Next day, Wednesday, I couldn't wait to get back to that Atlantida artificial reef so I checked with the divers at Barracuda about getting out there again and find out about leaving my empty tank with theirs for pick up and refill. They were kind of stand offish at first and 'no speak much English' until I started asking about the construction project they were on. They pointed out to me that they had used sand bags to build a more graceful entry to the water and invited me to use it when I exited the dive. Excellent.
My next stop was next door to see what those colorful things were sitting in the sand at the top of that last picture. Also there were some strange items strung up underwater just off the shore I was curious about from the last dive.
There are to be oysters in those containers that will have been 'seeded' to produce cultured pearls. The enterprise's developer, Carlos, is also launching the colorful items which turn out to be illuminated fiberglass coral heads. This is going to be a a very active dive site on a currently barren coast.
I really didn't want to drift a mile down current to spend 10 minutes at the Atlantida reef again so I started looking for an entry point a lot closer and settled on a vacant lot just up current from the site and suited up. This turned out to be a big deal because there was no shade or any place to sit down; just a flat rock beach and the sea. Nice sunny, windless day and I was overheating fast in that rubber suit with close to 100# of gear to lug around and then by the time I got my feet wet I discovered my breathing regulator had a leak on the high pressure side. I took off my tank and disassemble as much regulator as I could. I replaced an 'O' ring but no cure, so. . . . . I got out of the water and got out of my gear and loaded it all back up on the Triciclo. There's more but I'll spare you. I headed out to Javier's to have the regulator fixed.
I happened upon this VW van along the way. It is used in a mobile tire repair business which is pretty clever in itself but on closer inspection I discovered that the entire body was made out of fiberglass. I'm sure Bob & Diane can appreciate the significance of that. =)
I have no idea how they did it but that baby will never die of rust.
Javier fixed the regulator while I waited and showed me the common mistake amateurs make replacing this particular 'O' ring which caused the failure. I'm amazed the old 'O' ring sealed as long as it did. I never could have gotten at it without special tools. Well the diving day was shot so I headed home by way of the rib joint where I consoled myself with a $3 plate of ribs.
Thursday, up early, dive gear loaded, off to the Atlantida reef. I guess at this point I should show you part of the pre-dive camera preparation. I like to flood the camera and housing with cool dry air from the air conditioner before I seal the housing up and I finally found a place that sells clothes drier vent hose. . . . . $30+ per kit. Wow, why didn't I ever buy a house? Anyway, I ended up taking a trash bag, clothes pinning an opening to the air conditioner outlet and taping up half the mouth so it redirects the cool dry air right into the housing. 13¢ !
OK, off to the Hotel Barracuda to get my logistics set to exit from the dive. Sorry, they are in a panic to get the steps into the sea poured. It was windy and the seas were up a little so the divers were sitting around watching the just poured approach cure while they waited for the 'afternoon calm' (which never came.) While sitting around they explained the two cofferdams I mentioned earlier.
I went next door South to check out an entry or exit from the sea and decided to wait a day for the steps to get done. While I was rooting around I got permission to get up on the Atlantida roof to do a shot of the reef from above.
Looks like about 6 cruise ships today.
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This is the corner post for the Atlantida parking lot.
On the way home from some errands and running around I had to stop and picture this.
And then the weather turned. . . .
It's been cold (78ºf) and windy (20+kts) for a couple days so it's fun ashore. I met a couple Mexican Navy guys in Chedraui and asked about buying a pair of dungarees. They said they'd try to get me a pair for $20 usd and to meet them this afternoon, but no show. Here is what the regulation 'pantaloons' look like. The fit is adjusted with a shoe lace in back.
There is an M.C.Escher etching that made this place look familiar, sort'a.
There is no telling when you may be reading this but it's being written on Friday evening January 6, 2006. I mention that as a point of reference when I tell you that tonight I got two eMails from Minneapolis complaining about their 14 consecutive days of no sunshine. Well here is a parting shot at dusk tonight outside my favorite Cyber cafe.
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