June 9, 2010. Jackson.

It was certainly a fun day at the US Coast Guard Cutter Jackson! Divers spotted a few baby oyster toadfish swimming around the wreck and scurrying into crevices. There were tautog, seabass, and amberjack. Numerous blennies and gobies were hiding in gorgeous white, hard coral polyps which were a stark contrast to the dark wreck structure. White anemones characterized by black tips were plentiful as well! Encrusting sponges and bryozoans were present. Beautiful ctenophores were suspended effortlessly in the water column.

Three foot seas. Five second period. Air temperature 68 F and overcast. Sun peaked out towards end of day. Southeast winds 10-15 knots. Surface temperature 75 F. Bottom temperature 53 F, but definitely beginning to warm up (2 degrees warmer than last week!!). Visibility approximately 25 ft.

June 11, 2010. U-85.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day on the U-85! The trip out of the Oregon Inlet was accompanied by tons of fog. Once we reached the site, the fog had begun to lift. Once we had securely tied into the site, the fog had been completely replaced by the sun!

Marine life included abundant tautog and seabass. A few amberjacks and oyster toadfish were spotted. Conger eels were present in their normal location in the torpedo tubes. Invertebrates included plentiful white coral heads as well as various species of anemones. Numerous ctenophores and spawning material were present in the water column.

Approximately 70 ft surface visibility and 50 ft bottom visibility! Surface temperature 77 F. Bottom temperature 53 F. Thermocline at 35ft. Current approximately 0.25 knots. Winds northeast at 10 knots. Two foot seas. 7 second period.

June 15, 2010. Advance.

Today was an excellent day on the Advance II. Many sponges, bryozoans, and anemones were encrusting the wreck. There were a few hard corals. Interestingly, there are fewer hard corals on the Advance, which sank in 1994, than on the Jackson, which sank in 1944. However, there are more anemones and sponges on the Advance than the Jackson. There are a few huge tautog. Large schools of spadefish were present in the water column. A few amberjack, seabass, and oyster toadfish were present as well.

Air temperature 85 F. Sunny with a light breeze. Seas 1 ft. Period 10 seconds. Bottom temperature 53 F and surface temperature 77 F. Thermocline at 30-35 feet. Minimal current. Bottom visibility 25-30 feet. Surface visibility 50 feet.

June 17, 2010. U-85.

Sunny, beautiful day on the U-85. Numerous juvenile tautog were present. Few mature tautog were visible. Oyster toadfish were in their usual homes, in crevices. Hard coral was abundant. Anemones were open. Numerous black urchins were positioned in cavities in U-85. Less spawning material was present than on previous dives this season. Numerous iridescent purple ctenophores were pulsating in the upper 40 feet of the water column.

Air temperature 85 F. Southwest winds shifting to Northeast. Wind speed 5-8 knots. 2 ft seas built to 3-4 ft seas in afternoon. 6 second period. Surface temperature 77 F. Bottom temperature 53 F. Thermocline at 40 feet. Surface visibility 50-60 feet. Bottom visibility 30 feet.

June 18, 2010. Jackson.

Another beautiful day on the Jackson! Tautog, black sea bass, and oyster toadfish were all present on the wreck. As always, hard coral, sponges, and other invertebrates were covering the wreck. Numerous sea stars were found in the sand around the wreck. Aquarists were collecting sea stars for the Roanoke Island Aquarium.

Sunny, 80 F air temperature. East winds 10 knots. Seas 3-4 feet declining to 2-3 feet towards afternoon. Bottom temperature 54 F. Surface temp 77 F. Thermocline at 35 ft. Light current. Bottom visibility 20-25 feet. Surface visibility 50 feet.

June 19, 2010. Advance.

Gorgeous day on the Advance! The usual fish suspects, including oyster toadfish, spadefish, and tautog were present. Sponges and anemones were abundant.

Sunny. 83 F air temperature. Light winds. Seas 2 ft. 9 second period. Bottom temperature 54 F. Surface temperature 77 F. Thermocline at 40 ft. Bottom visibility 20 ft. Surface visibility 40-50 ft.

June 20, 2010. U-85.

Today was a “Lake Atlantic” day! It was a superb day on the water! A few oyster toads were observed along with many tautog. One lionfish was seen by two divers lying on the sand off the starboard of the U-85. Hard coral, soft coral, and sponges were plentiful. The conger eels were located in their usual homes! Few jellies and less spawning material.

Sunny. 84 F air temperature. Winds 5-10 knots from southwest. Seas 1-2 ft. 10 second period. Bottom temperature 51 F. Surface temperature in high 70’s. Thermocline at 40-45ft. The water seems to be mixing a bit more, meaning the bottom temperature may increase! Bottom visibility 20 ft. Surface visibility 40-45 ft.

June 23, 2010. Jackson.

Warm day on the Jackson! It was definitely nice to get away from the 95 F, still heat on shore. On the ocean, there was a light breeze which eased the heat a bit. Entering the water with a giant stride entry was definitely refreshing! Once in, divers were greeted by many tautog. As per usual, there were anemones, urchins, coral, bryozoans, and sponges. Definitely less spawning material than has been witnessed the past few weeks.

Sunny. 95 F air temperature. Light winds. Seas 2-3 ft. 6 second period. Bottom temperature 53 F. Surface temperature 80 F. Thermocline at 25 ft. The water definitely seems to be mixing! Bottom visibility 25 ft. Light current moving from stern to bow.

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