Any One into Diving?

[KC]

My true love is scuba diving and was curious if anyone else shares my passion.

This hobby has taken me all over the world-- last summer I dove the nuclear fleet off of the Bikini Atoll.  I am diving the Oriskany off Pensacola this August, and next June, I am going to Wakitobi in Indonesia.

Would love to hear some war stories.

Ken

[Slickdome]

Hey KC!

I'm a SCUBA diver; certified since 1999.  I really love it, but I wish I had more time to indulge.  I used to get away for some diving at least twice a year, but lately I've only managed about one trip a year...   

Sounds like you've done some awesome sites!   My experiences have been limited to places in and around the US: Key Largo, Oahu, Cozumel, Cancun, Belize.   I want to dive Honduras next, because I'm dying for a whale shark encounter. 

Welcome to SBG!!

[KC]

Nice picture of you underwater.  I have been to Cozumel and the Florida Keys numerous times-- two of my more favorite dive destinations.  I also have been enjoying cavern and cave diving in North Central Florida. 

Unfortunately, with my schedule recently, it seems that I am spending way too much time at our local mudhole (the quarry) rather than heading off for adventures.  I'm just grateful to be blowing bubbles.  I am also a divemaster for one of our local shops which does keep me off the streets from time to time.

Ken

[Paul]

Was an avid diver at one time.  PADI certified, open water.  Had great dives in Aegean and Indian Ocean when I lived in South Africa.  Today not so much, Lake Michigan has numerous wrecks but visibility is very low and the temps darn near require a dry suit.   Don't get the out of country travel like I used to.

[KC]

Actually, the wreck diving in Lake Michigan is high up on my list.  Diving in quarries and year round in the mid-atlantic has made me a dry suit wimp.  My quarry is a balmy 41 degrees F at depth. 

Many folks from my dive shop are originally from Chicagoland and being that I love wrecks, Great Lakes diving seems like a natural.  The fresh water preserves the wooden ships.

Ken

[Kajun]

i love diving...i was stationed in guam for 2 yrs and thats pretty much all i did in my time off....i'm PADI rescue diver certified..i got about 150 logged dives but easily over 200 dives total...in guam i had a lil suzuki samari that was jacked up, rusty that had 2 tanks in the back always full! all my friends had to say was "lets go get wet!" and we was off..

i spent a week in Palau and dove some old japanese wrecks there  plus some killer drift dives with tons of reef sharks all around .....one dive ran into a school of baby hammerhead sharks.. hundreds of them, what a sight! i've also dove in the indian ocean in Oman.
 in 98 i had my storage unit broken into and they stole everything out of it...including all my dive gear....made me sick to lose almost $2000 worth of gear and i havent dove since  i just moved back to panama city so i've been thinking about getting back into it ,would like to dive the oriskiny also.

[KC]

Kajun,

Sorry you aren't still in Norfolk because I'd head down there to go diving in Virginia Beach with you at a moment's notice if there were any interest on your part.  It sounds like you have had some great dive experiences and am always looking for dive buddies; or at the very least, someone to swap stories with.

Sorry about the gear being stolen, but if you have the chance get back into diving, please do.  You won't regret it.  I don't even want to think about the investment I've made in dive gear over the years.

Ken

[Tom McGarry.]

I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive, but never tried.

[frostillicus123]

I envy you all so much, I have been wanting to learn to Scuba since i was about 14, it's been over 10 years now and I still haven't dived at all. I want to learn so bad

[Kajun]

 feels like your in space or a undiscovered world...its the next best thing to sex in my opinion and on the right dives its BETTER!


ken...yea just left norfolk..but i wouldnt dive there anyway the vis sucks and no reefs..diving in 100ft+ vis all the time definetly spoiled me.

[KC]

You're right Kajun, the visibility leaves a lot to be desired off Norfolk/Virginia Beach; but the wrecks are fascinating.  I'll dive anywhere, anyplace.  I guess I'm addicted.

[Tyler]

I've only been diving once in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.  It was an absolute blast!!  I've done a lot of free diving in Hawaii, but it's just not the same as cruising down to the shallow bottom floor.  I really wanted to go diving on my honeymoon in St. Lucial, but my wife isn't a big fan of diving, so I decided to stick with her the whole time.  I was drinkin' it up with a group that went to St. Lucia just to dive and they said it was amazing.  Maybe next time!

[danyroo]

I dove once.. like 10years ago.. My cousin is in the canadian Marines based in Victoria.. came down for vacation and had his gear with him called up a buddy of his and got me one for a weekend.. WOW>>>> we dove in front of our camp at a local lake.. it was amazing..I had never done something like that I was so into it.. that the following week, I registered for a course.. but I was refused cause of my asthma.. they say it's to dangerous.. I had just spent 2 days underwater never had a lesson except from what My cousin thought me the 1st morning .. anyways..

I can just imagine diving in a area where you can see far away.. I still go on occasion but not as much as I would like to.

[Paul]

I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive, but never tried.

Could that be that's because where you live Tom, you have to cut a whole in the ice first?

[KC]

I dove once.. like 10years ago.. My cousin is in the canadian Marines based in Victoria.. came down for vacation and had his gear with him called up a buddy of his and got me one for a weekend.. WOW>>>> we dove in front of our camp at a local lake.. it was amazing..I had never done something like that I was so into it.. that the following week, I registered for a course.. but I was refused cause of my asthma.. they say it's to dangerous.. I had just spent 2 days underwater never had a lesson except from what My cousin thought me the 1st morning .. anyways..

I can just imagine diving in a area where you can see far away.. I still go on occasion but not as much as I would like to.

Danny,

If you are still interested in diving, check with DAN (Diver's Alert Network).  A number of the standards have been changed  and there are some forms of Asthma where it is permissable to dive.  At the very least, DAN can recommend a doctor in your area who specializes in dive medicine and is up on the conditions.

DAN's toll free number is 1-800-446-2671 and their web address is www.DiversAlertNetwork.org.  They are good people.  In fact I am a guinea pig for them.  I download all my dives from my computer to their database.  The likes of me will be partially responsible for the next generation dive algorithms-- Outstanding!

Ken