Old dives

Good weather at Van Damme

Alacosta divers visited Van Damme on August 22-24, Friday-Sunday. The weather was wonderful. The sea was flat. The weather in the evening was comfortable, instead of the usual cold weather that sets in as the evening progresses.

On Saturday, the Alacostans went out for an abalone dive in one of the Zodiacs. Many people brought back abalone, John Beland caught his limit. Many abalone were brought back.

After the abalone dive, a few divers added a scuba dive. The visibility was 20 feet, not bad for Van Damme, though not quite as good as the calm conditions suggested.

Even Kevin Dalley briefly entered the water from a beach dive, testing his newly repaired shoulder, while Jim Kirby stayed nearby, ready to perform any necessary rescue.

Saturday evening included the usual large feast, with many kinds of abalone, and more courses than anyone could eat. After dinner, we discussed dive accidents past. John Diola had an abalone dive which ended with a twenty foot wave breaking over him, dislocating his shoulder. He lived through the experience. His dive buddy lost his mask, gloves, and fins.

Boats repaired

Michael Daily hosted a boat repair party. The two Zodiacs, Latex Queen and Shark Bait, and the small Achilles, Pépé, were checked for leaks and repaired.