It's late for me so I apologize for any spelling errors in advance.
nwscubamom wrote:Today the buoy at (east) Flagpole (aka The Knuckle) went in. I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand I'm elated that there will be a marker there (I've dove it both by shore and by boat several times and MISSED it) so the mooring buoy will be a great way to get people onto the site accurately. The buoy will also make it diveable more often - sometimes currents and wind are such that it's tough to get there.
ON THE FLIP side - it's a very special site - with beautiful aggregations of Cloud Sponge - which, as you know, is extremely delicate and slow growing - a careless kick of a fin, or wave of a hand could destroy what has taken years to form.
So....yay I hope! Hopefully those diving it (it's an advanced dive in the first place and no place for noobs) will respect the delicate nature of this site.
I am with ya on this one, mixed feelings that is. This can't be said enough and you will hear it and continue to hear it from anyone who has dove the site;
"Please pay attention to your buoyancy especially around the Cloud Sponge". 
That said, the buoy is in and set in approximately 60ft of water at the low so I would expect 65 to 70 at an extreme high. It's on the eastern end of the knuckle just before the deep drop off. This will allow divers to explore the deep part of the structure then either ascend back up the buoy or to extend the dive, navigate on a compass heading of 300 degrees magnetic which will take you to the shallowest part of the sturcture and if you continue on that heading to the shallow reef (across the mud flats) in approximately 35ft of water.
Sorry Janna but Don
forgot to take the nome so I took a shot of him on the boat after we were done. There's a story here so don't forget to ask next time you talk to him.
The buoy still high and dry. The sponser names are engraved on the red plackards. I forget who the sponser of this one is so whoever you are Thank You!
Don totally out of his element, riding in someone elses boat.
Jim working on the buoy anchor. You would think the sound would have scared the critters but as I looked around while it was happening, they just kept on doing whatever they were doing.
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueLLLPZYLVs[/youtube]
What's this? Down Time arrives on scene. There's another story here, you will have to ask Don.
Thanks Don for the fun day! :occasion5:
-Mark
:smt038 :smt038
