Lobster Dive Nov. 15, 2009 Ft. Lauderdale

Dives #5 & 6 (and counting!). We dove the Wreck of the Tracy - my first experience with a strong current and deepest dive so far - 69'. It was exciting going hand over hand down the mooring line to reach the ship. John patiently guided me & Ashleigh to the wreck. They say the viz was 40' but it was darker than my previous dives and felt like nighttime to me - it was really cool, amazing how the blues and purples popped out though, and the way those big schools of fish just seem to hang out floating motionless. Altogether a great experience - an endorphin rush for sure. We are so fortunate to have such experienced and strong divers in this dive club - at least I feel fortunate to be a part of it. When I was trying to get back to the boat the current was so strong John ended up literally pushing me through it to get to the ladder ! It was like nothing to him but I was impressed ! And throughout the entire dive I felt completely at ease and protected - just like during my cert dives with Mike. These guys are awesomeness in wet suits.
On dive #6 we went lobster hunting. It was a drift dive and now I know what that means, but there was also a great surge so it was really a lot of fun - the sensations were like some carnival ride - like floating through inner space. What fantastic corals and fish and ledges. I think it was called 'Oakland Ledges'. John snagged a couple of lobsters. I didn't get any my first time out but got to practice looking in, around, and under all kinds of stuff - missed the giant ray of course coz I had my head craning under a rock or something but that's OK - they'll be there the next time I'm sure. There is too much to see - we spent 55" about 34' down and it felt like LESS time than we'd spent on the wreck, which was somewhere around 15-20", so now I understand why you need a dive watch ! So easy to lose track when you're engrossed in such a vivid experience. Maybe its just because diving is new for me - I don't know - but the sensations are so totally palpable. I can relive the moments like a movie in my mind, one I've watched over and over because I like it so much. Only this wasn't a movie - it was real, so completely real - it was living life completely in the moment, suspended weightlessly, effortlessly, so much a part of that mysteriously beautiful underwater world - with no fear - a controlled, prolonged, absolutely pleasurable place to BE.
OK ! New diver syndrome? I think not. I'm already convinced that each dive is going to have its own 'personality' and expect the excitement to be there just the same the hundredth time around. And the sense of group spirit is really great- on the lobster dive I was with John and Kyle and Laurens. There is just something about looking out for one another underwater that is special. I am definitely in this for the long haul !