Sunday, April 12, 2009 – Beto’s Reef
After last week’s premature dead scooter incident, Elissa and I were eager to revisit Beto’s Reef. Kevin joined us today, and I had plans to make him lead the way. Not only did I want to test a new scooter mount for my point-in-shoot camera, but I was interested in his path to Beto’s. Even though Beto’s is quite popular with the twinset crowd, it’s interesting to see the different paths that people take.
After we compare dive plans and deco strategies, we agree on a 110′ avg depth dive on 25/25 with 02 deco. Kevin will lead out and I will run deco and lead the ascent back.
Since I had a new camera mount, Elissa wanted me #2 – calling me names as weak link, etc. I protested, and eventually was put in #3.
Using the large Team Kitty buoy (we like buoys), we gear up and get in the water. Surface scooter out and Kevin shows us his line up for the worm patch.
We descend and my Dive Rite primary doesn’t strike. I am starting to hate this light. With a light failure, Kevin and Elissa sandwich me as #2. Fortunately conditions look quite good, at we have around 30′ of viz in the sand channel.
Within 4 minutes we arrive at Hole in the Wall. Kevin checks the team and we start our clocks. 5 minutes later we’re at Beto’s and cruising at a comfortable 100′.
Our previous dives to Beto’s have been mostly at the top of the reef, but with helium we venture deeper and spend more time on the east wall. Kevin looks for nooks and crannies to explore while Elissa and I enjoy the larger structures of Beto’s.
Kevin then shows us the resident wolf eel (he was surprised we never had seen him before), and we then run into a large lincod protecting her eggs. The water is teaming with life as krill and small fish abound.
At the end of Beto’s we pause and enjoy the color. With good visibility, no surge, and bright colors of strawberry anemone on the reefs, the dive is feeling quite tropical. I hate to admit that helium makes a difference, but it really does. It’s like cruising at 80 mph in a bmw 5-series sedan vs a honda civic.
As we head back, we run into familiar faces at Beto’s. Rob, Kenn and August kicked out and we meet up at 100′. After exchanging photos and video captures, Kevin leads us back up Beto’s.
With 5 minutes to left on agreed upon time, Kevin signals that we should do one final scooter around Beto’s. We agree and Kevin leads the way – slaloming and diving through crevices in the reef.
When it’s time to head back, I take the lead and we head to Hole in the Wall. My path back is different then Kevin’s as I skirt the edge of the kelp and sand interface. Heading due south leads into heavy kelp and makes communication more difficult. I’ve been accused (rightfully) of slipping through tight kelp openings and causing my teammates to hunt for their own holes. As the result, I’ve been trying to be better.
According to plan, we’re on the trigger for our deep stops up till 30′. 30′ we kick through the sand channel for our stop, and then reach the worm patch. At this natural navigation point, we ascend to 20′, switch to O2 and then do our 20′ stop. We end the dive with a 5 minute ascent. This is our second dive out of class so I’m happy that things go according to plan. Plus, we’re with Kevin and we want to make a good impression 
[...] April 17, 2009 – First cold water sidemount dives. We saw this fella near the tire by Hole in the Wall. Never seen them in the cove. The closest has been in the sand channel in 30′ a couple years ago. __________________ Don Scuba Diving blog 1. Horizontal Trim 101 – Levers 2. Horizontal Trim 101 – Uses of Levers 3. April 17, 2009 – First cold water sidemount dives [...]