETOWN, BARBADOS
BOAT DIVE, Westside Scuba
 
Linda, other divers on boat
West Side Scuba Centre
westsidescuba.com
Barbados
West Side Scuba Centre diveboat
Photo by Rich in Barbados 2012 
Barbados
Creole wrasse cleaning station
Photo by Rich in Barbados 2012 
Barbados
Smooth trunkfish posturing
Photo by Rich in Barbados 2012 
Barbados
Yellow tube sponges
Photo by Rich in Barbados 2012 
Barbados
Gold spotted eel
Photo by Rich in Barbados 2012 
Dive Journal: After our last dive, we climbed aboard and the boat took us back onshore to pick up the 2 Discover Scuba students, who had been doing skills in the shallows. Time for our second dive!

This one again took only a very short drive offshore and is located just a bit south of Church's Point. It is a little bit different in character, a sloping wall reef. We descended no further than 60' although it was possible to go deeper. But the best sights were in the shallower waters, exposed to more sunlight.

Early on I spied a Creole wrasse cleaning station. Dozens of Creole wrasses were hovering about, and would dive down in a line toward one boulder, then pause midwater pointing downward. Small yellow striped cleaner fish would rapidly emerge from the boulder surface and jump onto each wrasse, picking off parasites. The wrasse would eventually swim off and be replaced by another in a long chain. Very interesting to observe.

In another boulder I zoned in on a gold spotted eel, and hovered to take photos. We were entertained by a small Southern Stingray and 2 small turtles. Nearing the dive end, I spied what at first I thought was a pipefish hiding in a gorgonian. Later I discovered that it just a (much more common) trumpetfish, but a very young one.

Our dive was cut short for a strange reason. The divemasters had not brought enough tanks for everyone, so the divemaster had resorted to diving on a used one. Despite his efforts at conserving air, he ran out after about 30 minutes, and so we reluctantly followed him to the surface. We're not ones to complain, but it occurs to me that one spends an awful lot of money to get into a position to dive, and mistakes like this one are, well, lame.

We actually liked this site better than the last one. Overall, these first two Bajan dives were just lovely. Lunch at Sea Cats afterwards.

Check out the rest of this day on Barbados, and if you want, read further about the whole trip.



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Dive
Info:
Fins:
Tusa Xpert Zoom Splitfin
Computer:
None
Tank:
80 ft3 Aluminum
BCD:
Rented
Dive Type:
BOAT, West Side Scuba Centre
Body of Water:
Carribean Sea
Mask:
Tusa Visio Tri-Ex
Protection:
3mm Oneill full
Regulator:Rented
Weight:
10 lb
Water Type:
Salt
Video Equipment:
PowerShot S95 in housing