PADI Poster Child

[ajtoady]

Well I hate to sound like a telemarketer, but, I lived the PADI dream last week. (Yes I am PADI certified) I had invited a couple from the Buffalo area that I had met on this board to come dive with me and my buddies in the St Lawrence while their daughter was at swim camp in Potsdam. I'm sure there was a little uncertainty on all parties concerned. Yep, you guessed it, we had a ball!!! Did three dives off of my dive boat,( family 24' pontoon), the Keystorm, The America, and a leisurely drift out of the Morristown launch in the river. Vis could have been a little better, but saw a ton of bass and walleyes.The weather was great and the after dive beer was cold!! Good friends have been made and I sure hope we do it again. Bob and Colleen hope to see you again soon, Tony:D

[jar546]

Congrats on a great weekend of diving.

[vwfinatic273]

Got to love a good dive! I miss pontoon boats!

[ScubaSteve]

Great to hear of the fun weekend of diving and spending time with new friends. But what does that have to do with PADI? Just your certification?

[LowDrag]

That's awesome Tony. Glad to hear you all had a great time. :D

[TSandM]

I think they went places, did things, and made new friends . . .

[ajtoady]

What Miss TSand M said! ;)

[rongoodman]

I like the Keystorm and America. When I was there before, there was a school of walleye hanging out on top of the America and we just missed having a big freighter passing above us when we we on the barge.

[rhwestfall]

Okay, my turn. Being YMCA/PDIC/NAUI, I didn't know the "tag line" either, but it is ever so true!!!!! The whole thing started with an inquiry to Tony as to what might be a good charter to go on when the wife and I were going to be up there. In nothing flat, he says "my boat". Next thing I know, he has 7 divers lined up to dive in the middle of the week. I like their style!!! Needless to say, our hosts showed us a great time. Many thanks to SB for a forum to make it possible. This was "all new" again for my wife as she was only in the water once last year, and 8 years of a surface interval prior. J Yaeger (as seen here on SB) was as kind and accomodating through all of it (and it did get interesting at times), and Tony is just the friendliest guy. Quality folks!

Here are a couple images from the diving. The camera went "grumpy' on the Keystorm, so nothing from there. That wreck is "curssed" for me. The bottles are from the drift we did. One is a whiskey bottle from just after the repeal of Prohibition, and the other is a somewhat old wine bottle. Tony got a real interesting one, that had a "genie" in it. I'll let him tell the story......

Thanks again!!! Hope we get to blow bubbles together again.

The pics:

1. My wife Colleen (hates her picture being taken)
2. Tony and Jim on one of the props & rudder
3. the other prop
4. not sure, looked interesting its looking into the wreck (everything is upside down)
5. barge the ship was towing when it went down (Colleen again)
6. Similar "peek" inside
7. J Yaeger playing with a still functioning transfer pump
8. A fine first bit of treasures from my wife's first river drift

---------- Post Merged at 01:50 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 01:46 PM ----------

P.S. - sales pitch - that beam is the DRIS 1000. It seriously punched the turbidity......

[ScubaSteve]

I meant nothing by my question. I had no idea PADI had a "tag line" of any sort and therefore could see no connection (to tell you the truth I Just went on the PADI website and still see no connection but no matter). I really was just trying to see the connection to PADI. Sorry if I was misunderstood and I am glad you had a great weekend.

[ajtoady]

Hey ScubaSteve, or rongoodman, you get in the area and I'd be glad to make your acquaintance. As rwest will verify,it don't take much prodding to get me diving. Boats are usually available as are a couple of buddies. As far as the tag line goes, when I was doing my classes I remember the go places, do things, make friends, part. Thus the poster child statement.:D

[rhwestfall]

Ron - they are still there.....

129916

[DivemasterDennis]

Love the report. Debbie and I still enjoy diving most when it is the two of us, or at most us and another couple.
There is something about just getting a couple of friends together and going diving that to me is the essence of our sport. But I will hitch a ride on a big boat, too.
DivemasterDennis

[ScubaSteve]

Ron - they are still there.....

129916




What are we looking at? I see an alien being transported into the body of a.......

[rhwestfall]

Creative, but its about a 2' long walleye. One of many on the wreck, as referenced to previously be there by RonG.... (behind it is a couple pound smallmouth bass...) Yes, the vis was less than ideal..... when the water is 72 degrees at 107' (this was at 70'), things tend to grow in the water that challenge the camera...

[stevensamler]

I think they went places, did things, and made new friends . . .

Now that sounds familiar.

[j yaeger]

wow!!!!!!!!my butt looks really big underwater!!!!!!!
thanks for the good times tony!!!!
...meet people...underwater!!!!
great to meet bob and collen!
family diving-more to come with the 10 yr old!!!!!!
thanx for the pics
...and that,folks, is what it's all about....
have fun
yaeg