December 26, 2004: Caribbean Explorer II

A D2D New Years 2005: Saba - St. Kitts dive

"Ladder Labrynth (Saba)" - "Customs House Reef (Saba)" - "Torrens Point (Saba)"

Diving aboard the CEXII:

• Directions from Tampa: Talk to Ultimate Dive Travel at http://www.ultimatedivetravel.com/
• Conditions on the day of my visit: Sunny - Comfortable, not too cold.
  
  
• Personal Notes: Nice warm water temperatures of 81 degrees! It was good to be back in the water again, too. Unfortunately, my camera housing got damaged in transit, but with the help of Bill the Engineer (who was also the Engineer two years before on the Nekton - wow!) we epoxyed it. However, that meant at least one day without it.
  
  The first day back in the water is always interesting. I don't have a regular dive buddy for Gulf diving, and I don't make it over to the Atlantic as much as I'd like these days. The last time I was in the water was the previous trip to the Bahamas. Whereas gear assembly can be second nature, that first time after a month or so (or more, as my case was) is always accompanied by the worry, "Did I forget something?" Kind of like when I was packing, but worse, as my life depended on it.
  
  But no worries, I got everything right, and felt right at home back in the water. Was a little light at first - I wore my vested hood and had only 4 lbs; I needed to bug one of the dive masters for a couple of pounds. After that I was right as rain - if a little crooked going through the water.
  
  Nothing extrodinary to report about the dives. They were good, and a macro photographer's Heaven, but any dive you come back from that doesn't result in a visit to the chamber is a good dive.