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Topic: Scuba Trip! (Now with photos!) (Read 820 times) |
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Jeepgun
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Scuba Trip! (Now with photos!)
« on: May 23rd, 2005, 11:38am » |
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Just got back last night, at 10:30. We hauled out our gear and laid it out to dry, and then took our tired azzes upstairs, hit the shower, and slept like the dead!
The trip was GREAT!! We left Friday morning for Vortex Springs, Florida. We made a total of four dives at Vortex Springs, which is a freshwater spring, and has an underwater cave, about 60' down. The first two dives, we did all of our check-off dives, and then went exploring. Lots of HUGE carp in the shallows, and deeper down, lots of freshwater eels. I spent about five minutes, nose-to-nose with one who seemed as curious about me as I, about him.
The underwater cave was a good litmus test to discover whether or not one is truly claustrophobic. I discovered that, to a mild degree, I am. It was a little spooky, but still, lots of fun.
The water was a balmy 68F. (BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!) I rented a wetsuit, but found that the thickness of it gave me too much buoyancy and I couldn't descend, so I made do with a one-piece portion of it that looked like overalls, and everything went fine, after that. (except for the "shrinkage." )  
Yesterday morning, we took a boat from Panama City Beach, and went about six miles out. There was an old arched girder bridge that was submerged at 80', and we dove down and checked it out. It was eerie descending through the rusted arches. The water started out at 85F, and ended up at 65F, by the time we got to the bottom. No wetsuit, this time. Just swim trunks and the BCD. (Scuba vest)
After that, we went a few more miles out, to a shipwreck of an old supply boat called, "The Black Bart." This was the coolest dive of the trip, because I was comfortable in my gear, this was the deepest dive yet, at 100', and the ship was mostly intact. I followed my dive master through the hold of the ship, up through the cabin, and then outside through a big window again. We then hung around on the deck for awhile, circumnavigating the outside decks, and then went up to the wheel-house/bridge. There were TONS of fish! Parrotfish, whole schools of hammerjacks, a few blue wrasse, and some others that I don't know the names of. We saw a few barracuda too, but as soon as they saw us, they took off. (My ugly mug probably scared the hell out of them!) ;
Mari and I both had a great time, and passed all of our qualifications.
The drive was a killer... Diving takes so much out of you, that afterwards, all you want is to get something to eat, get a shower, and take a nap. The drive, with nothing more than occasional 15-minute breaks, took over 8 hours. We're both very sunburned, very tired, and very happy!! 
It was a great weekend, and I can't wait to go again. I've already made my down payment on a week-long trip to Cozumel, Mexico in October. I can't wait!!
Nothing else to report. Life is good, pain-free, and busier than I ever thought possible!
PFDAN's and Warm Wishes,
-Frank
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| « Last Edit: May 25th, 2005, 10:27am by Jeepgun » |
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don
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Going down again are ya Frank? 
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lionsound
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #2 on: May 23rd, 2005, 12:06pm » |
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Sounds amazing!
Welcome home!
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Jeepgun
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #3 on: May 23rd, 2005, 12:50pm » |
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Every chance I get, Don.
Thanks, Rori. It was a fantastic trip! (along with fantastically exhausting...) I felt pretty good when I bounced out of bed this morning, but now, I'm running on caffeine and nicotine. I'll be snoring by 8:30 tonight. LOL
Oh, btw: Here's a pic of the cave entrance, in Vortex Springs:
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| « Last Edit: May 23rd, 2005, 12:54pm by Jeepgun » |
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jimmers
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #4 on: May 23rd, 2005, 1:30pm » |
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Cool Frank!
Sounds like ya had a blast, And it was PF ! That is awesome.
Don't worry, you'll locate your yambag in a few weeks LMAO
Seeya,
jimbo
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Jeepgun
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #5 on: May 23rd, 2005, 1:31pm » |
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Yambag... LMAO!!
Here's a rather murky photo of the Black Bart. (Not mine. I didn't have a chance for photos)
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..Danielle..
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #6 on: May 23rd, 2005, 3:08pm » |
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Welcome back Frank !
Sounds like a wonderful adventure !
Don't think I could scuba dive....too much natural boyancy...fat butt, big bust...I'd make a good buoy ! 
Danielle
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Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. -Helen Keller
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Jonny
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #7 on: May 23rd, 2005, 3:16pm » |
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on May 23rd, 2005, 3:08pm, high_commander wrote:| Don't think I could scuba dive....too much natural boyancy... |
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Thats why they make weight belts
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It is up to YOU to educate yourself and then help your doctor plan your treatment. If you just sit down in front of your doctor and say "make me better" you are setting yourself up for a great deal of pain.
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..Danielle..
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #8 on: May 23rd, 2005, 3:23pm » |
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LOL !
It would take a few...the girls are full grown.
And no, I won't post pics 
Danielle
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Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. -Helen Keller
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Jeepgun
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #9 on: May 23rd, 2005, 3:23pm » |
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LOL, Danielle. My dive master is 6'3", and easily weighs over 250 lbs.
One of the coolest things was achieving neutral buoyancy, and then descending ever so slowly, body horizontal and motionless, arms and legs outstretched... It's like the flying that you do in dreams... I'm addicted. I can't wait to go again.
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..Danielle..
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #10 on: May 23rd, 2005, 3:33pm » |
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Frank, that sounds unbelievable !!
I live in one of the few land-locked provinces in Canada.
3 scuba schools...at least 4 hours drive to the nearest one.
Lakes and rivers everywhere, but you can look down from your boat and see bottom, since most are quite clear.
Quote:| It's like the flying that you do in dreams... |
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been there........(closing eyes and remembering)
Danielle
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Bethany1
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #11 on: May 23rd, 2005, 4:28pm » |
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Sounds like ya had a great time!
Glad you didn't get eaten by a shark.
hugz-
Beth
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Jeepgun
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #12 on: May 23rd, 2005, 5:01pm » |
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LOL! Thanks, Bethany. I did see a small (2'?) sand shark around the "Black Bart." He was just keeping his distance and circling around lazily as if to say, "You're in my territory, pal, so just watch your step!"
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Jonny
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #13 on: May 23rd, 2005, 5:15pm » |
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Wanna talk scary?....I use to dive the deepest quarry in the country (364 ft deep)...between the pressure and knowing there were dead people in there it was some scary shit, couldnt go more than 80 ft cause of the pressure....whenever someone got killed jumping they used a mini-sub to try and find them.
Its since been drained and filled in with dirt from the big dig.....Swingles quarry Quincy, Mass...could also be listed as "Swindles"
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seasonalboomer
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #14 on: May 23rd, 2005, 6:03pm » |
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Didn't really care for the dive's into the "Holes" or natural springs in Florida myself. I think we did "devils hole" or some damn name along with another "cavern" dive for one of our certification dives as well. Diving the Chrystal River was cool though, the water so clear you felt like you weren't even looking through water.
Diving is a blast, try to go every year a couple times. If you ever need a dive site "review" I've tacked a few down in the books and am always glad to share info on "best"s of different dive locales.
Don't go down if you don't know when you're coming back up.
Scott
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don
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Quote:
Along with a few hundred chevys, fords, and buicks.
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Jonny
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #16 on: May 23rd, 2005, 6:28pm » |
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on May 23rd, 2005, 6:19pm, don wrote:
Along with a few hundred chevys, fords, and buicks. |
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LOL...Badges, the quarry next to it had a mail truck and several Boston herald paper boxes
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It is up to YOU to educate yourself and then help your doctor plan your treatment. If you just sit down in front of your doctor and say "make me better" you are setting yourself up for a great deal of pain.
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mynm156
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #17 on: May 23rd, 2005, 7:19pm » |
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Sounds AWESOME!!!!
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Kevin_M
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #18 on: May 23rd, 2005, 8:38pm » |
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on May 23rd, 2005, 11:38am, Frank_W wrote:| I've already made my down payment on a week-long trip to Cozumel, Mexico in October. I can't wait!! |
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Good choice.
I think that's the Palancar(?) Reef there. Supposed to be great, Cozumel too, for laying back afterwards.
Kevin M
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| « Last Edit: May 24th, 2005, 8:04am by Kevin_M » |
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Sean_C
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on May 23rd, 2005, 5:15pm, Jonny wrote:Wanna talk scary?....I use to dive the deepest quarry in the country (364 ft deep)...between the pressure and knowing there were dead people in there it was some scary shit, couldnt go more than 80 ft cause of the pressure....whenever someone got killed jumping they used a mini-sub to try and find them.
Its since been drained and filled in with dirt from the big dig.....Swingles quarry Quincy, Mass...could also be listed as "Swindles" |
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I loved that place, it kinda sucks that they filled it. You can see the water mark, that was a 7 second ride from Roof Top
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cootie
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #20 on: May 23rd, 2005, 9:49pm » |
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Wow sounds like an awesome time Frank........glad ya had a great time........I'd be scared to death to do that cuz of sharks.......in Myrtle Beach sharks came into the shore where we were fishing and they said they seen a HUGE shark at the end of the dock the day before. That was enuff for me......I fished from the sand. No chum scum Pam
PS: Um.....not to be nosey.....but did you say nicotene ? Didn't you quit smokeing ??
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Sean_C
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My brothers big into diving. Six of them are planning on going to the grave of the Adria Dorea this summer. Four of them have been there numerous times already. He said they use a helium mix for thier o2. Visability is 10 feet with your light and water temps should be anywhere between 41 and 43 degrees. Thier ascent will take four hours.
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Charlie
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #22 on: May 24th, 2005, 2:57am » |
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Geeze Frank. Now that's that's a real holiday. Good for you and yours.
The Andrea Doria is shallow enough for diving Sean? I had no idea. God you people know about fun.
Charlie 
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Bethany1
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #23 on: May 24th, 2005, 6:59am » |
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on May 23rd, 2005, 5:15pm, Jonny wrote:Wanna talk scary?....I use to dive the deepest quarry in the country (364 ft deep)...between the pressure and knowing there were dead people in there it was some scary shit, couldnt go more than 80 ft cause of the pressure....whenever someone got killed jumping they used a mini-sub to try and find them.
Its since been drained and filled in with dirt from the big dig.....Swingles quarry Quincy, Mass...could also be listed as "Swindles" |
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Hay Jonny, I used to go the Quincy quarry all the time when I was a teenager! I used to love it there!
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Jeepgun
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Re: Scuba Trip!
« Reply #24 on: May 24th, 2005, 7:24am » |
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I love the diving stories. Jonny, the quarry sounds pretty scary... There's one in Huntsville, AL, but I'm not going to bother diving it. Even in summer, it's freezing cold, but they have an F-15, a Tomohawk missile, a dumptruck, and some other miscellaneous machinery that's been sunk in it, and supposedly, it's an interesting dive.
Sean, the Andrea Doria sounds like a neat dive, but clearly, it's for very very skilled divers with drysuits and tri-mix. I doubt that I'll ever be that good at it, but now that I have my advanced certification, I'd like to take a specialty class for wreck entry.
P.S. Cootie: "Quitting smoking is easy! I've done it thousands of times!" -Mark Twain
(Does that answer your question?) LOL
I've been unsuccessful with remaining quit from sickarettes, but I keep trying. Eventually, I will succeed.
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| « Last Edit: May 24th, 2005, 7:32am by Jeepgun » |
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