Kelly's Cove, Norman Island, BVI			N 18° 19.5', W 64° 37.4'
Dive Number 141		Buddy Martin	Surface temp 23°C	Starting pressure 3000psi
Depth 52ft	Visibility excellent	Time 53m	Water temp 26°C	Ending pressure 1200psi
Notes:	I was shocked to find that there were only seven passengers on the Cuan Law this week, and was shocked a second time to learn that Martin and I were the only two divers in the group. This means that all week long, we'll be diving in the company of just each other and our talented divemaster, Maddy (who herself is from Whistler). On our checkout dive, Martin and I demonstrated we could recover our regulators and breathe from each other's secondary air supply. Then we took a short tour of the reef, saw lots of fish, a few arrow crabs, a sea turtle, and this remarkably geometric mollusc [pictured] on a sea fan which I understand is a flamingo tongue snail.

Round Lake, South Frontenac ON			N 44° 24.9', W 76° 25.6'
Dive Number 140		Buddy Jason	Surface temp 17°C	Starting pressure 2000psi
Depth 33ft	Visibility good	Time 35m	Water temp 12°C	Ending pressure 1000psi
Notes:	After our first dive, Jason and I returned home, and quickly suited up for a second plunge in nearby Round Lake. Chandra made the short trip with us and provided moral support while we donned our cold and wet suits and prepared. The dive went smoothly, and a characteristically large school of sunfish was visible on the shoal with some perch and even a momentary glimpse of a large Northern pike. Fish scatter a little when two divers get too near, but this photo of Jason still gives some indication of how many sunfish tend to be there. After the dive, we drove to Siem Reap restaurant to order up some takeaway for supper.

Marine Museum Dry Dock, Kingston ON			N 44° 13.4', W 76° 28.2'
Dive Number 139		Buddy Jason	Surface temp 9°C	Starting pressure 3000psi
Depth 25ft	Visibility fair	Time 43m	Water temp 13°C	Ending pressure 1600psi
Notes:	Jason arrived for a visit and some diving for the day, and we ventured to the Brule Road Quarry for a morning dive, but when we found it closed and locked, we decided to join folks we knew at the Marine Museum where a pumpkin dive had been advertized. We were unprepared for any carving but were happy to explore the drydock: A few sunfash and bass were visible, as well as a single longnose gar (pictured). By the time we exited the water, most of the other divers were gone, so we adjourned to the Hoagie house for a bite to eat.

Treasure Hunt, Nicholson Point, ON			N 44° 12.3', W 76° 40.9'
Dive Number 138		Buddy Alex	Surface Temp 13°C	Starting pressure 3100psi
Depth 29ft	Visibility good	Time 31m	Water temp 12°C	Ending pressure 2000psi
Notes:	This year, for the treasure hunt, instead of sinking golf balls for us to find, the organizers sink thirty little plastic dinosaurs. I joined up with a new and enthusiastic club diver named Alex for a cool and gentle swim. About twenty divers participated, Alex and I emerged with animals numbered 7 and 9, and I was the winner of a fleece hoodie with Northern Tech Diver logo on it. A brief club meeting ensued. I feel like I recognize fewer and fewer people in the club, but it was still a fun outing.

Dead Man's Bay, Kingston ON			N 44° 14.0', W 76° 26.9'
Dive Number 137		Buddy Jason	Surface temp 8°C	Starting pressure 1800psi
Depth 11ft	Visibility fair	Time 25m	Water temp 9°C	Ending pressure 1100psi
Notes:	Jason and I returned to the water for a second day of cold water diving. The weather today was chillier, so entry and exit were less comfortable. I once again used the calving gloves that I tried yesterday, this time underneath my neoprene gloves. Some water still got in, but I think they worked better than yesterday. I had the gruesome sight of a fox that appeared to have drowned, possibly entangled in some lines. Thankfully, Jason and I also enjoyed seeing a couple of painted turtles, one of which is featured in this video. After warming up, we lunched at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Happiness!

Round Lake, South Frontenac ON			N 44° 24.9', W 76° 25.6'
Dive Number 136		Buddy Jason	Surface temp 13°C	Starting pressure 3000psi
Depth 36ft	Visibility fair	Time 33m	Water temp 7°C	Ending pressure 1800psi
Notes:	The good news is that I remembered a few things for today's dive in Round Lake that I have been meaning to try for a while. I have been hoping to photograph the abundance of fish that usually congregate in the shoal, and I also have been meaning to try using the calving gloves I got to try and keep my hands dry (and hopefully warm) in the cold water. The calving gloves were a bust - they punctured when I was pulling my fins on. As for the camera, there were no fish to see, but at least you can see how charming a diver looks with calving gloves on! Also I forgot to mention: It was really cold.

Chacal-Al, Riviera Maya, Mexico			N 20° 29', W 87° 13'
Dive Number 135		Buddy Jim	Surface temp 24°C	Starting pressure 3000psi
Depth 73ft	Visibility excellent	Time 55m	Water temp 26°C	Ending pressure 750psi
Notes:	For the afternoon dive from the resort, our leader was Sergio, and I was buddied with Jim Ryder, the Montana diver who I'd been paired with for yesterday's cenotes dives. Although five of us dove en masse, two ended their dive after about 30 minutes because of low air, and the remaining three of us stayed on the reef to enjoy a little more bottom time. I was pleased to see yellowtail damselfish (one of my favourite fish) on this dive, as well as large school of blue tang. The photos are of some of the tang, as well as a smooth trunkfish. So ends my diving for 2010!

Cuevitas, Riviera Maya, Mexico			N 20° 29', W 87° 13'
Dive Number 134		Buddy Dan	Surface temp 24°C	Starting pressure 3000psi
Depth 42ft	Visibility excellent	Time 48m	Water temp 24°C	Ending pressure 1350psi
Notes:	For the second day, harbours in Cozumel were closed, so I joined the daily dives offered by Dressel Divers to the reefs offshore from the resort. This first dive was with Giorgia, who led four of us out of twelve total divers. Although the highlight of the dive was a set of three French angelfish, my photos are of a squid and a foureye butterflyfish. I managed to see a couple queen angels, a lobster, and two puffers that my dive buddies missed. We also saw a spotted drum.

Chak Mool, Riviera Maya, Mexico			N 20° 36', W 87° 12'
Dive Number 133		Buddy Jim Ryder	Surface temp 24°C	Starting pressure 2950psi
Depth 43ft	Visibility excellent	Time 41m	Water temp 23°C	Ending pressure 1750psi
Notes:	For some reason, the two Ottawa divers who formed part of our foursome for the first dive opted out of the second. Their loss: The return to Chak Mool was more beautiful, more convoluted, and featured a short stop in an air pocket that connected to the surface, from which the bottom of tree trunks could be seen that pierced into the top of the cavern. The salt/fresh-water halocline created a very mild thermocline as well, and it was unusual to dive in a place that got warmer as it got deeper. I'm grateful to Fernando for suggesting that I log cenotes dives while on vacation in the Yucatan.

Chak Mool, Riviera Maya, Mexico			N 20° 36', W 87° 12'
Dive Number 132		Buddy Jim Ryder	Surface temp 24°C	Starting pressure 2950psi
Depth 43ft	Visibility excellent	Time 37m	Water temp 25°C	Ending pressure 1950psi
Notes:	I hooked up with the folks at Dressel Divers while on vacation at the Barcelo Maya Hotel for Brad and Karine's wedding. I had taken it under advisement that a dive of one of the cenotes was in order, as well as Cozumel. Normally, a diver would do Cozumel first (so that divemasters could ensure adequate buoyancy control for cavern diving), but with they allowed me to join an expedition to Chak Mool today instead. The first dive of the cenote was a simple one - we followed a line around a cave lit from a single opening that was within view at all times. The water was warm, and the experience was unique, although it was really just a primer for the second cenote.