Sea Cave
Feb
26
2010
0
Dive No.: 1995
Dive Site: Sea Cave, Oahu, Hawaii
Max Depth: 74ft/22m
Total Time: 38 mins
Air: 200bar – 120 bar
Mix: EANx32
Tank: 80cu
Weight: 8lbs
Visibility: 100ft/30m
Water: 75F/234
Exposure: rash guard, 5mm full wet suit (busted zipper), 3mm shorty, 3mm skull cap
Comments:
Great group of divers: all advanced, independent, and totally stoked for a great dive. Good thing Roger and I delivered!
The sea cave is an impressive sight both above and below the waters. Plunging into the crystal-clear waters, we swam under the arch leading into the cave at 50ft/15m. Schools of yellow tangs swarmed the entrance. A lone turtle, startled by our presence, calmly left her hiding spot inside the cave.
The back of the cave opened into a turbulent washbowl at the surface. Hovering beneath the furious waves, we watched our bubbles spin in violent vortices in the chaos above. After briefly observing the fury at a safe distance, we exited the cave and difted down the wall.
An octopus slithered under a recess, pulsating signals of agitation through the chromatophores in its skin. As we turned to head back towards the boat, a solitary eagle ray glided past the group, barely flexing its blue-and-white spotted wings in the gentle current. As we drifted back, we spotted few more large morays poking out from the crevices.
We hung on the safety stop serenaded by the songs of humpback whales. Just before breaking the surface, another lone turtle—perhaps the same one from the start of the dive—circled our group en route to a breath on the surface.