Napa Valley Divers

on September 10, 2008

. 1 Comment

Saturday:
NW winds 5kt becoming N. wind waves 1ft or less. NW swell 2 to 5ft. Patchy fog.

Sunday:
NW Winds 5kt becoming W. wind waves 1ft or less. NW swell 1 to 4ft. Patchy fog.

Already looking better than last week and last week was SUPERB!! Although vis was generally 25′ to maybe 35′ in most areas, the sea state was gentle and the weather was great… although Sunday a bit cooler with some overcast.

This Week: The direction of the marine forecast appears to be excellent for both marine weather and dive conditions.

Yesterday… we were diving Monterey Bay (Aumentos) with 40′ of vis and ZERO swell and wind. Overcast yes, but diving OUTSTANDING!

The Saturday and Sunday afternoon charters are now closed for reservations… BUT the mornings both have many spaces available and this would be the time to get in some excellent diving as we move into Fall.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on September 5, 2008

A SUPERB weekend for Monterey. GO FOR IT…

Simply put… warm weather flat seas, almost ZERO swell. GO FOR IT this weekend. The Fall season of diving which is always the best is with us this weekend.

Spaces remain on Saturday morning and Sunday morning. NOTHING in the forecast tell us to stay local.

Saturday
NE winds 5kt becoming W in the afternoon.
Wind waves 1ft or less. Mixed swell NW 3 to 5ft at 11 seconds and SW 2 to 3ft at 13 seconds.

Sunday
W winds 5 to 10kt Wind waves 2ft or less.
NW swell 3 to 5ft and SW 2ft

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on August 24, 2008

Ok… I hit the water yesterday aboard the Beach Hopper (Yes that was me)… joining my very close friends MaryJo Nelson and Brian.

In the bay 80ft of water depth and 60ft+ visibility with maybe 1 - 2ft surge… AWESOME!

StrawBerry Hill (outside Pt. Pinos) 50ft of vis <2ft of surge… superb!.

A decreasing swell beginning on Friday. Should clear the way for some good really good diving in and outside Monterey this weekend. I know it is my plan to get wet as long as there is the time and opportunity.

Spaces remain for Sunday morning BUT you will need to watch for those as they occur.

Some large Mola Mola’s in Monterey 300lb+ and the small shrimp population still feeding the reef and critters in and around this GREAT marine environment.

The Sunday outlook will be SWEET and although a bit early… here it is:
W winds 5 to 15kt wind waves 1 to 2ft NW swell 2 to 4ft and S 2ft patchy fog.

ALSO… don’t forget the night dive on the 30th (15 max for this dive).

ALSO… offering a discount for THAT weekend for those wishing to join on 2 charters during that weekends activities. Call or email me for details if interested.

Tim

Monterey Club Picnic 2008!

Published

on August 17, 2008

in Club Activities and Events

. 5 Comments

Join us in Monterey for our annual Napa Valley Divers club picnic! See the flyer.

Photo: 2007 Club Picnic in Monterey

When: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Where: Breakwater (San Carlos Beach)
Time: 11am until ?
Cost: Free for Members, $20 for general public

On Sunday, September 7… many divers have chosen to go for a morning boat dive on the Monterey Express. Make your reservations here.

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on July 20, 2008

Ok… for those of you who know Monterey… your going to say… Yeah… it could happen. IT DID!!!!

No LESS than 100′ maybe 110′ of visibility in MONTEREY BAY at Ball Buster (about 2 miles from the harbor).

(Reported from Monterey Express divers, Escapade divers and Beach Hopper divers… and my DM Luke Robert).

Tim

Monterey Express - August Night Dives

Published

on July 20, 2008

in Dive Adventures

Monterey Express - August Night Dives - Maximum diver load is 15 divers NOT 20 as is the norm for the Monterey Express 2 dive charters. Same $90.00

They are 2 dive charters… tanks provided and are set up on the Reservation system at this time.

Saturday, August 9th for a 7pm departure, BOARDING at 6:30 pm
Saturday, August 30th for a 6:30pm departure, BOARDING at 6:00 pm

The times reflect earlier sunset.

Do not expect a return time earlier than midnight so you pretty much can consider both of these as NIGHT Dives.

Contact Captain Tim for additional information.

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on July 16, 2008

So far… a superb dive season.

WOW… last weekend tuned out to be the flattest, smoothest sea surface conditions with the least surface winds we have experienced in about 3 months. The Wednesday forecast prior indicated a somewhat higher swell and wind condition (6′ and 15 kts of wind) than the 2 previous weeks. The actual results blew all of us away with the extraordinary and SUPERB diving opportunities.

Everywhere was a Lake. Monterey, Carmel, Yankee Point., Pt. Sur
It really did not matter… EXTREME calm everywhere.
Vis was consistently 20′ to 40′ depending on the depth and Krill proximity and intensity.

This weekend… A slight swell increase to about 6 feet into Friday night and then a gradual reduction starting late Friday night and continuing swell decline through Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday
SW WINDS 5 KT… BECOMING S. WIND WAVES 1 FT OR LESS.
NW SWELL 3 TO 6 FT. PATCHY FOG.

Sunday
SW WINDS 5 KT…BECOMING 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT.
NW SWELL 2 TO 4 FT AND S 2 FT. PATCHY FOG.

All in all, the gentle rise and fall of the sea swell and soft surface winds have been of a nature that keeps everything on the sweet side of the dive formula. The best continuous week to week formula for diving in about 2 years

No heavy storm action, no blustery surface winds… gentle changes occurring at a rate commensurate with the season.

THE WAY WE LIKE IT!

The diving all around is 25′ to 30′ where the small shrimp clouds are hanging and 35′ + below.

If you are waiting for the Krill to clear out before you dive this season, you will be diving in this Winters big storm action. There really will be an end to this exceptional dive season so dive while you can… there will be plenty of time to sit and watch the trees bend in the wind this Winter.

Spaces remain for Saturday and Sunday morning on the Monterey Express. The afternoon charters will be coming off the schedule for this weekend.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on July 10, 2008

Saturday
SW winds 5 to 10kt. Wind waves 2ft or less. NW swell 3 to 5ft and SW 2ft.

Sunday
W winds 5 to 10kt. Wind waves 2ft or less. NW swell 4 to 7ft and SW 2ft.

Vis yesterday (July 9) in Monterey was 25′ to 30′. Seas flat (3′ swells) and very warm (90+) not a hint of a breeze all day… but a sweet day for diving.

Weekend swells will be up another 2′ maybe 3′ feet for Saturday and Sunday but still far below what we typically get for this time of year. Water is blue…but make no mistake about it…krill are still effecting the vis is some places…so no BS.

None today where we dived…but I’m taking a guess it may be with us for awhile so don’t let that keep you away. Remember…krill bring whales and that means healthy water conditions.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on June 17, 2008

Although last weekend was not as warm as the models suggested… the MARINE and DIVE related forecast were every bit as expected and more.

The unexpectedly small dive population on the dive boats (considering the dive conditions) were NOT disappointed. They enjoyed the smooth flat conditions and visibility 30+ in Monterey and Carmel that had been forecast.

This Weekend: could be better with a marine forecast suggesting 3′ seas… even less than the previous weeks.

Sunday’s text forecast is not yet displayed but the models show just a repeat of Saturday.

Saturday
W winds 5 to 15kt. Wind waves 1 to 3ft. NW swell 1 to 3ft.

Spaces remain 6 for Saturday morning… 19 for Sunday.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on June 14, 2008