2003 Wreck & Photo Mania?

[scuba-sass]

It seems we need a thread to talk about next year's plans. Never one to be shy, I thought I'd start one!

Previously posted elsewhere by Natasha:

Seems from the few of you that responded, that Walter and Dee are 'big names' enough for you. So I won't recruite Steven Frink or Joel for this next trip. (Makes my job a lot eaiser)
I'm planning on Wreckmanias to be next June if that will work for Walter and Dee. I will be offering a trip to Cozumel for July 03 and another trip for September 03, probably to Bonaire, so June works well for Wreckmania.
And it's only 10 months away! Probably June14th to the 21st and have both Wreeckmania II, "Continues" and Photomania all at the same Key Largo resort.
Cavernmania could be an idea ahead of it's time. Not sure yet. But I might end up doing it a different month in 03.
Sound good?


So, what does everyone think? Personally, I'd prefer July for Mania trips, but if that's when our fellow Maniacs can do it, I'm sure Lyd and I can be flexible.

Let's get those grand ideas rolling!

Scuba-sass :-)

[Spectre]

I was interested before, and now that I hear the results I'm _incredibly_ interested! Hopefully when dates become firm I'll check my schedule...

[Dee]

Gee..I think I'm flattered. Or is that what scared feels like?!?

As for the possibility of the 'Mania trips, for me it will depend on costs and date. Our annual Roatan trip next year (still 2 places left!) is April 12-19. June may be a little soon, it's hard for Beast to get another week off work so soon afterwards and the dive funds are low about then.

What about October? :rolleyes: :D

[Walter]

I enjoyed Wreckmania and would love to participate in Wreckmania II and Wreckmania Continues. My schedule is pretty flexible right now, but we need to nail the dates down before December or there are no guarantees I'll be able to get the time off. June works for me, but if October is better for Dee, I'm happy with that as well. Water usually starts to cool down in November, October is usually still pretty warm.

It seems folks want to dive the Duane, Bibb and Spiegel Grove, so we're looking at the upper Keys as a destination. I'd recommend the Tavernier area, it's located midway between Key Largo and Islamorada so we'd be able to dive those three wrecks and the Eagle. I've yet to dive the SG, but I expect conditions to be similar to those on the other wrecks. On those wrecks, it is common to have strong currents, very much like those encountered during Wreckmania.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at Wreckmania II.

[DivingGal]

thanks for starting a new thread....

I too prefer the "mania" stuff to be in July (or even August).

As for the "instructors" or "leads" for the Wreckmanias or for Photomania... I'll go with the flow. Seeing Dee's pics I think she would be able to give great hints about composition, framing etc.

As for Cavernmania, if we're in the Keys, I think it would be transportation issue for for people to drive up to "cavern county", then drive back to the Keys to drop off rented cars and fly home. I still like the idea of learning the skills, but perhaps a separate trip.

[DennisW]

I am very interested in attending next summer. This year was just too busy, moving to Virginia, the new house, new job (very little vacation), etc. We need to get dates set early so people can schedule. I assume there will be a Diverlink 2003 (I hope so anyway) to try to attend as well. I intend to be in Tavernier diving the Spiegel Grove in October, so an earlier trip would be good.

[scuba-sass]

As many of you know, Lydia is a school teacher, so vacations have to be scheduled around her time off, which is generally as follows:

June, July and August.
(And to those of you who are thinking "Gee, I'd love to have the whole summer off!" - just think about having to spend the other 9 months with adolescents. Belive me, you have to love the job 'cause the pay certainly isn't a motivator!)

1 week at Thanksgiving.

2 weeks around Xmas and New Years.

2 weeks usually in the 2nd half of March.

Not that everyone should work around OUR schedule, by any means, but since we're planning this far in advance, I wanted to get my "votes" in.

Happy Diving,

Scuba-sass :-)

[Dee]

Walter...have you noticed a specific time of the year when the currents are better than others? For instance in Cozumel, July and the first half of August is when the really weird currents (ie. downwellings, switching during a dive, super strong) happen. If the currents were a problem for W'mania I, maybe the next can be scheduled according to conditions.

I mentioned October with a smile but I realize that's not usually a good time for those restricted to the summer months, like Lydia. The later in the summer months, the better for us but either way we'll plan for it and see if it's possible.

[sea nmf]

Someone mentioned October. Isn't that smack dab in the middle of hurricane season?

Summer is good for me but I have to refine it even further, in case it matters. I can only travel (in ANY given month) in the middle of the month.

-becky

[WreckWriter]

sea nmf once bubbled...
Someone mentioned October. Isn't that smack dab in the middle of hurricane season?

October is late in Hurricane season, July and August are the most active months, September storms are remembered for their power.

Tom

[WreckWriter]

Walter once bubbled...
I've yet to dive the SG, but I expect conditions to be similar to those on the other wrecks. On those wrecks, it is common to have strong currents, very much like those encountered during Wreckmania.

Current on SG tends to be less than Bibb/Duane. It can run strong but generally nothing like the cranking currents on the Duane so much of the time.

Tom

[DivingGal]

WreckWriter once bubbled...


Current on SG tends to be less than Bibb/Duane. It can run strong but generally nothing like the cranking currents on the Duane so much of the time.

Tom

We can all go play "flag on the descent/ascent line" hehehe

[Walter]

WreckWriter,

Thanks for the info on the currents on the SG.

Natasha,

Are we planning Wreckmania II and Wreckmania Continues?

As I understood the concept, WM II would be a trip for the specialty class (very much like WM) while WMC would be a trip without a class for those already wreck certified.

Lydia,

A classic video (in glorious black and white) arrived in the mail today. Are you interested in borrowing it?

[KC_Scubabunny]

The time frames that scuba-sass mentioned in terms of academic year also work well for us since I am counting on my sister to be the traveling nanny for Mania II. We are less locked into this than Lydia because we COULD travel without a nanny but that would mean a lot less diving.

The early summer (May - June) timeframe actually appeals to me most because we were hoping to take a trip to celebrate my graduation from Grad School so it make it a good combo trip.

Key Largo is my first choice for destinations. Selfishly because I don't want to travel out of the country with the baby until he/she is at least a year old and Key Largo is a place domestically that we have never been.

Gosh if anyone had told us having a baby was going to cramp our diving style so much, we might have thought better of it! Wink, Wink! You guys know I am just kidding!

:bunny: Heather :bunny:

[Natasha]

Well, I've just been taking this all in. I must say I'm so happy WM was even a bigger success then I hoped for.
Walter: I'm from the old school of travel that says, "Give 'em what they want."
So if it worked, why fix it? I guess the crowds DO want a repeat. And yes, WMII would be for you to offer new divers a chance to earn a wreck certification. 'Continues' would be for any wreckies that just want to come down and dive new wrecks. If Dee can fit it in to come along, she could talk a bit and we could call it Photomania in between. If not, we can all go over to Steven Frink's studio, walk around and if he is there, he agreed to give a few tips, since he lives in Key Largo.
Of course I can always just set this all up, and let everyone go.
If you want me to be there the June dates I posted will work the best for me. I will be offering a July trip to Cozumel ( Hopefully some maniacs will come) and a September trip too.
In the 03 year, we are also finally talking about putting together the "Big One" to either The Great Barrier, or the Red Sea, probably in October or November of 03.

[seaangel]

I really would love to make it this next WMII, and having the opportunity to Key Largo would make it all the more fantastic. My Dad has his house in Islamorada and I am looking for reasons to go there to dive. I personnally would not mind October, that way I could still plan to dive with my LDS on their summer trip.

[NetDoc]

You know Walter... most people get paid for this... Diving Gal, you gots witnesses!

[KC_Scubabunny]

Natasha once bubbled...
Of course I can always just set this all up, and let everyone go. If you want me to be there the June dates I posted will work the best for me. I will be offering a July trip to Cozumel ( Hopefully some maniacs will come) and a September trip too.


Natasha,

Don't you dare think of bailing on us. A Maniac trip would never be the same without you and Walter. You are the heart and soul of the Wreckmania franchise! Schedule what works for you guys and the rest of us will either make it or not. Just like this year, there will be people who really want to participate but it just won't logistically work for them. Jeff and I might end up among those people but I wouldn't want to see you plan something that you couldn't attend.

:bunny: Heather :bunny:

[DivingGal]

NetDoc once bubbled...
You know Walter... most people get paid for this... Diving Gal, you gots witnesses!

Gee thanks... errrr I think NetDoc! hehehe

I still prefer July to the "month" of June though

[livestodive]

Hello all just wanted to let you know that Pam and I can make just about any time frame, so that won't affect us.

Mom what I want to ask is if its possible to make some arrangements for those who don't want to do the "wreckmania continues" but would like to do some reef diving. I myself want to do the continues, but the "BOSS" probably won't want to dive in the currents. If it is possible, other signifigant others might enjoy this preferrably to the wreck diving. Just throwing out an idea.

Walter if we do this would you mind if I got the dive I needed during your class then? Then I would be able to try the continues class.

Guess I'm done rambling on,,hehehe. Hope all dive a lot and safely :)

[scuba-sass]

Walter,

I've forwarded your note to Lydia via e-mail, since she hasn't discovered the joys of scubaboard yet!

Scuba-sass :-)

[NetDoc]

only months between January and December of next year. Thats the best I can do. :tease:

[Natasha]

Pete:
Could you be a little more flexable?

[NetDoc]

you give your best trip coordinator an inch, and she'll have you driving miles!

Or was that: she'll give you smiles...

Or maybe: uh, no, I better not say that! :tease: