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Scuba Diving - some info and pics
Posted on 9/20/17 at 1:18 pm
Posted on 9/20/17 at 1:18 pm
Is anyone else here into scuba diving? If so, tell me about your certifications, where you've been, and what equipment you use. I'd love to hear from other divers here if there are any.
I got Open Water certified through PADI a few years ago on a trip to Key Largo. I'm finishing up my Advanced Open Water cert this weekend in southern Illinois. The site I'll be at has the fuselage from the plane used in the crash scene in US Marshals (Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes). I'll be diving that and a few other wrecks there. Doing my first night dive too which I'm a little nervous about.
My BCD is fairly new - a Cressi Aquaride Pro. I own everything but a regulator set and tank. Still renting those until I can save up for the set I want.
Here are a few pics from my dive last week at Breakwater Cove in Monterey Bay, CA.
Most of the dive was near the pier in a mini kelp forest.
A shot up at the kelp vines from about 35 feet down.
Once you get deeper than 10ft, you start to lose colors. The first to go is red. The screen shots are from my GoPro, and I was using a red filter to bring some color back, but beyond 5 feet it still washes out to greens and blues.
Up close, the colors (with the red filter in place) are great.
Lots of starfish.
Crab fight!
This sea lion swam around us several times. Sea lions are fast as frick.
Camouflaged in the kelp.
School is in session.
That's me.
An LSU starfish!
Visibility in the bay was decent on the first dive. The sun getting higher in the sky helped.
I got Open Water certified through PADI a few years ago on a trip to Key Largo. I'm finishing up my Advanced Open Water cert this weekend in southern Illinois. The site I'll be at has the fuselage from the plane used in the crash scene in US Marshals (Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes). I'll be diving that and a few other wrecks there. Doing my first night dive too which I'm a little nervous about.
My BCD is fairly new - a Cressi Aquaride Pro. I own everything but a regulator set and tank. Still renting those until I can save up for the set I want.
Here are a few pics from my dive last week at Breakwater Cove in Monterey Bay, CA.
Most of the dive was near the pier in a mini kelp forest.
A shot up at the kelp vines from about 35 feet down.
Once you get deeper than 10ft, you start to lose colors. The first to go is red. The screen shots are from my GoPro, and I was using a red filter to bring some color back, but beyond 5 feet it still washes out to greens and blues.
Up close, the colors (with the red filter in place) are great.
Lots of starfish.
Crab fight!
This sea lion swam around us several times. Sea lions are fast as frick.
Camouflaged in the kelp.
School is in session.
That's me.
An LSU starfish!
Visibility in the bay was decent on the first dive. The sun getting higher in the sky helped.
11
Posted on 9/20/17 at 1:56 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
You always have some kickass posts. 
Posted on 9/20/17 at 2:35 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
When I was at AU I took a scuba class as a PE elective. I don't remember the certification type - I know it wasn't PADI, it may have been NAUI - unfortunately I didn't keep it up, although there are times I wish I had.
After the semester was over we went to Florida and did several dives - two day dives out of Big Pine Key, then an afternoon/night dive at Christ of the Abyss/Dry Rocks in Key Largo. On the way back, we went to Rainbow River and did a drift dive.
This was over 15 years ago, so I didn't have the luxury of a GoPro - I picked up a cheap disposable underwater camera and got a few halfway ok pics - sergeant majors, blue tangs, several good shots of the CotA statue.
After the semester was over we went to Florida and did several dives - two day dives out of Big Pine Key, then an afternoon/night dive at Christ of the Abyss/Dry Rocks in Key Largo. On the way back, we went to Rainbow River and did a drift dive.
This was over 15 years ago, so I didn't have the luxury of a GoPro - I picked up a cheap disposable underwater camera and got a few halfway ok pics - sergeant majors, blue tangs, several good shots of the CotA statue.
Posted on 9/20/17 at 2:40 pm to PJinAtl
quote:Thanks man!
StarkRebel
quote:
PJinAtl
You think you'll ever get back into it? I knew since I was a kid that I'd love it and I waited way too long to get going.
We stayed down on Molasses Reef in Key Largo, but I would have loved to see Christ of the Abyss and some of the other wrecks further north. NAUI is definitely more respected than PADI, so you probably got some good training. I've found the quality depends greatly on the instructors, and I've had good luck with PADI so far.
This post was edited on 9/20/17 at 2:43 pm
Posted on 9/20/17 at 3:28 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
Was actually just about to start learning it 
Posted on 9/20/17 at 3:32 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
That is cool. thanks for sharing
And that really is an LSU starfish
And that really is an LSU starfish
Posted on 9/20/17 at 8:11 pm to CarolinaGamecock99
quote:
Was actually just about to start learning it
Excellent! Are you using a local dive shop for courses?
Beware the equipment sales pitch. Whether a local shop or resort, they make a decent part of their money from equipment sales. Don't feel rushed into anything. The local shop will tell you "don't buy anything online that we can't service here" (they're talking brands of regulators, BCDs, and dive computers). That's good advice but you may save hundreds getting the same brand they sell but via Amazon or Leisure Pro.
Find a friend to go through the course with you. You'll always be paired up with a buddy on dives, and it's more fun when it's someone you know and like. And you'll get used to each other's hand signals and other nonverbal cues.
Enjoy it. Try everything. (I didn't think I would enjoy cold water diving but I really do.) Don't hold your breath. Learn neutral buoyancy asap.
Posted on 9/20/17 at 8:59 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
Great pictures.
Posted on 9/21/17 at 8:06 am to FleshEatingSalsa
I am open water certified but haven't been on a dive in over a decade.
Posted on 9/22/17 at 8:43 am to FleshEatingSalsa
My sil went thru BUDS at Coronado.
Said spooky to free swim at night in the kelp beds.
Divers in wet suits look a lot like seals. Sharks eat seals.
Said spooky to free swim at night in the kelp beds.
Divers in wet suits look a lot like seals. Sharks eat seals.
Posted on 9/22/17 at 4:01 pm to Herman Frisco
She has bigger balls than I do.
What I do doesn't compare in the least to what she had to do. I'm not fat but I'm not ripped either. One of the great things about scuba is you can get a good workout and enjoy the process even if you're not fit. I had back surgery in my late 20s and I've been limited in the types of physical activity I can engage in, and scuba has been perfect.
What I do doesn't compare in the least to what she had to do. I'm not fat but I'm not ripped either. One of the great things about scuba is you can get a good workout and enjoy the process even if you're not fit. I had back surgery in my late 20s and I've been limited in the types of physical activity I can engage in, and scuba has been perfect.
Posted on 9/24/17 at 9:36 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
What I gather from this is that you enjoy bragging.
Posted on 9/24/17 at 9:39 pm to Herman Frisco
quote:
My sil went thru BUDS at Coronado
No.
Edit: everyone knows BUDS is fake. They are actually training in underground rivers where the government ferries all the aliens around to different sites. Get with the times people.
This post was edited on 9/24/17 at 9:41 pm
Posted on 9/25/17 at 12:30 am to StatisticsMoron
quote:
What I gather from this is that you enjoy bragging.
Do you know how many SEC Rant Popularity Points I redeemed last year? I got 7 cases of Snapple and Chicken lapel pin. I'm shooting for the "Night on the town with Circus Child" extravaganza this year. Please upvote and help me out!
Posted on 9/25/17 at 3:15 pm to FleshEatingSalsa
I'm a PADI Instructor and have been diving since I was 11 (back in 1971). My gear is ScubaPro but Cressi is fine gear. When you buy your regulator, look for a balanced first stage and I prefer the otcopus setup for alternate air source as opposed to the Air2 configuration found on a lot of BC's.
Enjoy and be careful in those overhead environments!!
Enjoy and be careful in those overhead environments!!
Posted on 9/25/17 at 3:20 pm to Diver
quote:
NAUI is definitely more respected than PADI
No.
Posted on 9/25/17 at 3:22 pm to Diver
quote:
I've found the quality depends greatly on the instructors
True. PADI standards are very high and they will cut an Instructor in a heartbeat over a safety violation.
Posted on 9/25/17 at 4:10 pm to Diver
I got certified 10 years ago but have been actively diving the last 6 years or so. I have NAUI AOW and Nitrox and a little over 100 dives so far.
I have dove in Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Bonaire, the Keys, most the Florida panhandle areas, Jupiter, FL for shark diving, and the Philippines. I want to make it California to do some kelp diving.
I use a Scubapro BCD and reg. All the other gear is various brands. Oceanic,Mares, Bare etc.
I have Youtube channel with most of our dive trips.
LINK
I have dove in Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Bonaire, the Keys, most the Florida panhandle areas, Jupiter, FL for shark diving, and the Philippines. I want to make it California to do some kelp diving.
I use a Scubapro BCD and reg. All the other gear is various brands. Oceanic,Mares, Bare etc.
I have Youtube channel with most of our dive trips.
LINK
This post was edited on 9/25/17 at 4:26 pm
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:55 pm to Diver
quote:
I prefer the otcopus setup for alternate air source as opposed to the Air2 configuration found on a lot of BC's.
Same here! My dive partner this weekend had the Air2 and his vest malfunctioned. He got a regular inflator hose and octopus after that. Thanks for the heads up on the regulators. I should be actively shopping next summer.
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:59 pm to hoppinnissan
Amazing list of dive sites bro! I'll check out the YouTube channel this week.
Question on the Nitrox. Breathing the normal air, I never feel like I get a good breath. Was down around 80ft yesterday and I didn't struggle but that sensation did worsen just a bit. Is the nitrox mix easier to breathe or is it even noticeable?
Question on the Nitrox. Breathing the normal air, I never feel like I get a good breath. Was down around 80ft yesterday and I didn't struggle but that sensation did worsen just a bit. Is the nitrox mix easier to breathe or is it even noticeable?
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