Review #50
Roy White (twtruffles at integrity dot com) |
July 30, 2003 |
| Location: Netarts, OR USA |
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Dive Type: Salt Water |
Facilities: Phone Changing Rooms Parking |
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| Hazards: Boats |
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Entry: moderate shore |
Surface Swim: none |
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Difficulty: novice |
Typical depth: 25 |
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Dive site rating: 8 |
Max depth: 35 |
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Dive site description:
Netarts is a great easy dive.We left Salem at 6:45 to catch a little of the high tide that peaked around 7. After an hour and 45 minute ride and some time gearing up we got in the water at 9:10. When we got to Netarts there wasn't a cloud in the sky and we thought we would have light on the water but within 10 minutes the clouds descended on us. On our first dive vis was around 8 to 10 feet and we were able to keep track of each other underwater easily. We dove along the rip rap next to the frontage road at around 30 fsw. We were amazed at all the life down there. My Son Travis spotted a Wolf eel in a small 'cave' of rip rock and we saw a Seastar on the move over a large rock, moving very quickly over the rocks, All those thousands of tiny tentacles all reaching forward and pulling it along. Travis grabbed it just as it reached the end of the rock and put it back at the beginning and it just cruised over again. There were Travis, Gary and I with our heads just inches together and I hope they are noticing all the details I see on this creature with 18 arms... The little purple glowing warts on it illimunated by our lights. Delighted Travis once more put it back at the beginning of the rock again and off it goes. Then Gary nudged me to notice the ling cod as long as my forearm hiding under a rock 3 feet away from me. I turn and shine my light on it and it cruises away so sleek... I could go on and on... The time just slipping away and my breath just sipping in and out. So cool... So wonderful... Later we saw a Seastar (maybe the same one) folded up around a crab pulling it apart and shoving it into its stomach. I admit fully that I'm hooked on diving. Totally addicted. There's such grace and beauty under there. As I go under with a full tank I feel my heart sigh and open. Everything topside fades away and the presence of God, the awareness of my own breath and eyes sink in. Tranquility... All my limbs become light as a feather and all the strands of tension pulling on my shoulders and muscles from the results of a spinal surgery simply tear away like spiders web in the outer space weightlessness. Arms and legs so free, Then the descent and anticipation... What will be down there? We saw (I think) a lemon nudibranch and a whole bunch of Sea cucumbers under rocks. We saw an Opalescent nudibranch feeding on a plant that was stunningly beautiful. A clear body and brilliant orange tentacle feathers sprouting out of its back, lined with pure white. We spent 5 minutes watching this thing feeding on a plant. So peaceful my heart sighing as it moved and grazed. "Oh dear Lord" I sigh through my regulator, my bubbles blowing softly upward like my prayers through the water to the surface. After 51 minutes of this our air began to get low so reluctantly we surfaced, (not forgetting the 3 minute safety stop!) After an hour surface interval we went back in and the vis had dropped to about 4 feet. !!! The outgoing tide was flowing pretty strong and we had to fight it a little to stay together. Not bad at all. Still a real easy swim but in the low vis just enough to make me worry about losing my buddies. Travis was pretty cold after the first dive so we gave him the right to call the dive at any time he was cold. He toughed it out for 40 minutes until he finally called it. I was a bit dissapointed because I had 1200 psi left but there was no way I was going to show it. This is a good dive site and we will definitely be back. real easy, 30 to 35 feet, very little current but next time we are going to hit it a half hour before before high tide, I have a feeling at slack tide the vis can be a mediocre 10 feet or so. But with all the small sea life here this is fine. If you dive here bring a light and plan on noticing details. To get there drive through Pacific city and get on Sandlake road. Go north over the headland and past the sand dune recreation area. Keep on Sandlake road until it dead ends into another road, (I Forgot the name of) Go left here and you will climb up over A hill. Go past a lighthouse and down past the State Park at the bottom of the hill. I cant remember its name now my kid is yakking at me... hhhmmm... Anyway go into the little town of Netarts and stay on the same road. Follow the signs to the Netarts county boat ramp. (John will draw you one of his famous maps if you ask him too, you'll need to be able to decipher Egyptian cuniform writing to understand it though!) Enter the water on the other side of the public restrooms, They get a little excited if you use the boat ramp. Stay close to the shore as you ascend and descend because boats will be whizzing by overhead as you dive. (if you cant tell by now I enjoy writing, I admit this is a bit too long.) Happy Diving... Roy |
Directions:
Drive down the main road by the bay, you cant miss the boat ramp. The only one in Town |
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