Date: 10-28-06

Location: Scripps Canyon/Sumner Branch

Time: 10:30

Dive Length: 45 mins

Viz at surface: 30 ft. +

Viz at Depth: 30 ft.

Temp: 63 F.

Max Depth: 115 ft.

Mix: 28%

Critters seen: Blacksmith, Senoritas, Yellow Sponges, Orange Sponges, Metridia,

Gorgonians, Rockfish

As always, we motored out to Scripps under gorgeous sunny skies and high hopes with Volker and dive buddy Tina and Charlie L.

Interestingly, about 9/10s of the way to the buoy [ie: with about 100 yards to go to the marker buoy], the engine made a horrible grinding/spinning sound and we had to cut it.

What do you think our first thought was?

Oh, no: engine breakdown!

Oh, no: we might not be able to get back!

Oh, no: stranded at sea with a broken engine!

Of course not! You know us better than that, right?

Our first thought was: “How can we squeeze at least one dive out of this?”

And, our second thought was: “Hey, maybe we can ‘baby’ it along to Gods Rock after this and do a second dive!”

Now that you can breath a sigh of relief, knowing our priorities were in order, I can go on go on the the dive report, right?

As it turned out, it was something with the transmission where we had to stay at 5.0 knots or below, which meant [“Yeah!”] we could not only ‘baby’ along to Scripps, but continue on slowly to Gods’ Rock for a second dive!

So, that’s what we did. We carefully puttered slowly over to the Scripps marker buoy, so as not to anger the SCUBA gods any further and dropped anchor.

Dive #1 assured!

So, it had been determined beforehand, by the drawing of lots [no, just kidding], that Barbara would go with Tina and Volker, since 2 of them had cameras, and Charlie L. and I would go in next.

So, they wasted no time in suiting up and jumping in, and 50 mins later, surfaced, sputtering and grinning…..raving about 40 ft. visibility in the canyon.

They also got some shots of a Swell shark, which was excellent news.

That was all Charlie and I needed to hear…. Suit up and jump in and be quick about it!

So, not long after, Charlie and I were making our way down the line to the bar which overlooks the crevice leading down into the canyon.

Down in the crevice, we noticed that we could see the bottom from well about 30 ft., which was a good sign.

We made our way past the snow white metridia, standing sentinel watch, into the canyon, where the bottom dropped out from under us and we were suspended in the gorgeous blue-green abyss that is Scripps.

Schools of Senoritas and Blacksmith darted and flitted about as we made our way weightlessly towards the North end of Sumner.

Looking down, from 115 ft., we could see the outcroppings jutting out far below us, studded with Brown and Red Gorgonians.

Peering into the the various nooks and crannies, we could see Treefish and Rockfish peeking out from way in the back.

Yellow and orange sponges dotted the landscape as we glided around ‘the bend’ at Fish Head.

I whipped out my trusty depthfinder and pinged the opposite wall of Sumner, which I could almost make out in the 30 ft. viz: 40 ft. away.

We had discussed possibly ‘jumping the gap,’ but we were enjoying ourselves to much on this side of the canyon, we elected not to.

After a goodly swim of about 15 mins., I gave Charlies the turn around signal and we began heading back, this time, gliding upwards slighting in elevation until we came to around 85 ft., looking down below us, we could see the Grand Canyon-like formations far below; flipping over on my back as I like to do at Scripps, I could watch my bubbles mushrooming far above me, racing to the surface.

More schools of unidentified fish darted past us and headed upwards and we could see rays of sunlight streaming down into the the canyon far below.

What bliss…what ecstasy! We had ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ once again and were gliding through the deep!

Finally, after passing a few more outcroppings, we came to the one we had emerged from and it was time to head up again.

We did our deep stops and safety stops and came up right under the boat, which we could see from 20 ft. down, by the way, grinning happily into our regs: another successful venture into the deep behind us.

Dive #2

Location: God’s Rock

Time: 2 pm

Max Depth: 75 ft.

Mix: 28%

Viz: 20 ft.

Dive Length: 50 mins

Critters seen: Sheephead, male and female, Blacksmith, Senoritas, numerous unidentified juvenile fish everywhere, Black Sea Urchins, Purple Sea Urchins, Yellow Sponge, Orange Sponge, Puffball Sponge, Hermessindas, Brown and Red Gorgonians, Lincod, Rockfish….I’m sure I’m forgetting something.

After our spectacular dive on Scripps and a leisurely surface interval and early lunch, it was time to nurse the boat over to God’s Rock and the second dive.

She did quite well, as long as we didn’t go over 5 knots. Finally, after about a 30 minute trip of slow puttering, we arrived at the site and dropped anchor.

Once again, Barbara teamed up with Tina and Volker and jumped in first, while Charlie and I pulled out folding deck chairs and kicked back on deck, sipping sodas and chatting about Tech diving.

The threesome were soon back on board, raving about the amount of sea life awaiting us down below, so Charlie and I wasted no time suiting up and jumping in.

As promised, lots of marine life was awaiting us, down below.

Jutting up from the sandy bottom were numerous large rock outcroppings, all of which were simply covered in life.

Large schools of Senoritas and Blacksmith were flitting about everywhere, numerous male Sheephead patrolling about with their harems of females following not far behind.

The rocks were just covered in life: Black Sea Urchins, Purple Sea Urchins, Yellow Sponge, Orange Sponge, Puffball Sponge, Hermessindas, Gorgonians……

We spent most of our dive doing a lazy circle around the large rocky outcroppings which were surrounded by a sandy bottom at about 80 ft.

Peering under the overhangs, we could see Treefish, Rockfish, hiding among the Black and Purple Sea Urchins, peering back at us.

Heading Southward a bit, we came to another smaller rocky outcropping, where I spotted a 2 ½ Lincod wending his way among the rocks, so we spent some time following him, until he tired of our presence and darted off.

50 mins was gone before we knew it and it was time to begin heading up.

But, not before I added some air to the 100 lb. Airbag that Barbara had attached to your anchor and we watched it rise steadily upward until it reached the end of its tether, levitating the anchor slightly, making it easier to pull up.

We swam under the boat and turned on our backs to do our safety stops and we could see Tina, Volker and Barbara on the boat, through the ripply surface from 20 ft. down.

What a day!

After climbing back on board and stowing our gear, we heard that Barbara and initially contacted Vessel Assist [the AAA of the Sea] to see if they could tow us back, but they said that if they towed us, it would be a only 3 knots and we already knew that we could make 5, so it was decided all around that we would just putter back under our own steam and have a nice leisurely ride home, chatting and snacking and reviewing the events of the daywhich is exactly what we did!

At around 5:30 pm , we glided back into the dock, safe and sound and everyone went their separate ways, satisfied that, despite mechanical problems, everyone had had an excellent day of diving.