Hello Wakulla
I had another great open water weekend. On Saturday we met at the jetties in St. Andrews Park in Panama City Beach at 8 a.m. Central time.
We did twp open water dives so we could get all our required skills done before we went into the big water on Sunday. This class made up of a family of five and another student. All the students where quite saltwater able. They did their skills very well just like in the pool session. I gave them the address of the marina the boat is docked and said we need to meet there between 7:30 and 8 on Sunday.
I got to the dive boat at 7:10 a.m. Central and it just so happens that two of my former students where there early like me. I met the captain, his wife and daughter – it’s a family run business. We got the layout of the boat and started to unload the truck with all the cylinders and placed them in their spots for the students. My divemaster and DM in training both showed up to help us with the tanks. The rest of the divers including my six students arrived and boarded the boat.
The captain gave us the safety briefing after everyone signed in and got their gear set up and checked. He fired up the engine and we where headed out to the first dive site the Red Sea. My divemaster and DM in training where the first ones in the water followed by the six students and the other divers. I was the last one off the boat. As I was descending down the anchor rope I saw a 3-foot sandbar shark at the bow and there was a very large school of amberjack along with many other type bait fish. I had not seen this much fish in one place in many years of diving this wreck.
The students finally got their water wings and looked pretty good as they swam the wreck for the first time. I was swimming around and made sure they all started ascending up the dive rope. We all got on board and changed over our tanks for the next adventure.
The second dive we made was at the bridge span 12. It was a few hundred yards away so the captain anchored the boat. During the surface interval we had snacks and drinks – water and juice. This time the students where divers and everyone stepped off the boat like pros, they descended down the rope and began their dive.
I was just chillin’ out when I noticed something slowly moving on my right side and when I looked it was about a couple of feet away. It was the largest Goliath grouper I have ever seen. It probably was a 1,000 lbs and at least 9-10 feet in length. The cool thing was several of the divers saw it too.
The span was covered in so much sea life it was awesome.
Well, I’m out of room so until next dive make bubbles.
Russell Miller
NAUI #59999
IANTD #224715