Scuba Diving

jjmitchem · 06-07-2012, 05:50 PM

Any Divers in the Asylum?

Finally got certified a few weeks ago and now I've got the bug

Spending too much time on Craig's list searching for gear so I don't cut too deep into my cigar budget

Samsquanch · 06-07-2012, 05:54 PM

I love diving! I'm in Seattle so our water is quite a bit colder than yours but still great. Best dive trip of my life was in Maui; warm and crystal clear water will make you never want to dip a toe in the Puget Sound again!

I dive a few times a year so I don't own my own gear (other than personal stuff, like mask and fins, etc...). Each time I rent it's about $75-$100, so it would be cheaper to buy my stuff but it's easier this way anyhow.

jjmitchem · 06-07-2012, 06:00 PM

It can get expensive. Ive already got a great mask and fins. Not knowing how much longer I have here in Hawaii and where I'll end up next I decided to just pick up used gear. Plenty of it here

Grabbed a decent BCD yesterday and I'm taking a look at a regulator and octo now. It's old but it's also cheap and will hold me over till I can find better stuff.

shilala · 06-07-2012, 07:24 PM

I'm certified, I just went diving in Belize this past winter.
I'd spend every waking moment on the reefs if I could, I love it.
I think we have an official diving thread here, Chappy. I know Jonathon (Black Coral) makes a living around it and tons of guys here dive. Take a look and see if you can find it.

shilala · 06-07-2012, 07:27 PM

Here it is.
It'd be nice to get some pics going. I have tons, including video, I'm just too lazy to post the stuff.

Jefft72 · 06-07-2012, 07:33 PM

I have been certified and diving as much as I can for the past 7 years. My main diving is in local Texas lakes, which isn't necessarily the most fun, but it is good at keeping the skills fresh. Plus, whenever I get to dive in anything with greater than 25' vis then I am in heaven. I rented gear early on, but soon found myself picking up a used transpac from someone local. I was lucky enough to get a set of regs handed down from my Dad, who also dives and I scored a pair of AL80s on Craigslist for a song.

Having my Dad as a dive partner is excellent, but also having 4 young kids really limits my diving. My most recent trip was a 2 day dive to the Flower Gardens out in the Gulf of Mexico. Fantastic trip with tons of things to see.

To top it off, I toasted each night with a stogie on the top deck of the boat underneath the moon. It was great to lay in a lounge char with the boat rolling on the waves enjoying a stick. In fact, I have found that cigars go great with diving.....typically after a couple of dives when folks are kicking back with a cold one I will fire up something good.

WittyUserName · 06-07-2012, 09:43 PM

CONGRATULATIONS Brother!!! I have been diving for just over a year now. I am about to hit 200 dives and just became a PADI Dive Master. It is an awesome sport and just as slippery a slope as cigars.

jjmitchem · 06-07-2012, 09:57 PM

Here are a few pics from my recent dives here in Hawaii

I'm the one at the top of the entrance

And a pic from my dive buddy this past winter

Jefft72 · 06-07-2012, 10:43 PM

Wow! That is an awesome picture with the whale! Thanks for sharing.
Posted via Mobile Device

eber · 06-08-2012, 12:23 AM

I have been certified for over 10 years, unfortunately I have not gone on any dive trips for probably at least 5 of those, they tend to get expensive. I really want to go diving again soon!

Oh and that pic with the wale is incredible!

Rob_M · 10-13-2012, 07:39 AM

I have been working as a technical dive instructor/guide in Truk Lagoon for the past 3 yrs. I also enjoy cave diving when I get the chance to visit home in North Florida.
Here are a couple pics from a wreck we dived today. 40 minutes at a max depth of 187ft. Epic dive on the Aikoku Maru, my favorite wreck.

Me slipping through the wreckage into the engine room.......

Black Coral · 10-13-2012, 07:52 AM

Been diving for 20 years, I have my own shop called black coral dive. I have travelled the world for years and finally now moved to Orlando to be close to Florida caves and the ocean.
I am an instructor trainer for naui and iantd. Lots of time in the water and enjoy it.

If there is anything I can help a brother out or any questions let me know.

Enjoy the underwater world.

Rob_M · 10-13-2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Coral

Been diving for 20 years, I have my own shop called black coral dive. I have travelled the world for years and finally now moved to Orlando to be close to Florida caves and the ocean.
I am an instructor trainer for naui and iantd. Lots of time in the water and enjoy it.

If there is anything I can help a brother out or any questions let me know.

Enjoy the underwater world.

John, you need to organize a group trip out to Truk for the shop, We can hit the wrecks then have a nice stick to celebrate

06-07-2012, 05:50 PM	#1
jjmitchem Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Dec 2009 First Name: Jim "Chappy" Location: Ft Campbell Posts: 445 Trading: (3)	Scuba Diving Any Divers in the Asylum? Finally got certified a few weeks ago and now I've got the bug Spending too much time on Craig's list searching for gear so I don't cut too deep into my cigar budget __________________ "I'm not ashamed of anything whatever that I do, and I don't feel that smoking makes me ashamed, and therefore I mean to smoke to the glory of God." - Charles Spurgeon

06-07-2012, 05:54 PM	#2
Samsquanch Feeling at Home Join Date: Jun 2010 First Name: Andrew Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 564 Trading: (21)	Re: Scuba Diving I love diving! I'm in Seattle so our water is quite a bit colder than yours but still great. Best dive trip of my life was in Maui; warm and crystal clear water will make you never want to dip a toe in the Puget Sound again! I dive a few times a year so I don't own my own gear (other than personal stuff, like mask and fins, etc...). Each time I rent it's about $75-$100, so it would be cheaper to buy my stuff but it's easier this way anyhow. __________________ ...I'm not saying I agree with it, it's just that bird law in this country, it's not governed by reason.

06-07-2012, 06:00 PM	#3
jjmitchem Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Dec 2009 First Name: Jim "Chappy" Location: Ft Campbell Posts: 445 Trading: (3)	Re: Scuba Diving It can get expensive. Ive already got a great mask and fins. Not knowing how much longer I have here in Hawaii and where I'll end up next I decided to just pick up used gear. Plenty of it here Grabbed a decent BCD yesterday and I'm taking a look at a regulator and octo now. It's old but it's also cheap and will hold me over till I can find better stuff. __________________ "I'm not ashamed of anything whatever that I do, and I don't feel that smoking makes me ashamed, and therefore I mean to smoke to the glory of God." - Charles Spurgeon

06-07-2012, 07:24 PM	#4
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Scuba Diving I'm certified, I just went diving in Belize this past winter. I'd spend every waking moment on the reefs if I could, I love it. I think we have an official diving thread here, Chappy. I know Jonathon (Black Coral) makes a living around it and tons of guys here dive. Take a look and see if you can find it. __________________

06-07-2012, 07:27 PM	#5
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Scuba Diving Here it is. It'd be nice to get some pics going. I have tons, including video, I'm just too lazy to post the stuff. __________________

06-07-2012, 07:33 PM	#6
Jefft72 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Oct 2011 First Name: Jeff Location: League City, TX Posts: 219 Trading: (2)	Re: Scuba Diving I have been certified and diving as much as I can for the past 7 years. My main diving is in local Texas lakes, which isn't necessarily the most fun, but it is good at keeping the skills fresh. Plus, whenever I get to dive in anything with greater than 25' vis then I am in heaven. I rented gear early on, but soon found myself picking up a used transpac from someone local. I was lucky enough to get a set of regs handed down from my Dad, who also dives and I scored a pair of AL80s on Craigslist for a song. Having my Dad as a dive partner is excellent, but also having 4 young kids really limits my diving. My most recent trip was a 2 day dive to the Flower Gardens out in the Gulf of Mexico. Fantastic trip with tons of things to see. To top it off, I toasted each night with a stogie on the top deck of the boat underneath the moon. It was great to lay in a lounge char with the boat rolling on the waves enjoying a stick. In fact, I have found that cigars go great with diving.....typically after a couple of dives when folks are kicking back with a cold one I will fire up something good.

06-07-2012, 09:43 PM	#7
WittyUserName WOOOHOOO Join Date: Aug 2011 First Name: Adam Location: Virginia Posts: 1,455 Trading: (15)	Re: Scuba Diving CONGRATULATIONS Brother!!! I have been diving for just over a year now. I am about to hit 200 dives and just became a PADI Dive Master. It is an awesome sport and just as slippery a slope as cigars. __________________ Check out the TROOP support Forums It is THIS easy to Support the troops

06-07-2012, 09:57 PM	#8
jjmitchem Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Dec 2009 First Name: Jim "Chappy" Location: Ft Campbell Posts: 445 Trading: (3)	Re: Scuba Diving Here are a few pics from my recent dives here in Hawaii I'm the one at the top of the entrance And a pic from my dive buddy this past winter __________________ "I'm not ashamed of anything whatever that I do, and I don't feel that smoking makes me ashamed, and therefore I mean to smoke to the glory of God." - Charles Spurgeon

06-07-2012, 10:43 PM	#9
Jefft72 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Oct 2011 First Name: Jeff Location: League City, TX Posts: 219 Trading: (2)	Re: Scuba Diving Wow! That is an awesome picture with the whale! Thanks for sharing. Posted via Mobile Device

06-08-2012, 12:23 AM	#10
eber Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Erik Posts: 1,229 Trading: (7)	Re: Scuba Diving I have been certified for over 10 years, unfortunately I have not gone on any dive trips for probably at least 5 of those, they tend to get expensive. I really want to go diving again soon! Oh and that pic with the wale is incredible!

10-13-2012, 07:39 AM	#11
Rob_M Livin' on Island time Join Date: Sep 2012 First Name: Rob Location: Truk Lagoon, Micronesia Posts: 55 Trading: (2)	Re: Scuba Diving I have been working as a technical dive instructor/guide in Truk Lagoon for the past 3 yrs. I also enjoy cave diving when I get the chance to visit home in North Florida. Here are a couple pics from a wreck we dived today. 40 minutes at a max depth of 187ft. Epic dive on the Aikoku Maru, my favorite wreck. Me slipping through the wreckage into the engine room....... __________________

10-13-2012, 07:52 AM	#12
Black Coral Have My Own Room Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: John Location: Midland Texas Posts: 2,152 Trading: (11)	Re: Scuba Diving Been diving for 20 years, I have my own shop called black coral dive. I have travelled the world for years and finally now moved to Orlando to be close to Florida caves and the ocean. I am an instructor trainer for naui and iantd. Lots of time in the water and enjoy it. If there is anything I can help a brother out or any questions let me know. Enjoy the underwater world.