CSI Dive #2

For those that aren’t aware of my CSI dive, here’s a brief history: Back in January, there was a retaliatory shooting done in my local area. During the shooting an innocent woman was killed. After the shootings occurred, the alleged suspects stayed at a KOA campground North of our area. At this campground is a football field sized pond and the rumor was, they might have thrown the weapons into the pond to get rid of them. So, we were called in to dive the pond and look for the weapons. We dove it back in April with only 3 divers and one surface support person. The water temp was 53 degrees and visibility was zero. And, of course, we found nothing. So, this time, we went prepared.

We had 12 people show up for this dive. We met at 1000 at our LDS to load tanks and then we headed to the site. After we got to the site, we grouped and got our briefing about the case and then I briefed the group about water conditions the last time we were there. I was the only diver that did the dive in April and was back for this one.

For dive 1, we had 6 teams of two to work the grid that was laid out for us. Basically, the surface person would guide the diver from point A to Point B with a rope. Once a point was reached, they would tug the rope to alert the diver to stop and turn around. As the diver turned around, the surface person would dole out another arm’s length of rope and would lead the diver back to the starting point. Back and forth until their part of the grid was complete. The first dive took about 45-50 minutes for everyone to complete their part of the grid. We found nothing. Water temp was 59 degrees below the thermocline and depth was around 20 feet. I was glad I was diving dry this time around. Again, visibility was zero. Nothing but blackness after about 8-10 feet.

Dive 2 was a bit more hit and miss. The shore didn’t allow for the rope buddy teams, so the second dive was just, whatever diver wanted to get back in the water, head to the far shore, drop down and search the area best they could. The area was shallower but just as dark in places. The second dive was about 30 minutes for the few of us that did it. Water temp was, again, 59 degrees, max depth of about 15 feet and still black as night at the bottom. We did the best we could but still found nothing.

The water temp and visibility was basically the same on this dive as it was back in April. The biggest difference, however, was the smell. I’m not sure what the hot sun had done to the water from April to July, but the smell of the water was ungodly. We didn’t really notice it until we started stirring up the bottom. Once we started stirring everything up, the surface workers could smell the odor coming out of the water. Then, as we surfaced, we had the stench on us from head to toe. It was a very bad smell and it was all through our gear. I’m just hoping the stench came off my gear. I’ll see when I get home tonight. All in all, most people said it was absolutely the worst “non-current” diving conditions they have been in. And, the fact that we didn’t find what we were looking for didn’t make things any better. But we were glad to help out the local Police Department. I don’t know about the rest of the folks, but I’ll do it again if they ask. I’ll just hope for a new location.

We even got a mention in the local newspaper and were on the 11:00 news last night. Kinda cool, but since we didn’t find anything, there was no fanfare about it. Just to be involved was cool for me.

Holy $#@%, They Bite!!

This past Sunday, I helped Scuba Steve with a Rescue Diver Course. When I “help,” for the most part I play the victim for the Rescue students to respond to and “save.” I act anywhere from a tired diver to a passive panicked diver to a blown-out aggressively panicked diver. It can be a lot of fun and it can put the students through the paces if it’s done right. I’m still learning the nuances of being a victim, but I’m getting a little better each time. I can also be a buddy to any student that is taking to course along when buddy teams are needed. That allows me to help teach a bit and it also keeps my skills sharpened up. Steve brought 5 new Rescue Divers into the diving world. Congrats to them all.

While helping out, I also used my new “long hose” configuration for the first time. I moved to a 7 foot primary hose, an octo bungee and a small SPG a week or so ago and this was my first chance to dive with it. Short answer: I like it. I am much more streamlined and everything feels better. We’ll see how it goes with more diving, but my initial opinion is very favorable.

Ok, so I guess you’re wondering what the title of this blog is about. The Open Water portion of the Rescue class was held at a local quarry in Macon. The quarry isn’t open to the public. It’s on privately owned church grounds. But, the church has a relationship with our LDS and they are allowed to conduct classes out there as long as waivers are signed at the store. So, we were out at the quarry and Scuba Steve is in the water briefing the Rescue guys about what is coming up in the class. He’s standing there in his shorty with the back unzipped. All of a sudden, he jumps and yells, “Get off me, punk!!” He said he had been bitten by a fish. I laughed thinking he was messing with the students before they got in the water. As I was standing there near him, I had my hands in the water and felt a nip on finger. I looked down and there was a small Bream. And, he had just bitten me!! I looked at Steve and he said they go for exposed skin. Well, I had on a full wetsuit and boots, so no big deal. I’d just have to watch my hands. When it came time to do the “circular reel search” later in the afternoon, one of the students didn’t have a buddy, so I went down with him to be his pivot man. Just after we dropped and he started his search pattern around me, I noticed I was surrounded by about 40-50 Bream. I was pretty amazed at how many there were and how close they were to me. That is, until I remembered: I wasn’t wearing a hood!!! Those of you that have met me, know I shave my head. So, here I am, down at only 15 feet, sitting on a rock so I don’t move, one hand wrapped in a search rope to guide the searcher around, a shaved head, no hood and 40 cocky-ass Bream swimming around my head. This isn’t going to be good. Then it started: The first bite hit the top of my head and then my ear. Next thing I know, I started getting bit everywhere there was skin showing. My ears, my head, my neck and my throat were all getting nipped by these little bastards. Every time I would swat them away, they would just come right back, and with a vengeance. They were like little piranhas that didn’t actually eat you. After, what seemed like an eternity, Steve sounded sub-duck, signaling the exercise was over, and I shot to the surface as safely as I could. After that dive, I pulled out the dragon hood and used it the rest of the day. Although it was too warm for a hood, it saved many more bites to my head. That was an unreal experience for me. And, as do many of my experiences, it makes for some decent reading..