Category: Ricky Simon

I started off this day with food prep again. It is amazing how much food 800 fish can eat in a day. Next Holly and I went to do the last stage of dipping with the new fish. We put the fish in cages and put them in the Giant Ocean Tank. This was done so the fish could get accumulated. Before I knew it, it was time for me to do the 1:15 dive. Each day there are four feeding dives and one cleaning dive. I will let you guess which dive I got to do………

You got it–the cleaning dive. I am not to keen about the sharks and the eels in the tank, however I am warming up to them. Holly said they have never bitten anyone on purpose. Makes me wonder how many so called “accidents” they had!!! In all seriousness the nurse shark and the sand tiger shark are very docile and wouldn’t harm anyone, unless provoked. In other words stay out of the way.

The day began with me learning how to prepare the food for the variety of different marine creatures living in the Giant Marine Tank. Then I got to feed Myrtle, a 600 pound sea turtle. I had to keep Myrtle occupied because she likes to harass the divers in the water. After doing some more cleaning and after feeding Myrtle again, it was my turn to dive in the tank. I suited up and headed in. I put to use my excellent scrubbing skills once again. This time I was playing with Myrtle.

Holly, Kate (2004 Frank Scalli Intern) and I went to go dip the fish collected over the winter. Dipping is when you put the fish in fresh water for four minutes to kill any bacteria. This was done to prepare the fish for entry into the Giant Marine Tank. Last but not least we cleaned up the kitchen and called it a day.

I started off my time at the New England Aquarium working with the penguins. In the morning I learned how to prepare their food. They eat better than most of us, only being served restaurant quality fish. I donned my wet suit and recorded everything that the penguins were fed on a clipboard.

I was handed a bucket and scrub brush and told to start scrubbing islands. “No really, what do you want me to do,” I said.  Laughing they pointed me in the right direction and off I went. As I diligently scrubbed the islands as penguins nipped at my heals. Time passed quickly and it was time for the afternoon penguin feeding. I actually got to hand feed them. Soon it was clean up time in the food prep area. We scrubbed until the area was clean enough to eat off.

Before I knew it Jim and Pete were throwing me out of the car at the airport. It seems like only yesterday that I had arrived. Although it was only a week, I felt like I had known Jim and Pat a life time. They are wonderful people who open their home and their hearts to fellow divers. I learned so much and am inspired to continue and learn more about the field of underwater film making. I can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for me.

I learned going through airport security that there are those who walk among us those who have never seen a regulator before. These same mortals believe that regulators are a danger to others, especially those in flight. Any one who dares to take their regulators, dive computers, and other accessories, should be duly warned that it may take an hour or more to pass those diligent mortals who will attempt to inspect and dismantle this equipment in the name of passenger safety.

Of course when the wind blows it can’t last for one day it has to last for two. I decided to finish up my editing and assemble my first DVD ever, thanks to Pat’s help. Some of Jim and Pat’s friends arrived including Pete V. a friend from Connecticut. We did our daily tradition of laying around in the pool talking about diving.

We got blown out due to the weather. Since we couldn’t go diving we decided to go explore the Lake Heron Light Ship Museum. This is a light ship put on land and made into a museum. We explored every nook and cranny of the vessel. Next we went back to Jim and Pat’s house to work on my video. I never realized how labor intensive making a video was. I spent numerous hours assembling my footage.

As the Wildkat pulled up to the mooring on the Sport I was very surprised, I could see the wreck from the surface. It was amazing that while looking up from the bottom I could see Jim and Pat’s boat. I got the overwhelming urge to call my father and joke about the horrible visibility on the wrecks. He was not amused!!

Most of this wreck lies on its side. As I explored all the Sport had to offer, Pat took some footage of the wreck with Jims new camera. On the next wreck the Elisa H. Strong the visibility wasn’tthat great, maybe 20 ft, the water however, was a warm 60 degrees. A very nice relief from yesterday’s coldwater. Later, back at Jim and Pats house I started assembling my footage. With Pat’s guidance I know that I will pull togethera video that captures the amazing experience I have had this week.

As we drove out to the wreck in the hot 90 degree Michigan sun I could hardly contain my excitement, especially afteryesterdays great diving. Before I knew it we arrived atour destination in Jim’s boat, the “WildKat”. We were floating over the wreck of the New York. This ship sits in 120 ft of water, upright, mostly intact. As we where suiting up the heat almost over took me, but soon enough I was floating on the surface, camera in hand, waiting for Jim. As we descended we passed threw the thermocline. At 50 feet we slammed into frigid 38 degree water. As we hit the bottom I could see one of the ships predominant features….

The wreck still has half of its arch-up, which was difficult to see in the 20 foot visibility.While viewing one of the ships two portholes I was overcome by the cold, Jim and I made our accent. The next wreck we dove was the Colonel A.B. Williams. This ship sits in 90 ft of water. Despite the fact that this wooden ship is only semi intact its beauty and story drew me forward like a magnet. The ship’s bow was very elegant looking resting on the bottom of the lake. The excellent visibility on the wreck made me forget about the cold. Filming this ship allowed me to hone my underwater video skills. Later that night Jim got a big surprise, his new housing came for his high definition camera. I could be wrong, however, I think Jim spent all night setting it up to use the next day.

We gassed up the boat and took the 6.2 mile ride to the Mary Alice B. a 65.5 foot tug boat that sunk in 92 feet of water.  Although I was told that the ship sits upright, fully intact on the bottom, I was not prepared for what I was soon to experience. Before I knew it we were over the wreck and suiting up. As we descended the wreck came into view at about 50 ft. Being from Connecticut I had never really seen a fully intact wreck with artifacts still in place. The only thing I could think of on the dive is how every thing was frozen in time.

The next site we dove on was the Regina it sits in 77 ft of water and sits turtle. This was a very cool wreck. In Connecticut, with all my prior wreck diving I have never seen rows of intact portholes still on ships. On this dive I also got my second experience shooting with Pat’s video camera. I give them a lot of credit, it’s not easy shooting video. Before I knew it Pat had me editing my footage and giving me pointers on how to improve my video footage.  This most incredible day came to a close with me helping Jim fill tanks and get the boat ready for tomorrows dives.

On my way to the airport my mom commented, “Why is it that every other day of the week I can’t get you up, but if your going diving you’re up bright and early.” Hmmm…wonder why? While sitting waiting for my plane I realized that I’m trusting all my diving gear to the airport, scary thought. I hoped it would be there when I get to Detroit, and it was. The next thing I can remember was cooling off in Jim and Pat’s pool with some of their friend’s. Later that night both Jim and Pat taught me how to putogether their cameras.