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Post by SeaRat on Feb 27, 2005 22:52:37 GMT -8
'Sorry for the long post, but these are my dive logs for these two dives this weekend:
Dive Site: High Rocks, Clackamas River Dive # 05-01 Buddy: Solo Date: 2-26-05 Entrance Time 12:00 PM Exit Time 12:20 PM Bottom Time: 20 min. Surface Int. N/A Altitude: N/A Decom. Stops? N/A Air Temp.: 58 F Water Temp: ~39 F Visibility: ~12 feet Max. depth: 10 feet Ave. Depth 7 feet One Hour Check: Okay
Dive Plan: I was going to dive the top pools of water, and make observations. There was a current splitting the two pools, and I was going to swim below the current to the other pool (on the freeway side of the river)
Observations: The water was cold; I saw no fish life at all, and only brownish algea growing on the rocks. The water was quite low for this time of year (which was why I was diving the area). But, I did not go to the second pool. The current was still quite strong, and I was not comfortable doing that (see explaination in “Special Problems” area.
I was frankly surprised by the lack of aquatic life. I have not dived here in winter before, but have dived in the North Umpqua. The North Umpqua at least had some life (sticklebacks and other fishes). The Clackamas did not have any fishes that I could see, although there were fishermen. I did not see dead fish either, such as from a run of anadramous fish. No crawdads (crawfish), and very little in the way of other life.
Special Problmes and Ideas: I was underweightedby about three to five pounds. That made staying below the current difficult, and it was a fairly quick current (3-5 knots). I therefore elected not to go under the current to the other pool.
My Trieste regulator, mounted on a single tank, was not ideal for this situation. Normally, I like to save my double hose regulators for my double tanks, but the set of doubles was only half full (twin 43s), and my single was full (steel 72). I wanted a full tank for my first solo dive of the year.
I used a new dive flag for the first time today. It worked very well. I have about 30 feet of old 1/4 inch nylon line on it, which I had made into a birdnest coil. This worked well for the dive.
I tried the MR-12 octopus on the last part of the dive in the shallows, and it is much better than the Trieste II for my current work with a single tank setup.
I did not have my knife, or my helmet (left both in the car or at home). This was another reason for not going into the other pool, as I had nothing to cope with fishing line if I were to find some.
Removing my fins, my very old fin strap broke.
Equipment Used: Full 1/4 inch wet suit, hood, boots and gloves. Single 72 with Trieste II regulator and MR-12 octopus. I used the Parasea BC. Fins were my modified White Stag fins, with the “scoop” flexible fin.
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Dive Site: High Rocks, Clackamas River Dive # 05-02 Buddy: Solo Date: 2-26-05 Entrance Time 1:13 PM Exit Time 2:58 PM Bottom Time: 45 min. Surface Int. N/A Altitude: N/A Decom. Stops? N/A Air Temp.: 58 F Water Temp: ~39 F Visibility: ~12 feet Max. depth: 10-12 feet Ave. Depth 7 feet One Hour Check: Okay
Dive Plan: I planned today’s dive differently from yesterday’s dive. I decided to take my scuba unit, weight belt and dive flag down to the water before getting into my wet suit. I also entered in a different spot, one with minimal current. Today, I wanted to survey the deep areas, and see what animal life I could find. I entered just below the High Rock Jump area, on the lifeguard side (but they won’t be there until May). I wanted to swim upstream, then survey as much as I could to see whatever animal life was there.
Observations: I began the dive from some rocks just above the water line. On my way down to the water, a young person asked if he could watch me, and I talked to him a bit. He asked me about the water, and what fishes were in the river right now.
I got my equipment on, and dropped into the water. I needed to get into the water to find my second stage, as I could not locate it an land. But once swimming, it was located easily. I had the diver’s flag and line in my hand, and surface dived to the bottom, about 15 feet below me. The current was slight, at about half a knot. There again was the brown algea on the rocks, and the bottom was covered by about a half inch of silt. This was easily displaced by any water motion. As I dived to the bottom, I went through a cloud of silt that I had dispursed into the water with my entry.
On the bottom, I saw nothing at first. I turned over rocks, and noted no fish at all. In the summer, it was easy to find sculpins and crawdads under the rocks, but not today. Again, as yesterday’s observations noted, there were no dead fish on the bottom either. I did note some small insect larva in protective covers on rocks. But they were also few and far between (maybe one per rock). Most rocks seemed devoid of any life, except some snails.
I swam upstream, clear to the far pool that I did not get to yesterday. The bottom changed from very large rocks to small gravel and sand in this area. But again, no aquatic animal life was noted.
I swam back on the bottom, on the far side of the river. Again, I saw no fish. So I surfaced and got out of the water.
The young man I met earlier was still there, and asked me about any animal life I had seen. I talked to him, and found out that he was a high school student, apparently from overseas (India or Pakestan, probably), that he was more conversant in the metric system, and that he was taking an ecology course and needed to collect some animals. He again asked about the fish (a large one with a dark body and a white head). I told him that it could be a salmon, but also a large scale sucker or a squawfish (I’ve got to remember the politically correct name of this fish--some kind of pike I believe...oh, that’s right, a northern pike minnow). Anyway, I put my mask back on, went to the bottom, and found a snail for him. I also found a rock with some insect nymphs on it, and brough it up. So he ended up with three animals from the dive.
I looked them up this evening in my references. The snails are most likely genus Lymnaea or Campeloma. The insects are probably fly larva of one sort or another, either crane fly or syrphus fly larva. We also found a case of one of the stoneflies.
Special Problmes and Ideas: I had problems with one hip connector, which slipped the webbing twice before I got my scuba unit secured to my Parasea BC harness.
I really enjoyed this dive, and will use this entry point from now on. This is a much better way of diving.
Feet got cold again today. I need to repair or (probably) replace my dive booties.
After the dive, I stayed around when I found some kids had gotten in the water to swim. It's February, and the water is very cold even though the air temp is about 65 degrees. When one young fellow swam across the river, I watched; when he went to the high rocks area to make a 20 foot jump into the water, I shouted to him not to do it. I told him that 3 people had died right here in the last five years, and that he could have an involuntary inhalation response if he jumped deep into the water. He decided not to, and worked his way back to the water, where he gingerly got into the water with a very shallow dive, and swam to our side of the river. Maybe I helped today.
Equipment Used: single 72 tank, Scubapro AIR I regulator, no octo but had gauge and LP inflator; Parasea BC; full wet suit (hood, boots & gloves); knife; helmet for visibility; fins--Scubapro Jetfins; dive flag.
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Post by nemrod on Feb 28, 2005 0:16:40 GMT -8
John, I have used a lot of regulators but it is hard to beat a good MR12. Why do you suppose you saw no fish? Is it the cold and they are just dormant in another area? You guys and that cold water, making me shiver sitting here and I got the heater turned all the way up--I hate cold. Nemrod
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Post by dogsbodydiving on Feb 28, 2005 12:56:07 GMT -8
Hi Ya Have you done night dives there??? This is a totally different environment I'm on about here because it is an inland site we use for the odd equipment testing dives and when it's nearing the end of sea diving and we cant guarentee the weather on the coast for training. We do the odd dives there during the summer months where fish life is abundant, Roach,Perch,Pike & well known for Cray Fish all are used to divers and are quite happy to follow in the trail of the novice divers as they fin away oblivious to the fact that they are kicking all the c**p up, which they love. During the summer we do not see many Cray Fish even on night dives even though we know they are there, but in winter is different story. The Perch and Roach seem to disappear as for the Pike they are still about but seem to be in a trance mid water, have actually bumped into one that was just sitting there, too busy watching students to see it, made me jump somewhat They are ugly...But this is when we do most of our night diver training which is absolutely amazing. When you jump in the water and shine your torch down from the surface to the 6mtr ledge it looks like the whole of the bottom is moving. It is, with Cray Fish they are everywhere but that is only in the winter. So it could be a dormant thing going on where you were. Hopefully. See more fish next time Kim
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 6, 2005 9:00:39 GMT -8
Kim,
I have dived this site fairly extensively during the last several years. I think the lack of fish is because of water temperature; those that can have gone downstream to warmer water. There was at least one fish in the section of river, as the student had seen it. But the small fish that I normally see are not there. They may be down deep under rocks (I didn't see them under rocks that I could get to though).
In the summer, there are trout in the shallows up by the rapids, and steelhead/salmon (depending upon the season) transiting through the area. There were some fishermen, but they were not having any luck. Usually, for the anadramous fish (salmon and steelhead) to come up, they need higher flows after a rainstorm. We have had an unseasonably dry winter, and so these fish are not in the stream yet.
We also have bass in the summer, but they are known as warm-water fish, and are probably far downstream now.
I have not dived this area at night, as I normally dive solo, and don't feel too comfortable doing that at this site. Also, I have my own activities to do in the evening, and these dives are recreational rather than my job. It would be interesting to get someone to dive with me, and do a night dive here though. That will probably happen later, when the water is warmer.
SeaRat
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 13, 2005 21:34:11 GMT -8
I dove again this Saturday, March 12, 2005. Here's the dive log:
Dive Site: High Rocks, Clackamas River Dive # 03-05 Buddy: Solo Date: 3-12-2005 Entrance Time 1:22 PM Exit Time 1:45 PM Bottom Time: 23 minutes Surface Int. N/A Altitude: N/A Decom. Stops? N/A Air Temp.: 72 F Water Temp: 50 F Visibility: 12 feet Max. depth: 22 feet Ave. Depth 15 feet One Hour Check: Okay
Dive Plan: This dive profile followed the same way as the last, and I hiked down with my twin 50s before and weight belt before gearing up. I would enter at the small rock platform in the deeper area of the pool, swim upstream, cross over to the far side of the river, and continue upstream to the area where the current entered the pool’s head. I was interested in making any observations about fish in the river, since I did not see any last time I was there.
Observations: I got into the water, and noted that my weight was exactly correct for these conditions. I immediately looked at the thermometer, and it seemed to read 50 degrees F (I don’t have my closeup optics in my mask anymore). The bottom was again covered with silt about an inch thick, and the rocks had somewhat less (about 1/4 inch of silt) plus some algea. I saw no fish is the deeper areas of the pool. I looked under rocks, and did see one crayfish, but no sculpin. I swam upstream in about a one knot current at the bottom. I looked in the large holes between the boulders that form the bottom, and again saw no fish. The bottom changes as I headed across the current and up into the upper pool. It becomes rocky (small rocks) then sandy with some other rocks strown around. I looked under rocks, saw the usual aquatic insect larvae but no fish.
I surfaced to get my bearings, and saw that there were no fishermen to worry about (there had been two Harley Dividson motorcyclists who were fishing just below my entry point as I was getting geared up, but they also had left).
I then grabbed an fairly large rock for some negative buoyancy, and moved over under the rapids. Usually there are trout here, but initially I did not see any. They stay near the surface, just under the main current, waiting for food to come by up in the current. But there were none at that time. I headed just a little further under the current (there is a counter-current under the main current, which goes cross-wise to the main current above, making movement under the main current easy).
There, I saw them--a whole school of salmonoid fish about one foot long. There must have been 50 of them, staying just at the perifery of my visibility. I could not get close to them, indicating that they were not trout, but instead larger salmon or steelhead smolt headed downstream. They were very wary of me, and stayed away as I approached. I clung to a rock, and stayed motionless for a few minutes. They would circle back, but not get close. Usually, trout will come by with this tactic. Even when I held my breath, it made no difference.
I looked at my pressure gauge, and saw I was running low on air (I started with 1500 psi in my twin 50s, about half a fill), and so let go let the current take me downstream to my exit point. I again observed the bottom, and found no fish life apparent. Sculpin or redside shinners are what I want to see, but there are usually suckers and other fish present here. It’s still early in the Spring, and the water is still cold.
Special Problmes and Ideas: I’m still having some problems with GERT (sour stomach), and need to take further precautions about this next time I dive.
The equipment worked very well, and caused no problems. I forgot my dive flag, but it is a bit of a problem in the current anyway. I stay away from boats by surfacing near large rocks, or areas I’m sure there are no boats.
Equipment Used: Twin 50s, AMF Voit Trieste II regulator with MR-12 octopus, SPG and inflator, Para-Sea BC, full 1/4 inch wet suit with hood, glove and boots, knife, Lightning JetFins, mask and helmet with snorkel (for visibility--it’s yellow with reflective tape on it).
John
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Post by dogsbodydiving on Mar 14, 2005 12:12:55 GMT -8
Must be picking up, at least you saw something this time. Hopefully next log you will be telling us how you had to fight through the aquatic life.
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Post by dogsbodydiving on Mar 24, 2005 12:56:12 GMT -8
Some of our guys did their first sea dive of the year last weekend....C**p basically. 6 degrees (not too bad) but as black as the ace of spades, even with a torch. Done that many a time when you switch your touch on and you think the bulb has gone .
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Post by 1969ivan1 on Mar 24, 2005 13:00:02 GMT -8
The worst day of diving is still better than the best day of working......
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Post by dogsbodydiving on Mar 24, 2005 13:03:19 GMT -8
Nicely put..I agree totally.
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 24, 2005 21:53:22 GMT -8
Dive Site: Clackamas River, High Rocks Dive # 04-05 Buddy: Solo Date: April 24, 2005 Entrance Time 12:40 PM Exit Time 1:19 PM Bottom Time: 39 Surface Int. N/A Altitude: ~500 ft Decom. Stops? N/A Air Temp.: 61 F Water Temp: 49 F Visibility: 5 feet Max. depth: 20 feet Ave. Depth 18 feet One Hour Check: Okay
Dive Plan: Objectives: 1) observe aquatic life today, and compare it to last month. 2) Test my equipment (new scoop fins I had made, and the UDS-1). My original dive plan was to get into the water a bit upstream of where I went. The Clackamas County Fire Department was running a training exercise at High Rocks, in which they shot a rope across the river, tied it to a tree, brought other climbing gear and ropes and practiced getting people across the river. So I talked to the Fire Department personnel, then brought my equipment down to the water (scuba unit and weight belt). I went back to the van and suited up. My plan was to dive the deeper areas, work my way upstream and see what fish life was present at this time. Previous dives had shown little, so I was hopeful that, after over a month since the last dive (March 12th), I would find more fish and biological life. The river was pretty swift, so I wanted to stay in the deeper areas that were more protected from the current. I brought my dive flag and line down too, because there were a number of boats in the area (Fire Department and fishing boats).
Observations: As I geared up at the water, I had a few equipment problems (see below). This was the first time this year I was diving the UDS-1, and I had reconfigured it with the Scubapro A.I.R. I regulator and two LP hoses going into that second stage. So my inflator hose was too short, and it took me a few tries to get the hose attached to the BC. I also had the octopus second stage on a long hose, and it did not wrap well around my body with the two LP hoses on the other second stage.
The water was moving quite fast; I don’t know how fast (lifeguards are not there yet making measurements), but I would say the current was 5-6 knots. I went to the bottom, and had some initial problems with the scuba harness (see below), which I took care of on the bottom. The scuba was not secured, and the UDS-1 system slide upwards when I dove. I connected the straps, and continued.
I saw that there was quite a lot of life now visible. The sculpins were out on the bottom. Crayfish were numerous too. And I saw a number (probably about 10) of dead salmon carcasses in various stages of decay.
The current was such that I could not swim against it at all. I needed to get to the bottom, and find rocks to work around. It was like mountain climbing in a hurricane, as the current at times really ripped. I wanted to work my way upstream, then drift down and search for fish and other interesting items. The fire department had lost a strap, and if I could find it, I could save them having to replace it. But working against the current was hard, as I was also towing a diver’s down flag on a float, with about 25 feet of line out. This meant that I had to be aware of where that line was, and not get tangled in it. I also had a dive light on my left wrist, and attached to it was a thermometer. As I was going, I felt the tug which could only be monofilement line around my fin and the float line. I got my knife out and cut the line (which looked fairly hefty--40 lb. test line probably).
I surfaced after about twenty minutes of working upstream to see where I was, and noted that I was above where the fire department had their line across the river. I was almost to the head of this hole, and could make no further progress upstream (the channel narrowed, and the current was much swifter there). It has been raining the past few days, and the water was higher than during the March dives. I also looked at my float, and noted that I had lost the flag. It was on a fiberglass pole, which came in two parts. Apparently, when I pulled on the float, I pulled the flag into the water, and the current pulled the flag and upper pole off the float. That left me the lower pole, with the float and weight.
I dove again to the bottom, and began my drift downstream. I stopped at several rocks, and with my light shinned in the openings below them (these are huge rock, some as big as cars, with sculpted areas where fish could hide). I saw more dead salmon, which indicates to me that this run has had a number of fish in it (the Columbia River has a run that doesn’t have many fish coming up right now for some reason). These are spawned out salmon, which die naturally after laying their eggs in the sand. Near the shore, but at about 18 feet depth, I found a very nice looking pocket knife. I picked it up, and put it in my BC pocket.
A little further down, I again went to the surface to see whether I was close to the fisherman who had set up downstream of my entry. I was already past him, and felt his fishing line around my leg. As I surfaced, I saw that the fisherman had come towards me. I rolled in a manner to free his line, and he dipped his pole below me to ensure the line was clear. I told him that I did not want to cut his line, and he seemed pleased with that.
I decided to go a bit further downstream to try finding both my dive flag and the yellow strap the Fire Department had lost. I got into the middle, and saw a live lamprey eel in a hole in the rock. I than saw another dead, spawned out eel, and another live one. These are brown in color, and different from the ones I had seen in the Umpqua River. I decided to grab this one. I was able to keep it in my grip, and the lamprey in turn grabbed my glove in its mouth. But as I started swimming toward shore, the rope I was holding for the float began doing odd things. I freed the lamprey, and went to the surface behind a large rock outcropping which shielded me from the current (this area had a vertical cliff that was scoured, and I could not swim against the current upstream). When I was able to stand in shallow water, it became apparent what had happened to my “float.” It as a float no more. The Styrofoam float had come off the pole, the weight then took it to the bottom, where it was hopelessly tangled in the rocks. I put my regulator in my mouth and tried once more to get to the float, but the current was too strong. I surfaced again, got to the shallows, pulled out my knife and cut the line with the line cutting tool on the knife.
It was a good dive, and I had made a lot of good observations. I had lost my dive flag/float, and gained a pocket knife (an Old Timer with a 3 inch blade). In the river, sometimes you exchange equipment.
Special Problems and Ideas: 1) The UDS-1 performed very well. I started out with 2800 psi, and surfaced with about 800 psi (without pulling the reserve). The two hose A.I.R. I has advantages, and is a really easy-breathing system when set up that way. I will have to go away from the “long hose” concept with this in place though, as that routing just doesn’t work. The shorter, 36” hose would be better, and allow me to use the octopus pockets on my Para-Sea BC.
2) I don’t think I will take a float with a diver’s flag for hand-carrying on my next dives. I lost this float completely. I think it is a better idea in these kinds of currents to simply dive as if boats are around, and surface next to a big rock in a protected area. The dive flag/float, even though streamlined, just did not work in this case.
3) Bringing the gear down first, then suiting up as I’ve been doing the last few dives has worked out very well. I will continue to do that. I walked out (it’s about 1/4 mile walk) with my full gear, up a hill, and that was quite a workout. I think I’ll drop off the tanks next time and come back for them.
4) The fins proved very good in this current. I have specially modified these fins into my “scoop fin” concept, and this is the best pair I have made.
5) The problem I had with the hip straps on the UDS-1 were that I had not connected them prior to the dive. I did that underwater, but put them over my weight belt to do it. That was a practical in-water solution, but that would also preclude me from directly dropping my weights--not good. I need to be extra-sure that I do this before I dive next dive. Because I was trying to manage the float line, I decided to do it this way as to take the weights off underwater would be to risk loosing the float (another reason for no float next time).
Equipment Used: UDS-1 with A.I.R. I regulator (two hose configuration); long hose octopus; helmet with snorkel (no light); hand carried light and thermometer; full 6 mm wet suit with hood, boots and gloves; knife (which I used twice).
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 19, 2005 21:46:56 GMT -8
I've been a bit negligent in posting my dive log, so here is one from early May:
Dive Site: Clackamas River, High Rocks Dive # 04-06 Buddy: Solo Date: May ?, 2005 Entrance Time Unrecorded Exit Time Unrecorded Bottom Time: ~35 minutes Surface Int. N/A Altitude: ~500 ft Decom. Stops? N/A Air Temp.: 61 F Water Temp: 49 F Visibility: 5 feet Max. depth: 20 feet Ave. Depth 18 feet One Hour Check: My one-hour checkback was not okay, but was unrelated to decompression problems (see below).
Dive Plan: Objectives: 1) observe aquatic life today, and compare it to last month. 2) Test a new configuration for the UDS-1 and the AIR I second stage, where I had one long hose directly from the valve (there is a second outlet on the UDS-1 manifold). This theoretically would allow more air to the mouthpiece from the second LP hose.
Observations:
I had trouble getting into the water this time. The place I chose for the entry was solid rock, with very little space for me to put my feet. When I did, I found that the rocks were very slippery. I did finally get my fins on, and entered the water. I went to the bottom, and immediately saw fish (sculpin). The water was very swift, and I had to be behind the rocks to make progress upstream. It was a pretty good workout, going hand-over-hand upstream to the head of the hole. I could not progress further, and so released and went downstream. On the way upstream, my regulator seemed to be breathing harder than normal. I was getting the air I needed, but not as easily as normally. This should not have happened, as my reg is set up as the "ultimate breathing machine" with two LP hoses to the second stage (an AIR I by Scubapro). Then I checked, and I had not flipped the pre-dive/dive lever into the "dive" position. There is a spring that slides against the demand lever to make breathing harder and prevent free flows. It is to be used before entry, or when snorkeling. Sliding that button into the "Dive" position solved the problem, and really allowed the reg to perform to its max. I tested it greatly, as the "climb" I made against the current was not a swim, but rather hand over hand upstream to the head of the pool.
Special Problems and Ideas: 1) Entry was a problem, as described above. I will enter in a different place next time to prevent the problem of no footing while trying to put on my fins.
2) I mentioned a problem with my two-hour check-back. Well, apparently the current was rough enough that I strained a pectoral muscle, which led to chest pains. But these were not the internal type; they were muscle, and I figured out what they were before needing to call medical attention. This can be tricky, but I knew it was not a decompression problem (depth ~22 feet), and not an embolism (no symptoms of that either). I've had a lot of medical training, and figured it out when I tried to move my arm, my chest hurt.
Equipment Used: UDS-1 with A.I.R. I regulator (two hose configuration, modified); long hose octopus; helmet with snorkel (no light); hand carried light and thermometer; full 6 mm wet suit with hood, boots and gloves; knife.
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 19, 2005 22:34:22 GMT -8
Dive Site: Clackamas River, High Rocks Dive # 04-07 Buddy: Solo Date: June 19, 2005 Entrance Time 1:40 PM Exit Time 2:25 PM Bottom Time: 45 minutes 39 Surface Int. N/A Altitude: ~500 ft Decom. Stops? N/A Air Temp.: 75 F Water Temp: ~55 F Visibility: 4-5 feet Max. depth: 20 feet Ave. Depth 18 feet One Hour Check: Okay
Dive Plan: Objectives: 1) observe aquatic life today, and compare it to last month. 2) Dive the Gagnan/Voit Blue 50 Fathom regulater, twin tanks, no SPG or LP inflator (true vintage style).
Observations: I discussed my objectives with the lifeguards, and my equipment. They had seen me before, and knew that I used "unique" gear. They wanted to know about my harness connections and the history of the old gear. I told them that the regulator I was using was a single stage, downstream valve designed by Emile Gagnan, and this was after the Cousteau-Gagnan patent (a separate patent). The downstream single stage design is very simple, and provides a very nice venturi-assisted breathing machine.
As I was putting my mask on, the strap broke, and so did the connection. That was my TUSA Liberator plus, which was my birthday present a year and a half ago. They simply don't make masks like they used to. I finally got it "fixed" by tying an overhand know with the strap on the remains of the plastic connector. It was on tight, but at least I could dive.
I entered the water, and immediately went to the bottom, where I was greeted by my old friends, the red-sided shiners. They're back! I've been studying them for years, first in the Umpqua River system, and now in the Clackamas River (both in Oregon). I stayed right there, watching them come in toward me whenever I remained still. My breathing did not give them a problem (maybe the double hose helped here). But if I moved, they got out of sight (moved out about 3 feet).
After watching them for awhile, I again started upstream. Water visibility was like the last time, limited to 3-5 feet (1meter + a bit). Progress was slow, as the current was still high (thunder storms yesterday did not help).
I went up the opposite side of the river, again mostly hand-over-hand. At one point, my mask was bothering me as it was much too tight. I stopped, braced myself and pulled the mask off my face to relieve the pressure from the too-short mask strap. I started back upstream, and found a crushed auto in the debries that had been washed into the pool last winter. I had not seen it in previous dives last year.
There is a pool above the narrowing area, and I surfaced in that pool, scaring the heck out of a drake and hem mallard duck. There, I took my helmet off, removed my mask, and pulled down my hood. I put on the mask under the hood, thinking that this would lessen the circumference of my head, and help with the mask tightness. It did, and I proceeded downstream for the rest of my dive.
I went through some high-current areas, and found one place where there was a "cave" of sorts. A large, flat rock had probably move a bit, and created a five-foot deep cavern at about twenty feet. I surfaced to see where it was, and confirmed it, then informed the lifeguards about it as this is a hazard they needed to be aware of.
Submerging again, I proceeded downstream, noting that there was more "metal" in the water than I had seen before. Various debries are swept downstream in the winter, and this includes large steel beam, metal rebar, etc.
The Gagnan-designed regulator (AMF Voit Blue 50 Fathom in a Mistral box--my doing), worked very well. I had no problems with it at all. I never went on reserve (twin 50s, starting with about 2200 psi insted of 3000 psi). I tested the two-hose in the current, and it worked well. I was not using non-returns in the mouthpiece, but this did not cause any problems. I only got a bit of water in it once or twice, and simply cleared it in an exhaling roll. I also tried something else, swimming on my side in the current, as this places the regulator in an ideal position in relation to the center of my lungs. This did decrease the breathing resistence a bit (no water pressure differential between the regulator and the center of the lungs). But it was not real significant, so I did not use it too much. I was interested in a breathing resistence as tank pressure decreased, and I really could not feel much there either, even though I'm pretty sure I'm below 500 psi in one cylinder (the other is probably not giving air through the J reserve at this point).
I swam to the surface, and decided not to interrupt a fisherman who was in my entry point, and so swam to shore just upstream of where I had entered. I had a pretty good place to get my fins off, but then had about a six foot climb straight up a rock with several good foot and hand holds to assist me. I took a bit of a rest, then went up using some mountaineering technique (now you know why I wear a helmet!). As I came over the top of the rock, I surprised and startled some sun bathers. They were not expecting to see a diver with "vintage" equipment coming up over the rock from the river. That part was really fun.
I went over to the lifeguards to explain again the "cavern" I saw below where they have their tent.
Special Problems and Ideas: 1) The mask was a significant problem. I almost scrubbed the dive at the water's edge. I'm thinking that "they don't make masks like they used to!"--sound familiar? I still have an old Dacor Professional mask to use, and a newer Dacor Vista-VU mask ('got it cheap as it has a pink skirt and no male divers would buy it in Medford, Oregon). Those masks are twenty- and ten-years old, respectively. Maybe that's why some of the DIR divers always carry a backup mask! If I get another mask, I may go for as Aqualung Wrap-Around. That mask is metal and silicone. 2) The fins again proved very good in this current. My specially modified Scoop Fins are very good in current, and provide remarkable power when needed. 3) I had a significant chest cold about a week and a half ago, so stayed out of the water for awhile. I still had a bit of upper respiratory buildup of mucus, but it was loose, and I was able to sing in church this morning. So I figured I was finally able to get back into the water.
Equipment Used: Scuba: twin 50s with Gagnan Voit 50 Blue Fathom single stage, two hose regulator, harness modified for Para-Sea BC (no power inflator or SPG this dive); full 6 mm wet suit with hood, boots and gloves; knife (which I used twice to recover a bit of fishing gear).
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Post by RMannix on Jun 20, 2005 7:43:00 GMT -8
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 24, 2005 17:54:35 GMT -8
Update--you may remember my mask and mask strap broke an my last dive. The TUSA LiberatorPlus is now fixed. It has new parts on the right side, and a new strap, all for $16.15. My LDS, Pacific Watersports, did not charge for labor. But I think I will now take a backup mask in my dive bag to preclude having the some thing happen again.
John
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Post by dogsbodydiving on Jun 26, 2005 10:19:54 GMT -8
Hi ya Did my 1st sea dives of the year on 18th & 19th June in Swanage..Bloody Excellent!!!!!!!!! The weather was with us. Swanage has a famous pier which many have dived as it is can be dived as a bubble maker, try diver to instructor. Our mission of the weekend was diving the most famous wreck of the south coast 'The Kyarra'., they call it 'THE SHIP MADE OF BRASS'. 'The Kyarra was registered in Freemantle before WW1, and plied the England-to-Australia run for the Australasian United Steam Navigation Co. In the war, she did the same thing as well as helping to land Anzac Expeditionary troops in the Dardanelles. In 1917 she became a casualty clearing ship, and had a 4.7in" quick-firing gun mounted on her stern as a defence against U-boats. But it would not help her when she sailed from Tilbury on her last voyage on 24 May, 1918. She had been ordered to embark 1000 war-wounded Aussie soldiers in Devonport and return them to Sydney. She was also to carry some civilian passengers and a full cargo. In the early morning of 26th May, the Kyarra had cleared the Isle of Wight and was moving fast through calm seas aroud Anvil Point. Captain William Smith didnt know it, but German submarine ace Oberleutnant Johann Lohs was watching him through the periscope of UB-57. Lohs was having a good mission out of Zeebrugge. Two days before, he had sunk the P&O Liner Moldavia, (which I have also dived) which had been converted into an armed merchant cruiser. This time he used a torpedo to hit the Kyarra in her port side amidships, killing six crew. The rest took to the lifeboats. Seven minutes later the Kyarra nosed-dived under. Since then thousands of divers have put the Kyarra in their log books. And they have discovered just how mixed her cargo was bottles of chamagne, red wine, beer and vinegar, bales of silk & cloth, French perfume, lino, sealing wax, medical supplies, cigarettes, silver purses, men's big pocket watches, ladies gold wrist watches and of course, masses of brass. Last year I managed to get some sheet music of her, this year we have egg cups comming up. Got to the place but didnt find anything.....could feel the crates at elbow depth, so will have to wait till next year now. Dive PlanDive the Kyarra and get as much as possible. ObservationsLots of marine life but going for gold Special problems and IdeasNo probs just need more time. Equipment UsedNot tech but nothing you lot would be interested in
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