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Diving with: Dive Eco, Muscat
Dive buddies: Bobbi
Others in dive party: Lebanese lady, and crowd of American divers down from Qatar
Conditions: breezy, rough-ish seas
Visibility: so so
Wetsuit combo: 5 mm farmer johns and Typhoon top
Weight:14 kg, possibly a little overweight
Diving from: Dive Eco Boat

My 433rd Logged Dive since 1991

Dive site: Bill's Bumps, south
Training conducted: none, just having fun

Data from dive computer:

Interval on computer from previous dive: nil

Time down on dive computer: 10:26
Max depth: 24.8
Time started up from chart: 55 min
Dive time from computer: 55 min
Min Temp: 23° C last week
Nitrox 21% (normal air), will definitely be deco

PSI/Bar in:
PSI/Bar out:

Pressure group out, from tables or wheel: n/a

Description of dive:

Bobbi and I stayed at the Howard Johnson's just across from the dive center (Irish pub and cybercafe). After an evening out on the town (drinks at the Hyatt and candlelight Mediterranean buffet at the Radison SAS) and a pitiful excuse for breakfast at the HJ we reported for diving Friday a.m. and got off to a slightly late start while milk was procured as an afterthought for coffee for our venture. We popped down to the Intercon and loaded up with the 10 Americans ranging in age from 10 to 50's and headed off to complete the 12 km journey to Fahal Island. But an Omani Coast Guard patrol intercepted us and kept us hoved to in choppy seas for an unpleasant half hour while they sorted out over the radio whether to let us proceed with our non-Omani boatman. Finally we got the go-ahead and made it out to the lee of the rock where two other dive boats were anchored in the vicinity of Bill's Bumps, all keeping to the shelter there rather than attempt to drop divers in more interesting but more demanding locations, given the sea conditions.

Both dives were conducted north and south from the same anchorage, but Bobbi and I at least had the pleasure of diving just the two of us in the direction opposite the crowd. We took our time on both dives, having long pleasant relaxed dives each way.

Surface interval: as long as possible
Pressure group at start of repetitive dive: on computer, n/a

My 434th Logged Dive since 1991

Dive site: Bill's Bumps, north
Training conducted: none, fun dive

Data from dive computer:

Time down on dive computer: 13:09
Max depth: 25.1
Time started up from chart: 57 min
Dive time from computer: 57 min
Min Temp: 23° C
Nitrox 21% (normal air), no deco

PSI/Bar in:
PSI/Bar out:

Pressure group out, from tables or wheel: n/a

Description of dive:

I don't remember much from the first dive west to depth and south along the reef, but on the second north to the corner we found a sea snake and got to follow a 2-meter honeycomb moray as it moved between lairs. We turned the corner to the east but it wasn't so interesting and I didn't want to risk having to come up on the rough side of the island, so we headed back west to the boulder area where there are swim throughs and colorful soft corals. It was here we saw the moray and followed him to his rather exposed hideout under a ledge. Later we saw him swimming out along the sand, an impressive creature when free-swimming.