Dive 1: Lakeland

The original plan was to go out and dive the Mystic Isle. Arriving on site and checking for current we were almost to 3 knots. So we changed plans to the Lakeland where the current was around one knot. We skipped the ball and put in a target for Andrea to drop us using the GPS.

The water was flowing but we got down and hit dead center on the upside down Lakeland. Jody led us to the large middle cavern that is ripped open. We headed up the east side. The tunnel went for about 50ft, but then we ran out of room and couldn’t get to the open area of the east side. We turned and headed back through the silt and percolation. We probably should have run a line. This tunnel didn’t pass the test of many open water exits being available to skip running a line.

Back in the open area I saw there was another tunnel heading down the west side of the ship, but Jody didn’t see it. Above it we entered several room with furniture still attached to the walls. One looked like a desk and the over looked like an old oven.

We worked our way back to the stern section where the other really open area was. There are a couple nice swim through here, but we didn’t have the gas to explore one last tunnel heading back east into the wreck.

We drifted off into the current and looked at all the concrete mixing drums in the sand. We slowly ascended thru the deep stops until it was time to switch to the 50% deco gas at 70ft. We all switched and Robert got out his lift bag to shoot. Then I noticed a large object floating down to the bottom. It took a movement for me to identify it was my reel that Robert was carrying on his butt d-ring. It must have become unclipped and fell.

My mind raced, “I can go get it! No, no, its gone, just let it go.” I could see the reel on the bottom and it was killing me, but my hesitance was going to keep me from going to go get it. Then Robert gave me the thumbs down. If he thinks we can go it safely, it must be ok? I turned, switch to back gas and bombed back down to get the reel. My heart was throbbing and I thought, “ I have to calm down so I don’t have a problem with the high PPO2 gas left over in my lung and circulatory system.” I picked up the reel, turned and noticed all I could see of my team was their lights in the distance as the current was taking them further away from me. I was solo diving. I ascended as a slow and controlled pace slowly kicking to catch back up to them.

We switched to deco gas again and Robert shot the marker. We added 5 minutes to the deco and surfaced without a problem. On the boat, Jody was surprised that I went for the reel. His first thought that it was gone. Robert said that it was a bad call giving the thumbs and down. I agreed it was a bad call on my part to go for it. Now that reel serves as a reminder that $140 is not worth my life.

Dive 2: Emerald Reef

Andrea requested a reef for the second dive as she was tired of rusty metal. We headed over to Emerald Reef. I got the pleasure of carrying the flag and it was one of the few times where the waves were pulling me in the opposite direction of where the reef was going.

After 30 minutes I got tired of fighting it and told the team we were drifting. Unfortunately it became a sand dive as we hoped to hit more reef. So we started running drills, passing stages and playing with gear. Near the end of the dive a baby shark sucker was admiring my wife’s booty! He wouldn’t let go no matter how hard Jody and I tried to brush him away. Andrea couldn’t see him as he would always run away when she looked.

We ascended and surfaced to signal the boat to come pick us up. I had no more than given my big “ok” and I heard Jody shout through his regulator, “BIG SHARK!” A 4-5 ft shark at the surface buzzed us. I saw it pass by. While the boat came over we circled round and round looking for another pass. I was glad to get out of the water.

–Matt