In a stroke of absolute best luck ever, the seas calmed down on Saturday and we got to tagalong with Samyak Jain on his checkout dive with Skip VandeLinde and AquaLife Divers. It was an afternoon dive, the water had warmed up and the currents were mild for this time of year. Visibility was a little bit low, but there was nothing to complain about with the dive or the day!
If you haven’t been diving in more than a year, all of the certifying agencies recommend that you do a refresher dive with a certified instructor before jumping back into the water. In fact, many dive outfitters will ask you how long since your last dive when you book the trip in order to ferret out folks who need some assistance with a refresher. It’s no joke, and not just an attempt to get more money out of you.
Dive accidents happen most when we are rushed and uncomfortable with our equipment preparation and use. A certified instructor will remind you of the skills you have practiced and be certain you are comfortable in the water before sending you on your way to explore the open ocean. As you know, there are several instructor members of Out Scuba who will be happy to work with you.
But what about the dives?
It was a great preview of the trip the club has planned on May 18. We dove the Ancient Mariner wreck at about 75 feet and then followed that up with a 50-foot Whale’s Tail Reef drift dive. The fish life was abundant, and the wreck was in great shape. Best of all, we got to dive with new Out Scuba member Bob Beardsley and Scuba Star’s Houssein on the trip. (Houssein has just added several hot discounts for Out Scuba members!)
The Ancient Mariner shipwreck, originally known as the U.S.C.G.C. Nemesis, has a storied past that spans decades. Launched in 1934, this Coast Guard Cutter served valiantly during World War II, rescuing survivors from torpedoed vessels and engaging enemy submarines in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. After the war, it continued its service patrolling between Florida and Cuba, aiding Cuban refugees and enforcing U.S. laws. Decommissioned in 1964, the vessel transitioned into civilian life, eventually becoming a floating restaurant named Livingston’s Landing in Fort Lauderdale in 1979.
However, its restaurant days were fraught with challenges, including a hepatitis outbreak in 1986 that led to its closure. After several failed attempts to revive the business, the ship was purchased by the South Florida Divers Club and donated to Broward County’s artificial reef program. In June 1991, the Ancient Mariner was sunk off Deerfield Beach, transforming into a vibrant artificial reef and popular dive site. Today, it stands as a testament to its multifaceted history, from wartime heroics to its underwater legacy.
The Whale’s Tail Reef is named that because of the shape of the ledge profile which makes up the primary dive site. Because this is a drift dive, however, you don’t spend much time in anyone spot. Fort Lauderdale features a series of coral reefs that align parallel to the shore, creating ideal conditions for drift diving. Divers can effortlessly glide along the reef’s edge, letting the current carry us while we marvel at all of the sea life. This approach to diving minimizes effort and maximizes enjoyment, making it a favorite among Out Scuba members.
