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~~Snakeman~~
01-06-2007, 02:43 PM
There were only three fishermen on the Mad Son Friday morning, along with both Madson brothers. The seas were considerably higher than the predicted two to four feet, but were fishable. The wind was out of the south at 25 knots, but the current was running hard south, making for not much of a drift. The fish did not exactly co-operate either, with the total edible fish count being three...two muttons & a grunt, all caught by Jimmy Lee. Mike & I were tied with one sandeel & two squirrel fish apiece. The day before, they caught ten legal mutton snappers. Go figure.

On the way in, not far from the inlet, we saw two divers in the water, waving at us. We had seen a dive boat an hour before, but it was not in sight then. We took the two divers aboard, & made radio contact with the dive boat. She high-tailed it the 5 or 6 miles south to our location & we put the guys back in the water for her to pick up. I'm not sure how that dive boat would have found those guys if they hadn't been picked up.

~~Greg~~

Bryan/BC
01-06-2007, 05:58 PM
Greg-- at the very least, your boat saved the divers from an exhausting, frightning wait-- At the most, you guys saved thier lives.

Speaking as a guy who dove professionally as part of my job for years until my wet suit shrank, I cant understand why they were not carrying smoke flares. And given the sea conditions you described, I have to question what the heck they were doing out there in the first place !!???

~~Snakeman~~
01-06-2007, 09:18 PM
Yeah, I wondered when I saw the dive boat...the only one in the area that allows spearfishing..about diving in those seas. The conditions were pretty much what they were the Thursday we Green Groupers were out there, but with a southbound current. The divers each had four foot flourescent yellow balloon thingies, which were pretty visible, but they did not have a dive ball, which is generally used, though not required..so that the boat can keep track of them. The divemaster did not do his or her job, that's a fact. I am glad things turned out well for those two young fellas.

~~Greg~~

Mont
01-07-2007, 08:05 AM
Kudos to you guys for taking care of the divers, Greg. Bryan, I couldn't agree more, flares are a must in any kind of saltwater diving.