Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 205,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

  • Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
  • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
  • Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
  • Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
  • Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 38


  1. #1
    NA


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Popeye's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    East Tennessee, Smoky Mountains
    Posts
    366

    The Truth Is Out There...

    Off I went...

    In search of these droves of divers without skills or a clue.

    I dove 4 cattle boats (and a six pack or two) in S. Florida in 7 days, from Boynton Beach to Key West.

    14 boat dives total, on the Boynton Reef, the Cayman Salvage Master, Adolphus Busch, Looe Key, American Shoals, The Duane, and The Speigel Grove a few times, among other places.

    -Not only- did I live through each and every dive, so, amazingly, did everyone else!!!

    -Hundreds- of divers, maybe a hundred in one dive alone, on the Grove.

    I dove with 50 different divers or better just on the boats I was on.

    I buddied maybe 8 dives with complete strangers, and none of them tried to kill me.

    No one dragging on the reef, no Coast Guard rescues, not one OOA.

    Not a single Polaris Maneuver.

    Divers from across the US, as well as other places, good trim, streamlined, good boat manners.

    Vacation divers, Rec/tec, even a few doubles on the Grove.

    Even the ones like me certified by... PADI!!!

    The only gear I lent out all week was a pair of gloves, and a pair of booties, and the (missing) booties were washed overboard.

    I did lend a little air to a guy on the Grove, who later explained that he had plenty, but wanted to have 500 back at the boat.

    This was a total stranger who swam up and gave me a slate with a written request (I had 1800 psi left). Too funny.

    I was also asked to dive with a new OW diver, a young lady that did a fine job, including drilling me on hand signals, checking my gear without being asked, and asking about the differences.

    Impressed the hell out of me.

    If I could point out one thing, it was that there was a lotta line hanging going on during safety stops, but seas were 3-5 or better one day, with a current.

    It's hard for a group of several divers to stay at 15, near the line in a current.

    A fantastic trip, made more enjoyable by the diving public at large.

    Thanks everybody, it was good to see you.

    And good to see you doing so well.

  2. #2
    ScubaBoard Sponsor

    Please visit our Sponsor Page!

    Has not set a "status"
     

    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Tampa Florida USA
    Posts
    484
    Dives
    200 - 499
    Photos
    7

    Very good post...too many times we only hear ...

    Very good post...too many times we only hear the negatives about experiences...its nice to know that you had a good (and safe) time.
    This is just my 2 psi worth of input. Feel free to breathe it or leave it in the tank.

    There are no such things as stupid questions, just stupid answers.

    Dive Safe!

  3. #3
    Colton
    Guest
    Has not set a "status"
     

    Sound like fun!!!!

    Sounds like fun to me! I wish I could of been their. When you seid in your post that you had 1800psi and that he was at 500 or so, can you send me a private message or post back telling me how you saved your air like that. That would be great !

    How can you 100 divers on one dive site and not 1 of them having problems. That is amazing!



    Colton

  4. #4
    Regular of the Pub


    is probably drunk
     

    JeffG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Edmonton, Alberta
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Photos
    34

    Nice Road Trip

    Sound like you had a blast, and Welcome back.


    But it sounds like a fluke...Statistical Anomaly, with all those divers there should have been at least 3 accidents, one of which should have been a PADI instructor....But you wouldn't be able to see it because of all the silt that must have been raised up.


    Men are like a fine wine. They start out as grapes, and it's up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

  5. #5
    Mindless lemming


    Has not set a "status"
     

    cornfed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Beltsville, MD
    Posts
    2,533

    Don't get to worked up Pops, it was a federal...

    Don't get to worked up Pops, it was a federal holiday -- both Murphy and Grim were on vacation!

    Cornfed

  6. #6
    ScubaBoard Enthusiast


    Has not set a "status"
     

    detroit diver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Posts
    3,410

    Popeye knows what Gilboa looks like on the we...

    Popeye knows what Gilboa looks like on the weekends, so anything less than a complete siltout would look fantastic to him!
    "I will spare you a gushy description of the dive itself, except to say that when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent. "
    -Dave Barry

  7. #7
    Frequent Poster


    Has not set a "status"
     

    ibnygator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    320
    Dives
    200 - 499

    Which was your favorite dive? ...

    Popeye once bubbled...
    14 boat dives total, on the Boynton Reef, the Cayman Salvage Master, Adolphus Busch, Looe Key, American Shoals, The Duane, and The Speigel Grove a few times, among other places.
    This was a total stranger who swam up and gave me a slate with a written request (I had 1800 psi left). Too funny.
    I've done the Cayman Salvager, Adolphus Busch, Looe Key, the Duane and the Spiegel Grove. I think of all of them my favorite was the Adolphus Busch. As I remember, it had a long swim through that was all cleaned out and that you could see ambient light in from one end to the other. My dive log says I saw a big jewfish there and lots of snook. I also had an awesome night dive on the Duane last month. If you ever do it again, I would recommend the Thunderbolt off of Marathon and the Eagle off of Key Largo.

    Just curious about what you liked. Sounds like a great trip.

  8. #8
    NA


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Popeye's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    East Tennessee, Smoky Mountains
    Posts
    366

    [QUOTE][i]ibnygator once bubbled... [/i][B]...

    ibnygator once bubbled...


    I've done the Cayman Salvager, Adolphus Busch, Looe Key, the Duane and the Spiegel Grove. I think of all of them my favorite was the Adolphus Busch. As I remember, it had a long swim through that was all cleaned out and that you could see ambient light in from one end to the other. My dive log says I saw a big jewfish there and lots of snook. I also had an awesome night dive on the Duane last month. If you ever do it again, I would recommend the Thunderbolt off of Marathon and the Eagle off of Key Largo.

    Just curious about what you liked. Sounds like a great trip.
    I have a special place in my heart for the Busch, which I've been diving for four years. www.reef-divers.com/ is my guy down there, and a fantastic operation it is. I try to hit the Keys twice a year.

    But this gig was definately the Grove, my first trip.

    First time with this operation, I had been exchanging posts and e-mails with the owner in my other group for over a year, and I was very impressed with his op and crews (www.silentworldkeylargo.com/index.html), and very much look forward to my next visit.

    The Grove was like a parking lot on the 4th & 5th, but there's a lotta ship to see.

    Viz was 100 plus, but hard to figure on that big a target. She catches a lotta light.

    I've done the T-bolt and Eagle before.

    The most, er, interesting, dive I ever did was drifting the Duane and the Bibb (solo), not for the faint of heart.

    The Cayman Salvage Master and Joe's Tug came about because my dive bud required a KW stay, with a motel on White Street and an eatery tour. I usually go on trips solo, but she made a good argument. That'll be my first and last Key West diving, though.

  9. #9
    NA


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Popeye's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    East Tennessee, Smoky Mountains
    Posts
    366

    [QUOTE][i]JeffG once bubbled... [/i][B]Soun...

    JeffG once bubbled...
    Sound like you had a blast, and Welcome back.


    But it sounds like a fluke...Statistical Anomaly, with all those divers there should have been at least 3 accidents, one of which should have been a PADI instructor....But you wouldn't be able to see it because of all the silt that must have been raised up.


    On Tuesday, I did the Cayman Salvager in near Zeeeero Viz and a two knot current.

    It was just me and the Dive Guy. Shortly after we left, at least three other boats tied up to her.

    Bet that was a scene... :-)

  10. #10
    NA


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Popeye's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    East Tennessee, Smoky Mountains
    Posts
    366

    [QUOTE][i]Colton once bubbled... [/i][B]Sou...

    Colton once bubbled...
    Sounds like fun to me! I wish I could of been their. When you seid in your post that you had 1800psi and that he was at 500 or so, can you send me a private message or post back telling me how you saved your air like that. That would be great !

    How can you 100 divers on one dive site and not 1 of them having problems. That is amazing!



    Colton
    Air consumption is a whole nuther thread, but comfort in the water is a first step. That means, dive, dive, dive.

    Creative tank fills also help.

    100 divers diving and not one having a problem is totally normal, however, and was the point of my post. :-)

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. DIR Class: The Truth Comes Out (Again)
    By SeaJay in forum Non-Diving Related Stuff
    Replies: 99
    Last Post: July 11th, 2004, 05:08 PM
  2. Death on the Truth?
    By deckman in forum SoCal
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: May 19th, 2004, 06:19 PM
  3. Tell the truth now...
    By DivingGal in forum Non-Diving Related Stuff
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: November 8th, 2002, 02:38 PM
  4. Tell the truth ....
    By Natasha in forum Basic Scuba Discussions
    Replies: 48
    Last Post: June 15th, 2001, 03:02 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •