6.21.08 - The "Rodeo 25" and "Sunkist Reef"

Hello everyone.

Saturday June 21st finds the Video Dude and Scuba Goddess Terri aboard South Florida Diving Headquarters' "Safari Diver" heading out to do a deep wreck dive on the "Rodeo 25". Conditions were awesome as Captain Aria and Divemaster Robert took us out to the site. Upon arrival, Divemaster Robert jumps in to tie off our descent line and comes up to report beautiful conditions down below - only a small thermocline near where he has tied off the line. No Big Deal.

Terri and I are ready to jump in, so down we go. We DO notice the thermocline at about 60fsw, but what Divemaster Robert didn't know was there was another one at about 90fsw that was so severe we nearly called the dive off! My data logger showed a temperature drop down to 64 degrees!! That was a 20 degree difference from the surface temp! The one benefit to the cold was the visibility was 100ft or so, so seeing things was easy at least. We did several penetrations of the wreck, including going into the engine room and a couple of the holds. It was a blast! I'm starting to get the hang of this wreck penetration stuff, finally.

All too soon we have to head up for our safety stops and ultimately the boat. After changing gear over and taking some surface time, we are ready for our drift dive on "Sunkist Reef". A very slow and easy drift dive zig-zagging back and forth across the reef ledges and finger reefs where we saw a Southern Stingray getting cleaned by Banded Shrimp and Purple Gobys, a Spotted Moray Eel, and a couple of Lobster. After nearly an hour's bottom time, we have to return to the surface world and our return to the dock.

A beautiful day of diving in Paradise!

The Video Dude