Posted by Captain Tim Burke on December 10, 2001 at 22:30:29:


Ship's log 12/10/01

Saturday, 12/1/01 we went to Catalina with Sport Chalet. The trip over was uneventful. Large swells, but along ways apart. (This condition often has the local "TV" weather person warning us about large surf, but rarely has anything to do with boating). First stop was "Lion's Head" water was clear and divers enjoyed the spot. One of the divers got some very good pics of a "Manta Shrimp". Look but don't touch! Next we dove at "Indian Rock" good vis and a good dive. Last dive was at "Yellow Tail Point". Very good vis, and two divers came back with 4 legal bugs, good job. Lots of fun.
Sunday, 12/2/01 we went to the "Valiant" with the California Wreck Divers" for their annual Christmas dive. One of my and the crew's favorites as they really feed us good! We stayed all day, and many divers did not go fearing the weather. But nothing happened except for a little mist late in the day. The Wreck Divers had fun all day, along with a few non-members to round things out. The best part of the day was when I was watching a divers grab a Cormorant (AKA Diver Duck, these are the critters you may see swimming by you at 60'. The first one I saw was about 20 years ago. Quite a site). I was surprised that he could grab the bird. He said something then went after the bird again. It could not swim very well and he caught it easily. He brought it back to the boat and Kevin took hold of it, and he and I inspected the bird. It had fishing line wrapped all around its legs and wings. I went in for some tools and while Kevin held and comforted the bird I removed the hook from its' chest, and removed all of the fishing line. It tool awhile as the "Diver Duck" was not real happy. We finally got all the line off the bird and released it. It swam away from the boat, and looked to be ok. Well that we are good deed for the day.
Captain Tim