Ben Oostdam's Autobiography: 1960-1963

page 58

Hawaii I I I - oh! Maui, La Perouse Bay March, 1963

The next two weeks, from Monday March 11 (our first dive on La Perouse Bay), till our return to Honolulu on Sunday March 24, we alternated Rick's "deep" and my "shallow" dives. Makena Beach, opposite Molokini (top right)

Click to alternate maps of Maui and Kanahena Bay

Because of the late arrival of the UH compressor, we had to drive to Lahaina every two days to get our 6 diving bottles filled at Maui Divers. There, we drank mai-tais at the "Whale's Tail" , swapped stories with Jim Doherty, Don Johnson, and fellow Stone Wall divers Chuck and Sam, and also tried to sell some of our trees and find pumps for the jetting project.
On Rick's Black Coral project, we measured light transmission, currents, dissolved oxygen and temperature vs depth (BT), while on mine we made transects using a 30 ft line marked every foot, noting % and type and thickness of cover, taking samples and setting sediment traps. Both of us took UW picts using a Nikonos UW camera, used ranges, handbearing compass and sextant for positioning, and were handicapped by rough weather and ragged lava coasts.

La Perouse Bay Shore

To work on La Perouse Bay, we launched the Whaler at Kanahena Bay (above), but on rough days we sometimes ventured out of small coves along LP Bay after walking with the gear across the rough lava surface. Because of the poor shape of Ricky's trailer, we had to get it welded or use extra manpower or neoprene inflated rollers, or anchor the boat overnight. We stayed in the pleasant cottage rented from Vic Tavaris, and on several occasions, gangs of his friends would come to party. Jason "the Portugee" was very helpful and cooked us steaks he provided, as well as lobster and fish which Ricky caught; I remember our first meal because of the fascinating names of the red glass-eyed snapper: Aweo aweo (Priocanthus boops) ! BLO 200301019 - contents - COMMENTS ? - next page