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Island Divers Hawaii Staff Members
FANTASY LANDING CRAFT – March 12, 2014
Lauren Smith
Table Of Content
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We had a full boat this morning aboard the Sea Fox, also known as the Fantasy Landing Craft. At 830, Captain Kendalltron 7000 brought us out of the marina and into Hanauma Bay. After a short steam to the southwest, we reached our first dive site: the LCU wreck. The LCU is a an upside down landing craft utility vessel; such vessels are used by amphibious military forces to transport military personnel and equipment to the shore. This particular wreck lies in approximately 95′ of water and is mostly intact. After we “geared up,” it was time to enter the water. Descending down the tag and mooring lines, divers made their way to the top of the wreck (the bottom of the overturned vessel). Visibility was good and the current was mild. Making our way around the base of the wreck first, divers explored the many refuges and hideaways to be found in the concrete blocks that skirt the wreck (concrete blocks were used to sink the wreck so they are abundant at the site). After exploring the perimeter, divers made their way along the sides and top (bottom) of the wreck before ending the dive. Frogfish, morays, scorpionfish, nudibranchs, cushion stars, and reef fish were abundant on site. An octopus and spotted eagle ray were also seen.
After a short surface interval, Cap. Kendalltron brought us over to Fantasy Reef where we tied up to the westernmost mooring and entered the water. Fantasy Reef consists of two large reef structures, several smaller surrounding reef heads, and abundant “swim throughs”. We saw plenty of turtles, large morays, pufferfish, some octopi, numerous reef fish species (e.g. triggers, damsels, butterfly-fish, wrasse, coneys). After skirting the perimeter of the two reef structures, we bisected the reef to reach the mooring and exited the water. Captain Kendalltron then brought us safely back to the marina.
Conditions: Warm, Partially cloudy with a mild northeast breeze.
Clear visibility: 80’+
Dive Sites: LCU and Fantasy Reefs
Dive Conditions: LCU 80+ vis., max depth 95′, 30 min. dive time, water temp 76 f, West current; Fantasy Reef 60+ vis., max depth 52′, 76 f, moderate west current
Marine life observed: frog fish, moray eels, crown of thorns, turtles, spotted eagle ray, octopi
Staff: Capt Kendall, Instructors Sam and David, and Crew Dene
