More on Cold Water Diving

Goofy and I are finally a bit thawed out from our Saturday foray into what should have been called...

ICE DIVING...or THICK WATER DIVING.

I am serious!

At one point, as we were descending into the greenish water, we went through a thermocline (temperature layers in the water) that seemed to be almost slushy. You know..like water or soda looks when it's come from a 'fridge that's set too cold...a little thick-ish?

Did I mention that it was cold?

Water temp was about 44 degrees on the surface...more like 40 at 25 feet. Doesn't sound that cold to you? Try filling up your sink with cold water, putting ice in it (let it sit awhile until it thickens up a bit), then plunge your face into it. Don't come out of it...stay there for about 15 minutes until your face goes numb.

Fun, isn't it? LOL

OK...I know I am a warm water wimp. I am teased about it a lot around these parts. And I now embrace it as a badge of intelligent thinking! I mean, my gawd...who in their right mind would want to plunge into those dark, murky, icy depths? I am beginning to wonder... LOL

I asked my companions that dive the Sound regularly..."you do this for fun?", to which they all enthusiastically replied "yes!".

I think this only proves my theory that the thick water has frozen some of their brain cells.

Before you say it, I know I am spoiled with all my trips to tropical waters...I get that not everyone has that as an option...but geez...I couldn't even see five feet in front of me. Just green murky, thick water drifting by my mask as I went down toward the bottom of the cove.

I did manage to see some brown stuff and a rock while I was looking for our "lost" diver. I don't know what it was...it was brown. probably seaweed, and it probably isn't brown on the surface.

Goofy saw a crab. YAY! I can see crabs all day long at Central Market...LOL.

I am trying to think of a way to convey the incredible cold of the water. I was warm enough where ever I was covered up. My hands and feet were pretty much fine the whole time we were in the water...even when we were standing around waiting for our turns.

The suit, and hood, and gloves, and boots are very limiting to motion. They keep you warm, but you can't move very well. You ever see "A Christmas Story", where the little brother is all done up in that snowsuit and can't move? That's about what it's like. Maybe not as mobile...

And then there's the lead that you have to wear in order to get down with all that buoyant suit and hood and gloves and boots on...for me, almost 60 pounds of it. (it takes about 18 pounds in warm water, and at that I'm a little overweighted still - mostly because I'd rather sink than float :) lol).

It was my face, however, that took the brunt of it. I have never (never) experienced the kind of cold that literally took my breath away - not a really good thing while diving. It was shocking. That's actually a good word for it - SHOCKING. The only relief I got was when my face finally went numb and I couldn't feel it any more.

We're having fun now!

I wonder how divers that hit that water on a regular basis avoid frostbite to their faces...but I don't dwell on it too much, as it's something I dont' think I'll be trying again soon.

Think happy thoughts that Goofy and I will see whales in the water this trip. There are a ton of them over there...somewhere in the neighborhood of 8000 whales make the trip to the maui bowl each year, so our chances are good! Hopefully, if it does happen, we'll have our cameras with us!

Aloha!

M&G