My 5th post-certification Technical dive was FANTASTIC!
We went out on my friend's boat again "Narcosis"
out to Lake Mead's "wreck alley". There is really not much
to see above 140' anywhere around...but below there is a wealth of fun stuff!
Our dive took us along a path to our first wreck, the "Gumby", ....then on to the boat I really wanted to see, the "Southern Cross". At a depth of right around
160+ feet, she lays there in the cold and quiet with not too many visitors. She's big enough to penetrate, though I did not. I did spend a few minutes looking inside though, seeing the sites (there is a suprise to be found inside!) and enjoying the "creepiness" of it all - LOL!
Then my buddy and I went on to the next wreck (it's a bit like the Bermuda Triangle right there, with so many wrecks all clumped together) called the "Blue Moon" - this is small little boat, sitting in the constant twilight of 165'. I enjoyed poking around this little vessel for a few minutes while my buddy collected some data he wanted (compass headings, depth readings, etc.).
Once he was done it was time to start back. We took our time heading back past the Southern Cross and the Gumby again, past the big rock, on to the next one, and finally to our ascent line. One gas switch right at the base of it (I am REALLY getting the hang of the gas switches now - people have told me I LOOK fine doing them, but now I FEEL like I know what I am doing - and that makes all the difference to me!) and then my buddy began
his mission of setting a new mooring in place.
I just hung around and watched him for a while (off-gassing a bit breathing my EAN50), and played with my light a little, before we both started up to do our deco stops.
...the vis was really nice for Lake Mead, and now we were finally shallow enough to see some sun again.
A slow ascent, and a good amount of time spent at 20' (and making another smooth switch to my 100% O2), and we were almost done.
With our deco completed, we switched to our back gas again, hung our bottles on the line, and surfaced.
Total run time was 81 minutes, maximum depth (exactly as planned) was 165', and the water was 53 degrees top to bottom.
As taught (see the thread called "fist post cert dive" in this same section of the forum) I dried my hair with a towel and tossed it to my buddy - He would have glared at me longer...but he much more concerned with getting some warm dry clothes on.
I didn't rub it in too much as I truly felt for him - is only by EXTREME luck that I am diving dry now - (who the heck can afford a drysuit anyway?!?)...well that, and the fact that I can't get OUT of my suit until he unzips me anyway kept me from making too many comments on how cold he looked - LOL!
I was SO pleased that I did not have any of the icky effects of narcosis that can creep up so unpleasantly...no "heebie-jeebies" and none of what I call "the stupids". Now, I was certainly no help to my buddy collecting his data, but I didn't really have a responsibility to do so - so I had no worries about it.
I was just happy as a clam at 165', in the pretty semi-darkness at depth in the lake.
I absolutely LOVE technical diving....getting to see the hidden treasures that only a few people ever get to. Of being able to venture to that place where recreational dives end, but our dives are just beginning. All of it.
It really is hard to explain exactly what the draw is...but
as sure as a sailor was ever lured by siren-song...the tech divers i know, I believe, all hear that same calling that I do....down down down, where the best light is only what you bring with you, and the sites are ones viewed by only a handful of people willing to do what it takes to go there and see them.
Thanks for reading my report!
I will be back to Wreck Alley again this coming Saturday -- going to go see if I can't catch a glimps of a couple more wrecks...these I can only admire from above though, ("no-touchie for Vegas!") as I am clearly not quite ready to venture down to 185' where they sit.
another dive report 
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