Fishkiller
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Ok for those of you who want to read and understand
On March 23rd I stopped by the dive shop to confirm Saturdays certification dive out at the lake. It seems that there wasnt an instructor available to take me, so Mike suggested that I swim in with his class on Sunday to just hang out and blow bubbles. My very first thoughts of diving, back in November were to be certified by March 25th, but life happens. I spent 7.5 hours of the best fun that I had, had in many days. There were 12 students in the pool class with 2 DMs. It was nice to skip the no mask breath being number 13 has advantages. That class was cool by the end of the night I was like I was part of the family. I even did the no mask swim. I left on a scuba high and slept like a baby that night.
On Monday night I had a holiday from work, on my way to dinner,I went to the shop to drop off the BC. I arrived at the shop right when a dive trip briefing was being held. I am going to San Carlos Mexico in June, so put my head in the room to listen in. Mike was talking about the trip for March 30 through the first of April. There were five divers going to get their OW, 1 junior OW (Chelsea) and one AOW (Chris), three people were from Sunday's class. Since PADI rules limit the cert. dives to 4 students in JrOW, there was going to be an odd person out. Chris didnt know I wasnt certified yet and mentioned how he could dive with me while his daughter Chelsea was being certified, Mike goes hes not certified yet he is just think about going this trip. Then a couple of people said, Hey why dont you come with us?
I called my boss to ask for Thursday night off, he said yes to a half night. I called my son and when Alex said he didnt want to go to Mexico his mother said it would be OK for him to stay another weekend with her.
I then told Mike I would be in Thursday to pick up my BC and another wetsuit, and pay for the trip. Thursday on my way to work stopped by the shop, and met Ashley another student from the class that decided to go. Way cool there were lots of people I knew going.
Friday morning Im all packed up with brand new wheeled dive gear bag waiting at the shop at 3:45 am by 4:00 Mike, Ashley, Matt, and the Schultz family were there. Mike said that the others were going to fly down and save seven hours of driving. The new plan for the dive trip was the four of us Chelsea, Matt, Ashley, and myself, were going to do three shore dives that night and do the final certification dive Saturday off the boat, after that who cares we would be C-card holders.
After unpacking in the hotel room, I changed and went down to the sandy shore to geared up for the first of the dives.
Someone mentioned how the wind had been blowing all week so the water was all stirred up, the visibility was maybe 5 feet. Hell I could get better vis. at the lake and the water taste better was my comment.
After having trouble clearing my ear,again!! down I went to swim arm in arm 20 feet for 20 minutes. My mask kept flooding and the water was stinging my eyes but I said Im here just 3 more dives to go. It was funny when Mike gave me the OK, partial flood the mask sign I gave him the finger and just cleared the mask. By the end of the three dives I was giving the mask the finger and talking to myself. I was so glad that I just had one more dive then I could go back to fishing.
there's this story about a man that was hitting his head against a brick wall, when asked why? the man replied "because it feels so good when I stop."
When Chris said he was going to the dive shop to get the sand out of Chelseas BC I tagged along and signed up for a fishing charter for Sunday.
At the marina we met a group of divers from Tucson, who owned the 46 dive boat, built for 32 divers, the 17 of us would have rough it. On the trip out to San Pedro Island we went through a pod of dolphins. I took a cool photo of dolphins jumping. At the Island we had our dive briefing. I just wanted to do my last three skills, say the hell with this, and go fishing.
Mike had to catch Chelsea up, she missed dive three. That's when Matt and Ashley said we should do a dive together, without Mike. I couldnt go fishing without a fishing pole that was at the hotel.
Well time to get into the water second to last time three skills to go. With 73degree water and a good 40 vis. Things were different I didnt have to make everyone wait while I cleared my mask, I could just catch up.
The first skill, was the full mask remove and replace, dang I could see the same without the mask, my eyes were so sore anyway. Second skill fin pivot with oral inflation of BC, no problem,I did a little dance. The Final skill compass swim, 100 feet out and back. Great! I thought just keep the black fuzzy arrow between the two black fuzzy things. After swimming a few yards, Chelsea gave me the look over there, someone dropped a mask and snorkel. I Swam to it picked it up thinking someone from the boat dropped it, held on to it as I caught back up with the rest of the group. Skill three was done and I did a really big dance. I think when I yelled YEAH!!! It scared the sea lions away. At the boat I took off my weights handed them up, took off my BC, handed that up. Thought I would push the tank and BC up to give the guy a hand. Well the crewman knew just how high to lift the tank to clear the boat, a distance that didnt include my right ring finger. (yes smashed the finger really good I did.) I was first in line for Mike to sign me OFF.
On the trip to the other dive spot I had a chance to look at the now inherited mask, with all its slime. We all changed tanks and got ready for the next dive, my last one so I took my camera; FUJI makes a disposable rated to 17.
When the ladders were dropped, I asked if it was OK to get in the water. The DM said yes so off I went. I dropped down to 15 for a couple of minutes, took pictures of the sea lions, came back up. EVERYONE was staring at me, Mike later told me people asked whats he doing diving solo? While he just shook his head.
I swam over to the boat and handed Chriss wife, a non-diver, the only person who would come near me, the camera.
When Matt and Ashley entered the water I said Ill follow you until my air runs out, so down we went. Everytime I would stop to clear my mask, my OCTO would be loose, and I would re-attach it then swim on. After the third time I asked Matt if he was OK Ashley was Ok. So I found that if I held my head in such a manner I could clearly see my OCTO being pulled loose by a sea lion. I knew when my air reached 1000-psi time was up I had to go, on the surface Matt and Ashley said I used my air way to quickly, well mask clearing all the time and swimming to catch up will do that.
On the boat Chris asked if we could dive together being how we both had the same DC, AERIS 500AI. I said Ill think about it while I cleaned up the mask I found. A Ocean Master with purge valve, green highlights, (not organic), and 2.0 lenses. Man this was a nice mask with a prescription close to my own, My MARES ESA sure was going to be returned. I used soap and cleaned that mask up enough that I wanted to wear it. Before Chris and I dove down I said,it cant be any worse than what I had been wearing lets get this over with. At 40 feet Chriss alarm stared going off, he had set it for Chelseas limit,at 60 feet my DC went off we stopped.
Then it hit me like the words from my brother the difference between fuzzy AM radio and stereo HI-FI THX Dolby surround sound.
I hadnt cleared my mask.
I did a barrel roll in front of the sea lion.
I did a back flip and summer-salt.
I did an upside down hover.
AH AH AH
NO WATER ON FACE
My mind raced.
I saw clearly.
I saw a cool Urchin skeleton and picked it up.
I NOW knew what it was like to be a diver.
I wasnt going fishing.
I was looking at a giant green moray eel,gobe fish,spotted bass, a leather bass, still more king angelfish
Shrimp living in holes.
Was that Boles law about compression of air and depth?
Aahh I need more air.
Must do safety stop.
Ahh time tick faster.
Must get to boat change tank, dive! dive! dive!
Chris on the surface asked if I felt OK? "sure youre not narked??"
Thank you person who lost mask off Lighthouse point San Pedro Island, SAN CARLOS MEXICO
Ill leave out the jump off the boat, the back roll, the spotted eel and two fingers, along with the brand new $160 divebag that took a swan dive off the Auto at 80mph on the trip home for some other time.
THANK YOU
MOM
On March 23rd I stopped by the dive shop to confirm Saturdays certification dive out at the lake. It seems that there wasnt an instructor available to take me, so Mike suggested that I swim in with his class on Sunday to just hang out and blow bubbles. My very first thoughts of diving, back in November were to be certified by March 25th, but life happens. I spent 7.5 hours of the best fun that I had, had in many days. There were 12 students in the pool class with 2 DMs. It was nice to skip the no mask breath being number 13 has advantages. That class was cool by the end of the night I was like I was part of the family. I even did the no mask swim. I left on a scuba high and slept like a baby that night.
On Monday night I had a holiday from work, on my way to dinner,I went to the shop to drop off the BC. I arrived at the shop right when a dive trip briefing was being held. I am going to San Carlos Mexico in June, so put my head in the room to listen in. Mike was talking about the trip for March 30 through the first of April. There were five divers going to get their OW, 1 junior OW (Chelsea) and one AOW (Chris), three people were from Sunday's class. Since PADI rules limit the cert. dives to 4 students in JrOW, there was going to be an odd person out. Chris didnt know I wasnt certified yet and mentioned how he could dive with me while his daughter Chelsea was being certified, Mike goes hes not certified yet he is just think about going this trip. Then a couple of people said, Hey why dont you come with us?
I called my boss to ask for Thursday night off, he said yes to a half night. I called my son and when Alex said he didnt want to go to Mexico his mother said it would be OK for him to stay another weekend with her.
I then told Mike I would be in Thursday to pick up my BC and another wetsuit, and pay for the trip. Thursday on my way to work stopped by the shop, and met Ashley another student from the class that decided to go. Way cool there were lots of people I knew going.
Friday morning Im all packed up with brand new wheeled dive gear bag waiting at the shop at 3:45 am by 4:00 Mike, Ashley, Matt, and the Schultz family were there. Mike said that the others were going to fly down and save seven hours of driving. The new plan for the dive trip was the four of us Chelsea, Matt, Ashley, and myself, were going to do three shore dives that night and do the final certification dive Saturday off the boat, after that who cares we would be C-card holders.
After unpacking in the hotel room, I changed and went down to the sandy shore to geared up for the first of the dives.
Someone mentioned how the wind had been blowing all week so the water was all stirred up, the visibility was maybe 5 feet. Hell I could get better vis. at the lake and the water taste better was my comment.
After having trouble clearing my ear,again!! down I went to swim arm in arm 20 feet for 20 minutes. My mask kept flooding and the water was stinging my eyes but I said Im here just 3 more dives to go. It was funny when Mike gave me the OK, partial flood the mask sign I gave him the finger and just cleared the mask. By the end of the three dives I was giving the mask the finger and talking to myself. I was so glad that I just had one more dive then I could go back to fishing.
there's this story about a man that was hitting his head against a brick wall, when asked why? the man replied "because it feels so good when I stop."
When Chris said he was going to the dive shop to get the sand out of Chelseas BC I tagged along and signed up for a fishing charter for Sunday.
At the marina we met a group of divers from Tucson, who owned the 46 dive boat, built for 32 divers, the 17 of us would have rough it. On the trip out to San Pedro Island we went through a pod of dolphins. I took a cool photo of dolphins jumping. At the Island we had our dive briefing. I just wanted to do my last three skills, say the hell with this, and go fishing.
Mike had to catch Chelsea up, she missed dive three. That's when Matt and Ashley said we should do a dive together, without Mike. I couldnt go fishing without a fishing pole that was at the hotel.
Well time to get into the water second to last time three skills to go. With 73degree water and a good 40 vis. Things were different I didnt have to make everyone wait while I cleared my mask, I could just catch up.
The first skill, was the full mask remove and replace, dang I could see the same without the mask, my eyes were so sore anyway. Second skill fin pivot with oral inflation of BC, no problem,I did a little dance. The Final skill compass swim, 100 feet out and back. Great! I thought just keep the black fuzzy arrow between the two black fuzzy things. After swimming a few yards, Chelsea gave me the look over there, someone dropped a mask and snorkel. I Swam to it picked it up thinking someone from the boat dropped it, held on to it as I caught back up with the rest of the group. Skill three was done and I did a really big dance. I think when I yelled YEAH!!! It scared the sea lions away. At the boat I took off my weights handed them up, took off my BC, handed that up. Thought I would push the tank and BC up to give the guy a hand. Well the crewman knew just how high to lift the tank to clear the boat, a distance that didnt include my right ring finger. (yes smashed the finger really good I did.) I was first in line for Mike to sign me OFF.
On the trip to the other dive spot I had a chance to look at the now inherited mask, with all its slime. We all changed tanks and got ready for the next dive, my last one so I took my camera; FUJI makes a disposable rated to 17.
When the ladders were dropped, I asked if it was OK to get in the water. The DM said yes so off I went. I dropped down to 15 for a couple of minutes, took pictures of the sea lions, came back up. EVERYONE was staring at me, Mike later told me people asked whats he doing diving solo? While he just shook his head.
I swam over to the boat and handed Chriss wife, a non-diver, the only person who would come near me, the camera.
When Matt and Ashley entered the water I said Ill follow you until my air runs out, so down we went. Everytime I would stop to clear my mask, my OCTO would be loose, and I would re-attach it then swim on. After the third time I asked Matt if he was OK Ashley was Ok. So I found that if I held my head in such a manner I could clearly see my OCTO being pulled loose by a sea lion. I knew when my air reached 1000-psi time was up I had to go, on the surface Matt and Ashley said I used my air way to quickly, well mask clearing all the time and swimming to catch up will do that.
On the boat Chris asked if we could dive together being how we both had the same DC, AERIS 500AI. I said Ill think about it while I cleaned up the mask I found. A Ocean Master with purge valve, green highlights, (not organic), and 2.0 lenses. Man this was a nice mask with a prescription close to my own, My MARES ESA sure was going to be returned. I used soap and cleaned that mask up enough that I wanted to wear it. Before Chris and I dove down I said,it cant be any worse than what I had been wearing lets get this over with. At 40 feet Chriss alarm stared going off, he had set it for Chelseas limit,at 60 feet my DC went off we stopped.
Then it hit me like the words from my brother the difference between fuzzy AM radio and stereo HI-FI THX Dolby surround sound.
I hadnt cleared my mask.
I did a barrel roll in front of the sea lion.
I did a back flip and summer-salt.
I did an upside down hover.
AH AH AH
NO WATER ON FACE
My mind raced.
I saw clearly.
I saw a cool Urchin skeleton and picked it up.
I NOW knew what it was like to be a diver.
I wasnt going fishing.
I was looking at a giant green moray eel,gobe fish,spotted bass, a leather bass, still more king angelfish
Shrimp living in holes.
Was that Boles law about compression of air and depth?
Aahh I need more air.
Must do safety stop.
Ahh time tick faster.
Must get to boat change tank, dive! dive! dive!
Chris on the surface asked if I felt OK? "sure youre not narked??"
Thank you person who lost mask off Lighthouse point San Pedro Island, SAN CARLOS MEXICO
Ill leave out the jump off the boat, the back roll, the spotted eel and two fingers, along with the brand new $160 divebag that took a swan dive off the Auto at 80mph on the trip home for some other time.
THANK YOU
MOM
eace:
