Lobster Hunting Off The Island Diver With The Divevets

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Solo Diving/night diving

In With: 3200 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 40 feet
Waves: Choppy
Visibility: 10 feet or so
Water Temperature: 53 degrees Fahrenheit
Total Bottom Time: 35 minutes
Notable Event: My mind was messing with me, I think.

Dan and his buddy brought back bugs last dive, so it was decided to move the boat where they had the luck.

We kept it shallow because Jim P’s computer didn’t turn on last dive.

I was the first overboard and immediately submerged.

It was a kelp forest and I searched and searched.

I was pretty fucking cold.

I saw a few obviously short lobsters.

I came across one – it looked good, so I pinned it and bagged it.

The bug kept swimming in my bag, really fighting!

I think it knew how to crawl out of a bag; it was waiting at the top for me to open it.

It was starting to look grim for another catch, so I surfaced to look for the boat.

On the surface, I felt something tug on my leg, hit my leg.

I thought it was a seal, or sea lion.

I thought I saw something swim by and then I felt something hit me.

I started to freak out.

What the fuck?

Nothing had ever hit me before in the water.

I secured my lobster bag as I swam to some kelp and got caught.

My snorkel slipped off, but I caught it and put it in my bag.

I swam towards the boat, breathing off my regulator.

I was scared, but to this day, I don’t exactly know what happened.

My lobster could have been fighting; I could have been hit by kelp or even a shallow reef.

Maybe it was a sea lion?

Who knows?

After regaining my composure, I submerged for one more try.

No more lobsters, but my mind was fucking with me and I was getting cold.

I surfaced and swam back to the boat.

Bob caught a total of five, Dan a few.

Captain Alec hauled up two anchors this night.

It was a cold, but sort of short ride back.

I pose with my monster catch of the night.

We had a good debriefing in the parking lot.

Lobster hunting off the “Island Diver” boat with the Divevets Group

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Solo diving/night diving

In With: 2700 psi
Out With: 500 psi
Max depth: 100 feet
Waves: Light chop
Visibility: 10 feet, silty
Water Temperature: Cool, but warmer than the air
Total Bottom Time: 25 minutes
Notable Event: One rescue assist/tired diver tow

Another charter with the Divevet’s crew.

Everyone dove except Laila, who was the DM and had a cold.

We had originally intended on going last night, but the swells were too big and the trip was canceled.

I was one of the first off the boat and went South.

About half way through I grabbed three lobsters.

The dive was pretty barren, but I was only looking for lobsters.

I surfaced probably 100 yards from the boat; it was a long and slow surface swim back.

Laila and the Captain greeted me; I was the first one back.

I was double checking my lobsters as Kathy K was climbing back on board.

In the distance we heard, “Help me! Please help me!”

Someone on the boat said, “No, please not tonight.”

Again to the South East, “Help me! please help!”

I grabbed my fins and jumped in the water; Kathy K followed behind.

I lost site of the diver and yelled, “Where are you?”

“Over here.”

Kathy K ordered him to drop his weights; the diver did, either upon Kathy K’s instruction or beforehand.

I corrected course and got to the diver.

The diver complained of breathing problems and needed a tow.

I started towing the diver.

I think another diver named Ed made it to us at this time (no relation to ‘Instructor Ed’ from previous posts).

Kathy K instructed the diver to take the BC jacket (tank, rig, etc) off; she handed it to Ed.

So now I’m thinking, “How the hell do I tow this diver?”

Relying on my deadly Jiu-jitsu instincts, I looped my arm underneath his arm pit from his back and kept swimming towards the boat.

Kathy K initially called over to Captain Alec that, “Alec, we need the boat!”

Captain Alec responded, “You’re doing fine, just keep coming.”

Within a few minutes, we were all at the boat.

The diver regained his breath and eventually crawled on to the boat.

A Lifeguard boat came to check the diver out.

There was only one diver in the water by that time and it must have surprised him to see the lifeguards there; they were careful not to run him over.

The diver didn’t like the oxygen mask and after the Lifeguards talked to the diver for a while, all further assistance was refused.