Stolt 6-1-19

Well it has almost been a year since I posted to my blog.  I did not have a lot of time to post last year and hopefully this year I will find more time.  In looking at my blog, I see I didn't even post about my dive to the 56 Mile wreck last year, it was one of the best dives I ever had and hope to get there again  this year.  I had tried to dive that wreck for years and it was worth the wait!

I went out over the weekend with Gotham Divers on the Independence II to dive the Algol.  Upon arriving at the Algol a very large fishing boat was double anchored right on top of the wreck so we moved over to the Stolt Dagali and joined the Gypsy Blood  dive boat whom was already anchored on the wreck.   I had heard about the epic visibility on the wreck last week but, today it was only about 25' which still is not bad. 

The wreck this year is covered with tiny mussels.  I am always amazed how one year the wreck will be carpeted with sea anemones and another year it is covered in mussels.  There were some sea anemones but not as much as in prior years.  I looked all over for nudibranchs but, they were elusive.  I took some photos however, one of my flash diffuser fell off when I splashed so the lighting was not ideal.  The water is deep green and the temp was in the low 50's.  It did't seem too cold but, then again I was warmed up from swimming on the surface from the Independence II to the Gypsy Blood's Carolina line.

Stony Coral

I did see some large Tautog, they were on top of the wreck letting the current run through their gills.  Perhaps the limited open season for these fish has resulted in the population increasing because there was definitely quite a few on the wreck.

There were mussels and winter flounder boated.  Everyone seemed to have a great day of diving and I sure was happy to be back at it!!  Be Safe...