Divers On The Forum

[1369]

Slomo: After I knock out the NITROX classwork (Tues night) and the other three speciality courses, I think they are going to Key Largo in the next few weeks. I'll try and post pics if I can.

[Slomo]

Slomo: After I knock out the NITROX classwork (Tues night) and the other three speciality courses, I think they are going to Key Largo in the next few weeks. I'll try and post pics if I can.

I'm asking because I was thinking of spending a couple of days in Key Largo myself sometimes towards the end of April (It's pretty much in the wishful thiniking category right now - but with a little luck...)

[1369]

Slomo, as soon as they nail down a date I'll be sure to let you know. If you can swing it, let me know and I'll fetch you up from the airport (unless you plan on renting a car).

[Slomo]

I'll probably have a car.

It would be a funny coincidence to meet you in the Florida Keys

Fingers crossed!

[Melmart1]

1369- I have a very good friend who lives in Florida and is a ceritified master diver. He is always marvelling about Jupiter Inlet and how much there is to see there. It is in Northern Palm Beach County. They have dives year round beacuse of the temperate climate, though lately he has been generally sticking to spring and summer dives. Just something to consider when choosing a location.

[Vashner]

The only salt water I do is Cozumel. Since we have a summer non stop flight (Funjet ATA). Sometimes I get room and air for $500 bucks (3 nights) and do a quick set of dives.

[1369]

Mel, if you get a chance, drop me a contact number.

Thanks

[Melmart1]

I probably won't talk to him till tomorrow or Monday, but I will ask him what he uses and stuff for you.

[Vashner]

Flower Gardens trips
http://www.synergy-productions.com/h...tual_tour.html

About the Flower Gardens
http://www.synergy-productions.com/v...o/GULF_D_P.WMV

[1369]

I've always heard that trips to the Gardens in November are the best when the hammerheads are swarming.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Slomo - nothing good anywhere near SA. All Texas freshwater diving sucks ass. You need to go to the rigs or the Flower Gardens.

Also for the price of a Flower Gardens trip, if you do enough hunting on the web you can track down an all-inclusive trip to Cozumel for about $200 more than the FG trip, depending on the time of year.

SSI is actually VERY good. The controversial things about solo diving is handled by them in a very mature fashion and it's not something for the beginner/holiday diver but for some more extreme diving where it actually makes sense. There's an on going debate on the subject what is more dangerous a stupid buddy or solo diving.

Well, yeah, if your buddy is a up I can see the point. But solo diving as a general practice is ing stupid.

As for SSI, sorry I don't think too kindly of them. I've had exactly one run in with anyone with an SSI cert - a lady who was actually an SSI instructor. She was on a boat on a trip I took the Bahamas three years ago.

The first deep dive of the second day the boat divemaster had to chase her because she went too deep and got narced, their computers read 162 feet when they got back on the boat.

Needless to say she was done diving for the day.

I don't have problems with my buddies, but then again I don't go on dive trips solo and whoever I go with is someone I have dove with before and have developed good underwater communications habits with.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

BTW, as for equipment I use:

* Suunto Cobra dive computer (though it's a little more than $500, it's a of a computer)
* Oceanic Probe BC
* Atomic Aquatics Z2 regulator, Mares Proton backup reg (octopus)
* Atomic Aquatics Split Fins with custom made spring straps (by me)

Hmm, looks like there's lots of diving interest on this thread. I think I'll definitely set up a Flower Gardens trip (or maybe a rig trip - little bit cheaper) later on this summer for us if everyone is down.

[Old School Chic]

Nice pic AHF

and here I am scared of the water... Would you show me how to swim?

[Vashner]

But I would not really compare the flower gardens trip to Cozumel price wise.

It's 2 different experiances. The flower gardens is harder work but more remote and unspoiled place. Also I think I mentioned cozumel was cheap?? There is only one direct flight and that's the charter. The other is a flight from Htown (Cont).

Flower gardens has 3 wonderful puke buckets to choose from.

As for Cozumel, only gringo's do all inclusive. It's better to go Euro so you can eat and the various mom and pop places on the island. You know you want to get sick so why stick to hotel food when you can really roll the dice on Montezuma's? ROFL

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Yeah, I should say...

Cozumel is a much easier trip if you're not used to extreme conditions.

Both the rig trip and Flower Gardens can be a real challenge if the currents are ripping out in the Gulf.

I've been out there when the water's glass and there's less current than your bath tub, and I've also been out there in 4-5 foot seas where all you could do is hang on to the rig so you didn't get blown off the rig and have to be picked up on your way to the next one

Also had to get some new gloves and fins after that trip, they were shredded to . Crazy stuff.

Oh, and you also have the trip to the Flower Gardens, the over/under on puking is half the boat on a given trip

THanks ol' school - if you come topless I'll be more than happy to help you get over your fear of the water

[Vashner]

Bob's Cove at Medina would be a good group dive someday.

I think there is a platform down there around 40 feet near the dam.

[Slomo]

Slomo - nothing good anywhere near SA. All Texas freshwater diving sucks ass. You need to go to the rigs or the Flower Gardens.

Also for the price of a Flower Gardens trip, if you do enough hunting on the web you can track down an all-inclusive trip to Cozumel for about $200 more than the FG trip, depending on the time of year.

Well I thought since the Gulf is not that far away that maybe there's a spot or two...

Well, yeah, if your buddy is a up I can see the point. But solo diving as a general practice is ing stupid.

As for SSI, sorry I don't think too kindly of them. I've had exactly one run in with anyone with an SSI cert - a lady who was actually an SSI instructor. She was on a boat on a trip I took the Bahamas three years ago.

The first deep dive of the second day the boat divemaster had to chase her because she went too deep and got narced, their computers read 162 feet when they got back on the boat.

Needless to say she was done diving for the day.

I don't have problems with my buddies, but then again I don't go on dive trips solo and whoever I go with is someone I have dove with before and have developed good underwater communications habits with.

I completely agree that solo diving is only for certain situation/type of dives - and it carries its own set of problems (100% redundant equipment to only mention one).

The SSI methods and book are OK (I'm not an expert but I browsed through a couple of their training book), but as I said earlier the instructor is ultimatively the one that defines the quality of the training. Unfortuantely I've met PADI and CMAS instructor doing stupid things (by themselves and with students!!!), so obviously no certification agency is imune to stupidity.

I also prefer diving with a buddy, if for no other reason than you can discuss the dive in the bar after it. And if you're in a situation to always have reliable buddies that's great. Unfortunately for me at least 30% of my diving has been done with strangers and there's quite a few cases where I would have been safer on my own (OK most cases where just fine).


I have a ulated quite a lot of gear through the years, but I maintain two main configurations now:
1.
Dual 10L 300bar tanks (obviously this one does not travel well )
with 2 indepedent regulator sets. 1st stage: Poseidon and Apeks. 2nd stages: Poseidon Cyklon 500 and APEKS TX100.

2.
My travel/nitrox set (without tanks) Scubapro Mk20+S600+R380 octopus.

Uwatec Aladin Smart Pro and Suunto Stinger
(btw AHF: Suunto Cobra is a kick ass computer)

I have 2 Halcyon BCs: Stainless steel backplate with 70L Explorer wing and Aluminum backplate with Pioneer 30 wing.

This is not a very common/standard kit, but it has somehow evolved on its own through the years

[Vashner]

Yea that's sounds like expensive gear The 300 bar how man LB's is that? Is that the new steel that does 3400-3500 lbs??

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I completely agree that solo diving is only for certain situation/type of dives - and it carries its own set of problems (100% redundant equipment to only mention one).

Here's another one - as a solo diver/snorkeler you're much more likely to have a negative experience if you run into some of the apex predators like tiger sharks, bulls, and great whites. A person in the ocean by themselves is like ringing the dinner bell for an opportunistic animal.

Most of the major shark attacks in the past 4 years in Cali, Australia, and Hawaii have been when people were diving/snorkeling alone.

ANother reason I like having a buddy is invariably two sets of eyes find more cool stuff to take photos of than one

[1369]

Man, ya'll have all the cool toys. I'll just stick to my tried and trusted U.S. Divers Conshelf 21/Octo and Alcyone BC until I know if I'll be diving more.

If I get back into diving heavy, I'm thinking about one of the Uwatec computers, as they are one of the only ones that'll interface with my Mac.

[Slomo]

Yea that's sounds like expensive gear The 300 bar how man LB's is that? Is that the new steel that does 3400-3500 lbs??

It is expensive, but you know how it is you buy one little item and then the next one.....

As I said this is the result of many years of purchasing diving stuff. If I would have to buy it now I'd never come up with the money - thank god most of those things are almost bullet proof and will last you a life time.

300 bar = 4410 psi

The dual 10L 300 bar steel tank setup is sweet but weighs around 30 kg!!! when full. The plus side is you have tons of air - very useful to stalk animals with your camera

[Slomo]

I searched my HDD for some photos a friend took during a dive trip in Key Largo a few years back


In this one I'm proving you can actually smile for the camera even under water

[AlamoSpursFan]

I'm reading this thread green with envy.

I've always wanted to learn SCUBA diving, but I've never had the time or money.

Keep the cool pics coming!

[Slomo]

I'm reading this thread green with envy.

I've always wanted to learn SCUBA diving, but I've never had the time or money.

Keep the cool pics coming!

ASF

Diving is cheaper than skiing! You actually do not have to own any of the gear and even when you decide you want to good equipment can be bought at very reasonable prices.

Go to your nearest dive center/club and take the course! I waited way too long before I did it

[AlamoSpursFan]

My main problem is scheduling...How involved is the course? I don't have a set work schedule, so I have a problem finding time for setting stuff up. Or could I do it in a week? I have vacation time coming up...