Dive 200

25 april  2001.
 

Max depth	41.5 m
Dive time	35 min
Bottom time	4 min
average depth	17.4 m
Safety stop(s)	1 min @ 12 m, 5 min @ 5 m

Second dive of PADI Deep Diver course.

The Key Biscayne is an oil rig which sank in a gale while being towed to Fremantle for repairs in 1983.
It was being towed by tugs. Enormous waves caused the oil rig to roll over and it sank upside down
in 42 metres of water with the legs sticking upwards to 22 metres.

Early start: boarded Lionfish IV from Two Rocks marina (1 hour drive north of Perth city) at 8 a.m.
There had been rough weather all week, the tail end of Tropical Cyclone Alistair. Light wind,
light sea, 2 m swell.  Strong current about 7 knots from the surface down to about 15-20 m.

It was a hard swim against the current from the mermaid line to the bow tether line (tied to the wreck).
We gave up on the surface swim, descended to 10 m and swam to the bow tether, already panting.
Descended to top of wreck at 25 m, grouped, then down to bottom at 42 m.
Quick check of computer NDL's (several people seemed quite slow to respond), a look at the colour chart
showing the loss of red end of spectrum (gee, that seemed to be such great fun), then it was time to
ascend. Went up to the top of the wreck, caught sight of a few large fish, wreck covered in filter feeders
but it obviously gets a lot of stiff currents.

Ascended by the anchor tether line to 12, 9 and 6 m. Although the line was jerking up and down,
we were forced to hold on to it. (A jonline would have been a useful accessory).
A ripping current and some tremendous blasts of surge were doing their best to tear us off the line.
It was like water-skiing. I could feel my mask pulling almost off. Total chaos as the three groups of
divers mingled on the line and ascended at different rates, getting randomly picked off by the surge.

Lessons:

• a group of 3 is too complex. You can't keep your eye on two people at once.
• time is critical at the bottom
• need excellent coordination with your buddy, and an agreed plan.