So what did you do this week-end?

[MXGratefulDiver]

Dunno if this is the right forum, because this is scuba-related even though I never got in the water. I spent the week-end helping Muggsy at the ScubaBoard booth at the Tacoma (WA) Dive and Travel Expo. I met an incredible number of people who told me they are active on the board to one degree or another ... some whose screen names I recognize, and many who I didn't. With 200,000 plus members, it's hard to remember all the board names. Had a real ball talking about ScubaBoard to a lot of people who haven't joined us yet ... and hopefully helped to gain us a few new members.

Got a new drysuit ... a new design by Bare that I ordered a few weeks ago, and just happened to arrive in time for the show. I can't wait to get it wet.

And ... at the end of today ... I found out that one of the three pictures I submitted in the photo contest not only took first prize in its category, but won me a 7-day diving trip to one of the best cold-water diving spots on the planet ... Browning Pass, off the northern coast of Vancouver Island. I've been there twice before, and was already talking to another SB member about going back in September ... now for sure I'll be going.

Great week-end ... all about diving, even though I never managed to make it below the surface.

Oh ... the winning shot ... I called it "Surprised" ... yeah ... me too ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[gcarter]

Sounds like a great weekend!

Mine wasn't quite so spectacular, but still good. Picked up our VIPed tanks with their shiney new EAN stickers to go with our new EAN certs, so we can start diving Nitrox. Went to a spring sale at another LDS and picked up a few baubles. Today went to the St. Lawrence, but wasn't feeling the temp to do a dive wet so we settled for just doing some beach clean up and left the underwater cleanup to those with dry suits. I was kind of looking forward to trying out my new gloves though.

 

[TMHeimer]

Dived wet in Nova Scotia in April, which is marginally better than Nova Scotia in January, and nothing like Mississippi a month ago.

 

[Mustang29]

And ... at the end of today ... I found out that one of the three pictures I submitted in the photo contest not only took first prize in its category, but won me a 7-day diving trip to one of the best cold-water diving spots on the planet ... Browning Pass, off the northern coast of Vancouver Island. I've been there twice before, and was already talking to another SB member about going back in September ... now for sure I'll be going.

Great Job!

I spent my weekend diving in a pool. Doing my OW cert!

 

[DevonDiver]

For the last couple of days, I was involved in the PR of a new dive center in Subic - working alongside a pro-photographer to capture some great images of muck-critters on a new artificial reef project and also some more general shots of the wrecks/divers and technical diving.

Did one exploratory dive on a potential wreck 'mark' I had... 100m circular reel search, at 29m, from a shot dropped on GPS coordinates. Nothing but silt, small rock pinnacles and a few tube anemones. Maybe next time....

Worked with dive center manager to put together his application for PADI Dive Resort accreditation/membership. Also working out procedures for running courses at the center. Bookings, pricing, policies etc etc

Spent many evening hours developing some promo materials on Photoshop, using the new photo images taken on the dives. Designed a dive shop logo, created several other logos to showcase the variety of diving available here (muck photo, sidemount wreck etc).

Also initiated steps to begin a conservation effort of a large Seahorse colony found thriving on the artificial reef/muck site. Contacted London Zoo (Project Seahorse) and several other organizations/individuals who might help start the ball rolling with an ongoing study and protection measures.

Combined these dives with trial and adjustment of my DIY sidemount rig... got some nice 'action' photos taken during wreck penetrations (see my new profile pic and avatar).

Made 3 posts onto my blog. Added an album to my Facebook page. Contributed several interest stories to the Facebook Wreck and Tech Wreck groups. Posted a few times on Scubaboard and did some moderation here. Sent over 80 emails.

Finally got home to my Condo, after 6 days away, at 1am last night...

 

[gcarter]

Busy much?

---------- Post added April 23rd, 2012 at 12:33 AM ----------

Dived wet in Nova Scotia in April, which is marginally better than Nova Scotia in January, and nothing like Mississippi a month ago.

We dove wet last weekend @ 3.3C - SI was a balmy 17C.

Today was reported by the Ogdensburg station ~ 6C, but the SI was around 4C with a nice crisp breeze blowing off the river. Just wasn't feeling it.

 

[jhupka]

funny guess I met you at the dive show and never even knew it. I was the guy walking around with rope and the ezzycut lol

 

[TSandM]

Oh, Eezycut is such a great product! Sorry I didn't meet you!

The Expo was fun. Last year, I came and enjoyed talking to all the travel folks, but there were no products I really wanted. This year, the show was dangerous! From the new Santi suits, and the new Light Monkey divided canister, to the clever Halcyon light/reel mating combinations, there were a lot of things I wouldn't mind owning. But I kept it to the purchase of a set of hand-painted dry gloves, with seahorses all over them. They're stunning!

I so enjoyed seeing so many PNW divers who I rarely see or get to talk to . . . and I got to talk up our Project Baseline to a bunch of people I think might be able to help us.

Today, I didn't make it to the show. I spent the morning cleaning the house and yard for guests, and the early afternoon riding two horses. It was 77 degrees in Woodinville today, the warmest day of the year so far, and it was utterly wonderful to be outside. And as strange as it sounds to say it, I'm glad I didn't dive, because it was wonderful to spend an entire day outside without ever getting cold.
T

 

[Tigerman]

Sounds like a lot better weekend than mine.. Ive been working nights all last week, including the weekend

 

[Simon-]

Nice relaxing dhow (arabic traditional boat) into the Mussandam area of Oman.

Air temperature was around 29c and the water temperature 25c pretty constantly from 5m to 30m.

6 planned dives, 1 extra on the way back, but a totally unplanned additional night dive (after the planned one) to find my wife's mask and snorkel she dropped as she got into the speedboat. Luckily there was very little current, and we managed to find it about 25m from the dhow in 23m. Luckily the vis was good and the torches bright ;-)