Deadman Bay ...

The opportunity was seized today to make another trip to the remarkable wreck that lies just south of the CFB Marina. Four of us (including a dive buddy met through the recent NAS course) spent just over 45 minutes delighting in the sheer strength and presence of the timbers of this old warship. Almost as impressive - and certainly equally delightful - were the hosts of fish around the wreck. Small schools of baby Bass were hanging over the open areas and several Catfish were hugging the muddy bottom or drifting through the wooden walls.

Visibility was very poor for Kingston, just 15-20'. The water is like a thin soup these days. Temperature - 64F (18C).

Back to Deadman Bay..

A little warm-up dive this morning for the main event this evening, the first Club charter of the 2007 season. Theresa and I enjoyed the Southern wreck in Deadman Bay shortly after 9am, spending some 38 minutes taking in its features. The only significant sighting was of a fairly large Smallmouth Bass, which seemed very interested in us, making a close approach; its obviously diseased state could explain this unusual behaviour.

The water was pleasantly warm (comparatively) at 52F (11C). But visibility, partly due to the brisk Sou'wester, partly to floating algae, was only fair - at about 35 feet.

History Hunters...

Armed with a copy of the report on wrecks of the War of 1812 prepared recently by Parks Canada's Marine Archaeologist, Jonathan Moore, four of us explored Deadman Bay this morning, visiting the more northern site, often referred to as HMS Psyche.

The wreck showed up well in the intermittent sunshine - visibility was about 35 feet. Better news lay in the fact that the water temperature is now registering 45F (7C). Besides the wreck, the biggest attraction today was the numerous Painted Turtles (some really quite large) seen on the swim out and back.

A few pictures showing views of the wreck are on the Club's Flickr Site.

I was pleased to provide some assistance before and after the dive to members of the CFB Kingston Yacht Club. I recovered an expensive pair of prescription Oakley sunglasses and re-attached a mooring buoy to make it more useful to the Club.

Fun with a Deadman...

Despite dire warnings of thunderstorms and high winds, conditions in Deadman Bay this afternoon were pretty good. Six members of the Club made a gentle foray to the wreck just South of the Forces' Marina. Theresa had a particularly good outing - her first as a certified Open Water diver - spotting a turtle in the shallows just before exiting.

The rain overnight and earlier in the day had brought the water temperature up to 45F (7C). Visibility was somewhere around the 30-40 foot range. Some other pictures from the outing have been posted to the Club's Flickr site.

Dead reckoning with the Deadman..

Three of us returned today to Deadman Bay with twin aims. The first was to satisfy a request from the CFB Yacht Club for work on a mooring in mid channel; the second to make another pilgrimage to the beautiful wreck that lies just South of the Marina. We didn't reckon on being approached by another couple of sailors, who, before the season has started in earnest, had already lost items over the side of the docks. Long story short - we retrieved a fancy knife clip and a $600 GPS set from the bottom.

The mooring work was fun - especially when we discovered, on the first attempt, that the pin on the clevis provided wouldn't fit through the links of the new chain. An added ingredient in an entertaining mix was using a lift bag to take out said chain - and to bring back the old one for inspection and disposal. Useful exercise.

Once we had completed the work for the day, it was time to play. We meandered down to the wreck site - with brilliant sunshine streaming through the shallow water. Huge shoals of Perch were spotted and the water is full of what we believed to be Frog Spawn. Great strands cling to the few standing weeds every couple of feet in the shallows.

Total time in the water - a new personal best for this year - 1 hour 27 minutes. It must be getting warmer. The thermometer suggested 41F (5C) at the coldest point, but much of the water was warmer. Visibility was at least 50 feet - and probably better. Air temperature, despite a chilly Northerly breeze, 17C (63F).