Dive 1: Customs Reef Debris Field

I still one wreck short of the diving all four of the customs reefs. I drifted over the Brandy Wine, but have yet to dive it. We dropped into 150ft of water and couldn’t find the wreck. The visibility was about 40 ft, so it wasn’t the best, but we didn’t know which way to go.

After a couple minutes we hit a debris field with pockets of fish all over. I was in the back and looked behind me at one point to find a big shark 10ft away. It took off before I could show the others. There were large schools of hogfish, Parrotfish and some Porgies in the sand.

Near the end of the dive a large Loggerhead came swimming towards us against the current. It was heading for Charlie who was in the lead. As it got closer I though the turtle might have love in his eyes? It swam right up to Charlie and slapped him with its flipper before taking off. Charlie didn’t know what to think as Jody and I were laughing at the spectacle.

At the end we found a several cement mixing drums, which met we were close to the Lakeland, but not quite there yet. These sites will be great to cruise over with the scooters!

Dive 2: Princess Britney

My Nephew was back down and couldn’t wait to dive again. After a tune up shore dive I decided to take him on a deeper dive to see a wreck. We dropped on the Southseas, but his ears were not clearing quickly and we slowly drifted off the site. As I worked him down in the open water we came up on the Barracudas that live off the Princess Britney. We swam over to the stern mast that sticks up to within 35ft of the surface and used that as a down line to work our way down to the deck.

I had the gloves on and never gave Nick the lesson on fire coral. Twice I intercepted his hand before grabbing a big patch of it! I found a good clean handhold for myself and then handed my gloves over to him.

We worked our way up to the bow to look around and then down in the hold. I used my light to show off the engine and we peaked in several of the other large openings without going in. I was going to start him down the “trust me” route. He wasn’t ready to swim around inside yet, even though his buoyancy and trim was very good for a new diver who has only been experience to a back plate and wing.

We drifted off the wreck hoping to hit the Parasio, but we didn’t make it before Nick called the dive as he was at rock bottom. We made a nice slow controlled ascent back the surface.

Nick likes diving so much he rented a tank and gear from dive shop a long ways from his house to be used as props for his senior picture. The photographer said this was the first time he had a “scuba” themed photo.

–Matt