Smmcdonald
United States
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Nº160
Date: 2021-04-23 - 09:30
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Max Depth: 33.9m Duration: 26mins
Dive Location
- Temp: Surf 30°C Bottom 23°C
- Dive type : Recreational, Deep dive, Wreck
- Visibility: Average Water: Salt
Specific gear used
- Weights: 2.7 kg
Dive reviews
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Recent Divers in Key Largo, FL
Recent Pictures in Key Largo, FL
Dive Shop & Buddies
Dive with Quiescence Diving Services, Inc.
Dive buddies:
Jennifer McDonald,
Vince Knick,
Gary Miller,
Jenney Kearney,
Bryan Kearney
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Dive Profile
- 1. Nitrox 30
- 10L Aluminium 217 → 20 bar
- Average depth: 19.6m
Data provided by EOL.org
Species Identified
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Last night, our outlook for this morning was grim: 4-6' seas with the possibility of winds shifting from the southeast. We awoke to winds coming from the northeast and thus decided the day was not lost. Captain Steve had no reservation about going, so we set out for the Spiegel Grove shortly after 8am. We were greeted with cloudy skies and a 3' chop, with periodic 4' rollers. There was very little surface current.
Jen was worried about me doing this dive. Rightfully so: I was unsure I would be able to breathe properly at 4+ atm, so my plan was to take it slow down the line and turn back if needed. We decided Jen would go first, followed by Jenny and Bryan--this would be their deepest logged dive--and then I would sweep up. Steve tied off to the mooring ball on the port-side crane tower. I laid out a plan to Jen: down the line, up the port side to the anti-aircraft gun mount, where we may do a short swim-through at the back of the super-structure. From there we would make our way to the crane operating tower to take pictures of everyone in front of the flag. We would make our way to the starboard-side anti-aircraft gun and another swim-through, then toward the crane to inspect the coral growth and macro-life. Finally, we would finish our clock-wise circuit by swimming over the helipad toward the stern before circling back under the pad and back to the tower and return to the line. We talked to Jenny and Bryan about PDIS around 45' before the standard safety stop at 15' for five minutes. Thus the plan was laid.
Though no significant surface current presented itself, as a precaution we decided to stay on the line until we reached the wreck. Vince and Gary went in first, followed by Jen, Jenny and Bryan. I was last, but paused when Steve pointed out that someone had lost their weight pocket. The type and weight of the pocket led him to believe it was Jen's.
In the water, I quickly made my way down the line--one-handed--until reaching Jen at the tower. I handed her the weight pouch which she had already realized was missing. She wasn't too buoyant: Gary had noticed that one of her pockets was empty. After securing the pouch, we looked around for Jenny and Bryan, who had accidentally started following another pair of divers from a different group. (One diver had fins similar to Jen's.)
I should note that I started having trouble catching my breath at about 60', just above the tower. I was still trying to get control of my breathing and motioned Jen to retrieve Jenny and Bryan. It took me awhile before I felt like I was breathing normally, but I was able to gain control without incident.
The rest of our dive went as planned, with the caveat that I hurried through the circuit much faster than I had wanted or planned. My SAC rate was high, I had already breathed nearly 1000 PSI, and I only had an 80cf tank. Nonetheless, we did get a 'taste' of the wreck, and saw a few sharks. One was circling further out away from the boat, leading Steve to believe it was a bull shark. Unfortunately I did not see it, but the other divers did.
With the dive over, I started up the line with barely 600 PSI. I signaled for Jen to pair with Jenny and Bryan while I returned to the surface. I would not do my PDIS, but I would extend my safety stop to 5 minutes. About half-way up the line, I noticed Jenny and Bryan following me, with Gary at the bottom of the line. A quick survey revealed Jen and Vince still on the ship almost directly below me. I signaled for Bryan and Jenny to stay put for their PDIS while I continued my way to 15'. I returned with 296 PSI in my tank! Nonetheless, it was another successful, albeit brief, dive on the Spiegel Grove: my 7th dive on the wreck.