AUE Weekend Trip Report, June 25-26
Great dive on the HYDRO. She is really
starting to break up, as I observed lots of new portions that have collapsed
since our last visit. Large sections of duct work have dropped in the
engine room. The wreck is still as colorful as always, as she will
continue to be a wonderful dive. Not sure how much longer I will venture
into the ship though....
•
A S S O C I A T I O N OF U N D E R W A T E R E X P L O R E R S
•
HYDRO
ATLANTIC and QUEEN OF NASSAU
(l) port side view of the wheelhouse; (r)
starboard side view of the wheelhouse.
We had typical conditions on the
QUEEN OF NASSAU - clear water down to about 130 feet and then milky water with
about 10-15 feet of visibility on the bottom.
The dive was marked with
observations of numerous sharks. On the bottom near the spare screws on
the starboard side, we ran across a very large (~10-11 feet) sawfish (Pristis pectinata).
Just as I was about to take his picture he decided to move on. He departed
us with a massive cloud of sediment that engulfed us. As we rose to get
out of the shit, I was suddenly confronted by the working end of the saw fish,
which must have turned around for a second look. All the guys got a
chuckle when they heard my
helium-induced "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
as the critter lumbered right past me.
(l) ram bow of the QON; (r) remains of
the flying bridge.
(l) stern port side capstan in place of
the CANADA's deck gun; (r) spare screw in the sand.
(l) crappy view of a large sawfish off
the wreck; (r) an uneventful deco, until....
(l) our grey-suited friends arrived.
Several scalloped hammerheads also made an appearance; (r) Pizzio remains on
guard.
(l) a rat cruises past Joe; (r)
watching these three-foot monsters made deco pass
quickly.