j3rmzh wrote:
I am interested in checking out the I-beams out at cove-2 but all I have right now are single aluminum 80's
In general, I think the 60-100fsw dives off Cove 2 are a fantastic training ground for dives all over the Puget Sound. They should not be attempted without the right training, the right gear, and the right planning.
I assume you have an Advanced Open Water certification. Since you've done 40+ dives, I'd say you're likely reasonably experienced with the basic process of diving safely. You're certainly experienced enough to be talking about diving to the I-Beams.
The beauty of the Cove 2 diving environment is the slope. Unlike a lot of "deeper" dives, you're not going to be jumping off into an abyss and dropping to max depth (for example, a standard boat dive at KVI towers...) Instead, you're going to be descending a very stable, easy to navigate slope. Depending on where you dive, that slope may have a lot of landmarks or be a featureless plane of dirt (although after you dive it often you start to recognize landmarks even in the dirt!) If you become uncomfortable, you've got an easy, visual reference to help get to safe depth - just swim up the slope.
The slope itself is a nearly ideal ascent profile as well. If you proceed up the slope at a reasonable, slow swimming rate, you'll usually stay well below 30ft/second.
There are also lots of incremental milestones to use. You don't have to just jump in and swim down to the I-Beams, but you can take several interim steps over several dives to gain confidence.
Here's my advice: Dive down the boundary line from Cove 2 to start. It is well marked, and because parts are elevated with floats, you can usually find it even when there's lots of seaweed.
REMEMBER: Stay on the south side of the line, out of the Ferry zone. Swimming down the slope you should always have the line on your
left side.
You will find many interesting features along the line down the slope - concrete blocks, metal debris, and logs.
Do a dive down to 60fsw to reconnoiter the line & get familiar with the process of descending and ascending in Cove 2. There may be other divers, some with really bright lights, and scooters. There may be seals. There may be a lot of algae/dirt/crud in the water that reduces visibility. There may be jellyfish (and some are real stingers!) Cove 2 is a busy, busy place to dive. Be sure you can ID your buddy, and your buddy can ID you, even under some tough visibility conditions.
On your next trip, go perhaps down to 80fsw. Monitor your consumption rates. Get used to how dark it is down there - be sure you bring good lights. Make slow, safe ascents. Make sure you do safety stops; 3 minutes at 15fsw minimum, or something even more conservative (I like to do 1 minute stops every 5 feet from 30 feet on up).
On your third trip, go down to the 80+ fsw areas. Don't go deeper than you AND your buddy are comfortable diving. Make sure you make slow, safe ascents! After you've done this kind of a dive, take stock. Were you OK? (It is more than alright to be frightened/uncomfortable. It is an unnatural place to be, under unnatural conditions. It takes
A LOT of getting used to. But fear is manageable. If you were feeling panicky, or did panic, felt vertigo, claustrophobia, or just "fear of the deep" that made you very unhappy, you probably need to do these starter dives several more times (or you need to decide diving this deep in Puget Sound isn't for you, which is a completely reasonable reaction.)
If you're feeling comfortable, and your buddy is feeling comfortable, you're probably ready to take your first trip to the I-Beams. Ideally, go with a guide, someone who knows how to get there. It's not complicated, but there is a bit of navigation required.
Also, just know that diving below 60fsw means short dives. You're not going to be setting any duration records, especially not with AL80s. These are really going to be "take a look, come home" dives.
BEFORE YOU DO THESE DIVES, get some advice about gas planning. You need to understand how to make a safe gas plan. GD's course is ideal. At the bare minimum, spend some time reading about "Rock Bottom". Divers have died on the boundary line. It is a safe dive, when done safely, but those depths are no kidding serious and you owe it to yourself, and your buddy, to understand what kind of gas you need to be carrying to dive this safely.
I was at about 40 dives when I realized my training had been inadequate to provide a safety margin I was comfortable with, and that my buoyancy & trim skills needed a lot of work. Diving the I-Beams may raise some of those issues with you and your buddy as well. Just know that there are people who dive the Puget Sound regularly who are willing & able to help get you past that point, if you ask. We all want more safe diving friends, and nobody wants to read about sad stories at Alki.
RyanD