Hyvä dyykki aluksi hienossa kelissä, joka veden alla ollessamme muuttui kovaksi merenkäynniksi. Kakkosdyykille ei päästy ollenkaan. Hyvä Cozumel paketti, ei tarkempia tietoja koska tämä piti jälkikäteen lisätä, jäi paikan päällä merkkaamatta.
Merenkäynti yltyi niin kovaksi, että toiselle dyykille ei päästy ollenkaan vaan vene piti ajaa poukamaan josta autolla hotellille.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dive 66 : Eagle Ray Wall to the Aquarium, Belize
EVEN BETTER than the one before, super super super good corals, loads of small fish topped with 2 barracudas, 2 eagle rays, 2 turtles and loads of small stuff mentioned in the previous post. Superamazing walls of soft corals, too good to be true.
3 mm shortie, 7 kg weights, visibility 40 meters ++, water temp 26, divetime 51min and 45 min in the previous dive. So cool, especially after Alex made it alive!
3 mm shortie, 7 kg weights, visibility 40 meters ++, water temp 26, divetime 51min and 45 min in the previous dive. So cool, especially after Alex made it alive!
Dive 65 : Half Moon Atol (off from Caye Caulker), Belize
Amazing drift dive with super cool coral foundations and fish!
Redband parrotfish, Stoplight parrotfish, midnight parrotfish, bluehead wrasse, creole wrasse, squirrelfish, glasseye, Fairy basslet (royal?), tiger grouper, french angelfish, gray angelfish, rock beauty, queen angelfish, Hogfish (!), all kind of butterflyfish, yellow jack or tuna x 2, triggerfish, scrawled filefish (!), trunkfish or pufferfish, and ALL kind of corals : barrel sponge, giant tube sponge, vase sponge, seastar, leafy stinging coral, sea anenome, common sea fan, flower coral, scroll coral, blushing star coral, golfball coral, ivory tube coral, green cactus coral, elliptical star coral, elekhorn coral, scroll coral
AMAZING STUFF
Redband parrotfish, Stoplight parrotfish, midnight parrotfish, bluehead wrasse, creole wrasse, squirrelfish, glasseye, Fairy basslet (royal?), tiger grouper, french angelfish, gray angelfish, rock beauty, queen angelfish, Hogfish (!), all kind of butterflyfish, yellow jack or tuna x 2, triggerfish, scrawled filefish (!), trunkfish or pufferfish, and ALL kind of corals : barrel sponge, giant tube sponge, vase sponge, seastar, leafy stinging coral, sea anenome, common sea fan, flower coral, scroll coral, blushing star coral, golfball coral, ivory tube coral, green cactus coral, elliptical star coral, elekhorn coral, scroll coral
AMAZING STUFF
Dive 64 : The Blue Hole, Lighthouse Atol, off from Caye Caulker, Belize
Amazing dive in the good and the bad. My dive buddy Alex inhaled water in 35 meters depth, and started chocking. Things were looking really bad. The divemaster jumped in right away, and started ascending and controlling the buddy in panic. They arrived to the surface in about 1 minute. Buddy given pure oxygen on the boat, and now after 8 hours doesnt seem to have symptoms. We are currently on alert in case we need to go to the decompression chamber. It was quite a rough experience.
The blue hole is supposed to be one of the most amazing dive spots in Central America, and indeed it's a beautiful spot. There is not so much marine life, but the formation itself is amazing. We descended to approximately 110 feet (30 m+) and entered a small cave (tippukiviluola, taa oli ennen fresh water maanalainen luola.) It was ok with pretty good visibility. Entered to 130 feet (40m) and swimmin in the cave or cavern to be exact. Then out from nowhere a great bullshark appears! It was amazing. I knew there were likely appointments with nurse, reef, even hammerhead or bullsharks, so it took a while to identify it. IT definately was a bullshark. So, my buddy gone in the surface in panic from 35 meters, I couldnt be sure how he was or was he even alive. I couldnt go up superfast myself to avoid doing anything harmful to myself I ascended slower with a proper safety stop. On the way up, two more bullsharks start circling us. That was quite a lot of excitment for one dive in the big blue hole of Belize!
3mm short swimsuit, 7kg weights, water temp 26, visibility around 30m, divetime 24 min.
3 x bullshark, 2 x grouper, some other stuff
The incident as I described it in the Scubaboard: (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/near-misses-lessons-learned/328449-emergency-ascent-110-feet.html)
--------
This happened a few days ago in the Blue Hole in Belize, the most famous divespot around, with very good visibility (100+ feet) and warm water. Our group, not too experienced, went down to 130 (!) feet to see the small cavern / overhead. We signal ok signs with my buddy every couple of minutes or so. The visibility is great, and everyone were (told to be) causios about possible signs of narcosis at this depth. We start to go up, when a lone bullshark arrives to check on us. We were informed on them, but it's a thrilling sight. I check my buddy and he is ok.
Starting ascend and at around 110-120 feet, my buddy doesn't respond to the ok sign anymore but shakes his head violently. Not understanding whats going on I get closer, supposing narcosis, the violent shaking continues, I see panic in his eyes and he starts to ascend rapidly. As just a recreational diver I don't know what how to react, but the instructor arrives instantly and replaces diver's regulator with his extra one. Together controlled by the instructor they start a rapid ascent. I join the rest of the group and can only hope for the best.
Doing a rapid ascent from this depth is really dangerous. My buddy had deeply inhaled water and was choking (violent shaking). No safety stop was done, but he remained (barely) concious. In the boat he was pale and in shock, given instantly pure oxygen. Divesite is 80 miles from mainland and the closest chamber in San Pedro, both are put in alert. Mediheli is not immediately called since it comes with a price of 8000 USD My buddy is controlled, talked with, and especially asked if any timbling on feet or hands is felt. He appeared in shock but ok. They had come up from at least 110 feet with what the instructor said was ~80% from maximum speed with no safety stops, buddy almost fainting on the way.
This event shocked me for couple of days and still does, especially the feeling of not knowing what to do is something I never want to re-experience. It was the last day of the trip (for me) but I want to do te rescue diver and first aid courses immediately when possible. My buddy was controlled for symptoms for the next 48 hours - quite amazingly he seems to be totally ok.
There are quite a few points here - We were all inexperienced (10-60 dives) in a group of 7 going to deeper than most of the people had ever been. It was an exciting spot in the first place, and then the bullsharks. It turned out that there was an another emergency ascent, not at all so sever, but resulting for both divemasters/instructors ending up to the surface and the group of five including myself left alone - we were ok, did safety stop circled by three bulls and fear what of what was possibly waiting on the surface.
Later my buddy said he inhaled water while turning his head backward and chekcking the shark. The regu may have leaked or slipped. He was chocking and felt he couldn't breath. When chocking he also lost his mask but was able to put it back on. Some level of breathing was possible even with water in the lungs. So was panicing here an overreaction? Easy for us to say. The buddy was inexperienced with about 20 dives. He said the regu had been leaking "little bit" on the way down. Maybe it slightly slipped. How often the operators check their equipment and are leaking regus common? Luckily never had one myself.
I am interested to hear the lessons you readers come up with this incident. I have never witnessed such a close call before. My buddy said he was sure he would not make it. I wasn't sure either, at least I expected CPR or the chamber, but it seems pure oxygen took care of the job. This must have been crucial.
Blue Hole is the #1 attraction here, and everyone had paid a bug buck to get there. It's great business for the dive operators, they wouldnt stop taking us unexperienced people here even probably many of us think they shouldn't. Chamber and mediheli also sound obvious, but this wasn't done in fear of costs. Everyone should make sure what their insurance actually covers when jumping into the water - this time nobody knew. Don't the operators have insurances?
How can you ascend from 110 feet rapidly without any symptons - is 48 hours enough to recognise them? There were two people who ascended from this depth.
----------
The blue hole is supposed to be one of the most amazing dive spots in Central America, and indeed it's a beautiful spot. There is not so much marine life, but the formation itself is amazing. We descended to approximately 110 feet (30 m+) and entered a small cave (tippukiviluola, taa oli ennen fresh water maanalainen luola.) It was ok with pretty good visibility. Entered to 130 feet (40m) and swimmin in the cave or cavern to be exact. Then out from nowhere a great bullshark appears! It was amazing. I knew there were likely appointments with nurse, reef, even hammerhead or bullsharks, so it took a while to identify it. IT definately was a bullshark. So, my buddy gone in the surface in panic from 35 meters, I couldnt be sure how he was or was he even alive. I couldnt go up superfast myself to avoid doing anything harmful to myself I ascended slower with a proper safety stop. On the way up, two more bullsharks start circling us. That was quite a lot of excitment for one dive in the big blue hole of Belize!
3mm short swimsuit, 7kg weights, water temp 26, visibility around 30m, divetime 24 min.
3 x bullshark, 2 x grouper, some other stuff
The incident as I described it in the Scubaboard: (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/near-misses-lessons-learned/328449-emergency-ascent-110-feet.html)
--------
This happened a few days ago in the Blue Hole in Belize, the most famous divespot around, with very good visibility (100+ feet) and warm water. Our group, not too experienced, went down to 130 (!) feet to see the small cavern / overhead. We signal ok signs with my buddy every couple of minutes or so. The visibility is great, and everyone were (told to be) causios about possible signs of narcosis at this depth. We start to go up, when a lone bullshark arrives to check on us. We were informed on them, but it's a thrilling sight. I check my buddy and he is ok.
Starting ascend and at around 110-120 feet, my buddy doesn't respond to the ok sign anymore but shakes his head violently. Not understanding whats going on I get closer, supposing narcosis, the violent shaking continues, I see panic in his eyes and he starts to ascend rapidly. As just a recreational diver I don't know what how to react, but the instructor arrives instantly and replaces diver's regulator with his extra one. Together controlled by the instructor they start a rapid ascent. I join the rest of the group and can only hope for the best.
Doing a rapid ascent from this depth is really dangerous. My buddy had deeply inhaled water and was choking (violent shaking). No safety stop was done, but he remained (barely) concious. In the boat he was pale and in shock, given instantly pure oxygen. Divesite is 80 miles from mainland and the closest chamber in San Pedro, both are put in alert. Mediheli is not immediately called since it comes with a price of 8000 USD My buddy is controlled, talked with, and especially asked if any timbling on feet or hands is felt. He appeared in shock but ok. They had come up from at least 110 feet with what the instructor said was ~80% from maximum speed with no safety stops, buddy almost fainting on the way.
This event shocked me for couple of days and still does, especially the feeling of not knowing what to do is something I never want to re-experience. It was the last day of the trip (for me) but I want to do te rescue diver and first aid courses immediately when possible. My buddy was controlled for symptoms for the next 48 hours - quite amazingly he seems to be totally ok.
There are quite a few points here - We were all inexperienced (10-60 dives) in a group of 7 going to deeper than most of the people had ever been. It was an exciting spot in the first place, and then the bullsharks. It turned out that there was an another emergency ascent, not at all so sever, but resulting for both divemasters/instructors ending up to the surface and the group of five including myself left alone - we were ok, did safety stop circled by three bulls and fear what of what was possibly waiting on the surface.
Later my buddy said he inhaled water while turning his head backward and chekcking the shark. The regu may have leaked or slipped. He was chocking and felt he couldn't breath. When chocking he also lost his mask but was able to put it back on. Some level of breathing was possible even with water in the lungs. So was panicing here an overreaction? Easy for us to say. The buddy was inexperienced with about 20 dives. He said the regu had been leaking "little bit" on the way down. Maybe it slightly slipped. How often the operators check their equipment and are leaking regus common? Luckily never had one myself.
I am interested to hear the lessons you readers come up with this incident. I have never witnessed such a close call before. My buddy said he was sure he would not make it. I wasn't sure either, at least I expected CPR or the chamber, but it seems pure oxygen took care of the job. This must have been crucial.
Blue Hole is the #1 attraction here, and everyone had paid a bug buck to get there. It's great business for the dive operators, they wouldnt stop taking us unexperienced people here even probably many of us think they shouldn't. Chamber and mediheli also sound obvious, but this wasn't done in fear of costs. Everyone should make sure what their insurance actually covers when jumping into the water - this time nobody knew. Don't the operators have insurances?
How can you ascend from 110 feet rapidly without any symptons - is 48 hours enough to recognise them? There were two people who ascended from this depth.
----------
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Dive 63 : Villa Blanca Wall, Cozumel, Mexico
OMG! Näkyvyys jotain aivan mieletöntä, en muista onko koskaan ollut näin kirkasta meren pohjassa. 24 metrin syvyydessä näki vielä kevyesti 30 metrin päähän ellei enemmänkin. Vähän balsamia muuten hieman jo vituttamaan rupeavalle Cozumel-meiningille tämän dyykin myötä. Erinomainen saitti, tämän reissun ehdottomasti paras, jossa koralliseinämää ja isoa muodostelmaa riittää. Muutama swim-through ehosti kokemusta, samoin lukuisat suuret rauskut mitä pohjalla pyörii.
Dyykkikaveri Samin ensimmäinen dyykki kurssin jälkeen, aikamoista räpeltämistä flunssaiselta mieheltä, mutta ilmeisesti tykkäsi kuitenkin. Divemastereina mukavat Bianca (MX) ja Aldo (MX). Operaattorina Deep Blue Divers, Cozumel. Meininki kevyttä rahastamista kuten Cozumelissa kaikki, Thaimaaseen verrattuna helvetin kallis ja epäystävällinen paikka, onneksi tällä dyykkillä edes jollain tapaa voi perustella koko reissun. Mieletön näkyvyys, todella hienot korallimuodostelmat ja paljon korallielävää : Blue headed wrasse, big grouper, royal fish, angelfish, parrotfish, stingray x 4, (dead) lobster, loads of stuff
3mm short suite, 6 kg weights, water temperetaure 25 degrees celcius, visibility 30m +++, max depth 26m. Divetime 40min
Dyykkikaveri Samin ensimmäinen dyykki kurssin jälkeen, aikamoista räpeltämistä flunssaiselta mieheltä, mutta ilmeisesti tykkäsi kuitenkin. Divemastereina mukavat Bianca (MX) ja Aldo (MX). Operaattorina Deep Blue Divers, Cozumel. Meininki kevyttä rahastamista kuten Cozumelissa kaikki, Thaimaaseen verrattuna helvetin kallis ja epäystävällinen paikka, onneksi tällä dyykkillä edes jollain tapaa voi perustella koko reissun. Mieletön näkyvyys, todella hienot korallimuodostelmat ja paljon korallielävää : Blue headed wrasse, big grouper, royal fish, angelfish, parrotfish, stingray x 4, (dead) lobster, loads of stuff
3mm short suite, 6 kg weights, water temperetaure 25 degrees celcius, visibility 30m +++, max depth 26m. Divetime 40min
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Dive 62 : Punta Dilila or Palancar Bricks, Cozumel, Mexico
Ok, now its getting better! Loistava mesta, kunnon koralliriuttaa, pikkuluolaa, seinää ja paljon paljon fisua. (ei Mualbualiin verrattavissa kuitenkaan). Toadfish x 2, lobster x 2, turtle x 3, moray eel, small stingray x 1, grouper, paljon angelfish parrotfish butterflyfish osastoa. Pieni läpinäkyvä rapukin (caribbean anenome shrimp)löytyi, n. 10cm sinertävä. Tähän mennessä ehdottomasti paras dyykki meksikossa.
3mm short, 6kg, divetime 51min, max depth 20m, visibility 20-30m. Great stuff.
3mm short, 6kg, divetime 51min, max depth 20m, visibility 20-30m. Great stuff.
Dive 60 : Chankanaab, Cozumel, night dive
Haa, yödyykeissä on aina sitä jotakin. Keskellä yötä pimeään valtamereen, mikäpä sen mukavempaa. Aluksi hieman jännittikin, mutta vedessä osana ryhmää homma toimii. Tää on niitä juttuja mitä ei yksinään haluisi ikinä koittaa!
Ihan hirveesti ei taaskaan vedenalaista elämää ollut, mutta jotain kuitenkin. Yksi valkoinen mureena luikerteli ulos kolostaan. samoin yksi kuningasrapu tarttui valokeilaan, about puolimetrinen. Sitten peruskalaa jonkin verran, muttei esim. rapuja joita filippiineillä ja malesiassa yödyykeillä löytyi yllin kyllin.
Samoilla varusteilla kuin edellinenkin eli 3mm long wetsuitella ja kuudella kilolla, noin 45min ja 15-20m max depth. Erinomainen dyykki.
Ihan hirveesti ei taaskaan vedenalaista elämää ollut, mutta jotain kuitenkin. Yksi valkoinen mureena luikerteli ulos kolostaan. samoin yksi kuningasrapu tarttui valokeilaan, about puolimetrinen. Sitten peruskalaa jonkin verran, muttei esim. rapuja joita filippiineillä ja malesiassa yödyykeillä löytyi yllin kyllin.
Samoilla varusteilla kuin edellinenkin eli 3mm long wetsuitella ja kuudella kilolla, noin 45min ja 15-20m max depth. Erinomainen dyykki.
Dive 59 : California point, Cozumel Mexico
Kauan odotettu dyykki pitkän paussin jälkeen hehkutetussa cozumelissa. Cozumel paikkana täysi pettymys, dyykkiparatiisin sijasta löytyi karibianristeilijöiden pysähdyspaikka timanttikauppoineen ja turistirysineen. Jenkkituristeja lappaa vastaan oikeen urakalla ja hinnat on sen mukaiset.
Dyykkioperaattoriksi valittiin loulta Lonely Planetin kehuma Deep Blue, jonka kanssa eka dyykki California pointilla. Ei mikään erikoinen setti, mutta ihan hyvä kuitenkin. Kaltevaa riuttaa pitkin todellinen drift dive, vedenalainen siirtymä kilometrin luokkaa. Muutama rausku, yksi lobsteri ja toadfish, sekä muuta peruskauraa mitä nyt riutoilla usein on. Näkyvyys ok muttei lähelläkään hehkutettua 50 metriä.
Dyykin teki hyväksi se, että se oli ensimmäinen laatuaan yli vuoteen. Muuten aika peruskauraa. Painoja 6 kg, long wetsuit 3mm, divetime apprx 45min, max depth apprx 20m
Dyykkioperaattoriksi valittiin loulta Lonely Planetin kehuma Deep Blue, jonka kanssa eka dyykki California pointilla. Ei mikään erikoinen setti, mutta ihan hyvä kuitenkin. Kaltevaa riuttaa pitkin todellinen drift dive, vedenalainen siirtymä kilometrin luokkaa. Muutama rausku, yksi lobsteri ja toadfish, sekä muuta peruskauraa mitä nyt riutoilla usein on. Näkyvyys ok muttei lähelläkään hehkutettua 50 metriä.
Dyykin teki hyväksi se, että se oli ensimmäinen laatuaan yli vuoteen. Muuten aika peruskauraa. Painoja 6 kg, long wetsuit 3mm, divetime apprx 45min, max depth apprx 20m
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