DIVE FIT Course...

[WreckRunner]

I'm not sure how Jon feels about this, but in terms of safety......don't wait until a class next year.....let's just go do some rescue training locally one day soon so we all have good buddies watching our backs. I have no problem making myself free for a Saturday to teach that...free....then go see Jon in the spring to make the rescue skills sharper and improve your performance and technique, and pay him for his time.

I get a good deal out of that.....I don't want to do any 80-100 ft. dives until there is someone waitng for me at 30 ft who knows what to watch for.

Just my 2 cents.

On another note, I just got myself my first house today!! Now I guess I have something decent to hang my new wetsut in.

 

[Pinggene]

If you are open 11/3, come to Green Lake. I would like to have some extra safety training, & I'm sure Scott would be up to it too. Green Lake gets to 265'...not sure what the vis is like down that far...I have not been below the thermocline.

I could be willing to watch your back on a few dives between shooting carp if you want.

Gene

 

[Jon]

Actually, it's 236' and it's called Big Green for a reason.

Not sure if I can make it for that. It's about time to pull boats and docks from the in-law's marina and I also might have to do a recovery job for the UW- in which I would actually have to wear a tank for a change.:yack

Jon

 

[WreckRunner]

Sheesh.....a tank? Sorry Jon......that's just going to be horrible.

Pinggene, I think I can do that saturday or the following one.... Let me check things out. That woud give me a a chance to try out my new fin setup too.

Anyone else interested in throwing a training day together? say 2-3 hours safety training following by some carp shooting?

 

[ILDiver]

I can go the weekend after the big carp hunt. The 10th or whatever. I'm a PADI DM and have done a few rescue classes. I love the training, it keeps everything fresh. The breaths and swimming a person in. Yeah, I'm down...or up....both for it.

 

[Whopperhead]

April 5-8th class is good for me- i just need to get it in the vacation calender.

 

[dforcucci]

Cost per diver was about $700. This included classroom (at my house), pool (local pool gave us a break on the price) and open water dives (we did beach dives and one of the guys used his boat for the last day of diving). Taking the course in Ft. Lauderdale has boat fees (~$150) in addition to the tuition.

 

[Whopperhead]

I'm good to go! I already signed up. My bags are even packed. Well, ok maybe not- but I'm starting to think about it. Which I'm a guy so, packing will take about 5 mins. ILDiver - I have off from 4/3 - 4/13. Just a FYI.

:friday

 

[ILDiver]

Tally ho, right 2 o'clock, I'm in.

Yep, signed up. Paid for the class. Lets see, socks...nah don't need socks. Mask, snorkle, float, gun. Whopperhead what time are you going to be here to head out? Swim trunks, wet suit....

BTW, I wouldn't mind stopping by Venice and dive for some teeth (Florida West Scuba School). Also go out and spear. I would like to take 1 or 2 hogfish to my dad. Just possibilities, not required of course.

 

[WreckRunner]

You guys are killing me.......what I wouldn't give for a hogfish sandwich and some conch fritters.........

Wish I was going with ya!!

Now btw.......you won't have extra time the days of the course.......or any extra energy to walk around for that matter. I ate like a hog and lost 4 pounds. So plan to stay an extra day or two if you really want to go spearing.

 

[ILDiver]

Yeah, My thought would be to stay and spear Wed. or something. I like going to Venice for teeth. They are good people at Florida West. They will let you freedive, but I think it depends on the time of year and how many divers they have. I can do that later, but April is early in the season and you get bigger teeth.

I gotta find some recipies for Hogfish too I guess. Always done fried fish, I'm sure there has to be a better way for Hogfish?? Conch fritters?? hmmm dunno bout that one.

The finer details are yet to be worked out. I dunno what kinda time Scott want to take where.

 

[Whopperhead]

I don't have any plans except to go to the class so from April 1st - April 13 I have off of work. by Teeth - you mean Shark teeth? does that mean there will be sharks around? do I need a Shark WHIP or anything- I'd rather not get eaten. Also, what do you figure the water temp will be?

 

[ILDiver]

Sharks teeth, but no sharks....well, I haven't seen any there yet, but they are in the waters there I'm sure. The teeth are a couple million years old. Biggest tooth I have found in about 3". But people find 6 or 7" teeth down there. That would be a 60' shark that fed on whales, bit them in half. They no longer exist....maybe.... There are fossil beds about a mile off shore in 20' of water, Manatee ribs stingray barbs...all sorts of stuff.

More chance of seeing a shark during the class I think. It's just an option, not sure it will be practical.

 

[WreckRunner]

You won't see any sharks in Ft. Lauderdale......except maybe a nurse shark or two. I did somewhere around 1,000 scuba dives in addition to a ton of spearing in Ft. Lauderdale over the last 4 years and probably saw 5 or 6 small sharks extremely breifly. Go to the bahamas, and that's a different story altogether.

We didn't see a single fish in our DIVE FIT class. The training is done out in the gulfstream a few miles from shore and in around 500-700 feet of water. This is so the water is clear (100 ft vis) and so that the 130' line doesn't experience different speeds of current at different depths and bend. It's really cool, and not anxiety provoking in the least (I though it would be). Having Paul and Martin there just makes it a blast.

Water temp in April will be 75-80. Take a 3 mm with attached hood just to keep you cozy.....you'll be in the water a while.

I'd skip digging in the mud for sharks teeth over on the west coast. I know it can be fun, but you'll miss out on some cooler things locally. There's a ton of really awesome sites to freedive right there in Ft. Lauderdale without the 1 1/2 hr drive to the west coast. I can hook you guys up with some friends to take you out to some really good spots........you'll like these guys a lot, trust me.

And feel free to borrow my hawaiian sling!! it's too easy with those big ass guns of yours!

 

[ILDiver]

Bring your Hawaiian sling out and get a 20lb carp. I'll do it, I ain't skeerd. I'll get a polespear and/or Hawaiian sling eventually.

I know the tooth dive is not as exciting. The point of the west coast is cost. If I could find someone there that can get out to sites and freedives, I have free places to stay. Ft Lauderdale means hotel bill. Spending Wed, Thurs and Fri hunting would be fun I know. Gotta get it all planned out ya know. Finding the $30 a night dive of a hotel off A1A with a complementary .22 in the room for personal safety

Yeah, We will be askin for some local help fo sho!

PS: DAN! Where you at foo! You signing up for the class? I know you got things to work out and plan, but come on man, get in the van! (I'm a rapper now with the rhymes)

 

[Whopperhead]

If you shot a carp with a H-sling, you would never see it again But now you know of course- I'm probably going to buy one.

 

[bgill]

Man you guys....I'd love to go & you know it...I PROBABLY will not be able too...but you never know...Things have a way of "working out" for me at the last minute though...I am "lucky" like that.

Right now my wife and one of the unborn babies (twins) are having some complications...We are hoping and praying that things will work out. We will know more in a few weeks...Right now my wife & kids are ALL that concern me for the most part.

Alot of changes going on right now...I have barely even been out bowhunting...And barely will...My business is booming though so I can't complain...My family and I are being provided for...Stressful times right now...But we'll make it through as always.

I hope I will be able to join you guys down there...I REALLY will be needing a vacation away from it all by then and I may just pull out all the stops AND JUST DO IT...My wife will probably even encourage me to do so. My sister may come and stay with her for a few weeks to help with the babies - They are due in February - But it looks as if they may HAVE to come earlier because of the forementioned "complications" with one of them. But "some bearded man who always wears a robe & sandals" is telling me not to worry...

If I don't make it to Martin's class this spring..I certainly will later on no doubt - But it would be AWESOME to go with you guys. Either way...Have a blast & bring me some fillet's or a tooth if I can't make it!

See you guys around...I still plan on TRYING to do the "OUTLET" at some point this winter though...Even if I still only have my scuba max suit...I'm sure I can handle an hour or two...Plus I like to icefish!

I sure MISS reading JON'S post...I hope all is well with him and his family.

 

[ILDiver]

I understand Dan. I was kidding, I knew you have a lot going on early next year. But if you got down here either riding with Scott or driving yourself, then gas the rest of the way is split. Also if you drove down here and could not stay in FL as long, they have $99 flights from FLL to PIA.

Just giving you options!

 

[bgill]

There is good news...Not just good - but miraculous actually!!!

As most of you know my wife is due with twins in February...What most of you don't know is that there WAS a problem with one of them not doing too well in mama's tummy.

Twin "A" was diagnosed with probable water on the brain (hydrocephallis) about 7 days ago by ultrasound...It has miraculously disappeard!

It could be CLEARLY seen "even by me" on the ultrasound about a week ago that there was a problem...We were told there was definately a problem from our family doctor and the radiologist's who did the "original" ultrasound. needless to say my wife and I were somewhat devastated...Temporarily. We quickly face up to the facts and got ready for this as best as we could...We also asked some "bearded longhaired guy in a robe and sandals" for help...We were told NOT TO WORRY by him..We listened to his advice faithfully and thanked him for everything as we do on a daily basis anyways.

Yesterday we went to a Perinatolgist "a specialist" and another ultrasonagram was done...The Perinatologist was "stumped" that he could not find anything wrong with EITHER of the twins!!!! Zip...Nada...Nothing...Zilch! Even though the ultrasound pics done last week clearly show there to be a problem...The "specialist" was actually almost in tears...Telling us that in all his 30 years of doing this...He has NEVER seen something like this happen...Never! He told us at the very end that we are so lucky we should go to the casino...I said no Doc...We are blessed...luck has nothing to do with it...He smiled and gave us a confused look. He told us that " we are not completely outta the woods" yet...Afterall - "This is twins" and that we STILL have to continue seeing him...There could be future complications but nothing of this magnitude...But as far as any health issues go right now...THE BABIES ARE JUST FINE!!!

I my self don't find this strange or coincidental at all really. That "bearded guy with the robe and sandals" told me everything would be just fine. He was right as is ALWAYS the case...

You know...I've FINALLY come to the total realization...I may NEVER be rich or have "all the toys"....But I am rich in other ways that no one could even imagine...I am a happy man...I have a happy family...And I have "that bearded guy" with me wherever I am...Life is WONDERFUL!:inlove

 

[James Jay]

Hi bgill

Congradulations!!! I feel your pride and Love for your family coming through your post. Will continue to pray for you and your new young family .

bgill wrote:

You know...I've FINALLY come to the total realization...I may NEVER be rich or have "all the toys"....But I am rich in other ways that no one could even imagine...I am a happy man...I have a happy family...And I have "that bearded guy" with me wherever I am...Life is WONDERFUL!:inlove

Jesus Christ has certainly helped and blessed you along your way. Keep us posted.