March 5, 2008 - Ancient Mariner

Wednesday afternoon, March 5th, finds the Video Dude out on a "Fun Dive" with my friend David to the "Ancient Mariner". We are aboard Parrot Island Scuba's "Fathoms O' Fun" with Captain Jerry at the helm. The weather earlier today was not great, but after a storm blew through, the afternoon was calm and clear. Seas were flat and no wind.


Dive #1 is on the "Ancient Mariner". Visibility was around 40ft, with water temps in the low 70s. Lots of fish on the wreck today, including a couple of good-sized Midnight Parrotfish, a Goliath Grouper, loads of Glassy Sweepers in the cargo hold and the usual schools of Grunts in the wheelhouse. I finally got to meet the "star" of the wreck - Lenny the Blenny - and he allowed me the opportunity for some closeup video. My friend David had never been inside a wreck before, so he got his first taste of that as well.


Dive #2 finds us on "Lighthouse Ledge". Always a nice reef with lots of fish life as well as a few "critters". We dropped down to the reef right over a hole where a Green Moray was hiding, and we also found a second Green Moray trying to hide in a clump of tube sponges! Additionally we saw a Scorpionfish, a Spotted Moray and tons of Blue Chromis, Grunts, Squirrelfish and Parrotfish. A nice drift dive with a moderate current pushing us along so we didn't have to work too hard. Visibility was also around 40ft and temps were in the low 70s again.


A great afternoon of shooting video, diving with friends and "de-stressing"!

The Video Dude