Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
I don't usually write dive reports (maybe 1 in 50 dives), but today warrants one. Not for a rare find, epic conditions, or an extraordinary experience, but because of how awesome a dive can be with the right team. The right training, experience, gear, and buddy can take what seems like a so-so dive, or one that could "go bad," and makes it an epic dive I tell my family about.
Today I dove DIW with Kathryn, Lynne, Peter, Kam, Nils, and Greg... vis sucked, current was "ok" but did pick up in areas, and generally conditions were "less than stellar." Kathryn and I teamed up, and after a head-to-tow and bubble check, we were headed for the wall... 90 seconds later, we had arrived (scooters are proof that God loves us). The following 80 minutes would prove nothing but extraordinary.
Despite the awful vis, the current, and the cold water, the dive was one of the best I've ever had at DIW. Well over a dozen GPOs and well over a dozen wolfeels later (I stopped counting on both), we had covered the entire south wall all the way out to the "amphitheater" and the entire north wall all the way out to the "crags," and were back in the middle of the wall. We only left because I had to get to a 3 year old's birthday party in Bellevue. Otherwise, we'd likely have stayed another hour - neither of us were even remotely cold, and we both had more than half our usable gas left. I suppose adrenaline and excitement from an epic dive will keep you warm.
What made this dive so great? The critters and the ability to see the "whole site" on one dive thanks to the scooters. What allowed us to scooter so effectively, stay together, and SEE all the critters that made the dive so great... our training, experience, gear (especially can-lights), and buddy awareness. These factors took what could have been a marginal dive at best, and made it wonderful. They had a direct result on how far we could explore (I swear we must have been half-way to Titlow at one point), how many critters we found, and how comfortable we were throughout the dive despite the conditions.
So in sum, I love being a team-diver. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me... the relaxation that comes with utter confidence and comfort in your buddy is irreplaceable by anything else. Today could have been marginal, but instead it was one for the record books. Thank you to Kathryn for being my Apex-Buddy today... she was the difference that made the early wake-up and long drive all worth it.
Today I dove DIW with Kathryn, Lynne, Peter, Kam, Nils, and Greg... vis sucked, current was "ok" but did pick up in areas, and generally conditions were "less than stellar." Kathryn and I teamed up, and after a head-to-tow and bubble check, we were headed for the wall... 90 seconds later, we had arrived (scooters are proof that God loves us). The following 80 minutes would prove nothing but extraordinary.
Despite the awful vis, the current, and the cold water, the dive was one of the best I've ever had at DIW. Well over a dozen GPOs and well over a dozen wolfeels later (I stopped counting on both), we had covered the entire south wall all the way out to the "amphitheater" and the entire north wall all the way out to the "crags," and were back in the middle of the wall. We only left because I had to get to a 3 year old's birthday party in Bellevue. Otherwise, we'd likely have stayed another hour - neither of us were even remotely cold, and we both had more than half our usable gas left. I suppose adrenaline and excitement from an epic dive will keep you warm.
What made this dive so great? The critters and the ability to see the "whole site" on one dive thanks to the scooters. What allowed us to scooter so effectively, stay together, and SEE all the critters that made the dive so great... our training, experience, gear (especially can-lights), and buddy awareness. These factors took what could have been a marginal dive at best, and made it wonderful. They had a direct result on how far we could explore (I swear we must have been half-way to Titlow at one point), how many critters we found, and how comfortable we were throughout the dive despite the conditions.
So in sum, I love being a team-diver. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me... the relaxation that comes with utter confidence and comfort in your buddy is irreplaceable by anything else. Today could have been marginal, but instead it was one for the record books. Thank you to Kathryn for being my Apex-Buddy today... she was the difference that made the early wake-up and long drive all worth it.
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right?Sounder wrote:So in sum, I love being a team-diver. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me...
sounds like a great dive, though. certainly was a beautiful day for it.
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Freebasing the is just SO much more effective than the old "mix & drink" methods.spatman wrote:you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right?Sounder wrote:So in sum, I love being a team-diver. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me...
sounds like a great dive, though. certainly was a beautiful day for it.
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!
- Joshua Smith
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 10250
- Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:32 pm
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
I, uh.......I like diving, too. Gotta run- tongue is bleeding.
Maritime Documentation Society
"To venture into the terrible loneliness, one must have something greater than greed. Love. One needs love for life, for intrigue, for mystery."
"To venture into the terrible loneliness, one must have something greater than greed. Love. One needs love for life, for intrigue, for mystery."
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Josh made a funny.Joshua Smith wrote:I, uh.......I like diving, too. Gotta run- tongue is bleeding.
Fishstiq wrote:
To clarify.........
I cannot stress enough that this is MY PROBLEM.
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Thanks for the new sig line!spatman wrote:you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right?Sounder wrote:So in sum, I love being a team-diver. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me...
sounds like a great dive, though. certainly was a beautiful day for it.
"Screw "annual" service,... I get them serviced when they break." - CaptnJack (paraphrased)
"you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right? " - Spatman
"you do realize you're supposed to mix the with water and drink it, not snort the powder directly from the packet, right? " - Spatman
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Good tools, good training, and the equanimity that comes with a great deal of experience -- yeah, that's the recipe for a great dive. And Josh doesn't need to bite his tongue, because he's got those things, too
I didn't think the viz was that bad -- it was just Puget Soundish. But scooters DO raise the requirement for situational awareness AND for the careful execution of separation protocols. Peter and I had a brief buddy separation (scooter-induced) that we fixed quickly by using our heads . . . AND our can lights.
I really like diving with a buddy who a) is paying attention and b) has keeping us together as a high priority. It just makes diving more fun.
I didn't think the viz was that bad -- it was just Puget Soundish. But scooters DO raise the requirement for situational awareness AND for the careful execution of separation protocols. Peter and I had a brief buddy separation (scooter-induced) that we fixed quickly by using our heads . . . AND our can lights.
I really like diving with a buddy who a) is paying attention and b) has keeping us together as a high priority. It just makes diving more fun.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Could be worse, at least your nose isn't brown.Joshua Smith wrote:I, uh.......I like diving, too. Gotta run- tongue is bleeding.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Here is a link to a few photos of the Wolfies and Octos on the dive.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sha ... s-_-Sharer
Thanks for the dive, Doug!
Kathryn
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sha ... s-_-Sharer
Thanks for the dive, Doug!
Kathryn
- Joshua Smith
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 10250
- Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:32 pm
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
The Wolfies and Octos didn't look very relaxed. And they seemed to be hardly aware of their buddies. Some of them even looked like they might be solo. Nice pictures, though!
Maritime Documentation Society
"To venture into the terrible loneliness, one must have something greater than greed. Love. One needs love for life, for intrigue, for mystery."
"To venture into the terrible loneliness, one must have something greater than greed. Love. One needs love for life, for intrigue, for mystery."
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
They do seem to like those dive computers . . . though I'm not sure the bungie is long enough.Joshua Smith wrote:The Wolfies and Octos didn't look very relaxed. And they seemed to be hardly aware of their buddies. Some of them even looked like they might be solo. Nice pictures, though!
Kelly
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
It's a very sad thing, but some wolf eels are solo. Brian and Jeanna are planning a "wolf eel special" on Essentials; we'll round them up and get them trained in no time.
The GPOs are incorrigible. There's nothing for it but to buy them rebreathers and let them have at it.
The GPOs are incorrigible. There's nothing for it but to buy them rebreathers and let them have at it.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: Dive report: DIW, a testiment to team-diving.
Pictures, or it didn't happen!!
Do Team Divers Take Pictures?
Is there a specific camera configuration?
Do Team Divers Take Pictures?
Is there a specific camera configuration?
Hi, my name is Keith, and I'm a Dive Addict!