Jillapalooza

IM IN UR OCEAN. EATIN UR CARDZ.

PADI #79, Mahnomen II & III, dive 40

Dive: 40
Season Dive: 7
Date: 9/26/09
Site: Padi #79, Mahnomen II & III
Avg/Max Depth: 24/43
Temp: 57
TBT/CBT: 0:57/32:25
Buddies: Curtis, Ted, Mike, Adam

During our surface interval a couple of cars showed up at the site to hunt for the medallion as well. Since the game had been stepped up with the site reveal we wasted no extra time on the surface interval. Kristen decided she needed a break and graciously volunteered to run our tanks into Brainerd for a fill since we had missed the designated pickup time at HQ.

Since we knew our second clue would deal with compass navigation, we started theorizing of what type of landmark they would use. Since there wasn’t anything distinctive at PADI #79 we could only assume our directions would be in relation to one of the platforms. I don’t remember who’s idea it was, but we decided to swim around holding a line. Curtis tied a rope to a submerged 5 gallon pail and placed it smack dab in the middle of the platform, then we spaced ourselves along the line and swam a circle. It was good in theory, but once we started swimming over the wall the tall trees complicated things. I ended up letting go of the rope so I could cover the bottom.

Our search turned up dry so Curtis moved the bucket and we circled again. Nothing. Then we swam in a straight line for a distance and back again. Still nothing. It was rather disappointing to have to return to the surface empty handed for the third time.

PADI #79, Mahnomen II & III, dive 39

Dive: 39
Season Dive: 6
Date: 9/26/09
Site: Padi #79, Mahnomen II & III
Avg/Max Depth: 25/38
Temp: 57
TBT/CBT: 1:05/31:28
Buddies: Ted (Curtis, Kristen, Mike, Adam)

We suited up for another round of medallion hunting quickly, but still no one came to the site. Since no one was there we decided it would be best to split up into three groups to cover the most ground. Curtis and Kristen were to head straight out over the road again (recovering the right side where Mike and Ted got a little of course yesterday), Mike and Adam were covering to the left and Ted and I were heading right.

As far as dives go it was a good one. My mask acted up yet again, so that was irritating and inconvenient, but other than all went well. There was so much to look at. I even spotted a giant snapping turtle lounging on the bottom.

However, we did not find the medallion, and neither did anyone else. We had a short surface interval before trying another tank.

PADI #79, Mahnomen II & III, dive 38

Dive: 38
Season Dive: 6
Date: 9/25/09
Site: Padi #79, Mahnomen II & III
Avg/Max Depth: 25/39
Temp: 57
TBT/CBT: 0:42/30:23
Buddies: Curtis, Kristen (Ted, Mike)

We wasted no coming up with a strategy for the dive. We decided to follow the road to the other side, heading along the wall on the way out, and covering the road on the way back, all the while diving side by side so as not to miss any ground. Curtis, Kristen and I would take the left of the road, Ted and Mike would take the right.

I had issues with my mask leaking the entire dive and remembered that I also had a bad time with it when Kristen and I dove two weeks earlier. It wasn’t just leaking, it would suddenly let in gushes of water. If I didn’t move my head around or equalize or move muscles in my face it would hold out for a bit, but it never quite sealed right. And it’s hard to look for something with a mask full of water.

Unfortunately we didn’t find the medallion. Neither did the other two. Saddened and defeated we assumed we picked the wrong dive site and would have to wait until our next clue at 8:30 the next morning.

Diamond Cove, Hopkins, dive 37

Dive: 37
Season Dive: 5
Date: 9/13/09
Site: Diamond Cove, Hopkins
Avg/Max Depth: 21/36
Temp: 63
TBT/CBT: 0:57/29:41
Buddies: Kristen

Kristen and I decided to head out on a little dive adventure of our own since the boys were taking the Rescue Diver course over the weekend. There was much joking about Curtis putting his rescue diving skillz to work early. We stopped at the dive shop to get some air fills and Darlene recommended we go to Diamond Cove since it was really clear. Todd explained to us how not to get lost because the road at Diamond Cove is deceiving when it comes to the direction one thinks they are going. I think he was concerned about the welfare of Mrs. Curtis and Curtis’s friend, so he broke his own rules and photocopied a map for us.

We made it to the dive site sucessfully, geared up quickly and painlessly and got in the water without a hitch. Right after Kristen secured the dive flag we spotted a baby sea monster* perched on the rocks. After observing it for a bit we continued along the wall. We saw some neat fishes and a couple of beaver pilings. On our return trip I started leading but had to fall back because my mind and my gut were telling me two entirely different things in regards to directions. Kristen navigated like a pro. We ended up right where she anchored the dive flag.

It was a great first dive by our onsies. I think everyone else is secretly disappointed that nothing went awry for us and we brought home no good stories to share.

*Nick contacted the DNR, apparently our sea monster was no more than a northern hog sucker.

Portsmouth Access, Portsmouth, dive 36

Dive: 36
Season Dive: 4
Date: 8/22/09
Site: Portsmouth Access, Portsmouth
Avg/Max Depth: 20/30
Temp: 66
TBT/CBT: 0:48/28:44
Buddies: Curtis & Kristen

It’s been over a month since my last dive and my equipment has been packed tightly into my trunk for about as long. It made packing for Blog Cabin a cinch having the largest, heaviest and most important-to-not-forget items all ready to go.

It seems like as time goes on we’re less motivated to get to the dive site at the crack of dawn. We didn’t even discuss diving until after noon. Since I had just finished polishing my fingernails a glossy shade of black, we decided to wait until around 3:00 to head out.

Curtis decided we would dive at Portsmouth as long as there weren’t any boats about. It was a nice dive site in all aspects. A nice paved parking lot to set up shop, an easy access into the water via the boat launching area and an outhouse if necessary. It was nice to have a hard, flat, non dirty surface to set up and disassemble on. Unfortunately Kristen and I hit some rough spots in our attempt at getting our suits on. First I forgot to zip mine up, Curtis noticed I was wide open after I had my BCD on. Kristen put one of Curtis’s weight pouches in hers by accident. Better he have to hang out with dumbheads he knows than newbie dumbheads. Our transition to the water was pretty seamless. Curtis gave us a briefing of the directions we would be going and we were under the water at 4:00 pm.

There was a nice wall that we followed and the angle of the sun made beams filter over the wall in some spots. The water felt considerably warmer than the last time I dove. The thermocline was below 20′ but even then it wasn’t uncomfortably cold. There were a few fish we passed along the wall, mostly small ones. It must be of the fish psyche to follow thing larger than themselves, because they joined our school of divers, filing in between Curtis and me.

We swam around on top of the wall for a while. When we turned around Curtis descended over the side and I was holding up the rear. At around 17′ my ear decided it wasn’t having the constant depth changes any longer. I ascended up to 8′ before it became comfortable and followed Kristen’s bubbles, watching Little Jilly swimming inside of them. After a short while they both ascended a bit. I was almost directly above Kristen as I watched the turn of events unfold. Kristen turned around and scanned the waters for me, her head shifting around impatiently. I waited for her to look up, but she turned in the direction of Curtis, fumbled around for her octopus and banged it noiselessly on her tank. I couldn’t swim down to her and had no noisemaking devices on me either. Would yelling to her under water work? The dive master in Grand Cayman seemed to vocalize to the dumbheaded couple in the deep seas. She turned in my direction again, I took a deep breath, removed my reg and yelled “KRIIISTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!” Nothing. The water bubbled out of my ear. Ah, sweet relief. Just as I was about to grab her she took off in a frenzy toward the direction Curtis had disappeared in. The situation was immediately humorous to me and I started laughing, and it’s hard to descend and swim quickly while laughing. I couldn’t see Curtis yet, but I tried to swim to the side of Kristen so he would be able to see the both of us. Kristen caught up to him, through up her arms in panic, whipped her head around and looked shocked to see me directly behind her. She looked relieved then angry and I felt bad for being so obviously entertained by my life flashing before her eyes. Well, bad that she caught me anyway.

Curtis had no idea what had just transpired and thought she was angry that we passed the entry point, which was part of our original plan. He should know by now that both of us are too directionally impaired to have any idea where we are in the mine pits, let alone below the surface. We continued the dive, found what appeared to have been a snowmobile at one time and saw some more small fishes. We turned around to head back to the boat launch dock and once we surfaced had a good chuckle about the events that went down. It was nice to be able to desuit and pack up our gear without worrying about getting full of red dirt. Kristen and I even enjoyed a dip afterward. We drip dried in the sunny parking lot and ate a bunch of Nutter Butters before driving back to the cabin.

Unfortunately my nail polish didn’t survive the dive. At all. The polish came off in 10 perfectly shaped polish chips that resembled Lee press ons through the course of removing and packing all my gear.

Read Curtis’s version of the dive complete with photos here.

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