July 10, 2012*

After a couple of hours of rest, Idit and I met at the Hotel Maestral, where I was staying.

The “Fisherboat Wreck” is just off the private beach of the Hotel.

“You swim out, find the trail of tires, follow it to the sand path until you find the line that leads you to the bow of the Fisherboat,” Idit said.

“Great, we’ll never find it,” I thought.

The Fisherboat was sunk in a storm in the 1960’s or 70’s.

The boat doesn’t have a name, so the Polish guys who found it just call it the “Fisherboat.”

We spent about five minutes breathing off the tanks to test the air – it tasted like air, was dry, left no after taste and we didn’t get a headache or dizzy.

The air was good!

I geared up and went into the water.

I took my primary second stage, put it in my mouth, put my head underwater and breathed – breathed 85% air and the rest water.

FUCK!

Really?

I told Idit.

“What do you want to do?” he asked.

I tested my auxiliary regulator; it was good.

“Let’s continue, but if you have issues with air, we have to share this one – the other is not good,” I said.

We swam out and looked for submerged tires while on the surface.

It was getting dark, visibility wasn’t the best, so we descended.

Logged SCUBA Dive #413

Dove with Idit

“Fisherboat Wreck”
Saranda, Albania

Air Source: Private compressor in Vlorë
In With: 2800 psi
Out With: 400 psi
Max depth: 98 feet
Waves: Flat
Visibility: Up to 25 feet
Water Temperature: 73 degrees
Air Temperature: 90 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 45 minutes or so

I followed Idit, and sure enough, he lead us right to the Fisherboat.

Albania is very mountainous, with mountains going right to the sea; it is not difficult to get really deep, really quick.

The Fisherboat rests in about 100 feet of water.

I brought a light, but the fucking thing didn’t work.

The Fisherboat is covered with nets and sea growth – light sea growth compared to Southern California standards.

This was a pretty deep dive for a shore entry; Idit lead me back to the bow after 20 minutes and we followed the trail back to the shore.

I checked what was wrong with my primary second stage – the hose was cracked going to the first stage, allowing water in when I breathed.

I fixed it with “Rescue Tape.”

Our Dive Master who supervised our dive.

Idit told me, that he had not dove in a year.

I expressed concern that he didn’t take a “refresher” course.

He asked, “Why? Would you still have gone if you knew before?”

I still would have gone.

As the sun set, we packed up and headed out for a night in Saranda.

*Due to time constraints, lack of reliable internet access outside of Tirana, a power outage in Tirana and the strength of Albanian beer, posting of this article has been delayed.

After a spectacular lunch of chicken and broccoli, rice and Italian bread, the next dive spot was undetermined.

I went to the top deck of the boat and fell asleep.

The boat never started, but I was awakened by people jumping off the side.

I climbed down on to the main deck and asked one of the deck hands, “I guess this is our next spot, too?”

“Yep.”

I geared up and went over.

Logged SCUBA Dive #412

Solo Diving

“Lula” , Catalina, CA

In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 600 psi
Max depth: 72 feet
Waves: Pretty flat
Visibility: Up to 20 feet, but more like 15 feet
Water Temperature: 65 degrees, colder at depth
Air Temperature: 84 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes or so

I went a little more North than before, and ran into the reef that I was suppose to last time.

I came across an anchor that was wedged between two rocks.

Ha! Ha! Money!

There was a chain attached to it, so I decided to see how much of a chain – I followed it, and followed it and the chain went right up to the Cee Ray.

I surfaced and told Jensen, one of the deck hands, “You know that the anchor is wedged between two rocks?”

“Yeah, we’ll get it out, we anchor here all the time.”

I continued my dive, sticking shallower.

I lost my way back to the boat, but as I was surfacing, I saw divers on the surface – more than a couple.

I assumed it was students making their way back to the boat, so I stalked them at depth, making my way back to underneath the swim step, where I waited my turn – hoping to loot any gear that may be dropped in the water upon boarding.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to get any more gear, but did make it back with no issues.

Review of the Cee Ray:

I really like the way the boat is run.

They don’t rush the gate, the boat goes some places that no other boats go to, and the food is really good – breakfast, several snacks and a gourmet lunch.

The Cee Ray’s swim step was a little awkward for me; I am used to just taking my fins off and either walking to shore or climbing up a ladder.

Their swim step rests about a foot or two underwater; so, you sort of have to flail onto the step and then climb up the ladder.

However, it’s good for students who aren’t used to the weight of SCUBA gear.

After a great day of diving, the galley sells Pacifico and New Castle – no Budweiser!

I am partially responsible for drinking their beer supply dry.

Also, I have to say, even though I don’t agree with a lot of Sports Chalet’s business practices, their Divemasters and Instructors have great personalities and are very professional.

Captain Mike runs a great dive boat – I hope to be back soon.

Speaking of coming soon…

Coming Soon!

A great video of today’s dives, plus Rescue at Sea!