A group of us went to Toby this past weekend to close out the season. Did we ever luck out! The weather in Toronto was crappy, but Toby was spectacular!!
Saturday was bright and sunny, while Sunday was dark and drizzly. Regardless, on both days, it was mirror calm where we dove.
We dove Forest City, Dufferin Wall, and Arabia. Everyone was so grateful that we had a chance to dive these sites all to ourselves. Visibility was easily 80 feet.
For me, Arabia is breathtakingly evocative: the sight of her as you come down the descent line always has me sucking in my breath. Her bowsprit still proudly pointing skyward, that she still exists after more than a century underwater, her wooden bones still largely uncolonized by zebra mussels.
The water was between 43 and 46 F at depth, and about 50 F at the surface. We were all struck by how calm it was. Even the skipper was shaking his head at our good luck.
Topside, Tobermory was a ghost town. Most businesses were boarded up for the winter. All but a handful of boats were on blocks or taken away for winter storage elsewhere. The only game in town for eats was at the Princess Hotel, where we begged for bread and crackers to tide us over for the 2 hours we waited for our meals. Didn't they know divers are always STARVING when they come in after a day's dives??
Congratulations to Glenn and Ritchard for successfully completing their TDI Advanced Nitrox / Deco Procedures course. Those guys were game and ready for every slave-driving skill Norbert threw at them.
And I want to thank the Sea Monkeys personally for so graciously buddying up with me!
I am looking forward diving with you.
