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.