Seasons Start
Well the season got off to a cool start today. 8 divers showed up for the 10 AM start. We were all moving a little slower than usual, it being the first day & all.  Eventually we got ourselves organized and ready to sail.

As we cleared the inlet, I was already beginning to feel like I had been behind the wheel of the boat just yesterday, it was all coming back to me. Well, at least enough to find my way to an inshore wreck. Captains need warm up trips too. With a minimum of effort we made the short sail to a local inshore wreck, a small tug, in 70 ft. of water.

The hardy crew G, Bill, Andrew & Terry, Worked like a rusty .but well oiled team. Terry is now a card carrying MEG diver, tying to sneak up on fish, scallops, and lobster.  Gerhard, went into tie, as the others worked the deck. We were soon anchored and putting divers in the water.

Divers were slowly piling in, as G got out. The report was COLD, COLD, COLD, but warmer than the local quarry. The vis was a marginal 10 - 15 ft.  Most of the divers did a modest 30 - 40 min. dive. no one was turning down the warm soup served on deck after the dive. Funny thing, no one asked what kind of soup it was, just if it was hot, or not.

After the last diver surfaced, we sent Terry in to pull. And set us free to return to the dock. We quickly made the short trip back in no time at all. As I cleared the inlet, I could see signs that the Jersey Shore was beginning to awake from it’s winter slumber. There were a few hardy fishermen on the jetties fishing for strippers, along with the smell of fresh funnel cakes from Jenkinson’s on the board walk. Summer was coming, just not fast enough.

Once back at our slip, the divers thanked us and disembarked. The season was off to a good start with lots of great trips in store.