April 17 - 18 Boat Dive

[Scuba Scott]

Tides are very nice for a good boat dive. Time to start planning. Waterman's Wall is what I was thinking. It would be nice to have a couple boats going to a location.

[LCF]

Were you thinking about that Friday (April 17th)? Tides in the morning are lovely . . . but I've had a hankering to go do the Possession Point ferry. Although Waterman's is always a good dive.

[Scuba Scott]

I enjoy PPF but given the great tides I would select Watermans. PPF is available with more tide exchange. Tacoma Narrows Bridge would be a good one also.

[LCF]

Oh, the bridge would be fun -- I've never done that. But I think I'd have to find a boat tender.

I can always have my arm twisted to do Waterman's. It's currently my favorite Puget Sound dive. I love the nudibranchs that have eaten the Food of the Gods.

[dsteding]

Strange tides those days--the current is ebbing even through the slack before flood, the time to dive seems to be before the afternoon ebb, but that maxes at -2.5 knots.

Any idea how Waterman's would behave on those tides? I know it is small exchanges, slack before ebb, but how about where it is essentially ebbing all day?

[LCF]

I don't know, but from about 5 am to 11, you've got less than a half knot of current, according to the model. It would always be blowing the same direction, but there wouldn't be much of it.

[Aquanautchuck]

Hey Scott, I am game to do Watermans again with you. If need I can bring my Zodiac up and launch again from Manchaster. Let me know. I love that site.

[Scuba Scott]

Hey Scott, I am game to do Watermans again with you. If need I can bring my Zodiac up and launch again from Manchaster. Let me know. I love that site.

Depending on wind and wave conditions, I will launch at Alki or Redondo and run over. We can meet you there like last time or hitch a ride on one of our boats up here. We can work out the details that week. I need to get my boat in the water soon to make sure everything is fine. I have not had it out this year.

[Norris]

I'd love to get in on this if there is room. I loves me a good boat dive. Are they rec depths?

[Scuba Scott]

Watermans Wall is 40 fsw to about 170 fsw. There is plenty to see above 130 fsw. I have only been there three times. Most of this time is 70 fsw - 120 fsw and then go play in the kelp. I have seen some nice GPO's here. The wall is actually stair steped in the areas I have dove. Not a big tall wall like Henry Island, or Dalco. Current is the primary issue so I only go on days where the exchange are less than two feet and slack is at a good time of day. If weather is good I will take my 21 foot glasply that can cary 4 divers and gear easy. I have the hard top off right now and no soft top.

[Scuba Scott]

I would like to do Watermans on Saturday, April 18.

[Scuba Scott]

OK,

Less than a week away. LCF, are you going to Watermans on Saturday? Aquanautchuck, are you bringing up your boat? Norris, are you still in on this dive? I have two divers on my boat with me.

[Aquanautchuck]

Sorry Scott, I found out that I have a family commitment yesterday I need to go to. Keep me posted though if you do it again this year. It is my favorite dive up there.

[kitsapdiver]

I dont' know if you guys have looked at the weather but it looks like it's going to be pretty good. I live near Manchester and if you guys decide to put your boat in there I'd be willing to host the divers afterwards for some burgers and beer or something...

[Aquanautchuck]

[kitsapdiver]

Well Aquanaut remember that I'm up here and any time you want to head up this way to dive give me a heads up I'm usually interested in getting out there. I only moved here about 7 months ago, I moved here from Ohio (so cold water diving isn't new), so I'm still learning all the NW dive sites. I have never done KVI tower or many of the other boat only sites up here, and my home is usually pretty open to divers. Also hood'sprot is only about 50 minutes from me, so when heading there drop me a line too.

[LCF]

I'm not diving this weekend, as it turns out -- I'm beached for at least a month. So I'll be boat tending for my husband's tech class. I don't know if we're going to do Waterman's or go up to the San Juans.

[Norris]

Hmmm not sure what is up now....I could just opt out for a shore dive Sat.

[Scuba Scott]

Kitsapdiver,

I'm not sure if we will drive around or launch on this side. I will need to do a test run with the boat this week and make sure there are no issues after a winter storage. Need to get the old girl in the water and see what she can do. If we come from the east by boat we can pick you up on the way. I will check for locations that will work. Cold post dive beer and food is always on my list of things that I plan on for this kind of day.

Scott

[Aquanautchuck]

Well Aquanaut remember that I'm up here and any time you want to head up this way to dive give me a heads up I'm usually interested in getting out there. I only moved here about 7 months ago, I moved here from Ohio (so cold water diving isn't new), so I'm still learning all the NW dive sites. I have never done KVI tower or many of the other boat only sites up here, and my home is usually pretty open to divers. Also hood'sprot is only about 50 minutes from me, so when heading there drop me a line too.

I will keep that in mind. I usually try to do Blake Rock and Blake Island at least once a year.

[Scuba Scott]

I might launch at Port Orchard. Can someone tell me if this is a good launch?

[kitsapdiver]

I can drive by tomorrow and talk to them, and look at the facilities.

[Aquanautchuck]

Well guys, I guess I am lucky I canceled because of family plans. I just spent 4 hours in a Endodontis office getting an emergency root canal. :angry: :angry: :angry: . By the time I was done I wanted to myself. I can't think of many more things that are more painful. You all have a great dive and make sure you post a great "Jake " report for all of us.

[Scuba Scott]

Sorry to hear your pain. I hope I never go through that. Brian, (ozzie diver) will be joining me in the morning and we will drive to Port Orchard and launch. I never got the boat in the water this week for a test run. I will take my 19 foot boat since we only have two divers. Plan to splash for our first dive about 10:00am. We will take a line down over the wall to mark our exit point and get back to the anchor line. I will do my best to get some good pictures and video.