Sunday I got a call at 9:30 AM right before the shore dive to go out on a boat dive off Miami. How could I say no? I worked out the timeline for the shore dive, nitrox fill, lunch and back to diving. Dropping my doubles on my right post didn’t slow me down.

Dive 1 Arida 180ft steel freighter, sunk '82, 90ft, 30 minutes bt, 11 min ascent, 32%, top to bottom vis, 70ft horizontal, current .75-1 knot.

We got a perfect drop on the wreck and we landed on the NE side that was upside down and uninteresting. This wreck was twisted up by Andrew and was supposed to have fish all over it. I didn’t see much on the way down till I reached 30 ft from the bottom. The Tomtates, lane snappers, and spotted goatfish were pale with the sand and covered the bottom. It wasn’t till they started to separate that I realized just how many fish were down there! were several mutton snapper around the outside of the wreck. Why did Eric ever sell his sale boat? I didn’t see any hogfish, which was rare compared to the rest of my Miami dives. With debris all over the white sand bottom the scene looked like something out of Mad Max. I grabbed alge pieces to stay in place, letting go to write down fish. Several pieces were large enough that when we approach, the eddy sucked me closer. Its a trippy feeling!

The main section of the wreck has fallen in on itself so there if very little profile, but now it looks like a big steel box loaded with fish. I worked my way across the current side of the wreck. Then I hid out on the down current side to relax and look for little fish, but there weren’t many. Snappers and grunts everywhere. After the break I went up on the top of the hull to see what was left of the prop shafts. In one open area a giant green moray swam from one side to the other. I love seeing them out and swimming.

After 30 minutes we drifted off the site for a perfect, slow ascent. I ran a valve drill and notice the left post was sticky and my hand about cramped getting it closed. I still finished the drill in the 90 seconds. The boat was right there waiting for us when we surfaced.

Dive 2 Proteus, 80ft, 35 minutes bt, 12 minute ascent, .75 knot current, top to bottom vis, 70ft horizontal 32% 1 hr SI

This is a 220 steel freighter sunk in the late 80s. With another perfect drop we landed right in the middle of the hull. The sides of the freighter had collapsed on each other. I guessed and headed SW to find the bow pointed up and at an angle in the sand. I swam around the hull to the deck and hid from the current. There was a nice winch and debris at the bow. I saw a swim through inside, but had to find the way in. I swam down in the cargo hold and saw it wasn’t worth trying to squeeze in there. The debris was twisted so the port side was shaded like a mini cavern. I swam down as it got smaller and smaller. I figured out a way out, exhaled, twisted, and made the 90 degree turn up and out. I looked back for my team and he was next to the hole outside, spoil sport!

We swam back across the mid section to the stern. It was like a two story building with the side cut off. I started in the top deck to find a mass of Glassy Sweepers. From the top section we swam down into the engine room. There was one large engine and a generator on each site. Each piston on the motor has a small little purple reef fish living on it. We cruised around a few more corridors and headed for the top of the deck. There was still of shelter from the current and the usual suspects on top. Redband Parrotfish, Bluehead Wrasses, and a few Bicolor Damselfish.

I got the thumb and we started our ascent. On the twenty foot stop I saw something large come out of the distance. At first I was hoping for a shark, but the pointed end gave it away as a sailfish! He blew right on by, but it was a special moment. Then two Little Tuny followed him up. The Tuny have a funky pattern on their back that belongs on a low riding Honda civic cruising Ocean Drive.

This made for a spectacular Sunday afternoon of diving. Now that I’ve been dry all week its time for some caves!

–Matt