Dive 287

25 April 2002


Lancelin WA
Wreck of the Key Biscayne


Max depth 40.5 m
Dive time 46 min
Bottom time 13 min
Deco stops 1 min @ 9 m, 5 min @ 6 m, 5 min @ 3 m

Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Decompression dive
Anzac Day dive trip with Perth Diving Academy.

Good flat sea, slight swell and current, moderate viz.

We followed the tether line to the dome at the top of the wreck, over the platform to a large cylindrical shaft, descended inside the shaft and explored the space under the wreck, filled with junk and large girders at 40 metres.

A huge Jewfish was lurking in the compartments at the bottom. It must have been about 1.5 m long. Also saw 2 lionfish and a very large cloud of bullseye. Footballers, Sergeant Baker, kingfish, samsonfish, banded sweep, Old Wife, Talma, scalyfin and foxfish.

After 13 m we ascended fairly promptly (but went into deco 1 min) to the platform and checked out the space under the dome before following the tether line up again.

It was very crowded at the 6 m stop on the line and most of us were too lazy to float midwater.

Fantastical sea jellies drifted past us - translucent spheres, mushrooms, "pillows", "cartoon teeth" shapes with phosphorescent cilia, long stringy arcs with crossbars.

My Apollo Pico backup computer was completely dead.


 
temp 22°C
rubber 5mm titanium wetsuit, hood;  OK
weight 8 lb (integ); slightly over
tanks 12.2 l steel + 3 l pony
BC SeaQuest Pro QD
gas used 154 bar
average depth 19.8 m
RMV 13.7 l/min
Nitrox
gas mix EANx 28
MAD 40 m (1.4), 43.6 (1.5)
EAD max 36.2 m
ppO2 max 1.414 ata