Trip Report: United Caribbean/Sea Emperor June 8, 08 Pompano Beach

Dsix36

It started out looking like I was not going to find a boat for the dive. I was dreading the idea of another beach dive. I went ahead and got everything ready and was impatiently waiting to hear from Capt. Bob (Lady Go Diver) as to an afternoon trip going out or not. I slept way too late to be able to make a morning trip. I had my truck loaded and was heading out the door when the phone rang - "We have enough divers for the boat to run". Yeaaaaaah.

I got to the dock and got my gear loaded. We were all talking about where to dive that day. Capt. Bob said that with so few divers that the Rodeo was out. A couple of the guys had driven quite a distance and had already done the Sea Emperor. The final decision was that they would dive the Noula Express and then the United Caribbean.

Since I was the only Rebreather onboard I was dropped on another boats down line to the United Caribbean as soon as we got there. The boat then left and went to the Noulla for the others first dive.

I immediated went to the rocks and followed them over to the Sea Emperor. I was taking pics with my new camera and just having a great time. I saw a hammerhead shark, a small sea turle, a couple of stingrays, a moray eel, goliath grouper, countless fish. My pics still need a lot of work (bear with me I am just learning this UW photography) but it sure is a blast to do it.

After about an hour I began a very slow return to the United to meet the DM and give an OK signal. I was at the first half of the wreck when I heard the boat motors and began looking up but never saw the DM. I swam to the other half of the wreck and found the line, but no DM. I hung out until I saw divers descending and then went back to the rocks for more pics.

When 45 more min had passed I went to the United and did some penetration, kinda a pain with a camera, and got one shot that I really like:

It was just a very easy peaceful dive and alot of fun. I only saw 1 diver on any of the wrecks and that was at the line during ascent. The marine life acted like I wasn't even there and welcomed me as one of their own. I felt honored and humbled by the experience. It may have helped that I would hover in one spot for 5 minutes or more waiting for the right time to click.

My total runtime was 2hr 45min, average depth was 61', max depth was 80'
Temp was 80-81 degree pretty uniformly

Out of 177 pics these are the only ones worth posting, better luck next time, I guess:


Stingray



small fish



lot of small fish



yep, another small fish



bigger fish



parrot fish



supper?



united carribean engine



united caribbean



daylight from within



my favorite



friendly neighborhood moray eel



bow of united caribbean

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sfldiver

Nice job on the trip report Don. It certainly sounds like you had a lot of fun diving with your new camera - The pics look better than the first time I took my camera out.

Thanks for the report and the pics!

Adrian

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ScubaDadMiami

At least you got to dive. I stayed in and worked all weekend.

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Howard Packer
IANTD CCR Instructor
Miami Beach, Florida
CCRDiveTraining.com

mempilot

Howard,

I thought your job was diving!?

Don,

Nice report! I was in a boring classroom this afternoon, or I would have joined you.

Eric

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Don

Glad you made up for the short dive with me. Pics look nice.....it ll takes time and practise keep at it.

John

ScubaDadMiami

I finally finished and sent in my article (the one I have been talking about ). I also had to take care of a mound of paperwork for the business. (The business end of the dive business surely does not have enough diving in it! )

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IANTD CCR Instructor
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CCRDiveTraining.com