Baleana 6-11-17

Last week I attempted to dive the Resor.  However, after I jumped in an struggled to get down 20', I determined that the current was just too much for me and I aborted the dive.  I truly get frustrated with myself when this happens especially on a wreck that I have had so many awesome dives on.  In the end it was the correct decision for me, as my shoulder was swollen from using my muscles so much trying to hold onto the anchor line in the current while going hand over hand and trying to get to the bottom.

Yesterday, we headed out on the Independence II to the wreck of the Baleana and the conditions in the water were so much better than last week on the Resor and the diving was outstanding.  I have dove this wreck several times, and typically it is cold, dark with little or no viz.  I dove it in 2012 and I had 30' of viz on it and was able to swim the whole wreck and learn the layout of it.  Well today was another day with great viz on this wreck, it was about 20' which I think is great!

This wreck is from the 1800's and it is believed to be an old whaling vessel.  It is loaded with coal that still covers the wreck today.  The photo below taken by Brandon McWilliams classically shows the conditions on the bottom with the well preserved wood and coal covering the wreck.

I did not bring my camera down today as I decided to just dive, We were tied in right next to the vat that used to be used to hold the blubber from whales, it rises about 30' from the bottom and is very recognizable.  I spent most of my dive checking out the wreck and dreaming of finding that dead eye that must be on this wreck somewhere.  There were quite a few baby lobsters on the wreck and there were actually scallops too!

When I first splashed I notices the waves of jellies all through the water column and I knew that the dive would be much warmer than last week, The coldest temp I had was 46 degrees on the bottom which sounds cold but, is much warmer than 42 degrees reported last week.  The surface temp was in the mid 50's.  I only turned my heater on for about 10 minutes as I was basically warm my entire dive.

Hey guess what, I actually dove with my husband, Bill today..well, at least we went down the anchor line together..and we both made safe dives!

Bill heading down to the Baleana, Photo by Brandon McWilliams

Till my next dive adventure...Be safe!