June 2nd, 2007

Howdy Reef and Ridge Divers!
Twelve intrepid members of the Reef and Ridge family braved the twin assaults of Poseidon and Aeolus to dive the waters off Carolina Beach. Okay, maybe not so much. The weather was actually quite nice, and the seas gentle as we rode seaward to our destinations. The original itinerary was changed to adjust to the impending arrival of Tropical Storm Barry as it charged up the coast. Forsaking the ledge that bears the same name and seeking closer sites than the Gill, Captain Guy of Cape Fear Divers suggested instead that we dive the popular combination of Markham and Hyde, making the point that it would be a shorter haul if we were forced to flee the gathering storm. For his meritorious service he is henceforth to be referred to as Admiral Guy.
There were those who doubted the choice of Markham(or, as it has been called, the “Murkyham”). They were silenced when observers noted that it was possible to see the wreck from the surface! With 80 feet of visibility, divers saw a great deal of aquatic life including tropicals, barracuda, amberjack, a stingray and sand tiger sharks. The sharks were a special treat for our several first-time ocean divers. Conditions at the Hyde, a few hundred yards away, were considerably worse. While we were again able to see the wreck from the surface and while keen-eyed observers were actually able to see a diver setting the anchor, visibility was reduced to a barely-manageable 60 feet. Still, all of the divers left their disappointment on the boat and made do with the conditions we were given. Fish life is much the same, but the Hyde is more overgrown with plant and coral life. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.
Congratulations to Kathy, Duffy, Curtis, Tim and John for their first ocean dives. These five are all working on Advanced Open Water certifications. John's father Ross is working on the AOW as well, and I believe this is his first North Carolina dive (sorry if I'm mistaken, Ross!) but it is not his first in the ocean. All of the AOW students looked great in the water, which was immensely satisfying. Welcome, Charles, to the world of North Carolina diving. Also, thanks to Laura, Rob and Hilerie for coming along and special thanks to Divemaster Charlie for his assistance.
Thanks also to the always terrific crew at Cape Fear Divers. You guys are truly a treat to work for and we all appreciate your efforts to make our trips memorable.
This is why we do it, folks, so come on down and get in the water. We slog through the rough days and shrug off 10 feet of visibility. We brave the waves and take our lumps. And we do it because we know that we could just as easily draw a day like this. Good weather, good seas, good people on the boat and good diving in the water. Who could ask for more?

See you on the boat,
Mike

P.S. You may think you have seen the picture before. You are not mistaken. I was unable to take pictures since I was working with students, but that was taken on Hyde last summer.
P.P.S. Shutterbug Robert has kindly posted a boatload of pictures of the trip on the web for your enjoyment. Just use the link below to see them. http://robslink.com/slideshows/capefear_07/
P.P.P.S. I’d like to give a special shout-out to a longtime friend of Reef and Ridge, Ted. He was diving with another operator visiting the same sites. I was shocked when I heard someone on the other boat call out my name but, turning around, I saw it was Ted and a brief conversation was attempted across the water. Hope your dives were as good as ours!