8-17-08 Varanger Dive

We headed out at 7am on the Tuna Seizure to the Varanger. We made it there in only 1.5 hours from the dock. I don't think I've ever got to the Varanger so quick. Dan Martinez jumped in to tie the hook in and the pool was open. I have not been to the Varanger in a long time and I was anxious to get back to a wreck I used to dive a lot. The sruface visibility was awful (pea soup) but it opened up below the thermocline of 40' and the visibility on the botttom was at least 30' of more but, it was dark. We were tied in right next to the boilers in the debirs field at a depth of about 137'. Bill gathered scallops while I took some photos and explored the wreck. The marine life on the wreck was incredible which is what drives me to dive on the deeper, less dove on wrecks. The surface interval was filled with lots of laughs from Mark Dolphin, Kenny, Bill and Rob and they tried their best to be polite with me on board. The second dive was better that the first for me, it seemed like the visibility opened up even more and it was a little brighter. We gathered more scallops and saw some large ling and taug. There was a little more current on this dive which prevented me from swimming too far from the anchor. This wreck proves to still be a fantastic dive well worth the 28 mile ride. I've been wanting to get back to the Varanger for the past 2 years and I want to give a special thanks to Capt. Bill & Kenny of the Tuna Seizure and N.E. Scuba Supply for getting me there. I am sure that everyone onboard had a great time and looking forward to out next trip out!

8-1-08 Patrice McAlister

We headed out to the Patrice McAlister and found calm seas and bright sunshine. I have not dove the Patrice McAlister in many, many years. I forgot what a pretty wreck it is. It is an intact tugboat, sitting upright at a depth of 58', and is covered in soft white coral. The visibility was about 20' and the bottom temperature was 51 degrees. I spent both of my dives taking photos and checking out the interior of the wreck. Funny story about this wreck, my uncle was the Captain of this tug when it was overcome by water and sunk. He lost his favorite coffee mug when it sunk and he always asks me to look around the wheelhouse for it. Needless to say I have never found his mug. Bill collected lobsters during both dives and we totalled 4. There were plenty of taug on this wreck but no flounder. It has been about 1 month since my last dive. I had to endure an unexpected surgery that prevented me from diving for a month. I really appreciated reading everyone's posts it helped to comfort me when I couldn't be out diving with everyone. I was scared that I wouldn't feel up to diving today but then I thought about an old friend whom inspired me to dive and decided I had to go and at least try to dive. What a nice day it was to dive. I often think of that old friend and whether they realize they still inspire me to dive. I have a few dives scheduled for the upcoming weeks as long as there are enough divers to go. So come on everyone, lets spur this economy and GO DIVING!