Dive Report: Bill Boyd

Eight of us dove the Bill Boyd Sunday (9/12/99) on Mike Halprin's
SeaHorse dive boat.  Conditions couldn't have been better.  Seas
were running about 2 feet or less.  The sun was shining and the
wind was light.  We left the dock at about 2pm; the Bill Boyd is
about 30 minutes south of the Hillsboro inlet.  Mike got us over
the wreck and found practically no current.

Due to the depth, 267 feet in the sand, we opted to do a free decent
rather than try to tie off a float line.  Since there was no surface
current, Mike positioned us directly over the wreck and in we went;
all eight divers made it onto the wreck on the first try.

We descended through excellent visibility and I could make out the
wreck directly below me by the time I was at about 150 feet.  As I
got to the wreck, I established neutral buoyancy and headed down to
the sand where I read 277 feet and 72F on my Nitek calibrated for
salt water.  My Uwatec, calibrated for fresh water read 278, and I
later determined that the calibration on the Nitek was off... looks
like it's going back to DiveRite.  I dove a 50% helium mix which put
my END at 100 feet.  Everyone else on the dive was on trimix as
well.

Once in the sand, I swam south the length of the wreck to the stern,
then I rounded the stern and headed up to deck level and continued
north along the port side of the ship.  There was a big school
of very small (half inch or so) fish swimming in unison.  I couldn't
help smiling at the show they were putting on as they weaved and
dodged around obstacles and swam in and out of nooks and crannies
in the coral growth on the side of the ship.  There wasn't much growth
on the ship especially considering how long it's been down.  There was
a quarter-knot north current down there so I just drifted along the
length of the ship enjoying the scenery.

I rounded the bow of the ship and saw a big (~3 feet across) ray in
the sand below me.   Next, I swam up-current and into one of the cargo
holds.  There, I was greeted by what looked to me like a huge grouper;
I'm not sure grouper hang around that deep, though, and since my
knowledge of ichthyology is admittedly limited, I can't be sure what
it was.  Whatever it was, it was big and looked like it would be
delicious broiled.  :-)

I continued in the cargo hold toward the stern and next I saw a
railroad cargo car.  "Wow!", I thought and proceeded to explore
it.  I continued south and found yet another railroad car.  More
exploring and more swimming south and Wow! an old pick-up truck!
I poked around inside it then continued south to yet another railroad
cargo car.  This one was open on one end so I went inside.  There was
nothing in it but some fine sand, so I exited and continued south
until I found the entrance to the engine room.  Inside, there was lots
to see... gauges, pipes and such.  There's not much there for artifact
hunters, though, since everything was pretty much covered with growth or
corrosion, but if you enjoy engine rooms, there's lots to explore down
there.  The engine room is fairly open and inviting, but there are
several tight areas to squeeze into way down beside and under the
engine.  This was my favorite part of the ship.

Eventually, I reluctantly left the engine room to explore outside
some more.  The wheelhouse is big and had some growth in it, but
nothing for artifact-hunters to grab.

About now, my 20 minutes planned bottom time were coming to an end
and I headed back north above the cargo holds so I could review
all the stuff I'd seen on the way south.  The other seven divers
and I converged on the bow at the same time and we all began our
ascent together in 100 foot visibility.  Deco was pleasant in the
warm water above 100 feet or so and although the eight divers
formed several smaller groups during deco, the visibility was
so good that we could all see each other the entire time.  Everyone
completed deco without incident and we were all back on the boat
by 5pm.

The Bill Boyd is a wonderful dive.  It's at about the same depth
as the RBJ, but I think it's a more interesting and fun wreck to
dive.  The RBJ has the cool swim-through, but the Bill Boyd has
much more to see, and I recommend it to anyone!  I can't wait to
go back for another visit.