Saturday, November 3, 2012

Dive blog- Isla Isabela, Galapagos Islands

General:

Two dives off Isla Isabela, Galapagos Islands

Advanced group of 5 clients and US dive master trained in Thailand.

Dive Notes:

Dive photographer from the US sadly lost his camera using a head mount in a strong current section of Dive 1. He also lost a fin. No photos and a photographer going around in circles!

Dive 1 had several areas of thermal clines where you could not only feel the dramatic temperature difference where frigid water entered the warmer current but you could see it as a blurry current. 

Dive 2 had strong currents and we ended the dive ascending close to the cliffs of Isla Tortuga and the resultant buffeting challenged getting back to the boat anchored off-shore.



Dive 1.                                        Dive 2
Quatro Hermanos.                      Isla Tortuga

10am.         Time in.         12pm
17.1m.         Max depth.          18.3m
11m.        Av. Depth.        12.8m
21C.        Water temp.         22C
12m.         Visibility.         6-8m
47min.         Dive time.         49min
1hr 6 min Surface interval between dives


Weather:

High cloud, 25C, windy.

Water:

Ocean choppy, low swell, 20C

Gear:

7mm full body wetsuit, hood, booties, 4x 1.5kg weights

Wildlife:


Land and Air: Tropic Bird, Seal Lion, Marine Iguana

Sea:
Barracuda, Snake eel, Grunts, Tiger fish, Parrot fish, Octopus, Great moray eel, Puffer fish

Highlights:
Diamond Sting Ray, Spotted Scorpion fish, Pacific Great Turtles

Personal Rating:

5/10 Low visibility and cold water temperatures detracted from a better dive. Won't even dare to compare. Diving in the middle of the Pacific Ocean cannot be compared to the Red Sea, the Andaman Sea, Gulf of Siam, etc....!