Dive #104 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log
© Copyright 2010 Rich Torkington Mesa, Arizona

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Bottom Time to Date:

91h
2m


Dive Info:

Dive Start:
11:15AM

Bottom Time:
57 minutes

Maximum Depth:
77 feet

Safety Stop:
3 minutes

Beginning Air:
3000 psi

Ending Air:
700 psi

Weather Conditions:
80°F

Surface Conditions:
Calm

Surface Water Temperature:
76°F

Bottom Water Temperature:
76°F

Visibility:
100+ feet
104
TITLE
* * *˝
March 19,
2002
SHARK POINT
SALT CAY, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS, BRITISH WEST INDIES
BOAT DIVE
VIDEO
Michael (divemaster), Linda and John (buddies), Linda (NY)
Photo
Creole wrasse cleaing station at 50’
Videograph by Rich Torkington in TCI 2002 
Dive Journal: The mid-morning dive today is at Shark Point, and Johnny joins us for this one. On our descent, John again had some trouble clearing his ears, but I really like the way he calmly works his way through that.

It is a fine dive with many of the usual critters and scenes. A gorgeous tiger grouper, a little darker than usual, is lurking around with a bright red mouth. There is also lots of cleaning going on, especially the parrotfish and doctorfish.

Down over the wall we discover a great cleaning station for creole wrasses. Long streaming schools come flying downhill over the reef, then one by one abruptly stop at the station in a vertical position for maybe 3 to 5 seconds, hovering above the floor. The collection of brilliant blue-violet fish is a nice scene, and the constant changing of bodies is a lot of fun to watch.

I also really enjoy a flurry of doctorfish in all shades ranging from pale to midnight blue. The school may well have included blue tangs or ocean surgeonfish as well – difficult to tell for sure. This pack vigorously grazes on algae, quickly shifting from one spot to the next.

I also spot a mutton snapper this dive, another new one for me, although a pretty drab-looking fish.

At the dive end, I catch sight of a stingray who circles around me, then takes off in a straight line angled away from the boat. As I watch him fade into the blue, I am really astounded at the speed he attains – screaming over the sandy floor.

“Welcome to Salt Cay!”

More
Dive
Info:
Fins:
Mares Avanti Quattro
Computer:
U S Divers Matrix
Tank:
80 ft3 Al
BCD:
SeaQuest Spectrum 4
Dive Type:
BOAT
Body of Water:
Caribbean Sea
Mask:
U S Divers
Protection:
3mm full wetsuit
Regulator:
SeaQuest
Spectrum XR2
plus Oceanic
Slimline octopus
Weight:
12 lb
Water Type:
Salt
Video Equipment:
Sony DCR-TRV11 digital handycam in Top Dawg housing