Nova Tech: Northern Virginia's Technical Diving Community

Dive Reports > 2/10/2002. Mt Storm, WV. Todd Clagett

All,

Finally got the new Wreck Gavin Scooter in the water. Dave Dalton, Allyson, and I met Roy Preuninger at Mt. Storm in West Virginia today. The wind was howling and the air was cold, but the water was a nice 55F.

I didn't add any weight to the scooter, so it was a little too buoyant and this caused me some headache. I know better for next time. I was using the Gavin and Allyson was using my old Apollo. I had to reduce the pitch on the Gavin all the way just so I wouldn't get too far ahead of her. I still had to release the trigger so she could stay beside me (the Apollo was on max pitch). Before starting up for deco I changed the pitch to max on the prop, and Holy Shit that thing rocks. My mask was shaking on my face. You can really tell when you get in the correct position, you pick up speed and it gets real comfortable. You can also feel when you are in the wrong position because you get beat up with the prop wash. The hardest thing for me to get use to is the length of the tow cord, but that will get easier once I get the weight correct.

The worst part about this whole Gavin thing is that now Allyson is bugging me for one. I guess she better think about getting a job.

Todd Clagett