• Master
    8 Mar 2011, 1:52 a.m.

    OK, OK so I could never live up to a Nad Shot, or get close to the quality of one of Bills photos - but, I do feel the need to show and tell (albeit with poor photo quality, of the trails and tribulations an IWC Aquatimer puts up with and keeps on performing flawlessly.

    Last month we took the Aquatimer on a dive trip to Grenada and Tobago. Both islands are tropical and have great mountain walks and climbs. Going up the mountain within 24 hours of diving is not a good idea due to risk of decompression, but Diving the next morning after a climb is fine, and definitely relaxing on the beach after a deep dive is recommended to give your body some time to off-gas the nitrogen bubbles.

    Here's a few pics of the climb my wife and I did on Mount Qua Qua on Grenada.

    View of Grand Etang Lake 1/3 way up mount Qua Qua
    farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5507256365_26be02652b_b.jpg

    Higher up - the distant Oceans
    farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5507255963_2dc8af4676_z.jpg

    Summit at 720m (2,370 ft)
    farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5507256531_c2376d6613_z.jpg

    Next morning, I took the AT down to 37.2m to explore the wreck of the Bianca C which caught fire and sank with loss of 2 lives : On October 12th 1961 the Bianca C left Italy on her final voyage. Ten days later, whilst anchored off St Georges, the capital of Grenada, she caught fire. The fire followed an explosion in her boiler room with the flames spreading rapidly throughout the rear of the ship. Of those on board, 672 of 673 people were saved by the prompt action of both the crew and of numerous local small boats launched from St. George's harbour in Grenada. Unfortunately there was insufficient marine fire fighting equipment available to stem the blaze or indeed to facilitate rescue of the body of the only person lost on board. Of those rescued, twelve badly burnt crew were taken to the local hospital for treatment and sadly one further crew member subsequently died of his burn wounds.

    Profile of the Dive
    farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5507881340_4f609a185a_b.jpg

    And then a quiet afternoon on the beach watching the sun go down
    farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5507256685_4bea91e8e2_b.jpg

    Not really a diving record for an AT (or even my own AT - it's gone far deeper and further) but thought I'd share it with you all.

    Best regards
    Mark

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 2:21 a.m.

    Great story Mark. Hope you have some other underwater photos to share as well. Thanks for taking us along.

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 3:08 a.m.

    You are one of the few on the forum who actually use a dive watch for diving. The rest of us just like the way they look. I'll have to live vicariously through your exploits.

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 1:15 p.m.

    Thanks for sharing Mark, it really is an interesting reportage. I really like to see watches in this kind of environment, good to see your AT played the role of the perfect adventure's companion, great tool watch.

    Pictures are enjoyable don't worry, ten times better than mine at least! :)

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 2:18 p.m.

    Great report Mark! That is one of my favorite parts of the world and I have made the very climb you photographed. The AT appeared to be the perfect watch for the occasion. It looks like y'all had a great time...thanks for taking us with you!

  • 8 Mar 2011, 3:49 p.m.

    okay, so I didn't dive with my aquatimer......
    But got 5895m above NAP!!!
    cheers
    BAS DEKKERS

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 3:55 p.m.

    Bas, I do recall that great achievement of yours.

    Now, you need to explain this NAP measure of height to our fellow forum members :~) ... and of course the full details around that measurement (was it/is it clock/time based measurement? every 6 hours?

    Best regards
    Mark

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 6:25 p.m.

    Very nice post and exotic scenery Mark, glad you had such a wonderful time and that we share another common watch together.
    Hope to see a Deep Two on your wrist real soon.

  • Master
    8 Mar 2011, 8:34 p.m.

    Thank you Mark, great report! My poor Aquatimer doesn't go much deeper than three feet most of the time and once in a while it gets as deep as 10 feet in the swimming pool.

    Kind regards,

    Clemens