"The north wind will blow and we will have snow!" Well, not snow, but the north wind was blowing at ten to fifteen knots. I don't know how to figure wind chill temperatures, but with a fifty degree temperature, the wind made it quite chilly. Mostly cloudy skies kept the sun from contributing even a psychological degree of warmth. Anyway, that was all above the water. IN the water, the conditions were great. We had twenty feet of vis in seventy-seven degree water. Yes, to those who are concerned about water temperature, that is the coldest we have had in a while, but it was much better than the seventy-five I experienced at the pool yesterday for two hours! In a 5mm full suit I was very comfortable for our one hour, twenty minute dive. We saw the bandtail searobin, an octopus, a school of blue runners, many small lobsters, two sharptail eels, atlantic spadefish, and other regulars. The challenge was getting OUT of the water. Our strategy was to dash from the water to a picnic table where we quickly got out of our gear and wetsuits, and put on big coats BEFORE we disassembled the gear and packed it into the van. It worked pretty well. I passed on my usual shower at the fish-cleaning table. A shower in a fifteen knot north wind did not appeal to me at all. The next stop was Dunkin Donuts on US 1. A cup of hot coffee was the perfect finishing touch (not including washing gear) to a very nice dive. Get in the water (with a strategy), Ham
