March
10, 2006
Trip Report and Photos
Santa Barbara Island
with the Sea Diverson theGreat Escape
Story
and Photos © Elaine
Jobin, may not be reproduced in part or whole without advanced
written permission. Theme lyrics from "Gilligan's Island" by George
Wyle and Sherwood Shwartz - modified by me for our Sea Diver trip.
Just
sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip.
That started from this tropic port
Well....actually it started
with a trip to a downtown Long Beach Greek Restrant for dinner with
Chris, Kathryn, John, and Richard.
OK, I guess Great Escape
isn't tiny. At 80 feet long and 25 feet wide - it's the largest dive
boat that we have in the Los Angeles area
The
mate was a mighty sailing man
The
skipper brave and sure.
Twenty
nine Sea Divers set sail that day. For a diving tour. For a diving
tour.
Our planned itinerary
had been an early morning departure for Santa Barbara Island. Because
of the rain and bad channel conditions plans changed to a 5:30 am
departure for Catalina Island. Patiently, we waited for morning.
After a quiet night of
sleep, the sun started to rise. We exited Angles Gate into a seemingly
calm ocean. Not far into our journey, a large gray whale was at the
surface right off the bow of the boat. Unfortunately, I missed the
whale tail shot.
Next
The
weather started getting rough
.
I was on the bow, hoping
for more whale sightings or other photo ops when the wind started
to blow very hard and a sudden downpour began. I turned after a bright
flash to see who was taking my picture, and a huge clap of thunder
just about knocked me off of my feet. Wow, a cool lightening storm
- close too. The chances of getting struck by lightening ran through
my head (really slim, right) and I decided to stay where I was and
try for some lightening photos. The rain fell harder, the wind gusts
blew stronger, and the waves grew a lot higher After several unsuccessful
attempts at catching a bolt of lightening on pixels, for whatever
reason, I had a brief moment of fear and decided to head into the
galley.
The
"tiny" ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Great Escape would be lost, the Great Escape would be lost
The
ship dropped anchor on the shore of this Catalina Isle, we dove the
strangest dive sites that I've been to in a while.
The
first was called "Grand Cayman"
The
next was "Salmon Isle"
And
finally we dove at "Coco's". Fortunately, there was none called
"de Nile", there was none called "de Nile".
OK
now I've sucked you in. Your wondering if I've lost my mind. What
really happened was Tim turned the boat around, and made tracks
for where we left behind, for where we left behind. . Our diving
trip was canceled, he hoped we wouldn't mind. I'm just trying to
make the best of things......... three weeks until my next Sea Diver
trip is a long long time.
Sometimes, being "Captain"
is a thankless job. (Poor Tim) Thank you for getting us home safe.
Thought for the week
- Is this a new brand of BC? "Rental"
Until next time................................................................................................
