Dive Report: RBJ
Date: Sunday, August 13, 2000
Boat: Reef Cat
Captain: Jim Mims

By: Mike Rodriguez

Several Association of Underwater Explorers (AUE) core divers arrived
at the boat for the afternoon dive on the RBJ, a wreck site off Ft.
Lauderdale which is popular among advanced local technical divers.
The RBJ is actually two wrecks (one accidentally landed on top of the
other) sitting upright in the sand 260 feet down.  They were sunk
to create an artificial reef.  The two wrecks make for a unique and
interesting dive.

The ride out to the site took only a few minutes in the calm seas.
It was a warm, sunny day and when we arrived, we found clear, blue
water.  I dove trimix 15/49/36 with 50% and 100% oxygen for deco.

The captain tried for several minutes to hook the wreck.  When we
thought we had it, I geared up and dropped into the water.
Unfortunately, when I got to the bottom, there was only sand.  Either
we didn't have the wreck snagged or the hook came off.  I surfaced
after a safety stop, then boarded the boat.

I suggested the guys with scooters just smart-bomb the wreck instead
of trying to hook it from the surface.  Everyone agreed and, since I
was scooterless that day, I got out of the way.  The two scooter guys
got ready at the stern, but while were maneuvering, it became clear
that the hook had managed to snag the wreck by itself.  The wake
behind the ball indicated the current was light to moderate.

Now that the line was snagged, I followed the scooter divers in and
reached the wreck about a minute later.  The hook was draped over one
of the ship's cranes.  We untangled it and set it at the top of the
crane for easy release at the end of the dive, then we took off
exploring.

The visibility, as it often is at this site, exceeded 100 feet.  The
current was light and the water temperature was about 76F.  I took
a cheap Ikelite camera with me on this dive.  It's always worked
well, considering the price, but it's only rated to 130 feet.  I
didn't know if it would work at 260 feet, but I was willing to give
it a try; it didn't work.  The pressure bowed in the housing such
that the buttons on the camera wouldn't operate.  It didn't leak,
though, and considering the price, I'm not complaining.  I clipped
off the camera to use later during deco, then headed off to explore.

In the sand about 80 feet away I saw what looked like a ray.  I swam
out to it and hovered over it careful not to disturb it.  I was able
to get very close and wished my camera was working.  I dropped to
the sand near the ray and watched it for several minutes. I tried to
inch closer, but the ray sensing my exhaust, gracefully rose off the
sand and glided away.

I turned around and began swimming back toward the wrecks.  Since the
RBJ consists of one hull on top of another, at the intersection of
the hulls there's a tunnel underneath the upper ship.  From where I
was, I could see straight through one of the tunnels. Just as I
started swimming back, a pair of bull sharks passed by the far end of
the tunnel.  Framed in silhouette by the tunnel against the dark
blue water in the distance made for a beautiful sight.  "What a picture
that would have made", I thought as I looked at my non-functioning
camera.  I sighed and contented myself with the memory of the image.

I continued back toward the wreck and met the other divers as they
began to converge on the floatline for their ascent.  A quick
head-count confirmed that everyone was on the line as we unhooked
and drifted away.

Decompression was pleasant in the warm, clear water and a while later
everyone was on the boat enjoying the beautiful day as we made our
way back to the dock.