Oh what a dive

[SeaCat]

Well I decided I just had to get wet today. No not in that way, sheesh. I went diving.

It has been way too long since I was diving last. I planned this dive in intimate detail. I had researched the tides so I could catch them just right.

I set up my rig and had everything put together. I loaded it into the back of the car and was ready.

This morning we showed up at the island. I checked the water and finding it warm I decided I didn't need the wetsuit. After gearing up I walked down the boat ramp and into the water until it was chet deep. Leaning forward I let myself just float for a minute as I tested my rig. Everything was working as it was supposed to so I kicked a couple of times until I rounded the edge of the island and was in the current.

I let Momma Nature do the work for me and carry me under the bridge as I marveled at the visibility. It had to be at least 80 feet.

As I moved closer to the bridge I dumped air from my vest and slowly settled to the bottom. I made myself neutral just above the bottom in 20 feet of water as the current died away to nothing.

Can you say absolute heaven? That's what this dive was. I drifted alowly along the bottom propeled by the least of kicks as I watched and looked at the life moving around me. I was looking at everything you would see on the reefs and then some. I played with a baby Spotted Moray. I watched as a Trigger poked at the bottom. I peered at and was amazed at the colors in a Glass Shrimp. I allowed a Fire worm to crawl onto my knife blade.

I was also busy as hell. I had three bags in my rig and I pulled the first and largest out. This, as are all of them, was a mesh bag. I picked up every piece of trash I came across and placed it in the bag. It didn't take very long to fill the bag and start on the second. I filled three bags with trash on this dive. I also dropped into my vest pockets too many lead weights, a couple of small Conch Shells, (uninhabited) and another Keepsake Box.

Finally the tide turned and I rode it out from beneath the bridge. I rode the outgoing tide towards the end of the island as I rose to the surface. I kicked around the end of the island and made my way to the landing.

My wife just shook her head as I came slogging out of the water with three bags filled with trash. She helped me dump and empty the bags. Several of the people gathered around just looked on and shook their heads as we hauled these bags of trash to the cans.

It was an incredible dive even though it was slightly marred by all the trash.

Cat

 

[buxxxom]

Thank you, Cat, on behalf of Mother Nature.

 

[jomar]

Cool. I like the image of riding the tide. Good of you to pick up the trash.

 

[glynndah]

Those of us that do the same thing along dusty country roads and in the deep green woods thank you.

 

[Nookiehunter]

Those of us that do the same thing along dusty country roads and in the deep green woods thank you.

There are so many things to do in the deep green woods along dusty country roads.

Nookiehunter

 

[DeeZire]

My brain is littered with trash, but I don't know where to put it!

 

[SlickTony]

Whereabouts do you live, SeaCat? I know, Florida. I live in north Florida. I got certified a couple of months ago and have been longing for a chance to dive again.

 

[SeaCat]

Whereabouts do you live, SeaCat? I know, Florida. I live in north Florida. I got certified a couple of months ago and have been longing for a chance to dive again.

Palm Beach County.

This was my first dive in almost six months. (I've been diving for over ten years now.)

Cat

 

[amicus]

Well I decided I just had to get wet today. No not in that way, sheesh. I went diving.

It has been way too long since I was diving last. I planned this dive in intimate detail. I had researched the tides so I could catch them just right.

I set up my rig and had everything put together. I loaded it into the back of the car and was ready.

This morning we showed up at the island. I checked the water and finding it warm I decided I didn't need the wetsuit. After gearing up I walked down the boat ramp and into the water until it was chet deep. Leaning forward I let myself just float for a minute as I tested my rig. Everything was working as it was supposed to so I kicked a couple of times until I rounded the edge of the island and was in the current.

I let Momma Nature do the work for me and carry me under the bridge as I marveled at the visibility. It had to be at least 80 feet.

As I moved closer to the bridge I dumped air from my vest and slowly settled to the bottom. I made myself neutral just above the bottom in 20 feet of water as the current died away to nothing.

Can you say absolute heaven? That's what this dive was. I drifted alowly along the bottom propeled by the least of kicks as I watched and looked at the life moving around me. I was looking at everything you would see on the reefs and then some. I played with a baby Spotted Moray. I watched as a Trigger poked at the bottom. I peered at and was amazed at the colors in a Glass Shrimp. I allowed a Fire worm to crawl onto my knife blade.

I was also busy as hell. I had three bags in my rig and I pulled the first and largest out. This, as are all of them, was a mesh bag. I picked up every piece of trash I came across and placed it in the bag. It didn't take very long to fill the bag and start on the second. I filled three bags with trash on this dive. I also dropped into my vest pockets too many lead weights, a couple of small Conch Shells, (uninhabited) and another Keepsake Box.

Finally the tide turned and I rode it out from beneath the bridge. I rode the outgoing tide towards the end of the island as I rose to the surface. I kicked around the end of the island and made my way to the landing.

My wife just shook her head as I came slogging out of the water with three bags filled with trash. She helped me dump and empty the bags. Several of the people gathered around just looked on and shook their heads as we hauled these bags of trash to the cans.

It was an incredible dive even though it was slightly marred by all the trash.

Cat

~~~

I read this when you posted it and was ready to comment until you did the peace corp, ecology bit and turned it political.

It is a wonderful description of a dive and I enjoyed it.

I suppose you can or will classify me as the rape and pillage villain in the ecological world or political correctness.

Sailors from three sailboats in Biscayne Bay, Christ it has been so long ago I forget the names and places of where we were tied up and where we partied, besides that, they are probably mostly all history by now....

But...we found a place in the rocks with abundant lobster and invited a couple dozen beach bunnies, college coeds and tourists, for a Lobster Luau, on the beach, big campfire, lotsa booze. We harvested 51 Lobster, large and small, with a tub of butter and quarts of lemon juice and had one helluva time, all night long, with sand in the cracks no less.

We didn't 'dive', but snorkled our way through the Bahama's indiscriminately dining on Conch and Grouper and what ever other food source fell into our grasp, even to the length of hunting wild pig on small islands.

Returning occasionally to Miami to garner willing coeds for the adventure of their lives.

So, perhaps, even though I have rebuilt the same mobile home you have, purchased for less than a thousand dollars and lived hand to mouth for months at time building and outfitting my boat, you can understand why we seldom exchange posts on this forum...

But your recent post on my 'Kiss' thread, demanded I say hello...such as it is.

We see the world differently.

So be it.

But thanks for the reminder of the sculpture, I will treasure that.

amicus...

 

[SeaCat]

~~~

I read this when you posted it and was ready to comment until you did the peace corp, ecology bit and turned it political.

It is a wonderful description of a dive and I enjoyed it.

I suppose you can or will classify me as the rape and pillage villain in the ecological world or political correctness.

Sailors from three sailboats in Biscayne Bay, Christ it has been so long ago I forget the names and places of where we were tied up and where we partied, besides that, they are probably mostly all history by now....

But...we found a place in the rocks with abundant lobster and invited a couple dozen beach bunnies, college coeds and tourists, for a Lobster Luau, on the beach, big campfire, lotsa booze. We harvested 51 Lobster, large and small, with a tub of butter and quarts of lemon juice and had one helluva time, all night long, with sand in the cracks no less.

We didn't 'dive', but snorkled our way through the Bahama's indiscriminately dining on Conch and Grouper and what ever other food source fell into our grasp, even to the length of hunting wild pig on small islands.

Returning occasionally to Miami to garner willing coeds for the adventure of their lives.

So, perhaps, even though I have rebuilt the same mobile home you have, purchased for less than a thousand dollars and lived hand to mouth for months at time building and outfitting my boat, you can understand why we seldom exchange posts on this forum...

But your recent post on my 'Kiss' thread, demanded I say hello...such as it is.

We see the world differently.

So be it.

But thanks for the reminder of the sculpture, I will treasure that.

amicus...

Ahhh and how did I turn it political my friend?

I pick up the trash as a matter of course, much as I pick up the trash that blows into my yard.

The area under the bridge is strewn with trash right now. Much of it still left over from the hurricanes. (The area was closed to diving or more than a year after the storms.) I pick it up, as do others not as a statement to others but to make the diving there more enjoyable for me.

Yes Ami we look at the world from different viewpoints caused by different experiences. Yet despite this we can on occasion look at the same things with the same amount of appreciation and even reverence.

Cat

 

[SCcreampieLvr]

a dive

zzzzzzzz

 

[SeaCat]

nice to hear from other divers on here!

Who wants to go on a camping trip to FL springs with me? Dive and have some fun!

The springs are nice. I have dove most of them over the past few years.

There are however much nicer areas for diving and camping. (Unless of course you are into Cave Diving.)

Even just surf or beach diving is great in southern Florida. (Above Daytona and the water cools off and lacks the clarity of the southern waters.)

This fall and winter I hope to get down to the Keys and do some dive camping down there. (I've never been down there believe it or not.) Unfortunately the waters in the Keys is shallow, which means mainly boat diving.

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

When I was in the classroom phase of my diving course, the instructor showed some videos of diving in the springs. What appealed to me was the part about if you got thirsty all you had to do was take out your regulator and get a drink. When I spent any amount of time under, I was somewhat bothered by how DRY one's mouth and throat got, on account of the necessarily dry air.

I don't see what's political about not being a litterbug.

 

[SeaCat]

When I was in the classroom phase of my diving course, the instructor showed some videos of diving in the springs. What appealed to me was the part about if you got thirsty all you had to do was take out your regulator and get a drink. When I spent any amount of time under, I was somewhat bothered by how DRY one's mouth and throat got, on account of the necessarily dry air.

I don't see what's political about not being a litterbug.

Look into some of the newer regs. They are designed to use some of the moisture from your exhalations to humidify the incoming air. (Unlike my old Mk.I that breathes so dry I can use it under the ice.)

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

Look into some of the newer regs. They are designed to use some of the moisture from your exhalations to humidify the incoming air. (Unlike my old Mk.I that breathes so dry I can use it under the ice.)

Cat

It's gonna take some time before we can do anything but rent, I'm afraid; for the time being we're stuck with old stuff. We kinda shot our wad financially, going to the Caribbean, and then being obliged to purchase a third car.

But it's good to know such things exist!

 

[SeaCat]

It's gonna take some time before we can do anything but rent, I'm afraid; for the time being we're stuck with old stuff. We kinda shot our wad financially, going to the Caribbean, and then being obliged to purchase a third car.

But it's good to know such things exist!

What kind of gear do you have?

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

At this time, we've got masks, snorkels, weights, fins and skinsuits, but we rent our BCIs and regulators. I told my husband what you said about the newer kind of regulators moisturizing the air, and he said, "That must be the difference between a $500 regulator and a $150 one." It sure would be nice to be able to go up. My throat got to feeling as if it were lined with parchment.

 

[SeaCat]

At this time, we've got masks, snorkels, weights, fins and skinsuits, but we rent our BCIs and regulators. I told my husband what you said about the newer kind of regulators moisturizing the air, and he said, "That must be the difference between a $500 regulator and a $150 one." It sure would be nice to be able to go up. My throat got to feeling as if it were lined with parchment.

Okay,

Let me look into some regs for you. The same for B.C.'s.

What kind of conditions are you looking at for your most common dives? (Cold water, warm water, Heavy Surf, etc.)

If you wish PM me.

As a matter of fact PM me with your local area. I may be able to give you some help with the gear.

Cat

P.S. My first gear was picked up in Yard Sales in the North East. A beat to hell 7mm Oniel Wetsuit for $10.00. An ancient Scuba Pro Jacket B.C. (Bright orange. The first one they made.) $25.00. A Scuba Pro Mk.I Reg. ($10.00) I dove for years with this gear and in fact still use the Reg.

 

[Vermilion]

Fiance and I are going to learn to dive next year, so we can go on a diving holiday for our honeymoon.... or at least go on a honeymoon where we can do some diving?

Anyone know of any good places that are romantic, have good food, good diving, possibly have some kind of spa arrangement and wouldn;t cost too much more than £1000 per person for a week ($2000). Remember we'd be flying from the UK, so Hawaii/Caribbean/Mexico wouldn't be the cheap option it may seem to you US chaps...

it's looking like Sardinia so far...
Oh yeah, and the weather has to be good in early September.



Don;t worry, I'm not looking for free travel agents, just suggestions if you've been anywhere good

x
V

 

[SlickTony]

We are still casting about for good places to dive, and we've found that there's actually the possibility of being able to dive right in our own area, i.e., Duval County. There's said to be lots of good wreck driving and spearfishing around here. The thought of spearing something that's LOOKING at me is kind of daunting, but then I think the proper fate of most fish (if they're not ornamental) is the table.

Still, there's another area I'm curious about...recently I was in Cocoa, FL visiting a friend. Of necessity (long story) my visits have to be short, and I know that Cocoa Beach is not far away. Does anybody know if there's ANY kind of diving scene there? I went to the city's website and combed through what they offered in the way of recreation, and found NOTHING about diving, but was kind of hoping that there was a diving scene, and it was a well-kept secret.

 

[SeaCat]

We are still casting about for good places to dive, and we've found that there's actually the possibility of being able to dive right in our own area, i.e., Duval County. There's said to be lots of good wreck driving and spearfishing around here. The thought of spearing something that's LOOKING at me is kind of daunting, but then I think the proper fate of most fish (if they're not ornamental) is the table.

Still, there's another area I'm curious about...recently I was in Cocoa, FL visiting a friend. Of necessity (long story) my visits have to be short, and I know that Cocoa Beach is not far away. Does anybody know if there's ANY kind of diving scene there? I went to the city's website and combed through what they offered in the way of recreation, and found NOTHING about diving, but was kind of hoping that there was a diving scene, and it was a well-kept secret.

Just saw this.

Let me ask my father. He lives in Melbourne.

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

Just saw this.

Let me ask my father. He lives in Melbourne.

Cat

You found anything out yet?

 

[SeaCat]

You found anything out yet?

Been working 12 hour shifts so I haven't talked with him lately. I'll be getting hold of him tomorrow.

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

Been working 12 hour shifts so I haven't talked with him lately. I'll be getting hold of him tomorrow.

Cat

Yowza. 12 hour shifts. I don't know if I could do it. Hope you get a chance to rest up.