The 2024 Wine Dive was held at Edmonds Underwater Park on Thursday, August 22nd. A great turnout of 10 divers went out in search of 12 bottles of wine, and a few assorted soft drinks.
George Barron was this year’s sommelier, hiding our dozen bottles in the shallows just north of the jetty. At about 6:15, the divers gathered for the dive briefing where George told us the area where he hid the bottles; no more than 30 yards north of the jetty in water 5 to 12 feet deep, standing up in the sand (none in the eel grass). Since we weren’t diving in buddy teams, we were asked to stay in the search area and be back, out of the water on shore, in no more than an hour. Divers entered the water, donned their masks and fins, and on George’s signal, took off in search of treasure.
Divers used different strategies; my personal strategy was to swim straight out slowly, carefully scanning the bottom left and right for bottles, until reaching the 12 foot depth limit, where I’d loop around and head back in. Visibility was good, so I figured I’d be able to see bottles 20 feet on either side and going fairly slow, I wouldn’t miss them. It paid off right away as I found a consolation prize bottle of Coke almost as soon as I descended. Gaining confidence from my early find I swam out on my search. However, that strategy proved ineffective as I found nothing but big crabs and flounders for the rest of the dive.
The winning strategy was employed by Jake Jurmain, who swam straight out as fast as he could (which was really fast), plucking bottles out of the sand as he raced out, then looped around to swim as fast as he could back in, and repeat, the whole time trying to stay out of visual range of the other divers. I actually saw Jake coming in as I was going out. I looked up and saw a tornado of sand and silt being thrown up by furiously churning fins, and a diver coming out of the gloom and flying past me. I was silted out for a few seconds. Jake found 7 bottles pretty quickly, returning to shore after less than 30 minutes because his goodie bag was full. Dave Wakeley found 3 bottles, and another diver found 2.
So it was a successful Wine Dive in all respects: all the wine came back, and all the divers came back safe and sound. As is tradition, those who found bottles shared with others, so nobody went home empty handed.
Post-dive, George fired up the grill and our divers and family and friends shared stories and watched a spectacular sunset at Edmonds.
Special thanks to George Barron, who placed the bottles, gave the briefing, supervised the dive, brought the club grill and delicious hot dogs for grilling, and Dave Wakeley who brought other food, soft drinks and supplies. Both worked hard to make this event come together. And thanks to everybody who came out and participated. It’s getting out with your fellow club members that makes it fun.
Photos by: Kaitlin Sharp
Come on out, we’d love to see you!
Our monthly events and weekly dives are a great way to have some fun, do some diving, and meet your fellow club members. And it’s more fun when we get a great turnout like this year’s Wine Dive. Watch the calendar for our weekly dives. Our monthly event for September is the Crawdad Dive in Lake Washington on Saturday, September 28th. Come out and hunt our freshwater mini-lobsters and give your gear a thorough freshwater rinse while you’re doing it.
October we come back indoors for the annual Randy Glenn Photo and Video Contest on Thursday, October 24th. Come see the work of the club’s talented photographers and videographers. Everybody is welcome, but you must be a club member to enter. See the Photo Contest page for rules and how to enter.
In November, the SeaHorses are jetting off to Bonaire for a week of diving at Captain Don’s Habitat. Registration for this trip is closed, but be on the lookout for future trip announcements. Is there someplace you want to go? Let us know and maybe that’ll be our next destination. Send your questions and suggestions to travel@seahorsediveclub.com.
Sounds like a lot of fun, Hope to make it next year..