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Diving Debbie
Forum Expert
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 08:23 pm |
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| They should call it Turtle Rock. Excellent diving, but hard core. Attachment: 176_Sail_Rock.jpg (Downloaded 48 times)
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Diving Debbie
Forum Expert
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 08:27 pm |
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| The barracuda brigade was out in full force. I've never seen so many schooling before (and darting about, and following us. . .) Attachment: 182_Sail_Rock.jpg (Downloaded 48 times)
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Diving Debbie
Forum Expert
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 08:30 pm |
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| Two spotted eagle rays - one with a long tail, one without. I only saw this one. Attachment: 168_Sail_Rock.jpg (Downloaded 47 times)
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Diving Debbie
Forum Expert
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 08:31 pm |
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| and a "little" eel. Attachment: 170_Sail_Rock.jpg (Downloaded 46 times)
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admin
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| Joined: | Sat Dec 23rd, 2006 |
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 08:38 pm |
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sail rock is one of the best diving spots around.....glad you got out there!
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Island Woman MJ
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 25th, 2006 |
| Location: | Culebra |
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 10:25 pm |
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Wow!!! Wonderful pics! Sail Rock...the only time I was out there with divers (important edit...this was a private dive, NOT with one of the dive boats from here!!), the current swept them away, rescue necessary, one of those...oh crap times. I don't dive so I was on boat/diver watch. As a (previous) sailor, I was basically one who knew Sail Rock as a waypoint - and at the time we were there, it was an OH MY GOD you're leaving us in this boat close to bashing in?? I'd never been that close to Sail Rock (with no desire to go back) and am glad to know such wonder lies beneath the surface.
Well done! I'd snorkel there on a calm day now with anticipation!
A really bad shot of Sail Rock (for those of you who don't know it - it's between here and St. Thomas, and obviously named for its shape - guano makes it white), but the only one I could find to steal (just so you all know, when I say steal, these are free images available on the net).
Attachment: Pic120_Sail+Rock.JPG (Downloaded 40 times) Last edited on Tue Jan 8th, 2008 10:28 pm by Island Woman MJ
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Salva lo que queda! Save What's Left!
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Diving Debbie
Forum Expert
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Posted: Tue Jan 8th, 2008 10:56 pm |
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It is definitely not for the faint of heart. Today was an ultra-calm day. I even rode on the bow of the boat most of the way out there since it was so calm. Of course, I told Taz I was there so he'd have something nice to look at on the way out.  I digress. The current was ripping, and even under the water, there is a bashing against the rock effect. You really have to ride the currents and fin into them to keep yourself where you want to be. Admittedly, Lewis and I lost the boat today. Taz had to leave us to take the other diver back to the boat, and it was quite a challenge for us to make it back to the boat. Obviously we made it, but not without some problems. In fact, we had to do an emergency ascent to locate the boat and then shared air on our safety stop because one of us ran out. We both sucked more air than usual on the first dive. But, as Taz says every time he docks the boat - "well, we managed to cheat death for another day."
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Island Woman MJ
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Posted: Wed Jan 9th, 2008 12:42 am |
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Laughing here...when we went, there were two young, very attractive European women along. They were anxious to ride on the bow sans tops, a natural way of being for them in warm weather, to get the sun. Of course, the guys were happy about that. They were on the bow maybe...oh...two minutes, before they were airborne and crawled their way back into the boat. No topless that day.
One woman spent the next while trying hard to be a good trooper and not throw up while green around the gills. The other was a champion and helped me do watch and make decisions...do we start the boat and start searching? Do we wait? You go pee, keep an eye on those two floating toward Vieques, then I'll go. We waited. Yeah, too much information but it was a memorable event. Everyone got back to the boat without too much drama (ok, there was drama, but nobody got hurt because we all knew, for the most part, what to do and what not to do - mainly, what not to do is panic). The weather switched back to what it was supposed to be (rather than the swift turn to hell weather it became in less than 15 minutes); the divers dove later on (at another spot) and all was well.
Glad you all got there and back safe and happy with good pics to tell the important parts.
Moral of the stories: Be sure you can do what you think (or say) you can do, plus being ready for the unexpected and can do that too. Real life ain't Disney World! It's a whole lot better.
MJ steps off her soapbox.
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Hillman
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Posted: Wed Jan 9th, 2008 12:07 pm |
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Diving Deb, thanks for the great underwater photos, good to know the environs out there remain healthy and challenging. Here is the "real deal", it was super clear this AM to get this photo, showing why the rock has its name. That is Buck Island in the background.
Attachment: SailRock1.JPG (Downloaded 28 times)
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