Dive 400

[jridg]

Finally broke 400 today - It has been a banner year - I know there are those who dive more - and I have been diving over 20 years. But add 15 years of flying that significantly restricted my ability to get in the water - and the occasional deployment that also restricted my ability to get in the water - I am pleased with my numbers - they are coming up significantly now - 29 dives this year alone - so far - I have been 'lucky' to be in FL for the past five months and will be here for another two before heading back to socal. I am determined to make number 500 in a year or just over.

So - Dive number 400 - 28 feet for 75 minutes - Off Venice beach FL hunting for shark teeth - found one Megaladon tooth and a bunch of smaller ones. Water temp 75 - vis 10-20ft

My coldest dive - 28F in Maine getting sea scallops
My warmest - 85F in Cozumel
Worst Viz - absolute zero in Lake Ponchartrain, LA
Best - Probably Cozumel again - more than 100'

It's been a great trip so far - I plan to keep diving as long as I am able

[pittyyofool]

congrats! you are well on your way to forgetting how many dives you have made and were it was that, that cool thing happened. 400 is a good benchmark, when you reach 500 it is even cooler, and 1000 is radical so keep diving allot. Then end up like me, somewhere around 1500-1800 they all meshed together in to one giant dive and I cant tell the difference any more. Even though they all mesh together I still try to go on 2-3 dives per week. Every dive is different and there is something about it that was cooler than the last. Like like one last week, or was it 3 months ago now, I don't know. but any way I almost got my face eaten of by a 10ft Morey eel with a head like a bull dog. I guess i stuck my nose in the wrong hole... Now that was awesome and gave me an incredible rush. PM me if you want the whole story... I don't want to offend any PETA people.

[Sas]

Congrats!!! Keep up the good work.

Did you get any pic taken? I am coming up to 200, probably in May sometime, so I will probably dive as normal but get my buddy to take a pic of me holding up a sign for 200 to match the one I have from 100

[jridg]

No pics - just a 3-1/2 inch Megaladon tooth - perhaps I should label it

I have found that over the years I have had 'good' diving years and 'bad' (meaning few dives). I plan on having far more good ones from here on out

2001 - 28 dives
2002 - 7 dives
2003 - 12 dives
2004 - 33 dives
2005 - 27 dives
2006 - 68 dives
2007 - 39 dives
2008 - 20 dives
2009 - 29 dives to date - need to beat my 2006 'record'

I think if I can get back with an instructor when I get home to San Diego, I will be able to get some extra diving going - that and the ease of shore dives and my relatively new fusion drysuit will get me into the water more often. I would love to have a 100 dive year.

I know there are people out there doing 300+ per year - I wish I could do that real life can be a pita sometimes...

[Walter]

Congratulations! Very few divers make it to 400 and very few find a 3½ inch meg. Getting both at the same time is awesome!

[Sas]

No pics - just a 3-1/2 inch Megaladon tooth - perhaps I should label it

Haha good idea.

Good luck on beating your record this year too

[pittyyofool]

I agree with Walter a 3.5 in meg is a Prize on Its own, great find. Now if i could just find all those dive knives and lights that I lost in my first few years of diving... I Believe in you, you will have No Problem doing 100 dives in this year. Remember If you take 2 tanks with you to the beach on Saturday morning, you can do 2 dives in a day and even have lunch on the SI. when you get back to SD send me a message, we and dive scrips canyon, and if you come up to the OC I can show you the huge EEL.

[jridg]

I agree with Walter a 3.5 in meg is a Prize on Its own, great find. Now if i could just find all those dive knives and lights that I lost in my first few years of diving... I Believe in you, you will have No Problem doing 100 dives in this year. Remember If you take 2 tanks with you to the beach on Saturday morning, you can do 2 dives in a day and even have lunch on the SI. when you get back to SD send me a message, we and dive scrips canyon, and if you come up to the OC I can show you the huge EEL.

Sounds like a plan