July 11, 2012*

I think we were both really F’ing tired by this time.

Idit is twenty years younger than I, but since I am super-macho, he didn’t worry about me.

We got down to our last two tanks of air, which meant taking a whole day off to refill our tanks at the camp site where the small “super compressor” was located.

We figured, six tanks at an hour and a half each, would be a nine to ten hour task; and they were doomed to be short fills.

But, Albania is a small country.

It seems like everybody knows everybody.

Idit again pulled off the impossible!

He located a compressor that is owned by a fisherman, next to a restaurant in Saranda.

He offered to fill four of our tanks for free – at least, I believe it was free; Idit may have slipped him a few LEK for his troubles.

This is another site that the Polish guys would dive from their boat:

We had a swim ahead for us.

Entry was no problem; we surface swam to the left, until we saw something interesting to dive on.

We descended.

Logged SCUBA Dive #416

Dove with Idit

Monestary Beach Reef
Saranda, Albania

Air Source: Private compressor in Vlorë
In With: 2900 psi
Out With: 300 psi
Max depth: 70 feet
Waves: Flat
Visibility: Up to 50 feet
Water Temperature: 74 degrees
Air Temperature: 98 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 40 minutes or so

The water felt so refreshing after touring Butrint in almost 100 degree weather.

We got to 70 feet really quickly.

Idit warned me of a fishing net – we swam over it.

It was very transparent, I probably would have ran right into it, if it wasn’t for Idit.

The reef was unlike any I had seen before – it was covered in some sort of cotton like growth.

We turned around at a half tank and navigated to a perfect exit.

We were both extremely tired.

We dropped off four tanks at the fisherman’s compressor.

“Can I take a picture of the compressor?” I asked.

“No,” Idit said.

He continued, “A compressor is a very expensive item here; the first thing that will be asked is ‘Why?'”

Idit dropped me off at my Hotel room, where I walked across the street to use my emergency Albanian to buy beer – not sure if I spelled everything correctly, but this is how the conversation went…

“A flisni Anglisht?” I asked the store owner.

“Jo,” He said.

“A keni birre?”

“Po.”

He took me to the beer.

He started to ramble off a conversation in Albanian.

“Mi falni, nuk kuptoj Shqip,” I said.

“Ju Pollack?”

“Jo, une jam Amerikan.”

“Ah, Amerikan!” he said, and gave me the thumbs up.

I bought four big Tirana beers for 400 LEK ($4.00) and went back to update my blog, only to find that the internet access was shut off after 10:30 PM.

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

July 11, 2012*

After an hour drive, we arrived at our next dive destination – Sirens Bay.

It’s a shallow area that is suppose to have a cavern and an arch.

We had two small tanks that were filled with air from the super compressor we brought from Tirana.

We did just like we did with the last batch – breathe, taste and smell the air.

I didn’t get a headache or dizzy, but the air tasted like machine oil.

Idit tasted his tank.

“Yeah, it does taste oily, what do you want to do?” he asked.

“What was powering the compressor?” I asked.

“It was an electric compressor,” he said.

“Well, it tastes like shit, but it should be good.”

Again, we got the usual stares of amazement on this crowded beach.

Logged SCUBA Dive #415

Dove with Idit

Sirens Bay
Saranda, Albania

Air Source: Mini Super Compressor Brought From Tirana
In With: 2500 psi
Out With: 900 psi
Max depth: 35 feet
Waves: Flat
Visibility: Up to 40 feet
Water Temperature: 74 degrees
Air Temperature: 92 degrees
Total Bottom Time: 45 minutes or so

We entered the water and swam to the right, before submerging.

Albanian Starfish.

Rock Garden.

An Albanian scallop – I think.

Not sure what this is.

This was a shallow dive, and I wasn’t weighted properly.

Albania uses a weird system of measurement called the “Metric” system.

Before our first dive, Idit asked me how much weight I needed.

“Twenty-two pounds.”

“I need to know in kilos,” Idit replied.

I assembled my weight belt by feel – it felt like 22 pounds.

So, I’m having a hard time staying down and trying to keep up with Idit.

I grabbed a rock to hold for weight, and I was lucky enough to also grab onto the sea urchin that was behind it.

Ouch!

I signaled Idit to go up – we were only 20 feet deep.

I took my glove off and Idit was nice enough to dig the spikes out of my fingers.

We continued the dive.

We never did find the cavern, but we did swim through the arch.

My pictures of the arch didn’t really turn out – the arch was too big.

We made an uneventful exit and washed the petroleum after taste from the air away…

…with a beer and spaghetti.

A complete debriefing meal for only 450 LEK ($4.50), at a nice beach side resort.

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