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 August 7, 2008

Saturday
NW winds 5 to 15kt… becoming west wind waves 2ft or less.
NW swell 2 to 5ft… patchy fog.

Sunday
West winds 5kt… becoming s. wind waves less than 1ft.
NW swell 4 to7 ft… patchy fog.

Monterey Bay… holding 30′ in most areas with only a slight layer of about 15′ or even less.

No reports from Carmel. Sea state is beautiful! Sunny from about 9am and on!

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

Flat seas. VERY light breezes and a smooth as glass ride ALL day

First dive:
Pinnacles — super smooth down and up — with 30? and a bit of a blue/green tint. ZERO surge, ZERO wind, almost ZERO swell.

Second Dive:

35? much cleaner and less green tint. One of the best – Strawberry Hill – which is a tall pinnacle starting at 82 feet and quickly rising (very quickly) to about 18? to 20? straight out from Pt. Pinos Light House.

Too close to the breaking surf line for about 360 days out of the year — BUT on same days — WOW! Today is one of those. Tomorrow — maybe — maybe not — BUT We hope so — it is THAT GOOD!

Lots of spaces remain. Never the less, it is so sweet out there, we are going even with 6 divers now booked. Not going to let them miss this one.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on June 11, 2008

Temperatures above normal in all areas including Monterey (mid 70’s), RAPIDLY diminishing seas with an almost imperceptible swell and winds (<10 knots) are going to make it a MUST DIVE weekend.

Sunshine an almost zero cloud coverage… so bring your sunscreen and set up your UW cameras.

Lots of spaces on board this weekend but the afternoon charters will be leaving the schedule today so the morning on Saturday and Sunday are the choices.

Night Dive On Saturday the 28th, 6:30 pm for boarding, first dive DUSK, 2nd dive… ‘gonna need lights!

Carpooling is an area we are attempting to assist with so ensure you at least take the opportunity to make a YES response during your booking. I will try and find your car pooling dive buddy in the reservations for the day of your dive.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

Published

on May 30, 2008