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Ebenezer dam, South Africa, my maximum dive 42 m there (138 feet),
Wolkberge, SA (We were looking for the Kruger Rands, but did not find it),
Lepalllani dam, SA (Doing black water dives and cleaning sluices),
Apies Doorn dam, SA (Doing black water dives and cleaning sluices),
Piet Gouws dam, SA (Doing black water dives and cleaning sluices),
Otjikoto lake, Namibia,
Guinas lake, Namibia (Part of team braking Namibian deep diving record of 130 m (426 feet), my task was to hold the spotlight at approx 10 m),
Sodwana, SA,
Aliwal Shoal, SA,
Protea Banks, SA (I did 21 dives there and it is my favourite shark diving spot),
Plettenberg Bay, SA,
Tsitsikama, SA,
Loskop dam, SA (We have salvaged a sunken speed boat in a crocodile infested dam),
Bass Lake, SA,
Badgat, SA (Did my deepest dive there of 52 m or 170 feet),
Hout Bay, SA,
Knysna, SA,
Hermanus, SA
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And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... John 8:32
It would not be accurate to characterize Sri Lanka as one big war zone. The LTTE is active in the north and east, but it is relatively safe to travel in the rest of the country. I have dived in the Hikkaduwa area and never felt in danger--well, the barb-wired, sand-bagged checkpoints around Columbo were a little unnerving. The diving down there was mediocre at best, but I enjoyed my trip--it is a beautiful country in places. I'm not sure where Nilaveli is--and I can't find it on the map--but I think the better diving is in the dodgier areas.
Well am talking about heart of LTTE, that Trincomalee, its east of Srilanka.
The first time i saw a Elephant running wild, huge bee hives, bullet ridden houses, ghost engulfed towns, bunkers with gun pointing at ur car, being stopped at every kilometer, being suspected of your BCD as bomb-vest.
Despite of these you enjoy at 5 star buffet lunch for 6USD, meet fisherman who are free of any material possesions, play soccer with the fishermen's kids(soccer ball of emply coconut shell, almost date a fisherman's girl (nearly got killed for that), drink raw liquor from the palm tree, visit the some remote areas around the trincomalee, and ofcourse dive.....what more can you ask for!!!
Anamicha, hope you realize that I wasn't putting you down, just having fun. I can understand that the chance to explore new ground and go where few can or have, is worth some risk for sure. Few of us though would enjoy having to dive under the watchful (hopefully?) eyes of heavily armed guards. Sort of diminishes the relaxing effects of great diving for me, but I can see the excitement factor for some! Especially if the diving is really spectacular.
When I was (a lot) younger I hopped a train into Tito's Jugoslavia w/o a visa, and had a ball exploring a place that not many Americans went to then, as it was Communist and pretty primative by US standards. Being escorted to interviews under AK47's before they granted me entry, made me feel a bit vulnerable, but hey, I was young and feeling pretty invincable, so I can definately relate to assuming some risk to go where few others do.
Enjoyed your post! Maybe some day I'll get there too....
Not at all mate. am easy with any comments.....Life is short so get the best of it!!
Dave, Cocos is in November of 09. We have booked the Aggressor and it is a 10 day trip. We have a fantastic group of divers going. For more details you can email me at Dianenaui@aol.com.
Diane
Florida Keys - Key West, Key Largo, Looe Key
Rhode Island - Fort Wetherill, Kings Beach
Cape Ann MA - Wreck Chester Poling, Saddle Rock, Kettle Island
Portland Quarry in CT
Dutch Springs PA
Curacao
Cayman Brac
Nassau
Aruba
and of course Maui
Can I recomend, Okinawa, Japan. You can book a entire vacation in the western Pacific, by seeing Guam (US Territory), Palu, Truk, Siapan, and Okinawa, Japan. All of these locations ae safe, as far as crime, drinking water, ect, and diving is comparable in expence wise to Florida with 2-3 tank dives costing between $75 - $150. From shore on Okinawa there are nearly 100 dive sites. We also have boat dives into the Kerama's, where you can see every thing from Humpback Whales, to the ancient ruins of Yonaguni down to the most adbundant assortmant of nudi branchs with over 750 speices, plus many WWII wrecks. Check out my photos...
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General Rules for Diving
[left]1. Safety Stop for 3 minutes at 5 meters/ 15 feet is required if the diver comes within 3 pressure groups of no-decoression limit, and for any dive of 30 meters/ 100 feet or greater
2. Emergency Decompression If a no-decompression limit is exceeded by no more than 5 minutes, an 8 minute decompression stop at 5 meters/ 15 feet is mandatory. Upon surfacing, the diver must remain ot of the water for at least 6 hours prior to making another dive. If a no-decompression limit is exceeded by more than 5 minutes, a 5 meter/ 15 feet decompression stop of no less than 15 minutes is urged (air supply permiting.) Upon surfacing, the diver must remain out of the water for at least 24 hours prior to making another dive.
Here is my list:
Australia (Great Barrier Reef)
San Diego California
Catalina Island California
Florida Keys
Hawaii (Oahu)
Venezuela (Los Roques, Chichiriviche, La tortuga, Mochima)
Bahamas
Puerto Rico (La Parguera and around Mayaguez)
Ohio quarries (Portage, white Star, Gilboa)
The UP Michigan (Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario )
Ohio-Lake Erie
Cozumel
It's good to mix it up, in particular to train in cold water and dive the tropics for fun.
Very Kind Offer
Linear Mode
