View Full Version : Holsten 6/20


Chum Bucket
06-23-2008, 08:26 PM
Wasn't going to post because vis was so bad I didn't take any video or photos. Hit the wreck Friday late afternoon and got tied in. First thing I saw on the descent were the huge hawser lines floating up to maybe 120 or 130 feet and covered with mono. gillfish spent a good portion of his dive there getting untangled. When I looked back I thought he was untangling our buoy marker, freeing me up to tie in to the wreck. Did a little exploring around the wheelhouse at 180 fsw. Vis was maybe 20-25 feet at best. While tying in I had 2 huge ARS watching me. Finished tying in and let one fly only to loose him due to a bad high shot. Port side running light is still there at the wheelhouse waiting on Dago to finish it up. Did manage to shoot my 2 red snappers and an AJ. A suprising amount of goliaths for this far north and west into the Gulf. They were active and all over our shot fish.

Aahh, bad vis and too many goliaths, I felt right at home.

Wound up doing 25 minutes on the bottom and felt great with a 20/30. Had 30 or so minutes of deco starting at 90 feet. Carried 2 40cu's, one with 50% one with 100%. Loving the 2 bottles under my left arm configuration. Three thermo's of which the last one at about 100 feet was wicked cold at 72-74 degrees. Above that felt like bath water. Was good having the up line with the huge buoy ball because of the ripping big moon current.

Fished all night to easily limit everyone in the boat that didn't drop on ARS and caught some beautiful huge beeliners, some going 3 pounds, that I just had for dinner.

Swam down Saturday morning on a single 120 to untie out of the wreck. Vis was unchanged, but with a single tank and one stage bottle felt like freediving! Can't wait to get back out to spend some more time on the wreck, very interseting with lots to explore.

Was really looking forward to taking a lot of photos. Guess we just have to go back.

Spent Saturday getting our asses handed to us in the southern grounds. The 36 mile radar was solid green with rain, waterspouts, and lightning.

If someone here was the boat circling us Friday night and Saturday morning, you should have hailed us or just come over. Would not have been an issue.

dagodiver
06-23-2008, 09:01 PM
Adam, sorry about the conditions but sounds like the dive went great.
Glad you all got some fish.
I drove 25 hours round trip for not much better.


Dago.

barney
06-24-2008, 06:58 AM
Sorry to hear about the vis - weird.

I drove 25 hours round trip for not much better.
Dago.

Got you beat - just landed in Ireland and it looks like the whole week may be a blowout! :(

dagodiver
06-24-2008, 08:40 AM
Sorry to hear about the vis - weird.



Got you beat - just landed in Ireland and it looks like the whole week may be a blowout! :(


That sucks.!

Dago.

Mobile Diver
06-24-2008, 09:34 AM
At least Ireland is a nice place to visit. I was going to Tortugas this weekend & it looks like a blowout.:banghead:

AristaKat
06-24-2008, 09:59 AM
Adam,
Thanks for post, don't fret we all have those trips out there makes you appreciate the good days that much more. Guys can you send me some pics of Ireland and maybe some tips/places to go I think I might swicth time share I bought in Belize to go there for one of my weeks ? Depends on imput I get from you'll.

Thanks
Jamie

my email is Jamie@Aristakat.com

caseyc
06-24-2008, 06:29 PM
Hey Adam, sounds like fun. Pretty far offshore huh? Where did you go to get certfied for technical diving certification? I'm really interested in doing some deeper dives.

Chum Bucket
06-24-2008, 07:21 PM
Hey Adam, sounds like fun. Pretty far offshore huh? Where did you go to get certfied for technical diving certification? I'm really interested in doing some deeper dives.

I worked with Jim Joseph at Fantasea Scuba in Pt. Charlotte.

There has been a lot of great discussion right here on Spearfishing Planet about deeper training. Just search through this section and you will probably find all the answers to your questions and be able to determine if you are ready.

With the serious injury you sustained not real long ago, I would definitely talk to a doctor knowledgable with dive related injuries to see what the long term prognosis is with that and deeper diving.

Also keep in mind you want to have a lot of experience. If you don't have Nitrox, Advanced open water, stress & Rescue and first aid, think about taking them.

I started slow with the deeper training by doing Advanced Nitrox, Heliotrox & Decompression procedures and then used what I learned in those classes to put a bunch of dives under my belt. I think this also gave Jim a chance to determine my diving ability and experience level before jumping into 200fsw with the doubles.

I share your excitement about going far and deep, just don't rush it.
This forum is THE best resource you will ever find for more info so search it out and ask lots of questions if you don't find the answers you're looking for.

Mobile Diver
06-24-2008, 08:30 PM
Adam,
Thanks for post, don't fret we all have those trips out there makes you appreciate the good days that much more. Guys can you send me some pics of Ireland and maybe some tips/places to go I think I might swicth time share I bought in Belize to go there for one of my weeks ? Depends on imput I get from you'll.

Thanks
Jamie

my email is Jamie@Aristakat.com

Jamie,

Here is a link to 384 pics of our Ireland trip. We did 1 week on horseback & 1by car. Hard to pick a favorite, but the Cliffs of Mohr was a standout.

http://keysmobilediving.com/Pictures/

Teh Wicked
06-24-2008, 08:32 PM
Too bad about the bad viz, I love seeing those photos from the deep stuff that is rarely explored or hunted. Maybe next time brother!