I am so glad that I decided to dive on this Labor Day, despite the predicted heavy wind and rain conditions for Sunday. Technically that kind of weather should mess up all sites, but I guess the winds were not as bad, I had a great dive with pretty good visibility (at the shores especially).
Our alternative sites had some swells and little waves crashing into the entry ways, so we headed to the beloved backup site, Folly Cove. The divers who just finished their first dive on the right side of the cove told us that the viz was quite horrible, much better on the sand than rocky areas, I thought left side is our best option, while also thinking I should have just stayed home and rest the soreness from Norman’s Woe.
Very early in the dive I had BCD malfunction, had to go back to shore to figure it out. Finally when I did figure out my buddies were way into their dives so I decided to go in by myself. I would eventually see them on the left wall, I thought.
Yeah, I may get crucified for this but I enjoy diving by myself way too much. However, it has nothing to do with how often I lose my dive buddies; that’s a photographer thing. 🙂 But good thing is I still enjoy myself even though I lose my buddies. And no, I cannot go up after 3 mins, meet them and continue. Once I am up my ears won’t let me come down.
Anyway, had a great dive! You know some dives are so good that you want to dance? Or maybe just let loose and just dart away towards a random direction because you have just too much joy? Yeah, it was one of those. I don’t know what are the parameters for such dives, some dives are just like that. Everything just lines up.
So the dive started with nice swim over the sand towards the wall. That was my favorite part. I came across a bunch of pipefish, stopped to take photos of every single one of them from every possible angle. They were all such beautiful pipefish and they all had different features. When do pipefish mate? I want to see a pregnant one! But I wonder even if I see one could my eyes realize that it was pregnant? I see most of the details at home on my computer!
The cool sighting of the day was the fourspot flounder. As I was swimming I saw this little flounder with funny face, funnier then usual. I was taking photos, like most fish, it turned its ass to me and shook off some sand and then I saw two spots on its tail! That was so cool, I thought it was a tropical because I have never seen one around, but, apparently, it was a local flounder. Funny thing is my buddies also found one during their dive! How things work out so awesome sometimes!
Rest of the dive was full of cunners, lobsters, crabs, more flounders, both winter and windowpane. I found the northern red of Folly, paid my respects and fed it a little sea urchin, sort of keeping a tradition Andy Martinez had mentioned to me just the day before. Just below the Red, I found Anna’s tablet, cleaned it a bit and paid my respects to her, as well. Oh, I also found a nudibranch in the same area, rare in September!
As I got deeper, cold water suddenly started to rush in and the visibility reduced significantly, since I was almost half tank I just turned around. At the shallows of the folly I got caught in the middle of school of stripers. They are always so beautiful but it is a bitch to get photo of them.
Another cool encounter I had was with a ocellate lady crab, which had serious attitude issues! As I got closer it got so worked up it wide opened its claws and started swimming in zigzag in front of my mask. Seriously, chill dude, I will just do few clicks and leave you alone!
I ended my dive at 80 mins with a happy face.
34 ft, 80 mins, 52 F, 10-15 ft viz
Land support: Bert Perry
Land buddies: dan Hedrick, Jason Feick, Suzanne Rose