Post by SeaRat on Jan 31, 2015 22:40:05 GMT -8
This is set up for everyone to record their dives this year. I dove my twin 45s, with the manifold that allows two regulators; I used my Mossback Mk3 and my Scubapro A.I.R. I regulators on the setup.
I dove for the first time this year at High Rocks on the Clackamas River. Here's my write-up from my Suunto Dive Manager:
Here are the printouts from my Suunto Dive Computer's Dive Manage:
John
I dove for the first time this year at High Rocks on the Clackamas River. Here's my write-up from my Suunto Dive Manager:
Dive Plan:
Drift dive through High Rocks. Decided to do the first part of the dive would be on the surface, due to high water (~4 feet higher than last fall), and heavy swirl where two currents collided.
Observations:
My knee worked well on the walk down to the river. I had observed the site for ~10 minutes to ensure it was okay to dive. It was high, so I stayed on the surface until I got through the whirlpool area where the currents collided, then submerged (interestingly, my dive computer logged that time on the surface as "before the 'O' time.h" The current was very swift, and no use trying to go against it. I did stay off the bottom, but collided with one rock I could not avoid (slight owie on the thigh). I was wearing a shorty under my main suit, and my hood under the wet suit too. My face was stinging because of the cold water (thought it was in the 30s F, but it was recorded at 41 degrees F). Wore my heavy gloves, and wore them over the cuff but under the zippered part of the suit. Then I got to the deeper area, and swam down toward the bottom, but didn't get there as my line to the float was a bit short. I got to the bottom in a shallower area, and my dive computer said I was at 28 feet, which I think is the deepest I've been at this site. I saw no fish at all, not even a sculpin. Probably the fish were downstream in warmer water, or hunkered down in deep recessions where I could not see them. As I went downstream fast, I avoided two fishing lines (probably from fisherman at high rocks). I closely observed the rock surfaces with my SeawiscopeEY, and noted some invertebrate life under the rocks, but no snails. The current was really ripping, so I surfaced to see where I was. I was just upstream of the bridge, so I submerged again and got into quieter areas. I found a lot of snails, some seemed to be mating, on the rocks in the quieter areas. I looked several more times for fish, especially under rocks (sculpins) and found none but did find a couple of craydads. I finally surfaced at my takeout area, and noted several fishermen and women downstream.
As I was getting out, two bicyclists turned up (they had to hike down from the paved trail above) and I found out that they also were divers. I had to crawl out, stand up with my fins on and turn around and sit down on a rock. I usually get out of my fins when I'm still in the water, but the high water precluded that. I struggled a bit getting out, and they started asking me questions. The gal asked if I was using a rebreather, and I had to explain it was an advanced design of a double hose regulator (my Mossback Mk3). They tried to help me with my gear (fins), and I said that I could do it myself. They asked about my BC, which was the Para-Sea BC, and I told them it was the most expensive BC in the world--I had patented it but no one bought it. I got my mask (I explained the SeawiscopeEY too) and fins onto my equipment strap with the guy's help. My hands were cold, and two fingers were about numb from the cold water. They saw the sticker on my tank from Pacific Watersports in Aloha, Oregon (my LDS), and said that they went to Laura's shop too. I asked their name, and they told me, and gave me a moniker to remember it by (and I do). So we may see each other again sometime.
Special Problems and Ideas
--I got my leg tangled at one point with the line. That is a recurring problem, but I will always dive with a float tethered to me now when I solo dive, as I'm to the age that if anything happens I want to be easily found. Not that anything will happen, but just in case...
--At one point I was a bit light, and decided to grab a rock to get neutral. Then I checked my BC, and dumped a like amount of air out of it. So I was neutral in the shallow water as my rig became lighter.
--The current was a bit faster than I had thought, and I probably should have gone on the surface just a bit longer. But the deep water beckoned.
--I used my Mossback Mk3 without a non-return in the Hope-Page mouthpiece; I had changed that to test it in my garage, and had wanted to change it back when I went into the river, but forgot the other wagonwheel (I have interchangeable ones). I simply decided to use it without, as really it is not needed. I didn't notice it during my dive.
--I really like using the Mossback Mk3 with my dive computer. It gives me a wonderful record of the dive, especially if I download the data to my computer right away. I dive the Suunto Cobra dive computer, and found my Cobra Modes and Operations card with the tree diagram of the different modes. This is necessary for me to remember how to download that data (an ol' guy problem).
--Since this is the first dive of the year, I don't bring other things on the dive; no camera, no lights, nothing but me and my dive gear. That way, I can get the "dust" out of my dive system on this first dive.
Drift dive through High Rocks. Decided to do the first part of the dive would be on the surface, due to high water (~4 feet higher than last fall), and heavy swirl where two currents collided.
Observations:
My knee worked well on the walk down to the river. I had observed the site for ~10 minutes to ensure it was okay to dive. It was high, so I stayed on the surface until I got through the whirlpool area where the currents collided, then submerged (interestingly, my dive computer logged that time on the surface as "before the 'O' time.h" The current was very swift, and no use trying to go against it. I did stay off the bottom, but collided with one rock I could not avoid (slight owie on the thigh). I was wearing a shorty under my main suit, and my hood under the wet suit too. My face was stinging because of the cold water (thought it was in the 30s F, but it was recorded at 41 degrees F). Wore my heavy gloves, and wore them over the cuff but under the zippered part of the suit. Then I got to the deeper area, and swam down toward the bottom, but didn't get there as my line to the float was a bit short. I got to the bottom in a shallower area, and my dive computer said I was at 28 feet, which I think is the deepest I've been at this site. I saw no fish at all, not even a sculpin. Probably the fish were downstream in warmer water, or hunkered down in deep recessions where I could not see them. As I went downstream fast, I avoided two fishing lines (probably from fisherman at high rocks). I closely observed the rock surfaces with my SeawiscopeEY, and noted some invertebrate life under the rocks, but no snails. The current was really ripping, so I surfaced to see where I was. I was just upstream of the bridge, so I submerged again and got into quieter areas. I found a lot of snails, some seemed to be mating, on the rocks in the quieter areas. I looked several more times for fish, especially under rocks (sculpins) and found none but did find a couple of craydads. I finally surfaced at my takeout area, and noted several fishermen and women downstream.
As I was getting out, two bicyclists turned up (they had to hike down from the paved trail above) and I found out that they also were divers. I had to crawl out, stand up with my fins on and turn around and sit down on a rock. I usually get out of my fins when I'm still in the water, but the high water precluded that. I struggled a bit getting out, and they started asking me questions. The gal asked if I was using a rebreather, and I had to explain it was an advanced design of a double hose regulator (my Mossback Mk3). They tried to help me with my gear (fins), and I said that I could do it myself. They asked about my BC, which was the Para-Sea BC, and I told them it was the most expensive BC in the world--I had patented it but no one bought it. I got my mask (I explained the SeawiscopeEY too) and fins onto my equipment strap with the guy's help. My hands were cold, and two fingers were about numb from the cold water. They saw the sticker on my tank from Pacific Watersports in Aloha, Oregon (my LDS), and said that they went to Laura's shop too. I asked their name, and they told me, and gave me a moniker to remember it by (and I do). So we may see each other again sometime.
Special Problems and Ideas
--I got my leg tangled at one point with the line. That is a recurring problem, but I will always dive with a float tethered to me now when I solo dive, as I'm to the age that if anything happens I want to be easily found. Not that anything will happen, but just in case...
--At one point I was a bit light, and decided to grab a rock to get neutral. Then I checked my BC, and dumped a like amount of air out of it. So I was neutral in the shallow water as my rig became lighter.
--The current was a bit faster than I had thought, and I probably should have gone on the surface just a bit longer. But the deep water beckoned.
--I used my Mossback Mk3 without a non-return in the Hope-Page mouthpiece; I had changed that to test it in my garage, and had wanted to change it back when I went into the river, but forgot the other wagonwheel (I have interchangeable ones). I simply decided to use it without, as really it is not needed. I didn't notice it during my dive.
--I really like using the Mossback Mk3 with my dive computer. It gives me a wonderful record of the dive, especially if I download the data to my computer right away. I dive the Suunto Cobra dive computer, and found my Cobra Modes and Operations card with the tree diagram of the different modes. This is necessary for me to remember how to download that data (an ol' guy problem).
--Since this is the first dive of the year, I don't bring other things on the dive; no camera, no lights, nothing but me and my dive gear. That way, I can get the "dust" out of my dive system on this first dive.
Here are the printouts from my Suunto Dive Computer's Dive Manage:
John
