Date: 9/29/07

Time: Noon

Dive Length: 45 mins

Viz at Depth: 12-15 ft.

Temp: 54 F

Max Depth: 100 ft.

Mix: 36%

Critters Seen: Blacksmith, Senoritas, Painted Greenlings, CA Sea Cucumbers, White and Medtridia Senile

Motored out under lead-grey skies with ‘Iron Man’ Charlie and Josh to the Yukon. Josh hadn’t been out with us since the last time we did a night dive on the Yukon, so he was looking forward to it.

Since Barb and I have a busy day of science diving with Reef Check tomorrow and didn’t want to be all wiped out and nitrogen-laded, we opted to do only one dive and let Charlie and Josh go in first.

They suited up and jumped in and did a complete tour through the Yukon via Burma Road and came back reporting favorable conditions and that was all we needed to hear; we were soon in the water, VW, er…..video camera in tow.

Barb was tasked with getting some footage of the Starboard side of the ship swimming from bow to stern, so the plan was for her to swim along the Starboard side, filming, while I followed behind, but slightly below her.

This time, however, I did something I’ve never done before: I followed behind from the hull side of the ship, rather than the superstructure side, which proved quite interesting.

Dipping down to around 90 ft., I quickly found myself on the other side of the growing mini-kelp forest growing on the bow end of the Starboard side.
Huge fronds of macrocystis up to 15 ft. high waved gently in the current, as schools of Blacksmith and Senoritas flitted in and out between them. It was truly a beautiful site. 7 years ago, when we helped sink the Yukon, who would have believed that this mini-kelp forest would have sprung up like this?

I could see Barb’s Night Rider camera lights twinkling through the kelp as I swam below it along the whitish hull below.

Looking down into a cutout I hadn’t seen in a while, I noted it was a large room filled with what appeared to be row after tow of ammunition tubes, designed to hold large caliber artillery rounds, perhaps for the Forward and Rear guns. I briefly debated dipping down into it, but didn’t want to lose Barb, so thought better of it and resumed my trek along the hull.

Slowly ascending upward to the Starboard structure, I wended my way between the Macrocystis fronds, until I caught up with Barb, merrily filming her way towards the Mortar Bay area.

I found myself over the gorgeous snow-white carpet of Medtridium Senile which covers Milt’s Tilt and lingered here for a while, before moving on.

Finally, we both arrived at the Mortar Bay and The Director bade me go up into and through the cutout in the top of the Mortar Bay and come sailing out the Starboard side, which, of course, being the underwater trained rat that I am, I was more that happy to do.

On the video you can see me happily cruising through the cut out on top, macrocystis on either side waving in the current, until my tank goes ‘CLANG!’ against the lip of the cut out, as the current gently pushed me against the ship, and in the process, reminding me who’s really boss down there.

Viz was beginning to drop a bit, so we decided to begin heading back towards the bow.

We made our way back down past Rear Guns, glowing bright pink and white with Strawberry Anemones and White Metridia and on towards the Capt’s Bridge and the Forward Guns. Here we played around for while before heading once again towards the bow.

At the bow, Barb decided to get some Macro shots of a couple Hermessindas and I was able to spot a cute little San Diego Dorid for her to film, before it was time to begin reluctantly heading towards the surface.

On our way up, we passed through something we have encountered before and aptly, but not very appetizingly named the ‘Sea of Snot.’

We are not really sure what it is, except that it looks like a layer of greenish-white boogers just hanging suspended in the water, at about safety stop level.

We’ve hypothesized that it may be some type of fish spawn or sperm, but we’ve never been able to pin any experts down on it.

Here is a link to some of the video captures we took and you can see for yourself. Remember that although it’s Hi Def, video captures are never as good as their digital still counterparts. Also, feel free to pipe up or email me if you think you know what the ’sea snot’ is.

http://picasaweb.google.com/scubapro.bear/Yukon0929

So, of course, upon surfacing next to the Scuba Do, I couldn’t resist saying, “Help: I’m covered in fish sperm, rinse me me off, quick!” which got a chuckle out of our deck crew.

Josh and Charlie went on to make a second dive, and then we headed back to the dock, everyone happy at having had a satisfying day on Lady Yuke.

Tomorrow is a ‘working day’ with Reef Check……better get to bed soon!

Dive safe, everyone……

Although we do not have the problem with Great Whites [knock on wood] that they do up in the Monterey Bay are, I thought it was interesting the Protocol for Diving in an Area Where Sharks Have Been Seen, as developed for UC Santa Cruz Science Divers.

Note: all science diving had been suspended by local marine research stations, the week we were in Monterey, Sept. 4-7 this year, due to 3 Great White sightings in the area, plus a GW attack on a surfer. The ban on local research diving has since been lifted.

SHARK ACTIVITY PROTOCOL:

All dive plans must be pre-approved by the DSO [Diving Safety Officer] prior to departure – this can be done by email or verbally. You will need to provide days and location of operations, members of team, shore contact and planned operations.

All divers, boat operators and shore contacts need to be made aware of the inherent hazards associated with the operation during times of shark activity and be especially attentive to surroundings during the operations. Shore contacts need to be able to be contacted at anytime during the hours of operations, no exceptions. All vessels need to have at least two means of communicating with the shore contact.

All boat operations need to have a person on the boat at all times that can render immediate aid (bringing an injured diver into the boat and providing first aid) and be able operate all aspects of the vessel. An efficient method of coming aboard the vessel in an emergency needs to be discussed prior to departure. A first aid kit needs to be aboard the vessel. Diver recall strategies also need to be discussed.

Surface swimming should be minimized, know compass headings back to the anchor line and as a backup, to shore. If the situation dictates a direct ascent to the surface, do not make a safety stop but do ascend as slow as you can but as fast as you need to with your buddy. Be prepared to enter the vessel as quickly as possible, ditching BC and weight belt if necessary.

Buddy teams need to stay within touching distance at all times, especially on the surface. This “safety in numbers” statistically proves to be effective when reviewing shark attacks on SCUBA divers.

Upon arrival at your work site, if there is evidence of shark activity you must cancel the dive and notify your shore contact and DSP office of your findings ASAP.

Each diver needs to assess the risk of each dive and make their own decision as to their ability to safely complete the assigned dive. Any diver may refuse to make a dive, even if their decision will lead to the cancellation of the day’s activities.

Divers swimming through the water column from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ should have at least one “safety sausage” for each buddy team. If you cannot continue your swim due to a shark sighting, deploy the float to let the boat driver know you need to be picked up. Do not ascenduntil the boat is overhead and you deem it safe to do so.

Boat anchoring systems should be set-up so that in an emergency the entire anchor rode can be thrown overboard or the anchor line can be cut very quickly so as not to delay a response to an emergency.

All anchoring should be done well within a kelp bed and not out in open water.
A signalling protocol should be established so that divers know if the boat is dealing with an emergency and what they should do – come back to the boat underwater if it is safe or stay where you are and deploy your float, the boat is coming to pick you up.

Date: 9/22/07

Location: Yukon, Wreck Alley

Time: 11-ish

Dive Length: 45 mins

Max Depth: 100 ft.

Surface Conditions: 1-3 ft. wind waves, occasional white cap

Viz at Depth: 30 ft. +

Temp at Depth: 55 F.

Currents: at surface only

Mix: 32%

Critters: Numerous large schools of Blacksmith, Senoritas, CA Sea Cucumbers, Strawberry Anemones, Large White and Metridium Senile, Painted Greenlings

OK: did we actually know there would be 30 ft. viz on the Yukon today? Of course not.

All we knew was the end of the world had been predicted ['worst storm in 20 years'] and we were a bit leery about taking the boat out at all.

But, then, this morning, we checked the NOAA forecasts and the local camzones and the worst we could see was the possibility of rain/drizzle and 10-15 knot winds. Not great, but not a deal breaker either.

So, with some trepidation, we met up with NOAA Jim and UK Simon at the dock [it was drizzling when we arrived] and started unloading, remarking with some bravado: “It’ll take more than a little rain to stop us from going out!” and hoping we wouldn’t live to regret it–or, not live to regret it, as the case may be.

Actually, the breakwater at the end of the marina had been pretty much flat, which was really the deciding factor in our decision to go out: had we seen a lot of whitewater there, we would most likely have canceled–but, it looked fine, so it was a GO.

Leaving the marina, there weren’t a whole lot of boats out, [read: there were NO other boats out], but the ocean was pretty calm on the ride out, considering the dire conditions which had been predicted. There were 2-3 ft. wind waves, but that was about it.

Upon arrival at the Yukon, the wind picked up a bit, causing 3-4 ft. wind waves, with the occasional white cap visible far out, causing our little boat to rock ‘n’ roll a bit in the swell, but otherwise, it was uneventful.

A bigger charter dive boat was in the water on one of the moorings, rolling up and down in the swells. They picked up their remaining divers, then left the scene, leaving us with the Yukon to ourselves.

We were anxious to get in the water, so we told Simon and Jim to start suiting up, so, they could go into the water first.

That’s when we heard the awful sound of a dry suit seal tearing, as Jim’s neck seal literally came off in his hand. It was a classic
“Oh, S***!” moment.

We couldn’t allow him to come all the way out here and NOT dive with us, so, I did the only right thing: I offered to let him use my dry suit for the first dive, and then we’d switch off after he surfaced. This way, he and Simon could report on conditions for us.

After raising him up from bended knees in gratitude, we got him and Simon into the water, and they came back up after about 40 minutes sputtering in amazement at the 30 ft. + visibility.

That was all Barb and I needed to hear.

We lowered the VW, er…..video cam into the water and started down the line.

Immediately, I could tell conditions were going to be superb: I could see at least 30 feet down the mooring line.

Upon arrival on the Yukon, we could see almost down the Radio Tower underwater–YES!

Who could have guessed conditions would be this good the night after ‘the worst storm in 20 years’ had been predicted?

We headed towards the captains’ bridge, with me ducking into the first large cutout behind the Main Guns and emerging from the Starboard side of the ship, where 20 ft tall Macrocystis waved gently in the current, with shafts of brilliant, golden sunlight shimmered down between the fronds.

The Yukon literally glowed red and white in the early morning light, as sunlight reflected off the pink Strawberry Anemones and the White Giant Medtridia. It was a truly stunning sight to behold.

We made our way towards the Radio Tower and Crow’s Nest and I ducked into another cutout marked ‘Milt Beard’ in front of Milt’s Tilt, and inside was astounded to see the Wall of Honor, with all the plaques honoring those who had contributed to the Yukon Project. Somehow, in dozens of dives on the Yukon, this room had eluded me. I didn’t stay long.

Emerging from the same cutout, Barb was there, waiting with the video cam, directing me to go up, over and around the Crow’s Nest, so she could get footage for the project she’s working on.

The Crow’s Nest looked like it was covered in pure, white snow, due to the Metridia Senile blanketing the area.

Huge schools of Blacksmith and Senoritas flitted this way and that in and around the superstructure of the ship.

We just hung there, weightless, watching the fish glide all around us.

The Yukon looked just gorgeous in the early morning light. You could just flip over on your back, and watch your bubbles mushroom up to the surface.

We got as far as the Radio Tower and then decided to begin turning around.

We made our way back to the Forward Guns in a leisurely manner, kicking slowly along and just admiring the beautiful scenery, all around us: the glowing white Metridia, the neon red and pink Strawberry Anemones.

Back at the Forward Guns, we played around here for a bit and Barb shot some close up footage of some Hermissendas on the forward deck.

Actually, conditions were so gorgeous, we could hardly tear ourselves away, and allowed our air [and deco] to get to nearly red zone levels before reluctantly beginning the ascent towards the surface.

As we glided up the line, during our Deep Stop at 50 ft., huge schools of Sliversides roared by us, like silver freight trains and from 35 ft., we could see our little boat, the Scuba Do, patiently waiting for us on the surface, rocking up and down in the swells.

Back up on the boat, surface conditions has settled down a bit, as the storm seemed to be passing inland.

It was such a gorgeous dive, we decided to remain on the spot and do another one, while conditions lasted.

An absolutely beautiful dive on the Yukon–and, who would have guessed it would have been following the ‘worst storm in 20 years?’

Video to follow.

Dive safe, everyone,

Mikey

Date: 9/20/07

Time: 7-ish

Surf: Negligible: 1-2 ft. [pre-storm surf]

Dive Length: 45 mins

Max Depth: 60 ft.

Bottom Temp: 55 F.

Viz: well beyond range of lights: 30 ft. +

Mix: 32%

Critters Seen: Two large Halibuts [Grandson and Big Grandaddy],

numerous juvenile octos, Hemphill crabs, Mantis Shrimp, huge schools of Silversides

Comments:

This wasn’t supposed to be a ‘fun’ dive: Barb and I had signed up for
a Lift Bag ‘Mini,’ offered free to members of San Diego Underwater
Adventures as part of our annual membership [which also includes
'free' Nitrox fills] I might add, taught by the same Tech Instructor
I took Advanced Nitrox and Staged Decompression from last year.

So, we 3 headed out through negligible surf, with our lift bags and
reels and went through various drills with them at around 15 ft. and
managed not to get any of them wrapped around our necks or otherwise
embarrass ourselves too much. The instructor was demonstrating various
bags and reels and one bag was pretty cool: it had a hose which would
attach to, but not lock, into your dry suit hose, so you could fill a
lift bag using your dry suit hose, without worrying about it dragging
you to the surface with it.

Anyway, after we were done with the class, the instructor headed back
to shore, and we decided to have a brief ‘fun dive’ with our remaining
Nitrox. We’re not about to wade through the surf in full gear and NOT
do an actual dive. Are you with me on that one?

So, we headed towards the canyon wall just as the bright orange ball
was setting on the ocean and the deep was beginning to get dark.
The first thing we noticed at around 30 ft. were huge schools of
Silversides flashing by us like long, silver freight trains.

Next, we stumbled across a rather large Halibut, staring moodily up at
us from the bottom, followed by what had to have been his Granddaddy,
about 4 ft. long, a few yards away. We decided not to disturb him. We
didn’t want to Grandad annoyed with us.

Upon arrival on the canyon rim at around 60 ft., Barbara could see me
gazing longingly into the deep, as the lights another group of
divers was visible about 60 ft. below us, but with only 2/3rds of a
tank left, we really didn’t have the gas [or the proper mix] for a
deep dive, so she busied herself distracting me with fascinating
‘little’ stuff along the wall.

The edge of Vallecitos was alive with the usual night critters:
numerous Wart-Necked Piddocks siphoning sea water, Brittle Stars
buried in the sand, waving their arms about to find food, baby octos
flitting about, trying to avoid our lights.

Looking into one hole, she gestured frantically for me to come over
and take a look.

Tearing my eyes away from the diver lights far below, I swam over to
see what all the fuss was about. I saw a hole with a piece of kelp in
front of it. Big Deal. This is what you called me over for?

I reached over to move the offending piece of kelp from in front of
the kelp and as I pulled it aside, I found myself face-to-face with a
juvenile Mantis Shrimp, .22 caliber explosive pincers neatly folded
under him. Well, that explained all the arm waving on Barb’s part. Oh,
wait: maybe that was her trying to keep me from losing a finger! Oops!

He scuttled back into his carefully decorated burro, obviously not
wanting a fight, so we left him alone. Actually, Barb says he was in
the middle of munching something when we disturbed him, so we were
lucky he wasn’t in a combative mood.

Moving along the wall, we saw more juvenile octos, as well as a well
placed Hermessinda on a piece of kelp.

At Vallecitos Point, we came across the usual profusion of really cute
Hemphill crabs, all covered in their fuzzy little decorations,
scuttling about………Barb let one crawl up on her arm before gently
replacing it were she had found it.

Unfortunately, by this time, the 55 F. water was starting to get to us
a bit, plus our remaining air was beginning to run low, so we decided
to begin heading back through the shallows and out through the 2 ft.
surf.

So……..for a night dive that was ‘never supposed to be,’ it
certainly wasn’t bad.

A dive doesn’t have to be to 130 ft. to be enjoyable.