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Dive Logs for Vance Stevens PADI open water scuba instructor #64181 Dives 508-509 September 18, 2003 Abu Dhabi Ras Ghurab and Old Cement Barge

Diving with: ADHFC
Dive buddies: -
Others in dive party: Refresher dives for Kree Barrus, Steve Poole, Valorie Dick, Karen Paul. Amy Field divemaster.
Conditions: very nice
Visibility: -
Wetsuit: -
Weight: -
Diving from: -

September 18, 2003

My 508th Logged Dive since 1991

Dive site: Ras Ghurab
Training conducted: none, just several refresher divers

Interval on computer from previous dive: new
Pressure group in, from tables or wheel: n/a

Time down on dive computer: 11:37
Max depth: 7.7 meters
Time started up from chart: 75 min
Dive time from computer: 75 min
Min Temp: degrees 32 centigrade
No-stop time left on computer: 99 min
Nitrox 21% (normal air), no deco

Description of dive:

First dive to Ras Ghurab was kinda fun. Nice day for it, seas smooth and water temps still quite pleasant for diving in the buff, which none of our divers did (that may or may not have been part of their training, not clear on that point). Lots of fish around, and the ones with the one black spot are snappers, the pretty yellow and black spotted grunts. We stopped to dwell on the gopies living in the holes with the little crabs behind. You come to appreciate the small things at Ras Ghurab.

Pressure group out, from tables or wheel: -

My 509th Logged Dive since 1991

Dive site: Old Cement Barge
Training conducted:

Interval on computer from previous dive: 1:30
Pressure group in, from tables or wheel: -

Time down on dive computer: 14:30
Max depth: 11.4 meters
Time started up from chart: 43 min
Dive time from computer: 45 min
Min Temp: degrees 33 centigrade
No-stop time left on computer: 99 min
Nitrox 21% (normal air), no deco

Description of dive:

We were thinking to head home as we had planned but then all those tanks were there and I happened to mention the wreck so we set a course for Old Cement Barge. Now this pile of submerged metal is not easy to find. I have several GPS points marked so if I can't find it by watching the depth meter go from 10 to 8 I throw in the anchor where I think it is and take a bearing on the 3 waypoints I have marked on my GPS.

In this case the GPS told me the wreck was to the north and east about 100-150 meters from where we went in so we followed the anchor line down to sand and more sand. I attached my reel to the anchor and played the line out 50 meters to the north. There we found a rusted ladder in the sand (a clue!). Grasping my reel we finned and checked the arc left and right but nothing, so I left the reel by the ladder and went on a compass heading 35 kick cycles to the north. Here we encountered a sort of debris field with an anchor in it and an encrusted cinder block. I decided to check due east. I chose that direction because my GPS had suggested that the wreck should be north and east. At about 20 kick cycles east from the anchor we came upon the wreck of the Cement Barge. Well well, that was lucky (but with a touch of cerebral). Lots of bat fish on the wreck, and more snappers in perpetual motion. We had a prowl around the barge then retraced our fin kicks (almost said 'steps') and returned to the anchor and up to the boat.

Pressure group out, from tables or wheel: -