--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00010 Date: 11/10/95 From: LAURENCE CHARLOT Time: 08:25am \/To: DAN MISIASZEK (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Dive trip -=> Quoting Dan Misiaszek to All <=- DM> I am in need of a vacation dive trip and would like to keep DM> it under $500 for a three day trip of so... I live in central Texas DM> and have a bug in my butt for a wreck dive. I am a NAUI dive master Are you restricted to only 3 days? If you have enough vacation time to take off for a week, you can go to Hawaii for around $400 to $600, depending on which island you pick. Of course, you can go to Hawaii for less than a week, but it's a better value for a full seven night stay. Oahu is the best bet if you want to concentrate on wrecks, there are two good ones there. One is ax ex-minesweeper and cable-laying ship, called the "Mahi", about 150' in length. The other is a small oil tanker, the US Navy YO-257, about 200' in length (I think). Both of these wrecks were deliberately placed as artificial reefs, and both are on sites about 90 to 100 feet depth. The tops of these wrecks are at about 65' depth. My impression was that the Mahi was the more interesting of the two. Costs: Airfare, hotel, transfers from San Francisco to Honolulu are about $400 for 7 nights. Diving: a two-tank boat trip to the "Mahi" costs about $75, but some shops will cut you a discount for booking multiple days and paying in advance. Food: you can eat well for less than $15.00 per day...I usually only eat two meals a day, since we are usually too busy to take time for lunch, except maybe a quick snack, and the dive boat usually supplies that anyway. Hope you find a vacation appropriate to your budget and schedule. --- HyperMail! v1.22 * Origin: Omni - (916) 388-0905, longest running Sac BBS (1:203/3333) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00011 Date: 11/05/95 From: PAUL BARTON Time: 06:04pm \/To: WWWI (Read 2 times) Subj: Cold vs warm Here it is 42 degrees on the NH seacost. This morning as I loaded tanks, wetsuit, weights etc into the car for the ride to the diveshop it was only 23. I shivvered at the 61 degree air temp difference between today and my last dive off Key Largo. But being certifiable (as my wife puts it) I just looked forward to the dives. We met at a local dive shop; several folks from New York, a PADI rep and the national sales manager for DUI (in of course - a dry suit.) The first person down the ramp to the dock skidded to the boat on the ice. I knew it was going to be an interesting day. The trip out to the Isles of Shoals 4 miles off the NH (or Maine, if you like) coast was a bit lumpy. Three to five feet with a brisk wind off the starboard bow. Nine of us huddled by the captain to stay out of the wind and watch the wave break over the bow. Temperature was up to 35. The dive site was the northeast side of Appledore Island to give us some shelter from the gustly winds. Visibility was about 30 feet with water temps about 49 degrees a far 35 degree cry from my Largo dives. Lobsters everywhere along many striking fissures in the ledge. The views were spectacular as usual. Not warm water brights but intense soft colors interruptd by bits of bright red, white or green. Several fissures were better than 25 feet deep. Two of the dry suit divers learned the hard way not to play with a testy lobster. Their gloves now leak. Did I chuckle? Home in 4 to 8 foot swells was also exciting. But I think the best part was the hot tub when I got home! OK I've been spoiled by warm water. I'll hang up my 6mm until April and anciously await December in the Caymans and February in the Bahamas. And to think my wife thought that the expensive part of diving was the equipment! --- * Origin: (1:324/127) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00012 Date: 11/10/95 From: ROLAND STEPHENS Time: 04:15pm \/To: GREG LOCKWOOD (Read 2 times) Subj: The 5th Estate. what was the summary of the show I would like to know. Thanks Rolans Stephens --- QScan/PCB v1.18b / 01-0162 * Origin: Jackalope Junction 501-785-5381 Ft Smith AR (1:3822/1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00013 Date: 11/11/95 From: STEVE ELLIOT Time: 12:40am \/To: CARL WILSON (Read 2 times) Subj: Lou and procrastination CW>SE>I've been a bit out of touch lately as a friend CW>SE>of mine went through some major surgery, and was CW>SE>staying at my house as she recovered. CW> CW>Hope your friend has recovered okay. Yup. She's got a few more weeks of recovery before she's fully back in one piece, but she's doing much better. CW>Are you still with AT&T? Yup. They're very fond of having us work from our homes, so I'm here a couple of days a week. CW>SE>Be nice, or I'll lay your three Riding Rock trip reports CW>SE>side-by-side and compare the verbage.... :) CW> CW>I am nice!! I just update and improve a good product (my CW>reports) :) Chuckling... I got a good laugh from that when I read through my collection of Carl Wilson Riding Rock reports. CW>SE>BTW, your postcard was a well-needed chuckle. Thanks! CW> CW>Glad you enjoyed it..I had a great time and wish I were there CW>now! It is 30F here, snowing, and cold.......I get a real CW>rush from the hottub to the house.....I may end up being a CW>world class sprinter! :) I promise to not say a word.... --- Learn to Dive Here * Origin: [\] Diver Down BBS [\] Ft. Lauderdale, FL (1:369/134) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00014 Date: 11/11/95 From: STEVE ELLIOT Time: 12:58am \/To: GREG LOCKWOOD (Read 2 times) Subj: Diving in the Keys GL> SE> How did things turn out? The viz has been considerably GL> SE> better since about the middle of last week. GL> GL> Well the vis was about 50 feet on the Eagle, at best. GL> I'll post a play by play on the weekend or maybe before. Considering how bad the storms have been, I'd say you got real lucky with the conditions. GL> The airline 'forgot' to load my underwater video cases GL> on the plane, which of course has my dive logs in them. Hopefully that all showed up and you didn't loose your dive logs. --- Learn to Dive Here * Origin: [\] Diver Down BBS [\] Ft. Lauderdale, FL (1:369/134) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00015 Date: 11/11/95 From: STEVE ELLIOT Time: 01:01am \/To: JAMES GAMPPER (Read 2 times) Subj: Lift Bag JG> SE> The only time I use a lift bag is during training classes. JG> JG>Well, then how do you get an unconscious diver to the surface? Take off their weight belts and inflate their BC's. :) JG> SE> -!- Sunken chest hunter JG> JG>So you like older women? Naaaa, just women that dive. --- Learn to Dive Here * Origin: [\] Diver Down BBS [\] Ft. Lauderdale, FL (1:369/134) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00016 Date: 11/10/95 From: JAY HANIG Time: 10:13am \/To: JAMES GAMPPER (Read 2 times) Subj: Lift Bag 09 Nov 95 20:49, James Gampper wrote to Steve Elliot: SE>> The only time I use a lift bag is during training classes. SE>> I really don't have much need for one with the type of SE>> diving I do these days. My only recommendation is to get SE>> one with an easy-to-use dump valve on the exterior of the SE>> bag. JG> Well, then how do you get an unconscious diver to the surface? ;) I inflate the divers BC until he starts to rise, and then ride him on up, venting as necessary from his BC. I don't inflate my BC until we hit the surface. Jay PADI M-9033 --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: ** Jay's Mean Machine Sysop *Charlotte, NC* USR 33.6 ** (1:379/41.5) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00017 Date: 11/10/95 From: JAMES GAMPPER Time: 09:21pm \/To: JAY HANIG (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: Lift Bag SE>> The only time I use a lift bag is during training classes. SE>> I really don't have much need for one with the type of SE>> diving I do these days. My only recommendation is to get SE>> one with an easy-to-use dump valve on the exterior of the SE>> bag. JG> Well, then how do you get an unconscious diver to the surface? ;) JH> I inflate the divers BC until he starts to rise, and then ride him on JH> up, venting as necessary from his BC. I don't inflate my BC until we JH> hit the surface. Hi Jay, I was just pulling your leg. Obviously not hard enough for you to tell! jim g --- GEcho 1.11+ * Origin: The Transporter Room: 16 lines 27gig! 33 CD's 704/567-9513 (1:379/1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00018 Date: 11/10/95 From: JAMES GAMPPER Time: 09:21pm \/To: GREG LOCKWOOD (Read 2 times) Subj: Re: The 5th Estate. GL> Did anyone see the report on CBC's Fifth Estate about learning to GL> scuba dive on Tuesday night? If so what did you think about it? Hi Greg, Nope, can you give us a summary? jim g --- GEcho 1.11+ * Origin: The Transporter Room: 16 lines 27gig! 33 CD's 704/567-9513 (1:379/1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 186 SCUBA Ref: CFI00019 Date: 11/09/95 From: GREG LOCKWOOD Time: 11:41am \/To: ALL (Read 2 times) Subj: The Trip Fron Hellllllllllllll! Well we finaly made it to Florida, minus the the sidetrip to North arolina. People have asked me " so how was the trip?" Here it is... Five of us were to leave Toronto on Thursday night after the pool, but our friends van wasn't ready, so the dealership said it would be ready by Friday at nine. Well it wasn't so he left our Mississauga location at 5:30 to head down to N. Carolina. Driving down it seem like the van was going to be okay. Just south of Batavia New York, I believe it was Kenowa, we pulled off the hiway to eat. Then the van started to make a wicked rattling noise. Sounded like it was broke. At the diner which we stopped at, arrangements were made for Brain's wife to meet us at the boarder. We were heading home. While driving through Batavia, the van was sounding worse, a loud bang and the noise stopped. Looking out the rear view mirror showed a stream of blue smoke was trailing. Our friend Brian says well that sound good and as he said that he finished with an "oh shit! We're loosing oil pressure!" We pulled into a Days Inn and called his wife. The next morning Michelle pick up one load, in the pick up truck and the trailer with our gear to head home. Three of us stayed and waited for another run back. While in Toronto the only woman of he group, Lisa was making arrangements for flight. She got us a deal. WE STILL BE GOIN'. But bypassing N. Carolina. At the airport early Sunday morning, we checked in. At the x-ray check they gave us attitude of the bad nature with our gear. As a professional ameraman, I don't let my gear get zapped by any type of ray. They gave us the bad looks because they didn't want to do visual checks on any thing. TOO BAD! The security (ha) also didn't understand that dive computers are not to go hrough x-ray. We made them understand. Something to the effect that "this is our ife line at depth when we are diving, if you put this through x-ray it made screw up the programm that is in it that calculates our time on the bottom." Well this was too much for them to handle. Just turn it on, they said. On the plane and we were on our way. Landed at Ft. Lauderdale, got our stuff, and signed out our van at the agency. They drive us to the spot, # 148 and there was no vehicle. Made arrangement with the manager to pick up nother van, a little larger than the new one they gave us in Ft. Peirce. Now we were on our way to Crystal River, to look for manatees. After a good nights sleep, we picked up our pontoon boat, and a brief, briefing from the Crystal Lodge Dive Centre, we were on our way. It didn't take long to find them. Just the other side of Buzzard Island we experienced our first set of friendly manattes. On snorkel we watched and played with them. They were also interested in seeing themselves in the dome port of my video housing. They probably thought it was another manatee. After a while we drove around to Magnolia Springs and the three sisters. It didn't take long to find these gentle giants. As soon as we got in the water, they more or less found us. The Dive Centre asked us if we could do a visability test and take water samples for them. That would be our dive. We took a disk with a length of marked rope on it and swam out until you couldn't see the disk, then counting the marks back to the disk is your visibility. We did this to the deep side of Buzzard Island. Also a water sample was taken. Both tests were done in twenty feet of water, with the vis being about nineteen feet. Now the drive to The Keys. We stayed at La Siesta and dove with Lady Cyana Divers in Islamorada. The first dive session was in the afternoon. Dive umber one was on the wreck the Eagle inabout 110 feet of wonderful, warm salt water. Some of us split into our buddy groups and went off in different directions. Reports of green morays and a gaint friendly jewfish at the first mast. A great dive. The second dive cut our group in half with some throughing lunch into the wind with six foot swells. Those that were up to it dove Victory Reef. Nothing unusal about the dive. Vis was only about 45 feet. That night a great dinner was had a Whale Harbour. Feasting on seafood for those that liked or roast beef for those that didn't. Day two. Damn humidity shut down my video camera, so stills were the order of the day with my very expensive Aquashot camera. The Eagle again, since everyone liked that one and on to Crocker Ridges another reef. A couple of eels, both green and spotted and a lot of camera happy fish. That night a search for nightly entertainment saw us at a place called Woody's. A sign out side reading "If you are offended by adult language and corse language do not enter." This was the place for us. The show consisted of a rather large ndian by the name of Big Dick. After remembering the sign out side I know why. He was funny. Crude, but funny. Day three. Reef time! The first was Crocker Wall. Saw my first nurse shark. Bummer it was only a small one. Couldn't dry out the camera, so stuck with stills. A large green moray hiding in a hole was pointed out. The Fish Bowl was our last dive. Much of the same, but with much marine life. Just wish the damn video camera was working. Even with 40 foot vis I still would have been in cameraman's heaven. Hope the stills come out. Nurse sharks were in abundance on this reef. After thanking Tom of Lady Cyana for the great time hhe showed us, we were on our way for our last night in the Keys. Well we had to go back to Woody's. This being the off season it was kinda slow. Even for a thursday night. The whole Key was quiet. After deciding what to do, the next day, we drove back to Ft. Lauderdale dropped off some of our friends and two of us continued up to Orlando to isit Universal Studios the next day. We drove back that night and finished it off at the Bermuda Club, a quaint establishment by the ocean, for those that like to dance your ass off. Sunday, the trip home. What can I say. Who likes to go home. I didn't win the 27 million in the Florida State Lottery so I guess I was going home. Landing at Pearson waiting for our luggage. Everyone has theirs, I had my suitcase, but,.........,........,....... no underwater video cases. Filed a complant with the airline, no cases, Greg starting to get sick, Greg starting to get mad, you don't want to see Greg mad. Neither did the girl taking the information. I couldn't take them on as carry on so they assured me they would be carried to the airplane. Ya but which airline??? The next day, I was told by the sweet little woman that took my concerns into her hands told me the cases were found in the holding area at Ft. Lauderdale and would be back in Toronto the next day. Greg goes home, gets drunk with joy. Later I sent joy home and ... I now have all my equipment and my sanity. Back home! The establishments I would highly recommend. Crystal Lodge and Dive Center in Crystal River, Lady Cyana Divers and Lindback's La Siesta Resort in Islamorada, Florida Keys. The group of us from The Phoenix Scuba Club had a great time. I love that State. [\\],[\\],[\\] Greg ... NARF, POINT, EGAT! --- Blue Wave/Max v2.12 * Origin: BoarD_BoB BBS Ontario *Canada* (Bottom-Time) (1:250/218)