Missing PNW

[donclaypool]

I've been lurking this forum since I moved to FLA almost five years ago. Everyone here is so obsessed with cold, as if people can't go outside north of the 26th parallel. I should be heading out to Seattle next summer (when it's warm!) and hope to get in a couple dives with you guys. I tell everyone here about the abundance of life in cold water but they just don't appreciate it. I sure did! We don't have large, curious sea mammals here. I've seen dolphins, but not while diving. When I first got here they warned me of the ever present current and danger of drift diving so I was a little nervous on my first charter. Obviously, those who had warned me had never been flushed through Agate Pass on a strong winter tide! I miss the diving, the people, the really, really great beer, mountains, solitude, open spaces... everything except the rain. The diving spoils us here in Florida but it sure has a price for a Northwest native. Now I'm going to go put on my 7mm Bare drysuit just to feel it's warmth again.
Good Diving,

Don
Astoria/Corvallis/Bend/Redmond/Newport/Dutch Harbor and now Lantana,FL
If any of you come down this way look me up.

 

[JasonH20]

Can't speak to the diving aspect of the NW (yet), but I can feel for ya! Everytime I've left the NW, I'm always glad to return (regardless of the time of year). I like it even more on days like today, clear, crisp, and blue skies!

I'll have a beer for you tonight after work at Redhook.

 

[bcsean]

Diving the cold water is great. Tons to see. Although if you want good beer, you're gonna have to come a little further north, just this side of the border

 

[Uncle Pug]

Don, give us a heads up when you come to Seattle we will take you out for some boat dives.

 

[donclaypool]

Don, give us a heads up when you come to Seattle we will take you out for some boat dives.

WooHoo- Just what I wanted to hear Mr. Pug.

Haven't tried B.C. beers other than LaBatts,Moosehead,Molsons. Are there good Canuck Micros?

I have to really search for Rogue Dead Guy's, and would freedive 60' for a Bridgeport Coho.

don

 

[MarkH]

Haven't tried B.C. beers other than LaBatts,Moosehead,Molsons. Are there good Canuck Micros?



don

I'm sure I'll be burned as a heretic, but I can't stand those "high school" beers. Spinnakers out of Victoria makes my favorite beer, an "extra special bitter". If you want strong, try Quebec's "maudite" (Spelling?). It's 9 % and tastes like pungent mud. Mmmmm! Since this is a diving forum, I guess I have to say something about diving too, so... Last year I went on a 6 month "dive trip" with the navy. I dove in Hawaii, Fiji, Great Barrier Reef, Arabian Sea, Etc..., but every time I jumped in the water, I honestly missed that "holy s**t" feel of cold water on my face.

 

[bcsean]

Lots of good microbreweries. Lots of good beer. Next time you're up, this side of the border, let us know where you're at. I'm sure there will be a few people who volunteer to show you around.

I'm about to kill my all cold water diving history by going to Fiji. We'll see what happens when I come back. I have a feeling I'll still be more then willing to go jump in the freezing waters.

 

[simbrooks]

I've been lurking this forum since I moved to FLA almost five years ago. Everyone here is so obsessed with cold, as if people can't go outside north of the 26th parallel. I should be heading out to Seattle next summer (when it's warm!) and hope to get in a couple dives with you guys. I tell everyone here about the abundance of life in cold water but they just don't appreciate it. I sure did! We don't have large, curious sea mammals here. I've seen dolphins, but not while diving. When I first got here they warned me of the ever present current and danger of drift diving so I was a little nervous on my first charter. Obviously, those who had warned me had never been flushed through Agate Pass on a strong winter tide! I miss the diving, the people, the really, really great beer, mountains, solitude, open spaces... everything except the rain. The diving spoils us here in Florida but it sure has a price for a Northwest native. Now I'm going to go put on my 7mm Bare drysuit just to feel it's warmth again.
Good Diving,

Don
Astoria/Corvallis/Bend/Redmond/Newport/Dutch Harbor and now Lantana,FL
If any of you come down this way look me up.

Don, stop your whining, people pay money to fly here and dive

 

[donclaypool]

Don, stop your whining, people pay money to fly here and dive

Help me, please!!!!! Jeb Bush and the Florida Tourism Commision ******* are coming for me. I must hide and be very, very quiet now.

I wouldn't be whining so much if I could get a decent microbrew, though.

Exit, stage right

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Help me, please!!!!! Jeb Bush and the Florida Tourism Commision ******* are coming for me. I must hide and be very, very quiet now.

I wouldn't be whining so much if I could get a decent microbrew, though.

Exit, stage right

Yeah ... that's the problem with living in a Third World country ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)