An Uncluttered World

An Uncluttered World By Steven Dempsey
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Blue Water

I have always thought that October is the best times to dive in the Puget Sound. By October the plankton has died off, the fish and sea life are abundant and the rivers and creeks have not spewed silt into the water.

I wanted to scooter dive with Scott. We had a couple of fairly new divers that wanted to join in on the action and a newbie with about 25 dives. New divers sure are enthusiastic about diving; it is infectious:) I especially like new divers like these interested in DIR/UDT diving. Scott suggested the Edmonds Oil Dock as a good compromise for all of us.

The Oil Dock is a former bulk oil loading facility which is about to be torn down. This site is know for heavy currents. It also has a very long swim. It is a perfect excuse to take the scooters out. We got in the water half an hour before slack current. We surface scootered to the tee at the end of the dock. Scott towed the two most experienced  divers, I towed the newbie. I noticed something interesting before descending; I could see the bottom 45ft below! We descended and Scott and I tied off the scooters.

The pilings on the dock are encrusted with different kinds of anemones and muscles. Crabs were picking at clumps of muscles which had fallen off the pilings. Chimera were munching away on whatever they munch on. Purple and orange tube worms were waving their plume to catch bits of plankton. Schools of fish were abundant.

Under the docks I flipped on my back. I could see a wall of fish above me. I could see my bubbles bursting on the surface. This October day did not disappoint; the water was blue.

It was time to scooter back to the world of gravity. My buddy grabbed my crotch strap and we were off. While ascending with scooters I stop ever few seconds to get the gas out of my dry suit and BCD. We had instructed our buddies to do the same. At around 20ft. I signaled to my buddy to let go of me because I needed to vent my suit which is almost impossible while towing. After she let go I felt her grasping at my fins and then she let go. At around this time Scott came by and noticed I did not have my buddy. He gave me an inquisitive shrug. I pointed up. I looked up to see her at the surface and thought to myself "noob" :) I slowly ascended and met her half way to the surface. She grabbed on again and we continued our exit back to the world of gravity and air.

The Salmon of Issaquah Creek

So what does a dive junkie to when he catches a cold? 

Fish Do Have Feelings

Since I caught a cold last week, I have not been able to go diving. I have too much congestion to equalize. The cold has not prevented me from being in the water. It is fall and the local rivers and streams are full of spawning salmon and that is where I have been.

I have been in a creek taking underwater video of salmon. Last week I noticed there was one fish in particular being very aggressive about maintaining its position in front of the camera. Other salmon would come along and swim in front of the camera, but this particular fish would jump over the top of them and push the other fish out of the way.

Today I had was in the creek with the video camera and noticed that a certain fish kept following me. I would move several feet, this salmon would follow me. I moved back and again this salmon would follow me. I slowly reached over towards this fish and it let me touch him/her and move it around underwater; incredible! Clearly this salmon was reacting to my presence. Its reaction was not one of fear, but one of acceptance and curiosity.

So I guess Kurt Cobain was wrong, fish do have feelings.