RE: [Paddlewise] Diving from Kayak: (was basic question).

To the list: originally this was just a regular email conversation, that 
RC posted to the list, so just so you know where we were, the 
discussion was about diving, near shore, in Texas, from kayaks. 
RC has a falcon 18, a boat that I'm in love with, so I'm jealous.  I 
bought an Edisto in Dec97, and hope to buy a falcon (or possibly 
the Necky Tesla...) sometime in 2000.  I have spent my first year+ 
of kayaking, basically learning lots of different "tricks*, freediving 
being one of these.

> That's pretty interesting Richard.  I've been (scuba) diving on these
> ...on a good day.  And the water at 6 miles is still pretty greenish: 
> I.e. 10-12 ft. visability.

10-12 is more visibility than I'm used to...    Besides, if you can see 
the fish 40ft away, they can see you 40ft away.   I've spent this first 
year+ strictly in freshwater though, usually with less than 10ft vis.  
The Frio River was clearer in the mornings before all the swimmers 
mucked it up for the day.   On the other extreme, Lake Conroe....
Of course, I was raised in East Texas, so I thought all natural water 
was supposed to be brown until our family went to Hawaii.

> How do you keep your kayak from banging around against the platforms?

You are reading way to much experience into my plans.  I have 
*not* been out to the platforms yet.   These are problems that still 
must be worked out.  I imagine my first trip out, I won't even really 
do any significant diving.   I'll probably bring some spoons and 
some bait, maybe catch something just to make the trip productive.

Alot will depend on the traffic.  Its also true that my kayak is a 
beater, its got hundreds of scratches and dozens of gouges, a few 
more won't make any difference, I just want to avoid having it run 
over, or wrapped on the platform's legs.

I figure one of these methods will work though:
1. Anchoring away from the platform (in light traffic)
2. tieing up with about 50' between, (steady wind, and light traffic)
3. being obnoxious and tieing up under the platform 

I know most folks don't carry an anchor that is adequate to the 
task.   I *do*.    The bottom is also within range, so if need be, I 
could manually set it, which is something I have done before.

If it weren't for flu and a hacker scumbag from Russia playing with 
our system, I'd of been able to get out there to see these things for 
myself this month, instead I'm babysitting a computer in Austin, 
and helping Kleenex post record sales figures for January and 
February.   I end up having to be satisfied with doing canoe launch 
work, and putting around on Buffalo Bayou.   I'm promissing myself 
that I'm going to suck it up and tolerate the heat this summer, 
since our nice winter seems to be slipping away by the minute 
without me getting out on the big pond again.


Richard Walker
Houston, TX
http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************