Chanb77's Weblog

After work, I whipped home, loaded up the car, and made the 5 hour drive to Oakville, for my high school reunion. I was sure to pack my dive gear, as I had planned on doing a couple of dives with some friends that I haven’t seen in a while too!

I made it to the pub at about midnight, and met up with a few friends that I hadn’t seen in a very long time!

(pic taken by my friend James…Julie G and I)

I stayed for about an hour, then headed home to sleep!

Saturday, May 24th, 2008 ~

I got up, walked over to the school to register, and get my name badge, then headed out to Hamilton, to meet up with my friend, Jay. It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the water together (ok.. apart from our group dive last weekend), and were going out on Jay’s boat, to the wreck of the Tiller, in Port Dalhousie. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and the lake hardly had a ripple in it (thank goodness).

I had done this wreck a few times before, but have never actually “seen” this wreck, due to crappy vis. We dropped down through a bit of milky water, and I started to feel doubtful that I would see this wreck on this trip either. Once we got to about 80′, the vis opened up, and you could actually see the entire wreck. Sparkling vis.!!!!! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! I couldn’t believe that I could finally see this thing!! We did a couple of passes of the wreck, and saw a massive anchor drag just past the stern. Whatever that drag came from, it was big!!! What a relief that it didn’t hit the wreck!! We checked out the holds, then made our way back up. A fantastic dive!

Bottom Time ~ 37 mins.
Max. Depth ~ 109′
Water Temp. ~ 44
Vis. ~ Freakin’ awesome!

Jay, at the healm…

Self Portrait…

I was freakin’ starving, as I can’t really eat before I get on a boat… and by the time I got back to my mum’s place, it was about 7:45 pm! I had to shower and change, and get my butt out to the school for the reunion party! I figured I’d get something there! Well… that never happened… but I did meet up with so many old friends, and it was really really good to see them again.

Another couple o’ pics…

Myself and Lorraine… (people always called her Chan, and called me Lorraine… even Friday night, at the pub!)…

My mum and I…

Me… looking for my signature on Chelsea’s shirt ~ We all signed her shirt when we graduated, and she kept it all these years!

I did find my sig. too!

I swear, it was like stepping into the twilight zone… Seeing all of these people again. It was a very cool night.

Sunday, May 25th, 2008 ~

I got up in the am, packed my stuff, and headed out to Humber Bay, to meet some friends for a dive. I hadn’t seen Dave Black in over a year, and had yet to go for a dive with him! I hadn’t seen Chris M. in over a year either, and he used to be one of my regular dive buddies! We geared up, jumped in, and were given some pretty crappy vis, which is pretty typical of Humber. It was milky and green! We made our way to the chicken line, and came back in. A nice, relaxing dive!

Dave…

Chris, playing Superman…

Me!

Bottom Time ~ 37 mins.
Max. Depth ~ 38′
Water Temp. ~ 45
Vis. ~ 20′ but milky

When we got out of the water, there was a message on my cel. phone, and I didn’t recognize the number. I don’t normally check my messages when I’m out of town, but this time I did! It turned out to be Kelly, a friend from the Ontario Diving board, and they had just pulled into Humber, on their zodiacs, returning from a dive. They were on a surface interval, and invited me to go back out with them! Sweeeeeeeeeeet!! I still had gas in my doubles, but Warren loaned me a stage bottle, to be on the safe side! There was Kelly, Dave, Warren, Chris Red, and Mike V ~ I had only been in the water with Warren before, and never when he had his camera on him! I had also not been on a zodiac before! We loaded up my gear, and headed out to the wreck of the Sligo. I hadn’t been on this wreck before either!

Here we are on the way out…

The vis. was freakin’ spectacular! What a fun wreck to dive! Warren had his monsterous camera out, and took some really fun pictures! Please excuse my dangly drysuit inflator hose…

Chris Red at the mooring…

Myself, Dave S, and Kelly…

Lil’ ol’ me…

w0000000000t!…

Since the vis. was so excellent, they were able to teach me the “Silt 1 course,” in which I passed with flying colours (don’t worry, it’s a staged event).

Here’s Dave completing his “Silt 2 course.”

Bottom Time ~ 38 minutes
Max. Depth ~ 66′
Water Temp. ~ 41
Vis. ~ Freakin’ stellar!

We went out for a quick bite to eat afterwards (finally!!!), then I made my trip home.

Warren, Mike, Chris Red, Kelly, and Dave…

What a wonderful group of people to dive with. I think I had a permagrin on for the entire drive home.