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Dive Report: Ande
Date: Sunday May 7, 2000
Boat: SS Minnow
By: Mike Rodriguez
The Ande is one of the newest Palm Beach County artificial reefs. It's located just north of the Lake Worth Inlet off Singer Island in 190 feet of water. The ship is resting on its keel facing east to west. Its two masts stand 85 feet above the ocean floor.
I arrived at the dock as my cell-phone rang. It was my buddy asking where I was and telling me that the boat was ready to leave! Well, I checked my watch and told my buddy that it was still 30 minutes before the departure time. It turns out that someone, who's name I will not mention, gave me the wrong departure time. When I reached the boat, everyone rushed out to help carry my gear as I parked my truck; by the time I got back from parking, all my gear was neatly stowed on the boat. Hell, I think I'm going to be late more often! :)
The boat finally left the dock, and we were at the Ande a short while later. Everyone geared up and waited for the drop. The captain called out and we jumped in up-current for the free-descent.
I reached the bottom in about a minute and saw nothing but the sand and my buddies in the 80 foot visibility. Everyone took a compass bearing and swam north well above the sand hoping to find the wreck. I enjoyed swimming with all the other divers in the great visibility. It was almost like being in a swimming pool.
After about three minutes I was getting discouraged thinking we'd missed when I saw a large rectangular thing about 10 feet by five in the sand to the north. I swam a little harder in that direction, then I saw the vague, dark outline of the ship. Everyone else saw it at about the same time and we all easily drifted onto the Ande.
Once on the ship I swam toward the bow where one of the large masts still stands. I swam up to the top of the mast and from that perch high above the deck I could see nearly the entire ship and all the divers swimming around. It was a great view, and I wished I had a camera which I never seem to have when it would come in most useful.
I stayed at the top of the mast for about five minutes just enjoying the great view, then I dropped to the bottom of the forward cargo hold. I swam toward the stern past a large, yummy-looking grouper then into the engine room.
The engine room is dark and interesting. There are numerous artifacts still there for the taking. I swam around in there for a few minutes, then was joined by one of my buddies.
After a while, we exited and I took a close look at one of the windlasses near the deck. There was a snowflake eel hiding underneath it. I tried to get a good look at it, but it shied away from my light. I gave up and went exploring several empty rooms and the wheelhouse before my time ran out.
Finally the group departed the wreck together for an uneventful deco in the clear warm water. About an hour later, we were back at the dock. For some reason, however, when I brought my truck back to the dock, nobody would carry my gear the way they did when I arrived. I don't understand? :-)
Copyright
© 2001 Mike Rodriguez. All rights reserved. |