scuba's topics - tribe.net

Uepi, Solomon Islands or Kevieng, Papua New Guinea

roisin0908 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:52:43 GMT

My dive club is organising dive vacations to both places in August 2009 and we're torn as to which one should we should go to.

We've heard both places are great to dive and neither of us have dived there.

Who's been to either or even both and which one should be go to? One's at begining of August the other at the end of August.

We can both take up to a month off, so there's even the possibility of doing both!!!

Recommendations anyone???

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Diving in Cozumel

Lisa — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:30:06 GMT

I just got back last weekend from a week of diving in Cozumel. One word .... FANTABULOUS!!! We did 5 days of 2 tank dives, and never repeated a dive site. Every dive was different from the last and the next, and each had it's own special moments and some had challenges that were able to be met!! I did my first penetration of a wreck. We dove Devil's Throat (check it out online!!!) I am just sorry that I couldn't do the night dive with them (I had had ear trouble during the second dive during the day and decided to sit out the night dive) The marine life was AMAZING! I took over 750 photos and videos!!

Best part about this trip though, was that I was there with Sarah Superbuena!! I've met Sarah here on Tribe 2 years ago, and we became fast friends. Our friendship progressed past the internet and we began talking on the phone and emailing outside of Tribe. But, she lives on one coast of the U.S. and I on the other. So it took two years to actually meet in person. And it honestly felt as if we'd known each other forever!

A couple of months ago I was on the phone with Sarah talking about a dive trip to Turks and Caicos that I had just come back from, and how I was looking into my next trip. Sarah mentioned that she and her husband were planning to go to Cozumel for this dive trip (with a group from the LDS) and told me to check it out. Within an hour, I was booked!!

I will be working on a blog, and have started to post some photos from the trip! Now we just have to plan the next trip!! I probably should get out to visit them on their coast anyway. And they mentioned that they'd really love to visit me!

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Certification

fuck — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:30:34 GMT

Some friends of mine in Berkeley want to get Open Water certified. I don't really know the shops in the east bay. Can anyone recommend a good shop in Berkeley or surrounding area? PADI preferred but not required.

thanks

posted in scuba - 1 reply

Scuba Diving & Yoga Adventure in Dominica - event listing

Kimberlee — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:20:23 GMT

In case you have all topics turned off, please see our event listing:

http://dominica.tribe.net/event/Scuba-Diving-Yoga-Adventure-March-7-14-2009-in-Dominica/saint-patricks-parish-dominica/1e03a65d-17a2-48e0-81e8-c9a350d97c3f

Thanks

posted in scuba - 1 reply

Seen Any Dolphins Recently?

Lorenzo-g — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:36:19 GMT

Coincidence?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2008/jun/11/wildlife.conservation1

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Five Divers Survive Days on Island

livn2do — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:23:24 GMT

http://outside-blog.away.com/

If you were stranded on a deserted island with four people, a couple of animals, and…

No seriously. A group of five divers was stranded on a remote Indonesian island for days after drifting for miles in shark-filled seas, clinging desperately to a log. Technically, they got lucky—the island was the last stop on the way out to the deep blue sea.

But it wasn’t rum punch and bikini-clad cookouts for this crew. They woke up their first morning to a visit from a 300-plus pound poisonous Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard found only in Indonesia. They scared him off by screaming and chucking rocks and sticks at him, then they spent two days scavenging for food, and trying to stay alive.

The surrounding sea, where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet, is known for its tumultuous tides and unpredictable current. Only experienced divers are advised to go there. The group was spotted—waving madly from shore—by rescuers aboard a nearby boat.
-Claire Napier Galofaro

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Lost at sea

Lorenzo-g — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:07:34 GMT

Any divers who live in Sacramento may recognize this guy, hes the manager of the Streets Of London Pub on J street.

Ive met him quite a few times, didnt know he was a diver.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/25/australia

posted in scuba - 7 replies

diving and meditation

KLM — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:09:14 GMT

Favoritest thing:
a slow drift;
inverted,
lotus.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Lake Tahoe Scuba Diving

sarita75 — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:13:55 GMT

I have a friend who is going to be teaching a couse on Altitude diving at Lake Tahoe in June. If anyone is interested, send me a message.

Cheers,
Sarah

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Brochure on yoga and scuba diving

Kimberlee — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:12:08 GMT

Hello,

For a recent dive expo, my husband and I put together some brochures on how yoga helps scuba diving with tips on finding a good yoga class near you. My OWSI husband included some tips on improving your surface air consumption (SAC) rate.

We have some brochures left and instead of putting them in storage, forgetting about them just to reprint them for the next event, we'd like to mail them out to anyone who's interested. If you would like one (or more), please send me a PM with your name and address and I'll pop some in the mail to you.

Cheers, Kimberlee

posted in scuba - 0 replies

New Tribe - Underwater Photography

sarita75 — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:16:38 GMT

Thought some of you might be interested. I was surprised that there wasn't a tribe on this already, so here we go. http://tribes.tribe.net/underwaterphotography

Best wishes to all.

posted in scuba - 1 reply

gotta drysuit

hollylc — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:32:53 GMT

and want to dive! Anyone up for next weekend or Friday?

posted in scuba - 1 reply

Utila & Roatan

David — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:31:28 GMT

hello fellow tribers and divers, i am working on a short trip out to the Bay islands the end of this month and i am looking for any advice regarding dive outfits on Utila and/or Roatan. I am certified open water diver and am looking for affordability/professional outfits. Also if anyone has recommendations for places to eat, places to stay and things to do, it will be geatly appreciated. Bless up...

posted in scuba - 4 replies

looking for dive buddies

ken — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:23:04 GMT

i live in monterey, and have recently gotten my open water certification. i am looking for people in the area to dive with. if anybody is interested, let me know

posted in scuba - 1 reply

Beneath the Sea

Lisa — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:31:24 GMT

Is anyone planning on going this weekend to the Beneath the Sea Expo at the Meadowlands?

http://www.beneaththesea.org/

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Bonaire

hollylc — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:45:36 GMT

I'm off to Bonaire next week. I was there 6 years ago and am so happy to go back and see the friends I made and dive in that amazing water. Wondering if people have any particular fave. dive sites? We will be shore diving almost exclusively. Any fave. restaurants?

Thanks!

holly

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Diving US Virgin Islands - recommendations for St. Thomas operators and dive sites?

HoopDaddy — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:42:42 GMT

Hello Fellow Divers, I'm heading to the US Virgin Islands in May and am looking for a reputable dive operation while on St. Thomas. I dove there several years ago but they also took non-certified (recreational) divers in the same boat which limited the dive sites and depths we could experience. I was very disappointed in the diving. I'm sure there are good dive sites off St. Thomas and perhaps St. John and I'm looking for dive sites and operator recommendations. Thanks. --Steve--

posted in scuba - 3 replies

nearby advanced open water

lorien — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:38:36 GMT

Hi, all. This is pretty far in advance, but I'm looking for a place to take my advanced open water certification in November. I'd like to go somewhere within an easy flight of the SF Bay area, but with warm water and pretty reefs (ie, not Monterey). Perhaps Baja?

Anyone have any area/dive shop recommendations?

posted in scuba - 16 replies

monterey

aquabear — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:38:13 GMT

i'm aching to dive! but can't afford to get anywhere warm. . .
does anyone know how the conditions are in monterey?
i have had 2 experiences there.
1 great and 1 awful.
i've found some outdated links, but nothing current.
your help is appreciated.

posted in scuba - 6 replies

Recommendation for an end of May dive trip to Asia

homework — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:32:44 GMT

I'm thinking about either Wakatobi in Indonesia or Puerta Galera in the Philippines. I have a week off the end of May. If anyone has either been to these locations, or can recommend another destination, I'm all ears.

posted in scuba - 1 reply

SEVERE nose bleed

Lisa — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:40:50 GMT

This could be TMI, so I apologize in advance ....

I was diving on Friday and Saturday. I flew back home on an airplane on Monday morning.

Just before I had the most severe nose bleed I have ever had. I thought I was hemmoraging (sp??). All I had done was to blow my nose. Not too hard. But as soon as I did, the tissue was covered in blood, and the bleeding didn't stop for a good 5 minutes. And the flow of blood was pretty heavy (for the nose at least).

Could this have anything to do with the dives? Could it be a sinus squeeze with a delayed reaction?

posted in scuba - 5 replies

What a difference a year makes!!

roisin0908 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:41:45 GMT

Just over a year ago, I posted my first thread about how I'd just started diving and was hooked.

http://fishies.tribe.net/thread/dc9287fc-c222-4747-be3a-d624482cb0e6

Well, yesterday, I did my 50th dive and I'm even more in love with the sport.

I have been fortunate enough to dive at Truk Lagoon amongst the WW2 wrecks. I live 30 mins drive from some of the best dive sites in Australia, here in Port Philip Bay.

My spare room has become a store room for wetsuits, tubs, dive equipment and soon tanks. My spare time is spent doing courses, nex week it's Advanced Nitrox & Decompression, April is Stress & Rescue.

Instead of reading what my horoscope is for the day, I now look up tide tables and wave patterns.

In July I head off with my dive club to Vanuatu and really looking forward to diving the President Coolidge. Next year it Papua New Guinea as well as heading back to Truk and possibly visit Palau or Yap.

With the amount of diving I have planned for the next 6 months, hopefully, I may make my 100th dive at Vanuatu. Although the water drops from a lovely 21 degrees C to about 15 C during the winter months here. Well, there's always a drysuit :-)

But if I don't make 100 in July, then I could well achieve it when I head out to California for 3 months from August.

Thanks for all the good support and information you have all posted on here.

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Kids Sea Camp/ Anthony Key Resort, Roatan, Honduras

aquabear — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:08:30 GMT

Has anyone been on one of these http://www.kidsseacamp.com/ ?
It seems ideal being a single parent, getting the best of both worlds,
but I wonder if it is way over priced or a good deal. I am specifically
looking at the Roatan trip.

Has anyone been to the Anthony Key Resort?
http://www.kidsseacamp.com/

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Tobago

hollylc — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:00:01 GMT

A friend of mine is getting married there in November so what better excuse to take a week off and make a vacation of it! I am wondering if anyone here's been there. I am looking to stay either at a scuba resort or a cool place right on the water and near enough to a dive center. As I will be playing with the wedding party for a few nights I don't need all-inclusive. I just want safe, pretty, and on-the-water so I can swim every day as much as I like!

Thanks for any replies!

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Carribean dive vacation recommendations sought

bsobelman — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 05:40:44 GMT

My partner and I are looking to do a week of diving somewhere warm in early March. We live in Seattle and would like to keep our travel time under about 10 hours, and we've done Hawaii recently, so we're looking toward the Caribbean (Belize/Honduras would also be great but I think we'll do that next time). Problem is....there's an awful lot of islands over there and we're not sure where we'll find the best diving!

We'd love some recommendations for places with good diving (shore and/or boat) where we can find reasonably-priced accommodations. (We have a free place to stay in Puerto Rico in April but I have no idea if there's any decent diving there at all. ) We're thinking about doing a liveaboard for part of the time so suggestions there would be great as well. He's a beginner (10 dives) but is taking to it like crazy, and I've got 50+ dives but haven't done a ton lately, so we're looking for moderate dives, nothing super-advanced. Just wanting to get some sun and get some more dives under his belt!

thanks!

posted in scuba - 10 replies

Disillusionment in Travels

hollylc — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:21:03 GMT

I think I want to begin writing articles on the reality of dive locations as they are, as opposed to what the magazines show. I am so sick of reading about places and then finding out I once again fell pray to false advertising. I really need to wizen-up. So, here's my assessment of my most recent diving:

Key Largo and Pompano -- my advice, ALWAYS dive with shears or a good sharp knife as the amount of fishing line and hooks tangled up in the reef is exasperating. (I know better than to cut line that has much growth on it but I do cut it if it's just algae and not going to harm anything by removing it) In addition, diving with some sort of big net is not a bad idea either, in order to catch fish to remove hooks and lines entangled in their gills or hanging from their mouths. I saw a 4' long barracuda with a hook in its gills and about 5' of line hanging from it. Got close but not close enough to do anything. I hear the hooks eventually dissolve? Even so...

What else about Florida? True I saw some cool animals, rays, nurse sharks, an octopus during the day, goliath groupers, file fish, squid, loads of wonderful awe-inspiring creatures, but...everyone there wears gloves and therefore touches everything. If it were up to me, as in Bonaire, dive gloves would not be allowed. No gloves and people touch less. There is so little living reef left there. Lots of wrecks which is nice if that's your thing but even on the wrecks the growth is minimal and what there is is handled constantly by fisher-folk, spear-gun people and divers.

But it is really the fishing line that bummed me out. It is everywhere. The fishing line and dying reef. It looks nothing like the photos.

Southeast Asia this past summer: I learned that I will never again travel outside the US without a painless way to euthanize cats and dogs. I especially found this to be true in Malaysia where I honestly would have put about 25 dogs and cats to sleep if I could have. I also learned that "unlimited shore diving" means something in a place like Bonaire or Monterey, but in Malaysia it means swimming in human waste for the first 5 meters of shore as there is no sewage treatment -- you flush and hear it go straight into the water underneath the toilet...lovely. All those lovely photos of Sipidan and Mabul Islands? Well, yes, I saw amazing things, some of the most incredible and humbling creatures whose presence I have ever been graced with and yet what the magazines do not show is that for every crocodile fish I saw, I also saw a large piece of plastic or other human garbage floating by. They don't show that everything outside the resort is covered with candy wrappers, plastic bags, human waste, starving animals, starving people. I have never seen so much garbage in my life as I did on Mabul Island, especially in the first 10 feet of the beach and shoreline.

And of the Philippines I could write more about dynamite fishing and how it feels to hear it underwater knowing it's just about a kilometer away and how the reef in some places looks like the aftermath of the bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

And it makes me so sad because there is little I love more than scuba diving. I find it to be the place where I feel most alive and calm. It is the purest form of meditation for me. And yet I feel so saddened by what I have seen in my travels.

As a traveler I cannot just walk by something and not feel deeply about what I have seen or experienced. I carry it with me months later. I just wish people would speak up more about what they really see down there and topside as well.

Depressing...sorry! Needed to get this off my head.

Holly

posted in scuba - 11 replies

Anyone interested in a yoga and scuba diving trip?

Kimberlee — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:08:40 GMT

My husband and I are considering offering a trip that combines diving with yoga classes, meditation sessions, discussions, etc. and possibly offering a PADI specialty course or two. We're looking to offer one at the end of 2008/beginning of 2009.

If this sounds of interest to you, we would love some feedback to help plan this trip. Please indicate your preferences on our quick survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=HGizeVZNYjeELcVodRuFUA_3d_3d

Thanks for your help.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Diving in Baja

sarita75 — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 07:43:42 GMT

Wondering if anyone has any experience, insight, etc. into diving in Baja? I am a beginner diver, and would love to go on a "long weekend" diving trip ...

Advice, suggestions, etc. would be great. Especially if you know of good, reliable and not-packed outfits that take divers (as I am not in the comfort zone of going without).

Thanks!

posted in scuba - 10 replies

quick trip.

TheUtopian — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:41:44 GMT

if you were to take off work next friday and the following monday and you had access to a plane, where would you go diving?

posted in scuba - 18 replies

Belize Caye Caulker

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:31:25 GMT

I am going to be in Belize, on Caye Caulker, in February (yeah!) and wonder if anyone has advice on accommodations and dive operations there.

Thanks in advance.

posted in scuba - 6 replies

Diving in VIetnam?

Jen — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:44:32 GMT

Anyone dived in Vietnam? What's the best time to go? Where are the best sites? Thanks.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Maldives

TheUtopian — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:31:32 GMT

ever been there? did you like it? any suggestions on a live aboard??

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Dolphins save surfer from becoming shark’s bait

livn2do — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:39:26 GMT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21689083/

By Mike Celizic
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 8:57 a.m. CT, Thurs., Nov. 8, 2007

Surfer Todd Endris needed a miracle. The shark — a monster great white that came out of nowhere — had hit him three times, peeling the skin off his back and mauling his right leg to the bone.

That’s when a pod of bottlenose dolphins intervened, forming a protective ring around Endris, allowing him to get to shore, where quick first aid provided by a friend saved his life.

“Truly a miracle,” Endris told TODAY’s Natalie Morales on Thursday.

The attack occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 28, just before 11 a.m. at Marina State Park off Monterey, Calif., where the 24-year-old owner of Monterey Aquarium Services had gone with friends for a day of the sport they love. Nearly four months later, Endris, who is still undergoing physical therapy to repair muscle damage suffered during the attack, is back in the water and on his board in the same spot where he almost lost his life.

“[It] came out of nowhere. There’s no warning at all.

Todd Endris
Maybe I saw him a quarter second before it hit me. But no warning. It was just a giant shark,” Endris said. “It just shows you what a perfect predator they really are.”

The shark, estimated at 12 to 15 feet long, hit him first as Endris was sitting on his surfboard, but couldn’t get its monster jaws around both surfer and surfboard. “The second time, he came down and clamped on my torso — sandwiched my board and my torso in his mouth,” Endris said.

That attack shredded his back, literally peeling the skin back, he said, “like a banana peel.” But because Endris’ stomach was pressed to the surfboard, his intestines and internal organs were protected.

The third time, the shark tried to swallow Endris’ right leg, and he said that was actually a good thing, because the shark’s grip anchored him while he kicked the beast in the head and snout with his left leg until it let go.

The dolphins, which had been cavorting in the surf all along, showed up then. They circled him, keeping the shark at bay, and enabled Endris to get back on his board and catch a wave to the shore.

Our finned friends
No one knows why dolphins protect humans, but stories of the marine mammals rescuing humans go back to ancient Greece, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

A year ago in New Zealand, the group reports, four lifeguards were saved from sharks in the same way Endris was — by dolphins forming a protective ring.

Though horribly wounded, Endris said he didn’t think he was going to die. “Actually, it never crossed my mind,” he told Morales.

It did, though, cross the minds of others on the beach, including some lifeguards who told his friend, Brian Simpson, that Endris wasn’t going to make it.

Simpson is an X-ray technician in a hospital trauma center, and he’d seen badly injured people before. He had seen Endris coming in and knew he was hurt.

“I was expecting him to have leg injuries,” he told Morales. “It was a lot worse than I was expecting.”

Blood was pumping out of the leg, which had been bitten to the bone, and Endris, who lost half his blood, was ashen white. To stop the blood loss, Simpson used his surf leash as a tourniquet, which probably saved his life.

“Thanks to this guy,” Endris said, referring to Simpson, who sat next to him in the TODAY studio, “once I got to the beach, he was calming me down and keeping me from losing more blood by telling me to slow my breathing and really just be calm. They wouldn’t let me look at my wounds at all, which really helped.

A medivac helicopter took him to a hospital, where a surgeon had to first figure out what went where before putting him back together.

“It was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle,” Endris said.

Six weeks later, he was well enough to go surfing again, and the place he went was back to Marina State Park. It wasn’t easy to go back in the water.

“You really have to face your fears,” he told Morales. “I’m a surfer at heart, and that’s not something I can give up real easily. It was hard. But it was something you have to do.”

The shark went on its way, protected inside the waters of the park, which is a marine wildlife refuge. Endris wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I wouldn’t want to go after the shark anyway,” he said. “We’re in his realm, not the other way around.”

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Where is the best diving in Hawaii?

fark — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:36:59 GMT

I've been all over the planet to dive but I still haven't made the short flight from San Francisco to go diving in Hawaii. So which Island(s) have the best diving? What are the dives that are not to be missed?

aloha,
Dan

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Bragging about my new book: Yoga for Scuba Divers

Kimberlee — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:01:45 GMT

Someone brought it to my attention that not everyone has the full listings turned on in Tribe, so many people hadn't seen this yet. My apologies for double post for those of you who have full view.

Here is the info on a book that I have co-written my husband (a PADI OWSI instructor). I'm eager to hear feedback from people who check it out. Right now, it's only available through Lulu, but I'm actively pestering some of the bigger dive shops to carry it and it should be in online book stores within 5 weeks.

Yoga for Scuba Divers

Practice on land to build strength, increase your air efficiency, and become a better diver

Yoga for Scuba Divers teaches you poses, breathing exercises, visualization techniques, and yoga lifestyle principles that combine to make you a better diver. By practicing the yoga poses in this book you can: improve your balance and stability, build core strength to protect your back when carrying tanks and weights, build abdominal control to fine-tune your buoyancy, strengthen your legs for those fun walks down to the water in full gear, and develop powerful muscles that improve your finning. The breathing exercises will teach you to breathe steadily during physical exertion, which will keep you calm and rational under water. The visualization techniques will help you prepare mentally for dive challenges. You will also learn yoga principles, such as non-violence, and how they apply to scuba divers. All of the poses in Yoga for Scuba Divers are practiced on land, not in the water.

Todd Stedl is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and holds a doctorate in chemistry. Kimberlee Jensen Stedl is a member of the American Council on Exercise Continuing Education Faculty, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Together they have been diving and practicing yoga since they met in 2002.

See sample pages of this book: http://www.8thelementyoga.com/books/yoga_scuba.php

Order this book now: http://www.lulu.com/content/355207

posted in scuba - 14 replies

top 5

TheUtopian — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:23:03 GMT

in your opinion, what are the top 5 must see dive spots in the world?

posted in scuba - 9 replies

Kona or Cozumel?

Bobzilla — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:15:50 GMT

I have 156K FF miles to play with. That's four round trips to Region 1, Hawaii, Caribbean or Central America. I'm thinking Kona or Cozumel in March or April 2008. I want cheap food and lodging and want to not have to rent a car.

Points in favor of Kona - been there, know the diving, can do free shore diving on my own.
Drawbacks - Kona is expensive, been there many times

Points in favor of Cozumel - never been there, Mexico is cheap.
Drawbacks - never been there don't know where to stay, would have to use a dive operator.

Help me make this decision.

posted in scuba - 10 replies

Search & recovery diving

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 22:22:14 GMT

Anyone here besides myself involved in public safety diving or search and recovery operations?

posted in scuba - 14 replies

Dry Suits, again

hollylc — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:15:11 GMT

Hey, so I am having a dry suit made. So far it looks like it is between DUI and an USIA. The USIA is quite a bit less expensive, around 1600. The DUI will be about 1800. They are all backed-up in terms of getting them finished so both will take about 10 weeks...Yes, 9/11 has even hit us scuba-folk as millions was given to the police and fire departments for water-stuff and they're all having drysuits made in the name of homeland security..oy vey.

Any thoughts?

posted in scuba - 16 replies

Cozumel

TheUtopian — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:57:08 GMT

I am heading down to Cozumel April 19-22.....anyone else going to be there?

posted in scuba - 11 replies

women's BCD recommendation

Kimberlee — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:32:04 GMT

Hello,

It's about that time I finally own a BCD. Does anyone have good recommendations for a women's BCD? If so, what do you like about it?

Thanks

posted in scuba - 22 replies

Convince me to go diving........

roisin0908 — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:52:38 GMT

I was meant to be going to Truk in October, but an important work delivery may curtail that. So, some online friends from Portland have invited me to join them diving in Middle Keys this Fall.

As I'd have to make a special trip over the Big Pond just for the vacation, the diving would have to be extra special and the trip worthwhile for me to justify going over.

So!!! Can you convince me to be in a plane for over 18 hours, at least, 3 flight changes and fly over 10,000 miles just to go diving? ;-)

I should have my AOW by then - but remember, I was meant to be diving the wrecks at Truk at begining of Oct .

posted in scuba - 22 replies

lightning kills diver

Bobzilla — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:30:31 GMT

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/07/23/national/a054831D57.DTL&hw=diver&sn=001&sc=1000

Lightning struck a diver's air tank as he surfaced off Florida's Atlantic coast, killing him, authorities said. The 36-year-old man was diving with three others Sunday off a boat near Deerfield Beach, about 40 miles north of Miami.

He had surfaced about 30 feet from the boat when lightning struck his tank, said Deerfield Beach Fire Chief Gary Fernaays.

The other divers struggled to get the man back into the boat and radioed for help, Fernaays said. The victim, identified was Stephen Wilson of Deerfield Beach, was rushed to the beach, where a rescue crew gave him CPR. He was later pronounced dead at North Broward Medical Center.

A severe thunderstorm warning had been in effect Sunday for Broward County.

The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office planned an autopsy to determine if Wilson drowned or was electrocuted.

posted in scuba - 9 replies

LA dive buddies?

bradmiller — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:42:52 GMT

I live in Los Angeles, have my advanced certification, but no one to play with. If anyone lives in the area and dives regularly, or knows of a group that does, or knows of any group dives coming up... I'd love to hear from you.

I would especially love to dive some wrecks.

little help?

posted in scuba - 10 replies

Hawaii dives?

TheUtopian — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 18:01:56 GMT

I will be staying in Waikiki for a few days next week....any suggestions on where to dive?

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Recommendations for diving in Goa, India?

joseph — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 03:38:00 GMT

I'm going to Goa in a couple of weeks and wondering if anyone has any recommendations for good diving outfits in Goa and how good the diving was in the area. THANKS! - joseph

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Virgin Islands

Gwen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:19:42 GMT

I'm headed to St. John next week. Does anyone recommend any dive shops there? And do you think its better to book ahead or wait til I get there? There will be 5 of us on the trip, if that makes a difference in booking ahead.
Thanks.

posted in scuba - 10 replies

Yay!

hollylc — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:11:36 GMT

don't know ya'all but I thought I'd let you know that I passed my Instructor's Exams and now am an open water-divemaster instructor through PADI. Beginning my SSI Instructor crossover in a couple days when I return from Burma for a visa run. Koh Tao is a great place to learn. Mediocre diving but I did see a whale shark my third day out. No diving really during the IDC, but soon I am off to Sipadan and then Malapascua where the diving will be terrific. Cannot wait to get a dry suit and start diving at home again when I return!

Cheers!

Holly

posted in scuba - 15 replies

Video on rescue divers working in Minneapolis at bridge collapse

Bobzilla — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:55:31 GMT

from cnn

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/03/bridge.recovery/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

posted in scuba - 0 replies

DIVING MOROCCO

Paul — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:45:15 GMT

Anyone thought about diving in Morocco? I have a dive centre here on the Atlantic coast in Agadir and have been here for a year and a half now. Diving is very new here, for pleasure, and not always possible due to the unpredictability of the Atlantic. However it is very enjoyable and I have seen many white rays, which I've never seen before anywhwre else.
Soon though due to some local problems with small minded people the company will be moving to the north of Morocco,on the Med coast, which offers not so much marine life but I'm led to beleive many underwater caves and caverns which will make ,I'm sure, some interesting diving. You can visit us on www.taffsdiving.com for updates on our progress.
Have fun and safe diving to all.......

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Northern California Diving

Scott — Mon, 09 Aug 2004 07:08:24 GMT

I'm new to the diving world. I was certified in Thailand two months ago and went diving while In Costa Rica last month...now I'm back home and hooked. Is there any good places in Northern California to go diving?

posted in scuba - 8 replies

Florida

John — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:30:54 GMT

I am planning a trip to Florida in the late spring and am looking for some recommendations re: dive sites in the interior of Florida. Would like to experience diving with manatees, "potholing" and may make it to the Keys. Any and all suggestions would be great.

posted in scuba - 11 replies

Monterey dive trip?

johnbadams — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:25:31 GMT

Who would be interested in joining me on a Monterey dive trip?
I am thinking if we pull together enough folks taking over one of the dive boats.
Come on folks, can't you handle the cold????
;-)

posted in scuba - 19 replies

Sipidan?

hollylc — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:22:20 GMT

Anyone been there? I am flying from Bangkok to Kota Kinabalu and on to Tawau on Tuesday. Not sure where I am staying yet. Any thoughts? Looking into Uncle Changs as it's supposed to be cheap and fun, but willing to spend a little more, but probably not resort prices.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

World record dive to 525ft

roisin0908 — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:38:34 GMT

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article1873027.ece

Now that is technical diving taking it to the limit.

No wonder she only took 4 minutes to get to the wreck with all that equipment she had.

posted in scuba - 4 replies

Ooh la la!!! plongée de scaphandre à Paris

roisin0908 — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:30:15 GMT

No doubt many of you will have dived in some unusual places.

But how about under the Eiffel Tower in Paris??

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601/ap_on_re_eu/eiffel_tower_scuba

A very interesting way to promote the sport.

Where's the most unusual place you have dived?

posted in scuba - 0 replies

cool radio show about the ocean

Bobzilla — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:32:25 GMT

Can't download it, only stream it........

http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/audio_library.asp#current

The link will only be active for a limited time so listen sooner rather than later.

Ocean Hour
by Keith Talbot with Larry Massett

Two friends sit on a dock, meandering through a variety of ocean stories (some true and some not) : oceanographer Dr. Fish collects and catalogues the sounds of sea life for a top secret government project, a man constructs an amusement park in honor of the sea, a scuba diver becomes immersed in his hobby, and more...

Ocean Hour was produced for National Public Radio in 1979.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Any pros out there?

anathema_rose — Sat, 19 May 2007 16:06:15 GMT

This may have been asked before, but I'm curious as to how many people in this tribe work (or at least can work) in a professional capacity. Technical/commercial divers, divemasters, instructors. I'm a DM, looking forward to doing my instructor course probably next year in Thailand. Anyone else.?

posted in scuba - 3 replies

video on equalizing

Bobzilla — Sat, 19 May 2007 03:01:25 GMT

This was posted to the BA Divers list. I haven't watched it but figured I'd pass it along.

B

****************
http://researchchannel.org/prog/displayevent.aspx?rID=2272&fID=345

Here's an hour-long presentation regarding equalizing your ears,
produced by University of Washington. I haven't watched it, but I
thought it relevant to the recent discussion. You can't download and
save it, but you can watch it streaming. It is also on some cable and
satellite educational channels.

"Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and flying can be fun ways to
explore the depths and heights of the world - especially if you can
clear your ears as pressure changes. In this presentation you will
learn techniques for preventing middle ear barotraumas and steps to
equalize pressure in your ears, and safe ways to prevent 'ear squeeze' "

The author:
Edmond Kay, M.D., clinical assistant professor, Family Medicine,
University of Washington School of Medicine; diving medical officer,
Dive Safety Program, University of Washington

posted in scuba - 1 reply

Has anyone been to Roatan?

malex — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:47:49 GMT

My friends are talking about a scuba trip there around Christmas. Anybody have comments? Suggestions?

I also hear that December is in the middle of their "rainy season", but I have to find out exactly how rainy that is. I'm assuming we're not talking about typhoons here, but is the visibly much worse?

posted in scuba - 10 replies

Diving in Honolulu: recommendations?

ellisa — Tue, 15 May 2007 04:01:49 GMT

I am going to be in Honolulu in early/mid June and plan to go scuba diving. I am certified to do more advanced/deeper dives. Does anyone have any recommendations on dive shops and "must dive" spots? Also, do I need to make reservations in advance (e.g. more than a few days?). When I've gone diving it's usually the day before (I'm not a bit planner). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

posted in scuba - 1 reply

little corn Island

pablo — Thu, 10 May 2007 19:25:49 GMT

I went to little corn Island in Nicaragua in 99,the snorkeling was great but there wasn't any ability to dive here.Does any body know if that has changed ,is there a dive shop there now?

posted in scuba - 4 replies

Catalina is on fire

Bobzilla — Fri, 11 May 2007 15:39:42 GMT

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/la-me-catalina11may11,1,6519390.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

posted in scuba - 0 replies

master diver needed in central america

stevo — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:37:41 GMT

Dive master or instructor needed for technical assistance in archaeological dive site in Petin jungle ,Guatemala.Site is remote and will require dedication of a month or more in spring of 08.Will share base camp with 4 other researchers 1 guide and 2 porters.The site has 2 cenotes that require extensive mapping and allot of time underwater will be required.
All of the Field work is funded by several universities that require at least one of the divers to be certified master or higher for insurance reasons,unfortunately while myself and the rest of my associates are certified none of us are certified master.The funding for this project is very tight and all of us are paying for most of the expenses out of our own pocket and will require the technical assistant to do the same.
Any interest can contact me here .
cheers Steve

posted in scuba - 5 replies

Diving Jobs Web Site

Bobzilla — Thu, 10 May 2007 03:57:59 GMT

http://www.scubajobsonline.com/

posted in scuba - 1 reply

The photo for this tribe

hollylc — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 05:20:43 GMT

was tattooed on my back for a while. it's norbert wu right? There is one of the three legged turtle kissing another which is my tattoo, then after a year or so i gave the three-legged his/her missing limb and some water to swim in. He's an extraordinary photographer and I love seeing his photo on here! Just a note...

posted in scuba - 0 replies

amazing film

Katheryn — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:16:24 GMT

go and see sharkwater! its a documentary and one all divers should see since we share the ocean with sharks when we dive! It was so amazing people were crying in the theater and the underwater photography was incredible!

posted in scuba - 1 reply

under water photography

TheUtopian — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:01:41 GMT

I just go back from Cozumel...diving there was great as usual. I took a bunch of pictures with my digital camera under water, but seeing as I really dont have proper lens and/or lighting, the pictures came out clear but pretty much blue/green as you would expect. As such, I have two questions:

is there an easy way to manipulate the color in my images with photoshop or some other program so that the colors look a little more true to form?

and

before I go and invest a bunch of money in underwater photography, can anyone please share some suggestions?

thanks in advance!

posted in scuba - 8 replies

Life as a simple celled organism...(Possibly OT...but an amusing trip into the life of a plankton)

SwirlJames — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:08:11 GMT

Simple game.

I apologize if people find it off topic, but it struck me as being fun to be one of those tiny little squiggly things that swim around us. Consider it diver awareness training.

http://intihuatani.usc.edu/cloud/flowing/core.html

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Egypt - Alexandria? Red Sea?

chrislabarca — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 22:13:22 GMT

Has anyone out there been diving amongst the ruins off the coast of Alexandria? How about the Red Sea? I am going in two weeks and would love to hear some tidbits and get some good info!
Thanks!

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Purge valve or no purge valve?

scooter-ron — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:21:53 GMT

So, as I mentioned in the other thread (thanks everyone) I'm about to get certified, and they expect you to buy you own fins, snorkel, and mask.

So I was shopping around, and there seems to be a mask that fits me rather well. Yay! So far, so good.

It comes in a model with a purge valve and one without.

Is there any advantage to having one? Is there any disadvantage? Thoughts?

Thanks!

posted in scuba - 14 replies

Some Thoughts on Pulau Lang Tengah

Eric — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:06:26 GMT

I just finished 5 days on Pulau Lang Tengah in the northeastern part of Western Malaysia.

It's a really chilled-out place. I managed 8 dives; each dive consisted of just me and the divemaster.

The viz ranged from good to bad, mostly settling on mediocre. However, this is very early in the season for them. In June, the viz should be spectacular. The water temperature never dropped below 30 celsius.

The highlight of diving here are the hard corals, which just seem to go on for ever, sometimes vertically, sometimes horizontally. The island has 11 sites, each with its own set of cool things.

All the expected tropicals were there: huge schools of black tang, trigger fish (including a rather aggressive one), lumpheads, morays, lionfish, etc. One day we managed a black-tip reef shark siting, which was cool.

On top of this, 8 dives cost me 590 Malaysian Riggit (about $175 US) -- a bargain.
The dives were geared up on shore at the dive shop and then we motored out to the
site (which was never more than 7 or 8 minutes away).

Highly recommended for chill-out diving. I would suggest going closer to the summer months for better viz.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

AHHHHH! My EARS!

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 01:36:12 GMT

Alright then,
I finished all my class work and am ready to take my open water dives but I have a serius problem. My ears feel like they are about to explode when I'm only 10 feet down and I can not clear them out at all. I hold my nose, move my jaw, I even go so far as to remove my mouthpiece and move my jaw all around and still no dice. And the worst part is they even feel bad days after a dive even that shallow.
This is terrible because I'm so comfortable in the water and really want to do this diving thing.
Anybody go thru this or have any ideas?
Thanks.

posted in scuba - 11 replies

Contact lenses?

scooter-ron — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 23:57:30 GMT

Okay, stupid newbie question here (getting certified later this month, starting to look for what gear I need).

My vision is so-so, about -4.0. I can read without glasses, although rarely choose to do so.

Some people have told me you can't really wear contacts underwater (because of the constant equalizing you have to do) - and so the only real option is to get a mask with corrective lenses built in.

Others have told me that you don't really need anything unless your vision is very bad (which mine isn't) because the magnifying effect of the water and your mask tends to be slightly corrective anyway.

Thoughts?

Honestly, my face is big enough that i don't feel like any of the masks with drop-in lenses which I've tried fit me well, so I'd like to figure this out and make this decision soon so that I can have whatever I'm going to use for my check-out dives, etc.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Places to get certified in LA?

scooter-ron — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:24:41 GMT

Been meaning to do this for a while, finally have some specific things going on that make now the time. Two questions:

1) Anybody have any recommendations about where to get certified in Los Angeles?
2) If not, what should I look for in a certification class? How do I tell a good class from a bad one before I take it?

Thanks!

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Fins

sarita75 — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:45:13 GMT

I have been advised that my current fins (Aeris Velociity fins - http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnmarch02/AerisFinRev.html) may be part of the cause of my air consumption issue that I experienced before, and that a fin more like ScubaPro's Twin Jet might be a better idea.

Curious if you have any ideas? Suggestions?

posted in scuba - 9 replies

Western Malaysia Diving Recommendations?

Eric — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 04:52:49 GMT

I'll be in western Malaysia next week with a few days to go diving. Anyone know any good places, including liveaboards within relatively easy reach of KL? Unfortunately, at this point, heading north to Thailand isn't an option.

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Why we don't play with eels

nekr0phage — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 05:06:35 GMT

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5383549319778701740&q=moray+eel+thumb

The guy kinda looks like E.T. after the 'incident.'

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Egypt/Israel Revisited

Douglas — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 23:30:40 GMT

Hi.

I will read the various posts, but I thought I'd start my own now. I'm planning a trip, Mid April, to the Middle East - Israel and Egypt. I'm going to see friends around Tel Aviv, visit Jerusalem ... And then I want to go scuba diving ... Or visa versa.

Is it less money to scuba from Egypt than Israel. To fly to Israel or Egypt, etc?

Would appreciate guidance.

Thanks,

Douglas

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Dive computers

malex — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:15:41 GMT

Does anyone have any recommendations?

posted in scuba - 18 replies

Most amazing dive

firefairy — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 06:41:52 GMT

So I am taking my advanced diver class and we did our deep water dive today. I was a little nervous about going so deep. But once I got in the water I wasnt as nervous. It was the coolest thing. we dived to a wreck site, which was kind of spoky for me and then we could hear whales off in the distance. While we were down there the whales got closer and you could litterly feel their song, it was making my gear vibrate. The visibility was about 50 feet and it was sooo blue. It was amazing!!!!

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Koh Samui Dive recommendations

homework — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:33:46 GMT

Hey everyone!!

I'll be going to Koh Samui in April for about 5 days and wanted to get some advice / recommendations on diving and dive operators in the area. Also, I could use some advice on accomodations as well. Not sure if I want to stay in Chewang or Lamai....

Thanks!!

posted in scuba - 0 replies

one free week in may and july

Jen — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 07:26:02 GMT

I have a free week in may and july and was thinking about two dive trips. Does anyone have any recommendations? I was thinking cayman, costa rica, or cacois. Never been to any of them.

posted in scuba - 2 replies

New Tribe- Utah Divers

Liz4whirledpeas — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:22:29 GMT

If there are any divers from Utah, we made a new tribe to network, and hopefully put a dive trip together.

http://tribes.tribe.net/utahdiveclub

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Seeking a Dive Buddy Kona Big Island March 17-19

asdfghjkl — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:59:58 GMT

I've done Molokini 7 times, Turtle Town Twice, Lanai Twice, Monterey once. I love to do shallow 20-60 ft) dives and keep the long bottom time. I've dove deep (120) and it just seemed to eat up the air too fast. I want to dive all three days, perhaps Captain Cooks, but defnately Kona Kailua (West) side. I'll be renting dive gear. I have a car. I stay close to a dive buddy and I'm looking to take pictures (I have an enclosed digital with video). Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might know someone appropriate. Shore, wharf or boat dives ok. Email Red@ucdavis.edu.

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Fin Straps

roisin0908 — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 09:33:04 GMT

I've now done 20 dives and looking at the various combinations of what gear to get. Being short (5ft 1in - 152cm) and a size 12-14, I've found a good semi-dry (Paragon) that cater for shorter/medium sizes. An integrated weight system BC (ScubaPro LadyHawk) takes care of me being short waisted and difficult to wear a weight belt). And gloves & booties are small size.

The only problem I've had with any gear is my fins. I have Tusa Platina fins and ScubaPro Delta booties. Both small sizes.

The problem I have, is that, even though I push my feet right into the fin and tighten the strap equally on both side of my foot, the strap still comes loose. In fact on 2 occassions I have lost a fin while divng and once managed to tighten the strap up before the fin came off.

My dive shop has suggested a special spring strap and have got one on order for me. Thankfully I don't have to buy new fins.

But has anyone else had this problem with fins?. Or even used the spring strap.? I haven't seen it yet - but trust the judgement in my dive shop/club/instructor.

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Dive Dive Dive

dillie — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:50:05 GMT

Saturday surface temp 42f bottom temp 44f... Not a bad day for a cold water dive... Racked up close to 40minutes with a max of 91feet out at Whyte Cliff in Vancouver BC...

Sunday snowing, 32f, 20mph winds, 6-9foot swells... did we go diving.. YOU BET YOUR ASS.. it was great... vis was over 30feet at Porteau Cove near Vancouver... Had a fun surfing surfaces swim out to one of the markers then toured the dive park and had a great time... I forgot how great the diving is when everyone else is inside bundled up watchin tv and whining about the weather... we had the dive site completely to ourselves...

get out there and dive

posted in scuba - 37 replies

Video-diver rides great white, -shark attacks

ScubaMagazine.net — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:44:14 GMT

This diver was completely outi n the open, no cage, watch what happens:

http://scubamagazine.net/showthread.php?t=341&highlight=great+white

posted in scuba - 3 replies

The Amazing Underwater World Of Jaques Costeau And his Home Made Diving Gear

Lorenzo-g — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 03:55:36 GMT

Following on from " MISTERS" DIY diving thread, heres a great article about the weird and wonderful underwater world of Jaques Costeau and his pioneering experiments with " la aqualung"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/film/story/0,14678,1409766,00.html

posted in scuba - 7 replies

Rare shark caught on film

Bobzilla — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:31:29 GMT

Click the link in the story to see the footage.

Here's the story link:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/24/shark.japan.reut/index.html

posted in scuba - 3 replies

SF Ocean Film Fest this weekend

Bobzilla — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:59:03 GMT

http://www.oceanfilmfest.org/

posted in scuba - 3 replies

Help- I am traveling to Honduras alone anyone else there?

delynn — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:41:20 GMT

Hi there, I am a 'young' 39 yr old woman traveling alone to Honduras, hoping to spend my time on the Bay Islands, most likely going straight to Roatan to get certified as soon as possible. I arrive 2pm ish this Monday the 22nd in San Pedro and can not get a confirmed afforable reservation on Roatan that night so am not sure what to do. Should I stay in San Pedro overnight or just wingit on Roatan? They are saying it is the high season but as one person looking for budget prices am I going to be shut out of a place to stay? Please send me an email if anyone is out there or has suggestions thanks

posted in scuba - 8 replies

Divers in Canada, Ontario specifically

Gailene (Zamira) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:04:21 GMT

Hi everyone
I just joined this tribe. I'm looking for divers in the Ottawa area specifically and Eastern Ontario generally who are interested in recreational diving.

I'm PADI Advance certified and also have STCW certification (if it matters to you, you probably know what it is). Got certified in Ottawa and area but have not done much diving in the area. Where I've been diving: all through the Caribbean from Nassau, Bahama to Barbados and dozens of points between; off the eastcoast of South Africa; the north island of New Zealand in Pacific waters (cold water when I was there) where I did my Advance certification dives; and the eastcoast of Canada in the much colder Atlantic... BRRRRR. I love warm water diving because of the thin suits and looong dive times possible because of the lighter gear.

Love looking at the fishies and absolutely LOVE night diving when all the coolest creatures come out to play :-D
Been close up and almost too personal with a few sharks but found they mostly just look and ignore divers. I guess they figured out we're more work (chewing) than we're worth :-D heeheehee
Have deep water camera case for the digicam and photos I've taken can be viewed at http://www.gailene.com/ggblog

Really what I'm interested in is finding dive buddies who like to travel. I'm not rich (actually unemployed right now) but want to start planning for future dive trips. I like to travel on the cheap... low cost accommodation, cook my own meals as much as possible, etc. and save the money for dive boats out to dive sites. Hey, the accommodations are for sleeping, showering and changing clothes and therefore I require minimum ammenities (TV in room is of little or no importance to me 'cause I'll never watch it) but I do like having some minimum kitchen facilities.

Are there any Canadians from Ontario in this tribe?

posted in scuba - 0 replies

Hello...

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:59:05 GMT

Hi, I'm new to Tribe & SF.

Would love to find out where the good dive clubs & sites are around here. Am Open Water certified with 25 dives.

Hope to chat to you soon.

posted in scuba - 2 replies

South Florida

jazzlamb — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:10:50 GMT

Planning a trip down to the sunshine state in early January...

I've done some diving in the Keys before and am looking to do some more around there.

What I'm looking for is some advice on good diving operations and lesser known sweet dive spots (if they exist).

We will have a car and be able to travel, reasonable distances; > 300m.

Are there any must-see divespots? (haven't done the mermaid dive, or the plane wrecks...)

Thanks y'all.

posted in scuba - 4 replies

I'm a Wreck

roisin0908 — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 07:08:23 GMT

WOW!!!! I've just done my first wreck dive and I LOVE IT!!!

The wreck was the Eliza Ramsden in Port Philip Bay, an old Steel hull clipper that ran into Corsair Rocks in 1875 (http://www.paradisedivers.com.au/sites/f-eliza.htm)

It's just so amazing how much marine life there is around wrecks. I've gone into more details about the dive on blog.

Now I can't wait to go to Truk Lagoon in Guam this October. But, not before doing my Wreck & Deep specialist courses.

I'm still a newie - but I just can't get enough of diving and I think I'm really lucky to be living in Melbourne where there is an abundance of dive sites & wrecks within a 90 min car drive.

What has been your best wreck experience?

Has anyone dived at Truk Lagoon before? What am I in for??

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Underwater Stress

sarita75 — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:10:05 GMT

Hello all. Just dove yesterday in Monterey. Not great visibility, pretty bit surge. When I rinsed my gear this morning, I noticed my bite-wings on my regulator were biten to the point that they were barely hanging on. I know that I am a stress-biter (in my sleep I clench my jaws) but this seemed a bit odd. There were some stressful events including drysuit diving for the first time and being at about 80 feet. Running low on air on the ascent (but safe and well within my nondecomp limits, no worries) and one of our team being "swept" up to the surface on a crossing over a pinnacle where the surge bumped him up to the surface.

So it was kind of a stressful dive, but I thought I handled it all well considering. But then I noticed the reg this morning. It has only been 12 dives and that?? Anyhow, I am a bit concerned about my stress underwater, how I handled it internally, and wonder if anyone has any advice, guidance, etc. I am pretty bummed out about it, so be gentle! :)

posted in scuba - 9 replies

The London Whale

Lorenzo-g — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 14:17:32 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/thameswhale/video/page/0,,1988883,00.html

posted in scuba - 2 replies

Picking a solo vacation wanting to get certified-Help?

delynn — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:57:46 GMT

Hi there, anyone have some suggestions as I am looking for a solo trip (female) for about a month (end of Jan-end of Feb) and I want to get certified as also a way to meet folks. I am open to any suggestions but was looking at Honduras and Belize after deciding that although the flights were much cheaper, Costa Rica didn't have enough diving. Anyone have suggestions of where to plant myself, (accomodations) for certification and then where to go after that? Please help, looking for safe, friendly and low budget if possible- thanks

posted in scuba - 7 replies

Ear Issues

sarita75 — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:25:11 GMT

I just got home from a 3-day live aboard and experienced only minor clearing issues, but everything was resolved during the dive. But now that I am home, one ear appears to have some problems. Nothing painful, nothing really, just perhaps some water clogged in there, and a wee-bit of ringing.

Any ideas on how to resolve the situation? Drying drops? I can clear on the surface just fine. Just never had this experience before. Thanks all!

posted in scuba - 10 replies