Ax..part 3..The Blue Hole - 04/29/01 05:30 PM
Awoke this morning to the calling of the island birds for their mates...most were rideing the thermals, in a graceful circle..they too were in search of their higher power..
Cast the lines off and said farewell to Half Moon Caye, and the fond memories of this peaceful quiet isle will remain....
The trip to the Dive sight was short and before I even knew it we were suiting up, checking lights, weights, tank pressure...the works...as we knew ..the Abyss awaited us.
Once moored, our Dive Master, Clive and Horace, the captain went through the predive safety brief, this dive we would have 2 DM's..one lead DM, one trailing...All were told of the risk of a deep dive, and the presence of sharks, adding to the excitement for me! I was electrified...every hair stood on end...my senses were as sharp as a teenager....
Splash...we all rolled off like lemmings into the sea...dropped to the sandy white shelf that surrounds the cold dark abyss..with all prepared and ready for decent we headed for the edge of cliff..and the deep unknown drop to max depth and the cut back shelf at 130' which has both Stalagtites and Stalagmites...as we approached the edge I felt the adreneline rush that I always feel when faceing the unknown...
The white sand beneath me faded into a black forbodeing midnight blue expanse, we had begun the mad headlong dash to our target depth...I stayed right behind Clive as planned, we talked before and I let him know my target depth was as deep as he went...
I cleared my ears continuously as the pressure first double, then tripled...
Clive finally flared out at 157' as did I..with the others stopping at 130'...we made our way over to the cut back shelf to see the shadowy, dimmed rock formations...
I waited the denizens of the deep...shy as they are..I took a few deep breaths and felt the tell tale signs of nitrogen narcosis..like multiple rapid shots 151 rum...I stuck to Clive like a puppy...heard him tap a warning alert on his tank..His hand signing the much awaited SHARK gesture..they had come to see who had intruded into their home...5 Black Tip, 2 Lemon shark..all 30' above and 40' towards the center...Now the rush really hit me...the possiblity of danger..combines with incredible depth had me as giddy as a school girl on her first encounter...
They kept their distance, and it was time to ascend...by now Clive had started up and the other DM had moved down to my side as he knew I was alittle narc'd( i had signed to him)He gestured for me to wait after looking at my gauge, I had used very little air and was very calm...as the other went up the Black Tips came in under us,then passed within 20'...again the rush hit me...I was close to the edge..the possible end of exsistance....they passed like graceful paper airplanes...curious but not adgitated...we began our slow ascent ever watchful of their position...they went off on their powerful, sleek mission...the search for food...
Seemed like forever to reach the top...but we did once again return to the edge of the wall and did a 10 min safety stop at30'..sitting on the white sands reveling in the momment!
For the record..this dive was devoid of almost all sea life except the sharks...but to miss this would be a shame..it will forever remain imprinted in my mind and heart.
As we left the abyss behind I could only imagine how lonely a place it is...such majestic beauty, left for the next traveler...
We made one final dive...The Playground...this area was devestated by the storm...completely devoid of sea life, coral 90% dead..I now understand the complete and utter destructive power of Keith..it tore at my heart to see....I surfaced with the others, completely speachless and sad.
All in all this trip was well worth the time spent in transit...allowing me to meet and chat with the other adventurers..one was a quiet man from Japan..who I spoke to in his native tongue..almost bringing tears to his lonely eyes..he spoke very little english and appeared to be missing home, and the chance to share his inner feeling with the others. I did my best with only 3 years in japan...I was not able to carry a long winded conversation with him...I think we understood each other without talking...no words could really describe our personel feelings about this series of events anyway...I am in awe of this great sea we are surrounded by.....More Later....
Cast the lines off and said farewell to Half Moon Caye, and the fond memories of this peaceful quiet isle will remain....
The trip to the Dive sight was short and before I even knew it we were suiting up, checking lights, weights, tank pressure...the works...as we knew ..the Abyss awaited us.
Once moored, our Dive Master, Clive and Horace, the captain went through the predive safety brief, this dive we would have 2 DM's..one lead DM, one trailing...All were told of the risk of a deep dive, and the presence of sharks, adding to the excitement for me! I was electrified...every hair stood on end...my senses were as sharp as a teenager....
Splash...we all rolled off like lemmings into the sea...dropped to the sandy white shelf that surrounds the cold dark abyss..with all prepared and ready for decent we headed for the edge of cliff..and the deep unknown drop to max depth and the cut back shelf at 130' which has both Stalagtites and Stalagmites...as we approached the edge I felt the adreneline rush that I always feel when faceing the unknown...
The white sand beneath me faded into a black forbodeing midnight blue expanse, we had begun the mad headlong dash to our target depth...I stayed right behind Clive as planned, we talked before and I let him know my target depth was as deep as he went...
I cleared my ears continuously as the pressure first double, then tripled...
Clive finally flared out at 157' as did I..with the others stopping at 130'...we made our way over to the cut back shelf to see the shadowy, dimmed rock formations...
I waited the denizens of the deep...shy as they are..I took a few deep breaths and felt the tell tale signs of nitrogen narcosis..like multiple rapid shots 151 rum...I stuck to Clive like a puppy...heard him tap a warning alert on his tank..His hand signing the much awaited SHARK gesture..they had come to see who had intruded into their home...5 Black Tip, 2 Lemon shark..all 30' above and 40' towards the center...Now the rush really hit me...the possiblity of danger..combines with incredible depth had me as giddy as a school girl on her first encounter...
They kept their distance, and it was time to ascend...by now Clive had started up and the other DM had moved down to my side as he knew I was alittle narc'd( i had signed to him)He gestured for me to wait after looking at my gauge, I had used very little air and was very calm...as the other went up the Black Tips came in under us,then passed within 20'...again the rush hit me...I was close to the edge..the possible end of exsistance....they passed like graceful paper airplanes...curious but not adgitated...we began our slow ascent ever watchful of their position...they went off on their powerful, sleek mission...the search for food...
Seemed like forever to reach the top...but we did once again return to the edge of the wall and did a 10 min safety stop at30'..sitting on the white sands reveling in the momment!
For the record..this dive was devoid of almost all sea life except the sharks...but to miss this would be a shame..it will forever remain imprinted in my mind and heart.
As we left the abyss behind I could only imagine how lonely a place it is...such majestic beauty, left for the next traveler...
We made one final dive...The Playground...this area was devestated by the storm...completely devoid of sea life, coral 90% dead..I now understand the complete and utter destructive power of Keith..it tore at my heart to see....I surfaced with the others, completely speachless and sad.
All in all this trip was well worth the time spent in transit...allowing me to meet and chat with the other adventurers..one was a quiet man from Japan..who I spoke to in his native tongue..almost bringing tears to his lonely eyes..he spoke very little english and appeared to be missing home, and the chance to share his inner feeling with the others. I did my best with only 3 years in japan...I was not able to carry a long winded conversation with him...I think we understood each other without talking...no words could really describe our personel feelings about this series of events anyway...I am in awe of this great sea we are surrounded by.....More Later....