by Tyler Zetterstrom

Wednesday Apr. 30, 2003 was the day it was revealed to me...

A couple months ago I wrote my accounts of witnessing some peculiar blue lights at depth on the dive line. This I supposed was some sort of bioluminescence somehow lit up by the encounter with the line. I realize in hindsight, now, that today's conditions were almost identical to the day I encountered these "blue lights". The main feature being the darkness at depth due to extremely murky waters at the surface.

A group of us were out at Ansel Pt. doing line dives around 5:00pm (all of us who must have lax jobs). We had been out in the water for a while and most of the guys were thinking about heading in soon. I was doing no fins dives and intended to do a target to 36m. I had previously done dives to 27m and 30m that day. So here I was wrapping up the last dive for the day(Actually last line dive. I did one other dive later with no suit.). I was just focusing on doing the dive and relaxing throughout.

I had Peter Pazdera safetying for me and thought the dive would take around 1:30-1:40. I did my breath-up and down I went into the murky waters. My dive started on a good foot. However, soon enough I got to a depth where, based upon intuition, I thought I should soon be sinking. Each time I stopped stroking for long, to my surprise, I hung motionless. Since I am neutral at around 16m though, I often do not get this just right. I kept giving lighter and lighter strokes and eventually reached negative buoyancy.

This depth was already very dark. 20m. For a moment I floated away from the line just slightly... a foot and a half. I could just barely make out the line, as though it was a ghost in the vision that you could not focus upon. I put my hand over the line so I could feel it for the rest of the way down. At this point I realize I most likely will not be able to see the depth on my gauge either. This gives me a little concern but I figured an estimate of depth based on a 31m marker would be good enough if need be. After passing the marker I attempted to see my depth on the gauge. No luck. As I kept falling, I fanned out to slow my descent. I turned my watch so that it was facing directly towards the surface; just off angle a little and held very close to my face, allowed me to read the depth. 35m.

Letting myself free fall a bit more I could barely see the numbers increasing and eventually did not bother any more. As I looked around my attention was drawn upward. The line was drifting only 10 feet from the sheer wall which could only be seen as little more than a silhouette when looking up. It formed a beautiful contrast to the dark green faint glow above, projecting the feeling of majestic cavernous walls. I was deep enough today I figured, wherever it may be. I held the line as my body came fully upright. My left arm swept out through the water for balance, and in that moment the blue lights shone just past my finger tips. The familiar sparking of the night bioluminescence witnessed on a regular basis in these parts. I have not heard of others seeing them during the day however.

Having no time to ponder these things, I immediately began my ascent. Very quickly the thoughts were dispelled from my mind and all that was left was the line, my rhythm, confidence, and relaxation. Something is slightly different than normal however. The feeling of water on my hands does not quite feel right. I had borrowed Luc's gloves for this dive yet they were a little oversized for my hands. Being two fingered gloves the water would bend the sides of the gloves around and I would forget to close my index finger tightly against the others. I could feel an inefficiency here and was concentrating on utilizing them as best I could to make for the most efficient stroke. This was quickly shattered as a huge menacing figure entered my view! I keep forgetting to expect the safety diver. A moment of unnoticeable instinctual reaction and I am continuing in form. I see the attentive concern on Peter's face but I know I can do nothing to ease that other than make it to the surface with the most efficiency.

I reach the surface take a few good breaths and check my watch. 37m taking 1:48. Longer than I intended as I expected on the way down. I announce the news of my witnessing the lights again. We pack up and head in. To celebrate the mysteries of life, Peter and I decide to take part in another mystery, as we jump into the ocean with no suits on. Wow, at first my mind is asking me what the heck am I doing in here. After hooting and hollering for a bit, my body adjusts to the dilemma. I actually begin feeling the warmth of the body focusing it's energy on keeping vital organs warm. Off I go for my first cold water no suit dive. It was a fun experience albeit painful on the head and man thermo clines are more than just a change, they are a shock!

After coming up from the dive I realize I don't feel the need to get out. I am becoming comfortable. The buzzing sensation around my body is pleasing to me. I know that this is all a facade, for any extended length of time, leading to an impending and inevitable hypothermia. But for these mere minutes I decide to enjoy it a little and hang out by the rocks. Life is grand and delicate. It is nice to have the opportunity to appreciate it.

So don't bother suggesting any more that my "Blue Lights" are the product of copious ingestion of harmless (edible, non-psillocybe) Tahsis mushrooms or anything else of the sort.

Cheers,

Tyler