Descending
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Adventures & Training Above and Below the Water!
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PLUS
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NC Dive Trip, May 17-18, 2008
Well, the pilgrimage resumed for another year, six years running now, and for another year we went head-to-head with mother nature on the ocean. The trip from PA was highlighted by miserable rain on Friday but cleared as we passed through Virginia. Beaufort was pretty breezy and cold Friday night upon our arrival at the Inlet Inn, a new overnight destination for us, nestled on the Beaufort Inlet waterfront. Our usual arrival gathering at the Dockhouse in Beaufort helped with appropriate hydration but only mediocre grub. The acoustic tunes were a welcome distraction after the long ride but our age is showing as the volume was definitely too much for most of us. Saturday morning we gathered at Discovery Diving to assess our chances and
Capt. Buck (Capt. Jerry was out of town) was not optimistic about taking out the
SeaQuest II in the blowing conditions. The buoys were not reporting good
conditions and the forecast was questionable as usual. After a brief break
for breakfast and a reassessment at 8:00am, Capt Buck called the day, mostly due
to the fact that he had other obligations. Capt. Terry called it too for
the Outrageous V but Capt. Leroy made way for the Indra with his six-pack
Captains Lady at capacity. We found out that Capt. George Purify of
Olympus Diving made way for the Indra as well, aboard the 65' Olympus dive boat.
They did two dives in the morning. Discovery had no room for us on their afternoon charters and Capt. Buck was not returning, so as we sat around the widow's walk at the Inlet Inn sipping coffee and enjoying their conti breakfast, we decided calling Olympus for an afternoon charter was a good idea. Nema Triplett, Charter and Sales Manager (pictured right, assisting Sara, Jeff & Ian at the Olympus sales counter), was more than happy to help us out for one dive on the Indra and we made plans to be at their dive store by 1:00pm. The ride out and back was smooth as silk aboard the Olympus and the dive was better than dry land. Vis reached about 25', a fuzzy 30', with very slight current and occasional surge keeping our attention. Capt. George and First Mate Bud, along with DM Mark got us in the water with ease, although I must say we had a very competent and self-sufficient dive group, and the hour-long dive commenced. Ian and Steve V. joined me on this dive as we covered the entire wreck and more. [ 63fsw, 59 minutes, 30% nitrox, no deco, 68F ] It was a smooth ride back and most of us enjoyed the warm sunshine on the sun deck before arriving back at Olympus Diving. We unloaded gear, got nitrox fills as needed and enjoyed a cold beer on the deck at Olympus, with Neptune watching over us. Dana might suggest that Tim became a little too enamored with Neptune's anatomy but that is a matter best left to them to sort out. I'm sure the long ride home gave them a chance to discuss many issues, including land-based navigation via electronic or the ole tried and true paper aids, a map that is! :o) Saturday night everyone enjoyed a nice meal at Beaufort Grocery Co., just across the street from our Inn. Sunday was another story...at least today Capt. Buck agreed to go out and have a look, much like Capt. Jerry would do. Capt. Terry and Capt. Leroy kept their boats at home but we learned that Capt. George had the Olympus steaming SW toward the Indra again. We headed due south toward the Aeolus and Spar and went head-to-head with 5-6 footers on occasion. We were only making 10-13 knots and slowed several times for a few that stood straight up as well as two or three gear issues on the back deck. We were in constant radio contact with Capt. George since his boat traveled much easier in these big, blowing waters. We got seven miles out and Capt. George decided to turn it for home. We did the same. Despite the tremendous disappointment throughout the boat, safety is always first for my groups and this was the right call. Since the remainder of the day was spent on land, we were able to confirm the forecast was pretty accurate, blowing like crazy for the rest of the day! I'm glad we were not out on the water. Nine of us remained in Beaufort and the rest made for the north. We had lunch in Morehead City at Chef 105 - excellent - and toured the Olympus Diving Lodge, upstairs next to Raps on the main street. The North Carolina Aquarium on Atlantic Beach was next and was worth the eight bucks and the trip. The U-352 exhibit is always a joy, especially with the sand tigers and goliath grouper. It was time for a little nap and plans were made for dinner on the Beaufort Inlet at The Spouter Inn, a nice walk from our Inn. We made way for home on Monday morning, about a 6:00am departure. The return trip was pain free, arriving in York about 2:45pm. So, this is NC diving. We can't control the weather but we had a beautiful weekend away from home in a terrific little place I call paradise. I can't say enough good about our group; 15 divers and five non-divers, the people that make this effort all worthwhile! Jeff already booked Olympus for 2009, August 15-16 I believe, and he reserved the Inlet Inn as well. My trip is being moved from May to the beginning of June, 13-14 I believe, with Olympus Diving, and I will reserve the Inn in Beaufort as well. The best I can tell anyone is to not give up hope; when NC diving is good, it is great; when it is bad, it is really good! Unfortunately, this is the nature of ocean diving, the wind and the waves usually make the call for us but if we don't go, we never dive the wrecks and sharks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic! Thanks for making this another great trip! Mark your calendar for 2009: June 13-14, Sat/Sun, four dives, Olympus Diving,
Midnight Express charter,
Jim Brown trip leader Photos from May 2008 trip: Ian Swisher pics followed by Jim Brown pics, Steve Verkouw pics forthcoming...
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