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Diving Deep Week

What an amazing week.  Friday last week started out as our first Tec Dive without an instructor…which worked into a Saturday with charter dives out at the Abyss as well as the Chaudiere.  Sunday night was nite dive night….Monday was outstanding with a boat full of customers, students and instructors.  Out into the Inlet we went once again.  Tuesday was another excellent day out diving.  On Wednesday, we had a bit of a self imposed break….Thursday turned out to be dive 8 of Tec Deep. 

Today, was easily one of my best days diving.  Thanks to Tony, once again, Tec Deep 9 and 10 went off without a hitch.  We planned a two back to back deco dives off the Atria Star.  We were carrying double 80′s on our back, 50% Nitrox on our left side, and 40cuft of 100% O2 on our right side.  Dive one today, had us staging the O2 at 20 feet, and then the 50% down at 70 feet.  We descended past the guns, down below the Port side, as the Chaudiere so on her Port side…down at about 143ft, we ran into a SPA 25 Radar display, which now a days would normally be seen in a museum.  Tony took me on an outstanding penetration which had us travel through the upper cabin flats to the wardroom, where we excited the ship back on the quarter deck. 

Dive two, we kept our stage decompression cylinders with us, and headed once again down under the ship to the ocean floor…where today, there was a large number of prawns.  We headed out from the bow, where we ran into a ridge of rocks on the ocean floor….very interesting dive.  Peaceful…but fun!  Another excellent week spent diving with Canada Dive College and Suncoast Diving!! Thanks again to Tony!    

 

 

 

Deep Dive Tuwanek

After a nice quiet week, one which saw me retire from 20 years in the Navy, it seemed only right to finish the week off with a Deep Dive.  So, who should it be done with….that’s right Crazy Lew…a retired Army guy of all things….lol.  Plans were made and re-made to ensure everything was set…and this being our first Tec dive without Tony our instructor being present….and all the decisions being made on our own….tensions were a little high. 

We hit the water with 28% in the our doubles, and 58% in the deco bottles…and the plan was for 25 minutes at 140. As we descended, we were quick to realize the plankton bloom was out in force.  Visibility is about 2 feet in the first 35 feet or so, but once we were under it, around 40 feet, the visibility opened right up to around 30 – 50 feet but it was dark!  Temp at depth is up to 48 and the surface temp is around 46 degrees so things they be a changing!!!  

Overall it was a great dive….thanks to Lew, and thanks to Tony…for helping us to learn how to safely Tec dive!!!  Trimix is just around the corner!!!  Interested in Tec diving….be sure to stop by Canada Dive College….April is just around the corner…when CDC does their month of Tec Diving!!! 

 

HMCS Chaudiere Tec Deep Dive 5

After yesterday’s dive which was full of skills, Jared, Kit, Tony and Ken headed out to the Chaudiere, along with three divers from Vancouver, Keith, Jessica, and hmm not sure of diver three.  Never the less, we all ended out on the Atria Star, for another amazing dive.

The group from Vancouver suited up and entered first.  Then the group from CDC hit the water at about 11:03.  Our dive plan was to stage our decompression cylinder, then do a bit of a swim through.  On completion of that part of the dive, Jared had to do the No Mask S drill swim, as well the hard swim SAC, and we did V Drills at our 40 foot hang.

Our dive schedule was set as a hang at 50, 40, 30, 20, and 15 feet.  Overall the time worked out to 55 minutes!!

Another great dive, thank you to Tony and CDC.

 

Pool Training at Pender Pool

CDC and Suncoast Diving headed out today for a great afternoon work out at the Pender Pool.  CDC had three students working on confined water skills for their Tec Deep course, while Suncoast Diving had three students, one for Open water and two conducting their Discover Scuba Diving dives.

The Tec Deep guys, were in their twin 80 cuft’s, with two stage decompression bottles.  There main objective was to work through the various skills required to be successful with Tec Deep.  We practiced, S drills, V drills, as well as donning and doffing our deco cylinders, with and without masks.  We even were able to practice popping our lift bags.  The day turned out being an excellent adventure in training.

While we were in the deep end, Rob of Suncoast Diving was working with his three students, and as things turned out one signed up for the up coming CDC Professional Scuba Instructor course that starts up this April!

Another excellent day of training!!

Agamemnon Channel Wall Dive

CDC was off doing the diving thing again!! Though I must say, I was a little tired and distracted about the idea of getting into the water…as I had thought of how nice it would be to go on a nice trip bringing the Atria Star from Pender Harbour back around to the Sechelt Inlet.  Tony had his boat up to Pender Harbour for a survey. Needless to say, the boys wanted to hit the water…so away we went!!! I have to admit, I am so happy I went….as it was truly one of the nicest dives I have had in a while!  Wow, it was amazing!!!  Max depth was set for 130 feet…certainly not deep when thinking of a Tec dive…but at the maximum depth for recreational diving.  

The life was amazing…the sponges we found there were amazing.  If you ever get the opportunity to make it this dive…do not pass it up!!  Once again….thanks to Tony and Canada Dive College for another fantastic trip!