Balaena/Pinta - May 12, 2007
So far, Poseidon has been good to us. The weather and the seas have been nice. Today was going to be another fine day. The crew scurried about performing last minute tasks as I spooled up the engines. We pulled out of the slip just before 7 AM, the ocean was flat, as we cleared the inlet. I used the ride out to “check” a few sets of #s, today a pair worked out. We located a low lying wooden wreck, about 7 miles from the inlet.

Within an hour, we pulled up on the Balaena. A large wooden wreck, in 155' of water. Mate Jeff, jumped in to set the hook. In short order, the “bag was up”, with the line tied in, the crew pulled the ball up on the bow, getting us ready to open the ocean. The divers suited up & jumped right in. The water was a balmy 50 deg. On the surface, but quickly drooped down to 42 as they hit the thermocline.

Once on the bottom, the divers were met with no current, and 20 ft. of vis. The line was tied in near the bow, making it easier to navigate the wreck. Though there were lobster pots all around the wreck, none were to be had by the divers. The cold, and the depth, kept bottom times short, with equally short hang times.

As the divers got unsuited on the back deck, Tex and Tom handed out hot soup. The divers didn’t know whether to eat it, or put their hands in it. Though we planned to move to a shallower wreck for the second dive, we stayed at the Balaena for lunch. Today lunch was a simple affair of hot dogs with fixings. Not Susan’s usual fine meal.

Once we were warmed and fed, George jumped in to pull the hook, setting us free to steam to the nearby Pinta. The Pinta was an old friend, it took no time at all to get hooked in. The conditions here were similar to the Balaena, but the vis was better. The 90ft. Depth allowed for more bottom time, with a minimum of deco. Once all the divers had returned, George jumped in to pull the hook. During our stay on the Pinta, the seas had built as predicted to over 4 ft., we were glad it was a short 11 mile trip home. We slid back into the slip just before 4 PM. Where does the time go ???? Another great day of diving the North Atlantic.

The John Jack has a few of the rare open boat trips coming up this weekend. The destination will be in a moderate depth in line with the passengers skill level. Please don’t miss this opportunity to give the John Jack a try. If you haven’t dove with us, you don’t KNOW us !!!