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Ripping Day on the USCGC Duane

It was a gorgeous day today as we headed out on our two dives. After our 40 minute boat ride to the Duane from Tavernier Creek Marina we were all ready to jump in the water. I was probably the most anxious as it was an amazing day. The water was as smooth as glass and the sun was shining brightly, hence the Sunshine State. Everyone jumped in and all was fine. And then.... about 10 feet down the descent line the current decided to just sweep in. It was quite a current. We hit the deck at about 100 feet. I decided to take us towards the superstructure to get some protection from the current. The current was picking up the entire time. After about 12 minutes into the dive my students were needing to get back to the line for an ascent. Though we were not far from our original bow line there was no way they were going to be able to reach the line while fighting the current and have ample air for a slow safe ascent and required safety stop. So I decided to take us up the smoke stack line. They hung in there like pro divers. We did one safety stop at 50 feet for 1 minute and then at around 15 feet for 3 minutes. We reached the surface safely and required assistance to get both students back to the boat as our boat was located up current from our ascent point. With the assistance of our divemaster and captain my students made it back to the boat safely and with a new appreciation of what a strong current means and feels like.

From there we went to Pickles Reef. This was a much more relaxed experience for all. My students finished their underwater navigation exercises and are now officially PADI advanced open water divers. Congratulations to both of them.


View of the water as we were going out to the Duane.


Lea (L) and Teo (R) on the deck of the USCGC Duane at 100ft.


Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber


View from the deck of the crows nest on the Duane.


Symmetrical Brain Coral
Diploria strigosa

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