Learning Something New at The PADI Business Academy

I am happy to say that I am learning great things at the PADI Business Academy. This is a fun and energetic course that helps to make our business better. Would I rather be scuba diving? Sure, but who wouldn't? This is however going to make it possible for me and the rest of us to ultimately get in the water more. The better that we do our job the happier our customers are and the more successful we are. There are also some scary words being used here, Facebook, Blog and ummm, dare I say Twitter... Yup I said it, Twitter. I am going to try it and see what happens. More to follow.

Carl

Florida Underwater Sports: Travel Light With The Right BCD

Florida Underwater Sports: Travel Light With The Right BCD

Travel Light With The Right BCD

Check out the October issue of UNDERCURRENT for an in depth article on light BCDs for travel. This is a thorough comparison of the Scubapro Litehawk and the Dive Rite TravelPac. Since the BC is the heaviest and most cumbersome piece of gear you are carrying, it is worthwhile to do your research.

The article walks you through all the parts, pieces and performance of both BCs. Quoting from the article “…the TravelPac is robustly made to say the least, but it doesn’t offer the maximum lift of the Litehawk… The Scubapro Litehawk retails for $358 has a dry weight of six pounds and a lift of 56 pounds. Compared to the Dive Rite selling for $389 with a dry weight of 5.7 pounds and a lift of 27 pounds.”

The author concludes that, “I think the traveling diver will be more content with the greater lift of the Litehawk especially if he finds himself surfacing in a rough sea, and the $20 price difference will go nicely towards the cost of checking another bag.”

The author is John Bastin, the technical editor of DIVER magazine and the article is in the October issue of Undercurrent.

Learn about the Big Ones - Goliath Grouper & Hogfish

Come to Florida Underwater Sports free seminar Thursday at 6:00PM to hear a dynamic speaker, Angela Collins. Angela is an active scuba diver and marine biologist. She will tell us about her current research on the behavior and ecology of Goliath Groupers and Hogfish within the central eastern Gulf of Mexico.

You spear fisherman can find out where the big ones hang out based on habitat type, depth and season. The rest of you will learn a lot about fish :-)

Oct. 21st, 6:00-8:00 PM
Location: FUSE Classroom
Cost: FREE

Check out Angela’s website: http://shell.cas.usf.edu/motta/Angela.htm
and see you tomorrow night!

Florida Underwater Sports: Florida Underwater Sports behind the move.

Florida Underwater Sports: Florida Underwater Sports behind the move.

Florida Underwater Sports behind the move.

We found ourselves in need of more space for our fast growing business and ended up in the perfect location AND it is easy to find. Those of you who drove up and down Tamiami looking for us and had to park in the patio furniture or Pro Golf parking lot will appreciate this. The new location is easy to find, bright and spacious. 6345 S. Tamiami Trail is a standalone building right next to McDonald’s. How is that for convenient? But wait…there is more. How about a dedicated classroom big enough to hold a growing offering of classes from starting scuba all the way to professional? Watch for more news and announcements about coming classes that are not available anywhere else in Sarasota.

In the short time that we have been in this location we see new divers, students and customers every day. This is a win-win for the Sarasota diving community, a comfortable space, top quality scuba gear and a professional staff committed to exceptional customer service.

If you haven't seen the new space yet, please stop by. We are open 7 days a week and look forward to your visit. Bo

Scuba Diving Buoyancy Compensators Recalled by Ocean Management Systems

Scuba Diving Buoyancy Compensators Recalled by Ocean Management Systems Due to Drowning Hazard
Manufacturer: Ocean Management Systems Inc., of Middletown, N.Y.
Hazard: The buoyancy compensator seal ring could crack, posing a drowning hazard to divers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves buoyancy compensators with the following model numbers. Buoyancy compensators provide buoyancy control for scuba divers by allowing them to inflate or deflate the devices. The compensators were sold in black or red. “OMS” is printed on the front inside of the compensators. Item and serial numbers are printed on the warning label located in the non-inflation area of the buoyancy compensator. A list of serial numbers included in this recall is available from the firm.

Item Number Description
BC-TCPS- B TACOPS® BC ; Black
BC-TCPS-R TACOPS® BC ; Red
BC116-32B16 B Non retraction single tank BC 32 lb. lift / Black
BC116-32R Non retraction single tank BC 32 lb. lift / Red
BC-LGS45 Larry Green Signature Series 45 lb. lift BC
BC-LGS70 Larry Green Signature Series 70 lb. lift BC
BC118 - K Dual Bladder BC [inflated] 94 lb. lift Black or Red
BC115 - KB Dual Bladder BC, 60 lb. lift in Black
BC115 - KR Dual Bladder BC, 60 lb. lift in Red
BC118 - K Dual Bladder BC [deflated] 94 lb. lift Black or Red
BC117 - K45 Single Bladder BC 45 lb. lift / Black
BC117CR - K45 Chemically Resistant 45 lb. lift / Black
BC117 - K60 Single Bladder BC, 60 lb. lift / Black
BC117 - KB Single Bladder BC, 94 lb. lift / Black
BC117 - KR Single Bladder BC, 94 lb. lift / Red
BC116-45B Non-retraction Single Bladder BC 45 lb. lift/ Black
BC116-60B Non-retraction Single Bladder BC 60 lb. lift/ Black
BC116-60R Non-retraction Single Bladder BC 60 lb. lift/ Red
BC116-60C Chemically Resistant 60 lb. lift / Black

Sold at: Dive stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2008 for about $400.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the diving equipment and contact Ocean Management Systems to receive a free repair.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ocean Management Systems toll-free at (877) 791-0315 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s website at www.omsdive.com, or email the firm at recall@omsdive.com

Paul & Jeff's Great Fishing Adventure

Paul and I took out the Luhrs on Sunday for some shake down maintenance and spear fishing. After 9 months we finally have all the bugs worked out of the Simrad Auto Pilot. We had to setup the sea settings and fine tune some adjustments, but before we even left the Manatee River we had it sorted out. It works like a dream. Once we clear the end of Anna Maria we just set in the heading and it does the rest. It does 99% of the steering to allow you to focus on other items like crew safety, monitor the radar, verify the vessel is running properly.

The seas weren’t too bad as we headed out to one of our favorite wrecks about 20 miles due West of Passage Key. We arrived at our first site and there was a marine research vessel nearby so out of respect for the captain and crew pressed on to another wreck about two miles further out to a new site called the Sulfur Barge. Paul had recently found these new numbers, so we opted to give it a look.

We were covered in neoprene from head to toe, but it was no match for the water temp that reached the low 50s. It was cold and made every movement that more difficult as we descended onto the new site. The water clarity was not particularly inviting, somewhere between Wendy’s Frosty and Starbuck’s Frappachino (5 feet apart and Paul and I were just shadowy silhouettes to one another). Little matter as we had two loaded guns and if we were gonna be cold then we were not coming home empty handed. Our gauges read roughly 70 feet as we were suddenly surrounded by eye balls the size of golf balls all around us. They are moving fast and track us very closely as they circled. I didn’t think the visibility could get much worse, but where my dive buddy was a few moments prior was now an even thicker cloud of silt preceded only briefly by the very distinct sound of a speargun letting loose all that mechanical energy as the bands are finally relieved of their strain and release the spear to find it’s mark. It is a perfect illustration of the Scott Serbin technique that says hit something early in the dive to get things hopping early.

I dive into the fray and find Paul working hard to hold his own at 83ft, against what I can only see as a frantic tail moving the opposite direction. It is a cool sight as it looks like Paul is going into his best wrestling move as he hugs the fish as if he is going to do some dramatic move off the top rope or body slam the fish onto the sea floor if he doesn’t stop wrapping the braided line attaching the spear to the speargun around him. I guess I should stop pointing out to Paul that the wraps are getting even worse and try to help him actually get this beautiful fish onto the stringer. It is his first Amber Jack (AJ) and is a really nice fish.

We get the fish onto the stringer and Paul sorted out as we finally see the wreck come into view. Given the depth and poor visibility we opt to stay very close and only explore the section of the wreck that is contiguous. It looks like a bait fish convention. Tons of grunts & bait fish fill every nook and cranny. Visibility isn’t any better, it is so dark that it reminds me of a dawn or dusk dive even though it is 11am without a cloud in the sky on a sunny day. The wreck only has a few feed of vertical relief but she is broken up and the imploded panels make great hiding places for bigger game. The grouper season is closed until April 1st and the fish know it. There are some awesome fish on this wreck and they would be easy to hit with an overhead shot. We can tell there is nothing close to the wreck for cover as the fish are reluctant to leave the safety of the structure. Often times Gags will leave a wreck for a hiding place in a nearby rock pile, but they are holding in the wreck so we know to stay on the structure. We see some really nice Gags, monster size Red Grouper and our first really Big Black Grouper.

We need to get back to the anchor and chain that needs to be adjusted to clear the wreck prior to the ascent. We make a quick adjustment and head back to the anchor line for our ascent. The cold and visibility have made the dive a challenge, but at least we aren’t going home empty handed. Plus, I figure the way that the AJ has been head butting Paul in the gut for the last 20 minutes that my dive buddy is ready to head to the surface to warm up and put this one in the fishbox.

We get back on the boat and decide to head back to the site we originally wanted to fish, Gunsmoke. It is a cool wreck that is hard to find even with good GPS numbers. She is about a 60 ft vessel that was allegedly scuttled by her crew as the Coast Guard was closing in on her for transporting illegal foliage. We haven’t had the best luck hunting here in the past but there have been some really big Hog Fish, Gags and Goliath’s here in the pasts. We also figure that given the poor conditions we should stick to wrecks versus risk being separated on a poorly defined ledge or spread out reef. We are chilled starting our second dive despite trying to warm up for the last hour. Paul is the first in the water and I had him the spear guns over the side of the vessel. As I am finishing gearing up I hear Paul call for me from the opposite side. He is unusually serious as he ask me if “I see a fin just off the vessel in the direction of the wreck.” I scan the water for about a minute and don’t see anything but notice a large sport fishing boat that has been trolling within a mile of us and has a number of fisherman in the rear cockpit area. Paul has a knack for finding the Bull Sharks in the Gulf since he learned how to identify them on a dive last summer at docks barge that included six of the finest specimens each pushing 6 – 10 ft. The coast looks clear, but we know in these conditions we won’t see anything until it literally bumps into us. I get on the rest of my gear double quick and do a backward role off the side.

Water is still really cold and the visibility is still terrible despite the sun being almost directly overhead. I meet up with Paul at the anchor line and we band up as we descend towards the wreck. I only have the anchor line and a pair of black ScubaPro fins as visual references during the slow descent towards the bottom. Paul wasn’t convinced I was on top of this illusive wreck based on what we saw on the sonar, but I really hoped I was given the difficulty of the diving conditions. A sand dive would not be fun today! We are on a steady pace toward the bottom. We know we are making progress given the markers on the anchor rode that were put in place to help us tell how much scope was out. Finally we get to within 90 feet of the anchor and still don’t see anything. All of a sudden Paul stops almost in mid fin kick. I think his spear gun was the only thing that kept him from hitting his head on the wreck. We have dove this wreck many times in great visibility and know it well, but I don’t recognize exactly where we have landed on the vessel. Paul peels right and we head up the port side towards the wheel house. We have seen some big fish in the cargo holds and wheel house. Unlike the previous site there are not many fish. Unlike every other previous dive on Gunsmoke there are no Goliath Groupers with their entourage of bait fish, or Barracudas. Most of the fish that are normally resident in the warmer months are gone. Only a few very big and healthy Atlantic Spade Fish, smaller scamp and assortment of small fish huddle in the wheel house and super structure. We get our bearings and begin to scour the wreck checking the “normal” hiding places we have scored good fish in the past without any luck. The wreck is a challenging dive today given the conditions and the amount of nets and monofilament that cover the wreck is like invisible, snag-inducing tensile on a well decorated Christmas tree. There is some wreckage off the starboard side of the wreck that I suspect is collapsed super structure or stabilization gear that fell to the sea floor when the vessel was sunk. It isn’t going to hold any fish but Paul and I know it is a reliable visual reference that will lead us back to the wreck if we follow it out into the sand nearby. Paul is on point as we follow the trail of rusty metal out into what seems to be a fog bank covering an empty sand bottom. Suddenly the rhythm of bubbles and regulator inhalations is disrupted by Paul’s now signature little girl squeal that normally means “big fish.” I can see he has settled onto his knees and has either started to pray or is tracking something heading towards me from the gloom. I match his pan from left to right as I begin to see the eyes and silhouettes of some quick moving targets. It is amazing how well camouflaged things are down here. I am now shoulder to shoulder with Paul and I know it is my turn to put my first AJ on the stringer. They are moving fast and all appear to be about the same size. Just like on the Discovery Channel they move as a school in a hypnotic group making it difficult to lock into a single target. I am matching my movements to the school and want to make sure I take my shot while Paul is directly behind me to make sure we are both safe. I draw up my gun and lock out my elbows as I refine my aim to make sure my shot will hit it’s mark. That familiar tension runs down my arms as the power of my gun is unleashed on the fleeing AJ. It is a good shot and the calm tension of the stalking is disrupted by the mayhem that can only be brought on by a big fish on the end of a spear 70ft below the surface. Paul is right there with me and I see him put his loaded gun down in the sand next to the wreckage, one more thing to consider as the silt begins to fly and we begin to retrieve the steel cable that attaches my spear to the end of my gun. I know it is a good size fish by the effort it is taking to subdue it. The fish has decided to make a run for a piece of metal stickup up from the sea floor. Paul and I are in hot pursuit. It is a good shot and the AJ has put a lot of blood in the water. Sure hope Paul’s fin sighting was in his mind and not in the water. I finally get the stringer unclipped from my right hip and open it up as we begin to get a handle on the fish. I get it through the mouth and through the gills. Many fish are lost right about now, so I rush to get the stringer closed so we can extract the spear. We get the fish squared away and begin swimming back in the direction of silt cloud we hope puts us back on the wreckage trail that will lead us back to Gunsmoke.

We find the rusty wreckage trail and take a few moments to locate Paul’s gun before heading back to the steel hulled vessel sitting just outside our visual range. Paul and I have had enough in the cold and darkness for this Sunday in March that greeted us with 39 degrees Fahrenheit at the dock. We find the anchor line crossing the wreck and begin our slow ascent to the surface. It is complex and cold with the fish still very much alive and now head butting me as I inch my way slowly up the line. My spear gun in one hand is still a flurry chaos of wire, gun and spear as I haven’t taken the time to reload it. We finally hit the 20 ft mark and begin our safety stop. It is always more nerve racking with bleeding fish on the stringer and visibility still a pretty pathetic 5 feet. It is brighter now but we still cannot see the boat we know is very close given the markings on the anchor line. We break the surface and see the sport fisher now closer was as we get out of the rolling seas and pull the fish on board.

For the first time in the last 6 months we decide not to make another dive even though we have tanks and daylight on our side. We remove the layers of wet suits and hoods. Paul opts for the dry clothes in the cabin, I decide to rinse we some fresh water prior to the 90 minute ride. I think the water in the fresh water tanks was just a few degrees above freezing, but with a head covered with shampoo there is no turning back. A wicked headache quickly follows the chilly water.

We get changed as the sport fishing boat closes the gag between us. It is a all of 50ft long with multiple decks. There is a lone captain on the fly bridge with four passengers fishing off the stern. We switch the VHF to Channel 68 and start to discuss the conditions and fishing throughout the day. He explained he was on his way back toward port from an overnight trip beyond the Mexican Pride (about 15 miles due west). The night before he had to call the Coast Guard to airlift a passenger off the boat with a collapsed lung. Scary stuff in any circumstance, but to be that far off the coast in the dark with a serious medical emergency will test any captain and crew. That orange and white helicopter from air station St. Petersburg must have seemed like an angel from above for everyone involved. The captain said the rescue swimmer and helo crew was outstanding and very responsive. You train for these things, but hope you never have to make the call or have it happen on you watch. We bid the captain good luck with the remainder of his trip and wished his passenger a speedy recovery as we came up on plane and headed for Anna Maria.

Paul opted to man the galley as we headed in the 17 miles or so to Bean Point. He is getting more creative in the galley and has moved beyond the microwave to include some skillet items. Brats and Cheesy Potatoes from a local restaurant are a special treat on this trip. We normally have ham & cheese sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies to keep us going. It was a good trip. Joy and Angie made steaks and salads as we cleaned the scuba gear and washed the salt off the Luhrs. Good times and good friends capped off a great weekend. Lola, Paul & Angies’ Bulldog loves to inspect and lick the fish whenever we turn our backs for even a second. Her head it through the fence in the back yard as she attempts yet another sneak attack on the two AJs in the cooler.

Which BCD is best for me?

There are many factors to think about when choosing a new Buoyancy Compensator Device.
• Comfort and Fit
• Weight integration and trim weight pockets
• Type
o Stabilizing jacket
o Front adjustable jacket (Back and Sides with quick release shoulders)
o Back inflate
• Lift capacity
• Dump valves
• Weight capacity (integrated weights)
• Quality of materials
• Price
You need of course to look at comfort and fit. If the BCD is uncomfortable you will not be thinking about your dive, instead you will be focused on the pain or rub that you are getting.
What about weight integration? Just like old cars without seat belts non-weight integrated BCD’s mean you are not as safe. I am sure that you know or have heard of someone losing their weight belt during a dive or even forgetting to put it on prior to jumping into the water. With integrated weights you are less likely to have this happen. Also, it is just more comfortable. We always tell people when they are choosing gear that comfort is very important.
The stabilizing jackets have unrestricted internal passageways to allow air to flow continuously throughout the jacket and accumulate at the highest point. You are surrounded by this buoyancy bubble and can move easily and precisely underwater. This is great for the photographer that is trying to get that difficult shot. On the surface it provides a comfortable and relaxed face up floating position.
Front adjustable jackets allow variations of fit, regardless of the thickness of suit worn. Quick release adjustable shoulder buckles make this style of BCD very easy to put on and take off. The variety of styles and sizes offer a custom-like fit.
Back flotation jackets are the BCD of choice for the diver preferring a totally uncluttered chest area. The design positions the air bladder on the sides of the tank rather than under the arms or over the shoulders. Underwater it helps you attain a horizontal swimming position.
Dump valves are important because you are not always in an upright position. Make sure that you choose a BCD with ample dump valves that allow you to release air from your BCD no matter what position your body is in. All of our Scubapro BCD’s have three dump valves for this reason.
Lift capacity – All jackets need a minimum of internal volume to allow sufficient air to be injected inside to reach neutral buoyancy and flotation on the surface. Not only is this a comfort issue but it is a safety issue because a jacket needs to be streamlined to reduce drag in order to save energy when swimming.

Can you grab your gear and go?

What if the weather magically cleared up overnight and your buddy said “Let’s go diving today”. Or, if the once-in-a-lifetime dive trip came your way and you had to be ready to leave right now? Actor Will Smith made an important point about preparedness “If you stay ready you don’t have to get ready”. He was talking about being prepared for an acting audition which could come up on short notice, but the same philosophy applies to diving.

Throughout the year work on skills, abilities, equipment and fitness:
• Keep your scuba skills from getting rusty; practice buoyancy, breathing and mask clearing/replacement in a pool.
• Review your tables, know the key no-stop limits (computer batteries can go sideways) and hand signals.
• Has your reg set and BCD been in to a service tech for the manufacturer’s recommended annual maintenance?
• If you haven’t been diving for a year take a scuba refresher or sign up for your Advanced Open Water or a specialty.
• Keep up your strength, endurance, flexibility and general health with biking, swimming and stretching. Just a few push-ups or sit-ups before you shower or some isometrics at your desk during the day can help.

Dive on, Bo

Cozumel Saturday 30 Jan 2010.

Today we had some great dives and I have redeemed myself by getting some great photos and video. We headed south to Palancar for amazing swim throughs with nurse sharks, turtles and Rays. The coral reefs and tropical abound, and the turtles and nurse sharks are the rulers of this amazing dive location. Casa Del Mar and the attached Del Mar Aquatics staff are accomidating and just a pleasure to deal with. The boats are well run and the diving is breathtaking. Drift diving rules!!! I was on the third dive of the day and spotted a nice sized turtle heading north into diagonal into the current and I kicked as hard as I could to get close for a video and a couple of snap-shots. I burned through 500 psi to do this and it was well worth it. Once I got close enough to shoot I hit the record button and shot the video.(Go to the video by clicking on the title of this post) Once the video was done I changed from video to photo mode and snapped a couple of photos. By the time all of this was done I was winded and headed to thirty feet to just drift with the current and catch my breath. What an amazing encounter!!! The items attached are cool but don't do justice to my experience. WOW!!!
Carl

What is an "Assistant Instructor"?

So, if you have trained with us, you may have been working with an Assistant Instructor during part of your training. What does that actually mean?

Let's start with a very brief explanation of the PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) structure. To start off your professional diving career, you become a PADI member when you apply for and are accepted as a Divemaster (see prior blog for info on Divemaster). From there, you can take a ~4 day course and become an Assistant Instructor (AI). From there, you only have to take the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) course and pass the instructor exam to become a full Instructor. Most people combine the AI and the OWSI into one week long course called the Instructor Development Course (IDC). After that they take the two day exam and are a full instructor.

So, what can you do as an AI. Basically put, you can teach the Open Water Scuba course under the direct supervision of an Instructor. Which means you get to work directly with students from beginning to end. Introducing people to diving can be extremely rewarding. Also, you can independently complete the pool session only Discover Scuba Diving.

For a lot of people, being an AI is a career. Most of those people are not here in the US though. For the most part scuba instruction in the US is taught by part timers who have "real" jobs on the side and they teach scuba for the fun and extra money they can make. In the rest of the world however, teaching scuba is considered a full time job. Even though the pay is small, often times Divemasters, AIs, OWSIs rely on tourist tips to augment their income and a professional that has a lot of hustle can make a good deal of money. I know a number of American ex-pats that are doing quite well on Caribbean islands.

Overall, being an AI is not that difficult. The course consists of four parts and each part is performance based, not time based. This means that you get to become proficient at teaching scuba and get comfortable, and not simply just meet a criteria for X number of hours. There are 8 lectures that you have to attend - a little over a days worth. You have to prepare and deliver at least two micro teaching presentations. Micro teaching is just a way to help you organize how you present info to students so that they retain it. The final parts are two confined water and open water teaching presentations. Remember that the system is performance based, so if you have a weak area that needs work, you'll get more practice to build it up.

PADI has built a fantastic instructional system. The basis of this system comes from the founder who in the sixties recognized that scuba instruction could benefit from an organized approach similar to what was being used in more progressive colleges and schools at the time. PADI's system has been copied numerous times, but still remains the gold standard for scuba educational systems.
What I enjoy about the PADI system is that it clearly defines what divers need to do to become certified, communicates it ahead of time and then is also performance based, meaning that divers can take as along or as little time as needed to master skills that they need for their level. Compared to the old days of training, it has come a long way.

If you want more info, let me know. Greg

Random Formulas About Air Consumption v2

I came across a great list of formulas for helping calculate air consumption. If you have never calculated your Surface Air Consumption Rate (SAC or SCR), it is interesting to see how it varies from dive to dive. If you have an air integrated computer, this can be done for you automatically. Greg

Calculating Surface Consumption Rate (SCR) in PSI/MIN:
Salt Water: ((PSI used/Bottom Time) X 33) / Depth + 33
Fresh Water: ((PSI used/Bottom Time) X 34) / Depth + 34

Converting SCR from PSI/MIN to Cubic Feet/MIN: (note: this is how SAC or SCR is normally talked about)
Cubic Feet/min = SCR X Tank Volume (full)/Fill Pressure

Calculating Air Consumption at depth:
Air Consumption at Depth in Sea Water = Surface Consumption Rate / 33 X FSW
Air Consumption At Depth in Fresh Water = Surface Consumption Rate / 34 X FFW


Calculating how long a tank will last at depth:
Tank time = Tank Volume (cubic feet) / Air Consumption at Depth (cubic feet) OR
Tank time = Tank Pressure (PSI) / Air Consumption at Depth (PSI)

Why should I get my regulator serviced annually?

The latest issue of Undercurrent has a good discussion on regulator care, and, it makes some valid and provocative points that I feel are important to share.

Following the manufacturers’ recommendations for an annual service on your regulator gets it back into manufacturer’s specs. It makes sense to get optimal performance from it, but most important is the life support issue. If $100 is too much for you to spend annually to get a regulator to perform as it should, then maybe you should re-think your priorities. When you are dealing with an emergency you want to know that your regulator is functioning correctly. Your last thought shouldn’t be, ‘Maybe I should have gotten that thing serviced after all”.

A Scubapro warranty will get you "free parts for life" if you get your reg serviced yearly. This is a good savings over time. When you take your reg set in make sure the service techs attend manufacturer’s training. Our service staff regularly attend 1-3 day SCUBAPRO training seminars. When you pick up your regulator after it has been serviced, test it on air while you are still in the dive store. Bo

Fit To Dive!

Are you fit for scuba? It is almost the new year and time for those pesky resolutions. Being “fit” always seems to be a priority and if you are fit for diving you know you will be fit for your other activities.

I was looking through a book review on “Fit To Dive” by Dr. Jessica Adams. It talks about how “a strong back can have a profound impact on your scuba diving experience”. Your back muscles are relied upon for climbing ladders when you exit from your first dive, you also use these muscles when you carry tanks to your entry point. A strong back during dive prep will save your effort for the dive itself. Developing your back muscles may help prevent injuries and the increased muscle tone will burn more calories and promote weight loss!

Whatever series of exercises you do, it is recommended to:

1. Avoid using momentum, you always want to rely on your muscles to do the work in a slow and controlled manner.

2. Remember to breathe throughout the exercise. A common method is to exhale on the lift phase and inhale on the lowering phase. The timing is not as important as the breaths themselves. Holding your breath during a lift causes your blood pressure to spike. Bo

Bayronto 29 Nov 09

It was a beautiful day on Sunday. Calm seas, cool temperatures and a fast boat made us bundle up for the ride out to the Bayronto. We anticipated colder water and were pleasantly surprised to find the water at the surface at 73 degrees and 75 degrees down closer to the wreck. This was my first time on the Bayronto and we all had a blast. Scott and Michael did an awesome job placing the anchor ten feet away from midships in the sand.

We hit the water and headed down the anchor line. There were a couple of huge Goliaths lots of huge jacks and thousands of smaller fish. Vis was 35-40 feet. Check out the video.

Carl

Keep your tanks from rolling around in your truck!

Our clever friend Harry, who designed and produces the handy Diver's Platform, has come up with another innovative product. The STTS keeps airtanks from rolling around in the bed of your pickup. It comes in two models: the PRO is 48" W, 30" D with a 4" lip formed up on three sides and holds up to five high pressure steel tanks or six aluminum 80's. The DOUBLE is smaller and holds two tanks with room for your soft weights.

The unit has a unique 2" lip folded down to capture the back end of your truck body to insure that the STS will stay in position when you brake.

Come in to the store and see the two tank model!

Next week - we'll be here and there

Next week is the diving industry trade show, DEMA. It’s the time when dive centers, instructors, manufacturers, training organizations and all of us involved with bringing quality experiences to our divers get together and network, see the latest gear, meet the scuba travel experts and much more.

Some of us will be here ;-) to keep the store open with full service during our regular hours: 9-7 Monday-Thursday and 8-7 Friday & Saturday and 8-4 on Sunday.

Happy Halloween and other things

We have treats in the store, so bring your goblins and ghosts in.

Think of it…Halloween means the end of the month, the November newsletter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will be fully-stocked and ready with some new items for the divers on your list. Watch for extended hours and more vacation-time charters.

Come to our Christmas open house on December 3, from 4-8 PM. FUSE and our next door neighbor, A Good Yarn, are having a party! We’ll have our traditional hot cider and cookies and a diver’s gift registry.

Weeki Wachee 24 Oct 2009

Weeki Wachee Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest

We headed up to Weeki Wachee Saturday for some spooky fun. We were invited by our friends from Clermont at South Lake Divers. We arrived a bit early and walked around the park, went for a boat ride and caught a mermaid show.
Time to gear up for the pumpkin contest. Good thing that it was a shallow dive. Most of us took about an hour to carve our pumpkins. They were then put on display for the mermaids to judge. We surfaced to change tanks and don our costumes.
Leeann had a great kelp costume that flowed with every movement. Shannon was Super Girl. Allison was Ugly Betty and I was just an old lady looking for her dog... We all had a blast. After a bit the mermaids made their choices. Larry from South Lake Divers won for his skull and crossbones pumpkin. For his effort he took home a new aluminum 80 cf scuba tank. As it happens Larry also won the DC1000 Sealife camera for his portrayal as Dumble Diver. He won the heart of the mermaids with his underwater magic tricks. Congratulations Larry, we will have to work harder next year. The mermaids also picked Shannon's pumpkin to be placed on the head of David of the Deep statue for the nighttime mermaid shows
Carl

Interning at the dive shop and my experience so far…

As someone who is new to the diving world and community, I really take pleasure in and enjoy all aspects of the diving lifestyle, and as you could assume, im absolutely delighted to be interning at a place were I get to explore my passion and further my skills in the diving world and in life in general. I met the FUSE staff when I got certified as an open water diver before leaving for a trip to the beautiful Florida Keys the summer. Upon arriving to the store, I could feel that this was a much more relaxed, friendly, and just a overall better environment (and yes I have been to most of the other dive stores in Sarasota if not all). I was astounded by the ease and convenience of getting open water certified and soon after I was in the Keys and putting to use my new skill and loving it!!!! As school approached I came to Florida Underwater Sports for a possibility of being an intern for them so I could possibly further my skills as a diver and at the same time get a great learning experience out of it. So a few emails latter and some paperwork and I was part of the team. I began with learning how to fill tanks, one of the most important and time consuming jobs there is, I have come to learn filling tanks is like an art, you can’t go to fast you can’t go to slow, you have to be just right. But filling tanks is just one part of my internship, besides tank filling I help with the displays, assemble scuba equipment, help out on dives, all kinds of general work, brainstorm new ideas for the store, blog (obviously), oh and not to mention I help out on the dives that we host (that’s one of my favorites). I would say my experience so far has been incredible and one of a kind. It is absolutely one that I am going to cherish and remember for the rest of my life. I also hope to continue gaining experience and knowledge in diving and obtain more certifications witch will help me work towards my divemaster certification.
Till next time Jamie guy (intern)

Where is Greg?

Exciting news for FUSE3, Greg is attending one of four IDCs (Instructor Development Courses). This is the first step toward his goal of attaining the highest and most respected professional rating in recreational scuba diving, that of PADI Course Director.

After the IDC, he has to pass a stringent screening process that examines his experience and training. Passing the screening qualifies him for the competitive and demanding Course Director Training Course (CDTC).

The Course Director designation means that Greg can conduct instructor-level training. I see this as a positive way to expand and promote diving in the Sarasota area. Study well Greg! Bo

Donut Dive Dedication

From Donut Dive Oct1709

We headed down to Caspersen Beach in Venice, FL and had some great donuts, coffee and conversation. There were lots of waves when we arrived and they continued to build as we talked. There were heavy enough seas to strand a sailboat durning the night. Needless to say we did not dive but we had 16 of us there to watch the waves. We will be headed down to Caspersen next month to give it another try.
Carl

From Donut Dive Oct1709

Tec Diving

Hi all - I wanted to do another post on recreational level technical diving. There are some changes in the way that the DSAT (Diving Science and Technology) courses are going to be taught which breaks them up into several different levels. These changes will make it easier int he long run to get Tec certified. The breaks in the course are based on depth, amount of deco time allowed and the gas mix.

What is interesting to me is that the first level of the course will allow deco dives on your computer. The courses progress all the way to 65 meter dives with tri-mix.

If you have any interest in doing this type of diving, let me know and I have a great trainer that I will refer you to up north. I've included the basic list of gear required for Tec courses below. Greg

Double cylinders with isolator manifold
Primary & secondary regulators for doubles
One with a seven foot hose for air sharing
One with an SPG
(2) Stage/deco cylinders with regulator, SPG & staging kit – properly labeled
Back-up deco gas as required
BC, back plate & harness (dual bladder or dual wings unless drysuit diving)
Dive computer (single or multi-gas), and either back-up computer or timer & depth gauge
Back-up decompression information (computer, dive tables, etc.)
Exposure protection (dry suit use requires prior dry suit diving experience)
Weight system (if needed)
Lights as necessary, including primary and backup
Jon line (for current diving environments)
Safety reel
(2) Slates, (1 wrist-type)
Compass
Z-knife and back-up cutting device
Spare clips, pull-ties, tank wrap bands & other rigging accessories
Back-up mask (optional)
Lift bag (100lbs min)

Underwater Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest

We are headed out to Weeki Wachee Spring for an underwater pumpkin carving and costume contest. It will be at Weeki Wachee Spring October 24, 2009.
Divers cost is $55 Non-divers $13 Adult $5 Child admission.
Have your friends and family come out and watch the underwater knife work and see some amazing costumes. Allison (My Daughter) and I will be there and I am going to be in full costume. This is going to be great fun!!!
Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest first prize of a new 80cc aluminum tank and an underwater costume contest first prize of a new Sea Life DC1000 underwater digital camera.
The park guests will be the judges. The contests will run from 2:30-6:30pm. Come and enjoy the park, the haunted house, the spooky new mermaid show at 7pm and the dives.
Let us know if you are going to attend.
Carl

Sea Hunt On-Line!!!!

Okay - cross post with Facebook, but too good to not post. Sea Hunt (the TV show) is on-line at: http://www.hulu.com/sea-hunt. Thrill to Mike Nelson's underwater adventures. I just watched an episode where one of the divers got the bends and they used in-water recompression and a pressure suit for a jet pilot to save him! Waaaaaaayyyyyyyy cool. Greg

Cryogenic Open Circuit Scuba

What? Doing a little rebreather research, I came across a pretty interesting site: http://www.therebreathersite.nl/03_Historical/cryo_pjotrr.htm. Basically, in the 60's NASA started experimenting with using liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen to make breathing air. Think of having a huge amount of gas (in the form of liquid) with you for a dive. You are breathing the "boil off" as the liquid gases are warmed up. Some folks say the system could easily provide about 5 hours of air at 33' without a weight increase from standard scuba.

I guess filling it would be the only downside. :-). It looks like rebreather folks have been thinking about how to do this for a while as well and have even built rebreathers that use liquid oxygen and then scrubs the carbon dioxide out by using the cold from the liquid oxygen to freeze the CO2 out. Pretty interesting stuff - for a dive geek. Greg

Random Formulas About Air Consumption

I came across a great list of formulas for helping calculate air consumption. If you have never calculated your Surface Air Consumption Rate (SAC or SCR), it is interesting to see how it varies from dive to dive. If you have an air integrated computer, this can be done for you automatically. Greg

Calculating Surface Consumption Rate (SCR) in PSI/MIN:
Salt Water: ((PSI used/Bottom Time) X 33) / Depth + 33
Fresh Water: ((PSI used/Bottom Time) X 34) / Depth + 34

Converting SCR from PSI/MIN to Cubic Feet/MIN: (note: this is how SAC or SCR is normally talked about)
Cubic Feet/min = SCR X Tank Volume (full)/Fill Pressure

Calculating Air Consumption at depth:
Air Consumption at Depth in Sea Water = Surface Consumption Rate / 33 X FSW
Air Consumption At Depth in Fresh Water = Surface Consumption Rate / 34 X FFW


Calculating how long a tank will last at depth:
Tank time = Tank Volume (cubic feet) / Air Consumption at Depth (cubic feet) OR
Tank time = Tank Pressure (PSI) / Air Consumption at Depth (PSI)

Random Stuff

Hey all- just got word back that viz on the Bayronto was 50' yesterday. We still have a couple of spots open on the boat this Sunday. Let us know if you want to go.

I pushed out the new website recently. Hope you all have had a chance to look at it. If you see anything wrong, or anything you want to add, drop me a note at: greg@floridaunderwatersports.com. Greg

New Website

Well you are reading this so you know that we have a new website. This website has been in the works for quite a while and the project has been driven by our own resident expert, Greg. I think that it is a great piece of work but then I am a bit biased. Let us know what you think. Take your time and look at all of the pages. We always appreciate your input. Also check out our new newsletter. If you don't get it via email you can go to the newsletter tab and click on the view the latest newsletter in PDF format. Nice work to all involved.

Carl

Get Started With Scuba Diving

Jeff Brown brought in an article from yesterday’s Sarasota Herald Tribune about getting started with scuba diving. The article, “Under Water” is on the front page of the classified section and it states that learning to dive is a process that can take several weeks.

For any of you reading this who are not divers yet, we offer eLearning. A terrific way to get certified in a short time. PADI eLearning can be done at home on your own time. When you complete the online part, you bring in your final test score and get into the pool for your first dives. You spend more time in the water and less in the classroom. And our class fee covers everything, instruction, materials, eLearning pass, top quality SCUBAPRO gear and certification paperwork. Our motto is: "No hidden extras". Bo

International Reef Cleanup and Donut Dive 19 September 2009

What a great turn out!! Thank you to all that helped out with the International Reef Cleanup. We had 25 divers one boat dozens of donuts and a gallon of coffee for this Donut Dive. In conjunction with PADI's Project Aware program we headed back out to Spanish Rocks off of Anna Maria Island in the Holmes Beach area. Several buddy teams scoured the rocks for garbage. There was a great variety of trash that was collected. Masks, Snorkels, fishing line, cast nets, weighted line, rope nets, wire cages, beer cans, beer bottles, monster energy drink cans and more. The cleanup focus on the inner two reef sections has been great and made a significant difference. We pulled an additional 100 lbs. of refuse out of this great reef. A future effort on the outer (Third) reef will need more boat attention.
The conditions were flat calm with inside vis at 5-6 ft. with 10 ft. out further. Please enjoy the photos and we will see you next month at Caspersen Beach in Venice, FL
Our Donut Dives scheduled the third Saturday of each month are free events to all that show up and the Donuts and Coffee are co-sponsored by our local Dunkin Donuts regional manager. Thanks Wagner for your help and contribution.

Carl

Service Club Park

Congrats to Sara Rae for getting certified yesterday! Had four good dives off the beach there. What was really fun was on the last two dives, I was working with a student doing his National Geographic Diver certification, which includes some navigation, buoyancy and exploration projects. We used a sand area to explore and it is amazing how much cool stuff there is out there. I had a lot of fun cruising along the reef out there (in the are with a couple of feet of relief) finding all of the different species of fish and inverts that there are.


Viz was actually decent at about 4-8 feet and the water was flat as could be and 86 degrees. Fun and relaxing diving conditions. Greg

When Buying Used Scuba Gear...

When you are looking at used scuba gear, if possible, bring it by the store before you make your purchase and we will check it out for you. Always have used gear serviced before you get in the water with it.

There are certainly bargains to be found, but, there are also regulators that you won’t be able to get parts for because the company was sold and the product is no longer supported. A customer brought in a first stage that was still in the box and looked new. On closer inspection we found that it was missing some intrinsic internal parts. Bringing it back to serviceable condition cost almost as much as a new unit.

With airtanks:
• If the cylinder needs a Hydro & Visual, figure that additional expense into your purchase price
• Check the exterior condition of the cylinder; if it is pitted or looks like it may have been damaged or repaired ask the owner for information about its usage and storage. If it is painted and has blisters, we will have to check these to see if the paint is covering up damage.
• Can you get it filled? Some tanks have expired permits because of manufacturing defects and are not safe to use

Watch our newsletter for free seminars on maintaining your dive gear. We want to help you keep your life support systems up to the job.    Bo

Boat Diving Tips

Hey all - went out to Silverooth today (flat seas, 10' of viz with a lot of algae) with a group of Open Water students. Congrats to Dana, Mccaela and Jill on getting certified!

A couple of quick things came to mind to help folks when they first go boat diving:

• Make sure your gear is efficiently stored. Once your gear is set up, use only the space under your tank for the rest of your gear and try not to spread out too much.
• Set up your gear before the boat leaves the dock to make sure you have all the stuff that you need.
• Keep a save-a-dive kit with you on the boat.
• Let the divemaster know if you want somebody to move your tank or gear. It is always acceptable to let them know you want to get in your gear in the water.
• As you approach the water to get in, make sure you are ready to go, weights in, air on, mask defogged, etc (the buddy check works really well here) to prevent delays in getting in the water.
• Drink plenty of water out there because you will become quickly dehydrated.
• Pack your gear in a mesh duffle that will drain on the way back, and then set the mesh duffle in a tub on the drive back so it doesn't drip in your car.

Also, if you are ever unsure, Boat Diving training is available and is fun since the dive skills consist of diving for fun and enjoyment :-). Greg

Bayronto Today!

A big thanks to Capt. Scott today for getting us out to the Bayronto. The seas were a little rough on the way out (1 to 3' confused), but the new Reef Dog handled it sooooo well. Once there we made two dives on the wreck. You can see form the video there was a lot of cool stuff. Tons of Goliaths, several sharks (Nurse and Reef), Cobia, and lots more.

Viz was okay - there was a thermocline - 84 degrees on the bottom and 88 above that. Above the thermocline, great viz and below about 20 to 30' of viz.

Ever so relaxing dives - slight current pushing over the wreck. On one dive did the bow and the second did the stern.

We're running this trip again on the 4th of September! (weather permitting :-)). Greg

USS Vandenberg Dive Trip August 2009

Up at 4 AM Meet Rick at 5 AM and head to Ft Myers. With time to spare Rick and I stop for breakfast on the way to the boat. We meet Ann and Mike and get on the Key West Express (KWE) for our run across the gulf. The Gulf is flat calm and the weather is wonderful. The KWE is a jet driven catamaran with three levels. We drop our heavy bags off on the Galley/Main deck for storage and head upstairs for the trip. After a quick survey we found the best spot on the boat for the four of us. It is a table with four facing chairs on the starboard side of the boat forward in the cabin. Low traffic and great A/C. A blanket would not be a bad idea. There is food not the best and DRINK from water to burbon on the boat. When we arrived in Key West we were met by the Double Tree Resort (DTR) for the ride to Stock Island and Hurricane Hole Marina and Ecoscuba. We met George and Steve and we had the boat to ourselves. Load up and go.

We headed out of Hurricane Hole and straight south to the Vandenburg. There were two other boats hooked up to the mooring balls when we arrived. A Live aboard and another boat. They had people in the water. While hooking up we looked down and could see the wreck. WOW 9o feet of vis. Geared up and ready to go George emphasizes that we need to hang on the tag line!!!

It is hard to describe the speed of a 4 knot current but let me put this into perspective. The mooring balls were leaving a considerable wake. Once we were in the water the goal was to drift back on the tag line to the mooring ball of the vessel behind us. All five of us were in position and had to swim the tag line to the mooring ball to hit our descent line. With an amazing amount of teamwork we finally got to where I could grab the mooring line and bring both the tag and mooring lines together in a death lock. The other divers swam/crawled over me to the descent line.

We rested a little and then headed down. The only way to go anywhere was to pull hand over hand down to the crow's nest. Once there we got into the eddy current behind some structure and had a great dive. My dive time was 19 Minutes. It was the hardest descent that I have ever had, and it was a great dive. We swam through one of the dishes, then went over the side swam up the outer gangway forward. We dislodged a very large Goliath Grouper and waved at some Barracuda. Then it was up and around the structure to our mooring line for the ascent. Amazingly my snorkel stayed with me and my mask was stuck to my face when I came out of the water. This was a fantastic, exciting and tiring dive. When we got back on the boat everyone agreed that it would be better to hit a shallow reef out of the current.

Only three quarters of a mile back towards Key West is a nice finger reef that we had an nice 55 min dive with little current and lots to see.

Steve the boat captain did a great job and George the Divemaster lead us on two great dives for the first day.

Then we headed back to the marina and left our gear on the boat for the next day. Steve and George suggested that we eat at Hurricane Hole for an off the path great place to eat. They were right! The hotel shuttle picked us up and took us back to get showered and changed. Once we were all pretty and smelling good we hopped the the shuttle for Hurricane Hole for dinner. The food was delicious, the drinks were generous pours and the service was excellent. Oh and the desserts, mmmm mmm mmm!!! Back on the shuttle and to bed.

The Hotel was great. Not only did they pick us up and shuttle us around but they stored our bags when we were diving and the service at the hotel was great too. The beds were very comfortable and they provided us with coupons for the breakfast buffet. More great food.

Day two: Sleep in and have an awesome breakfast. Check out of the hotel and ride the shuttle to Hurricane Hole for our 10 AM charter. Now on Saturday George said that he would not be there for Sunday because he had a prior commitment... That was changed because he liked diving with us so much and he and Steve took us out again to the Vandenburg. This time we moored on the second to last ball and drifted back to the last ball. Now I have a story to tell.

The current is a mere 2 knots. The dive briefing calls for us to drift down the tag line and then head down the mooring line behind us and meet the group on the wreck. George hits the water and takes up the DM monitoring position. I hit the water, grab my camera and start my drift. Wanting to conserve air I decide to let go of the tag line within 20 feet of the mooring line and head down to 15 feet to wait for the rest of the group. I am on target and hit my mark and hook and elbow to relax and wait for the rest of the team. Once settled I look up and see Rick off of the tag line facing away from me (remember I am hanging on the descent line in a 2 knot current) and he is fiddling with his camera. Did I mention that there was a 2 knot current? In my head there are several scenarios flashing by.... Hmm, you know Rick did go on the Dry Tortugas trip and he really had a great time, maybe he is heading back... Cuba is nice this time of year... Is there something nice to see beyond the stern of the Vandenburg? Now none of these things really seemed to be the right answer. Rick then looks my way, as I am holding the descent line with my left hand and extending my right hand out to help him make the hook-up. Surprisingly my arms are not long enough to bridge the gap. My wife would be surprised because she says that I have gorilla arms... So the only thing I can do is hook a fin on the descent line and (as Ann put it do the flying Whale Linda... I am not sure who she is but you can ask Ann) reached with my right arm and this is what I see. Sorry Rick. Rick has his knees bent and fins still and is trying to swim with his arms to reach me. Did I mention that there was a 2 knot current? I reach him and give him the universal index and middle finger wiggle to indicate that he should kick his fins... now the pressure on my hanging foot is too much and I release my foot hold and start kicking. Still wiggling my fingers to Rick. Kicking as hard as I can our progress in not in the forward direction. So I let go of Rick (again sorry Rick) and grab the descent line. I then do the original and left hand on the line I reach for and grab hold of Rick and pull then push him onto the descent line... I am thankful that my cats have taught me about balance and extension. Now everyone is here and we head down to the rounded stern of the Vandenburg. Once we are all in the eddy of the structure we head forward on the starboard side of the ship and were greeted by lots of bait and bigger fish flying around the awesome wreck. As we ascended we did a small swim through and hit the port side and found the equipment that Rick used to work on when he was in the Navy just a few years ago. We made our way back up the the crows nest and headed back to the surface. The best dive yet of the trip.

The final dive of the trip was amazing Steve put us in on the forward most mooring ball and then moved the boat back to pick us up at the stern. We headed down to the bow and looked down to the sand an mooring chains. As we turned to ride the current aft on the port side of the deck we were greeted by the largest Nassau Grouper any of us had ever seen, 150 to 200 lbs too much? I first thought that it was a Goliath but it was a Nassau, of course this is the dive that Rick and I left the cameras on the boat. We then crossed the cavernous elevator shaft just forward of the bridge and arrived on the starboard side of the ship. As the others took the stairs I floated up and met them on the deck outside of the bridge and we entered the bridge and went out through the collapsed port ceiling of the bridge. Snaking our way back and through and over the aft elevator shaft that falls to the keel at 145ft deep (no we did not descend the shafts). We worked our way back to the crows nest and headed for our safety stop. By far this was the best dive of the trip. I really can't put it to words.

We headed back to Hurricane Hole and had lunch and beverages. The food was great again. The shuttle picked us up and took us to the KWE for our amazing ride back to Ft Myers. During the sunset on the boat I saw my first green flash when the sun dipped below the horizon. I was in bed by midnight. Great trip with great people.

Special thanks to Ann, Mike and Rick for being great dive buddies. Rick KYFF....

Also thank you to George and Steve At Ecoscuba in Key West and Melanie and Debbie at the Double Tree Resort in Key West for great customer servic

Carl

Racing Day

My orders were to report to the store at 8:30 AM on my birthday morning, which I did.

Greg, Carl and I left the store and I had no idea where we going. The ultimate destination was Andersen Race Park and we were going to race karts, something I had not done before. What a blast with your butt about an inch off the ground, going 40+ mph and trying to stay out of the way of Greg and Carl.

It was beautiful, Carl, when you did those spins (seven) and trips out into the grass. Next time I will have to practice so I can keep up with you.

Andersen Race Park is a beautiful facility and the equipment is so much fun. Check it out on the web, AndersenRacePark.com.

OK, if you must know, 75.

Tom

August 2009 Donut Dive Spanish Rocks

It was an absolutely beautiful day today at Spanish Rocks in Holmes Beach!!! Clear skies, wind out of the East, minimal waves and even less parking. Thank you to everyone who fought the lack of parking and enjoyed Donuts and Coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

We had 24 divers in the water today. The VIZ was low but morale was high. A good time was had by all and nice long relaxing dives were the tone of the day. It has been a long time since I have actually been in the water at Spanish Rocks and I am truly pleased by the amount of coral and other growth that I saw. There was very little trash, I think that our efforts over the past and the lower viz about 4 to 5 feet had an impact on the gathering efforts.

There was a good mix of divers too, old die-hards that make most of the Donut Dives and some first timers.

I will be updating this post with pictures very soon.

Thanks to all that came out today,
Carl

Viz and a Good Lesson

Quickly - viz yesterday at Silvertooth was 6-12' with a lot of algae in the water. You could tell that the thunderstorms had stirred it up a bit. Off the beach at Service Club on the sand the viz was a solid 15' and dropped a bit to 10' over the clay. Had fun doing some shark toothing.

The good lesson for the day - when one of my divers came up from the dive and we were swimming back to the boat, he suddenly started to sink. And was the classic picture of a diver in trouble - splashes, choking and obviously struggling to stay on the surface. I responded quickly and tried to inflate his BCD. As the air went in, I saw it coming right back out again. The entire head of the BCD had fallen off leaving a big hole in the inflator. This is the second time I've seen this happen with this brand of BCD (and no, it was *NOT* a Scubapro BCD). The diver was continuing to struggle, so I reached out and removed his weights which brought him back to positive and he was able to swim to the boat.

The lesson here is don't hesitate to ditch those weights. If you start to think "maybe I should get rid of my weights" that means you should already be ditching them. Also as a diver responding to another diver with an issue, what are you going to do? How do you support somebody at the surface that can't float? More on that later... Greg

Jupiter Diving!!!

What a great trip! Dave, Marcus, Amy and I headed to Jupiter for 6 great dives on the reef there. We saw lots of turtles - including what Dave and Marcus reported as a Leatherback Turtle (we never got confirmation though, so we're still wondering if it was as big as they say).

First things first, we went over to Jupiter Dive Center and I wanted to say thanks to Gerry, Capt. Mike, DM Chris, DM Les and the crew for a great diving experience. I was impressed with the focus on safety and enjoyment that the crew provides on the boat. We went out on the Republic IV over two days and were very happy.

Five of the dives were on reefs and one was on three wrecks. The current was moving, so every dive was a drift dive. Even with this, Marcus and Dave were able to complete their Deep Diver certifications. Congrats!

For me, the highlight of the trip was the Manta Ray that swam with us for w while. I learned again why you should always put fresh batteries into the camera and the ray came in to swim with us and the camera died. Below is the video I did get however.



I was really surprised by one thing that happened on our last dive. We had descended down and as we were cruising the ledges, we saw a nurse shark. A older diver (who shall go nameless) came over to look at the shark and when he got close he pulled an old style dive knife that was about 12 inches long. I laughed when I saw him do that as the shark swam off and came nose to nose with a swimming turtle. We kept going and I saw another Nurse Shark under a ledge. I signalled the DM and dropped down to get some video. The same guy swam do on top of me, kicking my camera, took out his knife again and grabbed the shark's tail!!! So, I don't wish a shark bite on anyone, but if it had bit him, I wouldn't have been surprised. There he was shark tail in one hand, big knife in the other. What a goof! Oh well - you can't always pick who you go with.

We'll definitely be doing this trip again! Greg

Deepen Your Dive - Yoga for Divers

Florida Underwater Sports regularly offers free seminars on things of interest to local divers. Thanks to Shannon Lyons, R.Y.T., who gave us tips on breathing techniques that scuba divers can use to extend their underwater time and get more out of their dives. If you missed this talk, Shannon left some hand-outs for us, so stop by the store to get one.
Thanks to Josh & Allison for setting up the classroom for the “Yoga for Divers” talk. Bo

Wednesday Nite Diving - the best yet!

This is from last night's dive with Chris Howe:

Just got home from an Awsome twighlight and nite dive at S Brohard Park.
Viz was around 10 - 15 foot. We saw two large Stingray, Big Grouper and a Manatee.

The reef was full of fish. One of the best dives I have had in the Gulf, and so close to shore. David and Marcus had a good time.

It should make for real good diving on Saturday.

Chris will be leading regular Wednesday night dives, the perfect way to celebrate the middle of your week. Bo

Sun Coast Clean Up

Thanks to Mike, Anne, Chris, Eddie, Tommy, Chris, Jerrad and Scott!!!!

Great time at the clean-up. There were 85 divers total that headed out to pick up trash on the reef system. I was so proud of the crew on our boat who safely and efficiently were able to pick up the vast majority of all the trash brought back to Mote by everyone. We picked up 8 bags of trash, 2 anchors, several sheets of Masonite, and one newer crab trap. We were also able to "decommission" 4 other older crab traps as well.

For those of you who don't know - we will take old crab traps out that haven't become and artificial reef of their own already. If there is too much growth on them, we'll knock out the break-away hole in the trap and if possible, we'll break the top off the trap as well and leave it in place.

The best part of the day was going out on the new boat though - as it gets set up more and more for diving I am amazed at the boat's comfort, space, usability and speed as a dive boat. This boat will be one of those "must" dive boats. The good news is that in another week, it will fully be in service as charter boat. Congratulations to Captain Scott and Reef Dog on this great addition!

How to Pet a Penguin

Josh, Allison, Maddy and Bo spent a day at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa. It’s a neat aquarium with many fun and educational things to do, but we specifically went there to pet a penguin.

Really! We went “Backstage With the Penguins”, a rare and unique opportunity to touch and play with these delightful birds. It’s not often, if ever, one gets hands-on time with exotic critters.

We found that they are very social and love to play with their toys and be petted. Penguins see more colors than we do and just like little kids, these guys even had a TV in their home. Our guide said that it is funny to see them standing around watching TV. They like nature programs...

Check out the special programs that our own Mote Marine and other local aquariums offer that allow you to interact with and learn more about our oceans and their inhabitants. Bo

Karting with Eddie Kish of Andersen Racing

Greg and I were lucky enough to be invited out to run some laps on the track at Andersen Race Park in Palmetto . http://www.andersenracepark.com

When we arrived Eddie showed us around the beautiful Headquarters for Andersen Racing and then it was out to the track and Pit Row. We toured the Pro Shop, the pit area and the new observation tower. When we emerged from the Pro Shop there were three identical Karts ready for us to hit the track in... well on... First order of business was for Eddie to get Greg and I bigger helmets, I am not sure what that is all about... With Eddie in the lead kart and Greg and I in trail we started off. On the first lap I got a bit wide in a corner and was passed by Greg, so I charged hard and made and pass when Greg opened the door. I swung past Greg and carried my momentum to and past Eddie... (that was the only time that I passed Eddie) Eddie then passed me and was setting a great pace. Um, I think that Greg had spun out by now... LOL. I was thinking wow, I am keeping up with Eddie pretty well... That was the last time I was close to him. In less than a lap he had opened the gap to half a lap. There goes the need for the XL helmet. It was not too long after that that I had disabled my own kart and was standing at the side of the track beside my only slightly disabled horse. (No bullet needed for the horse or the rider) Eddie stopped and gave me his kart. Greg and I were back into the racing, and spinning and laughing and well I think that you get the idea. We had a blast!!!

Thank you Eddie from both of us for a truly great time.

Carl

Note: Please use the link above for more information about Andersen Race Park and Andersen Racing. We will have fliers in the store for Andersen Race Park but feel free to contact them to see what you need to do to run on the track as it is not an arrive and drive facility.

Manatee Induced Panic Syndrome

When experiencing Manatee induced panic during an open water training dive, please adhere to the following procedure:

1. Scream loudly and repeatedly into your regulator
2. Grab your instructor's arm and squeeze it until he/she cannot feel their fingers
3. Repeat steps one and two until the Manatee gets tired of being scratched and leaves

We were out at Service Club today (6-10' viz, with 1-2' breakers btw) working on Kellie's open water certification and just as were about to do the very last skill of the dive, a medium sized adult Manatee swam into the middle of our little group. The Manatee hung around a bit to get scratched and then swam off. Kellie, who was a real trooper today, doing her last two open water dives was - let's say a little scared. She hung in there and the Manatee swam off. After some slowed breathing, Kellie completed her last skill and was certified. Congrats!!!!!!

I just wish I could do that for everyone's certification dive. Greg

Viz

So, we went out on the inside of Coquina Boat Ramp with the scuba camp girls from Mote. Viz is about 4-6 feet. Funny thing was it was actual a pretty good dive. Nice and relaxing, some stuff to see on the bottom. Congrats to Arianne, Aleicia & Meghan on joining all of us certified divers!!!!! Greg

Silvertooth VIZ report

We headed out on Reef Dog for the maiden voyage. Wow what a beauty. Lots of room and great ride. We splashed and found not to our surprise that viz was down a bit. Five feet is all the viz the Gulf was giving up. Less rain more viz.....

Keep Diving
Carl

Mote Scuba Camp 2.0

Arianne, Meghan and Alecia show off the huge hermit crab that they found while snorkeling in the grass beds near Mote. We all had a great time discovering the life that lies in the shallows. We also fought the heat a bit on their compass course. Then it was back to hard labor setting up and trying on Scuba gear.

Great find girls!!!!

Carl

Dry Tortugas!!!!!

So, I had these great intentions of writing up the trip in the evening, but.... this is as far as I got:

Day 1 - Seven dives, pretty tired, maybe I can just get up early and do this in the morning.
Day 2 - Wanted to get back in water, didn't have time to blog this morning, six dives, maybe if I take a short nap, I'll have the energy to blog today.
Day 3 - Wow - slept through the night, woken by the engines starting - time to get in the water.

So, the truth is that I was really focused on the diving and not the writing part of the adventure, so I'll recap for those of you that didn't make this trip.

The bottom line is that the bunks were small, the food was well... hot and plentiful, but the diving was fantastic!

This boat is a converted oil rig tender and is purpose built to be a work boat converted to a dive boat. The amenities are not plentiful, but it makes it easy to make 15 dives in 3 days well off-shore. I was really surprised by the diving and compare it to some of the best Caribbean diving that I have seen including Roatan's north side. The reefs themselves were in very good shape with large amounts of sea life. There are a large number of mooring buoys put in by NOAA so reef damage was minimal to none out there. I saw fishing line on one site and no garbage the whole time out there, which is a change form a lot of the other countries I have visited in the last couple of years. Viz ranged from 40' at it's lowest point to a little over 100'. One of the dives the water was so blue you would ave thought you were in the Indo-Pacific.

We left the dock at about 7:30PM and arrived on the site at 9:00AM the next morning. The sea was a little rough on the way out and I wedged myself against the wall of the bunk to get a good night's sleep. A good breakfast got us started and we made three dives before lunch, three after and one night dive. We moved into the lee of Fort Jefferson for the night and then out again to arrive on our dive site at about 8:00AM with three dives before lunch and three after. The night dive was cancelled because the crew thought there wouldn't be enough surface interval before the deep dive on the Baja the next morning. During the night we moved close to the wreck of the Baja and then at 6:45 on the nose, the engines started and they hooked into the the wreck. We dove the wreck and then moved to the nearby Air Force tower. After those dives, back into the dock at 5:00PM.

It had been a while since I had been on a liveaboard, and it take a day to fall into the routine of the ship and understand how the crew runs things, but being out there makes me want to go for a longer liveaboard trip again.

I did a quick edit of the pictures int he slide show to get them out. We are already planning another trip out there, so if you don't mind small bunks and hot food this is really a trip you can't miss. Greg

Mote Scuba Camp

Wow, what a great success! I am not sure who had more fun during scuba camp, the kids or the instructors. This week long camp resulted new National Geographic Open Water Divers! These young adults learned a lot while having a great time. Brianna, Devon, Eric, Helen, Ian and Jeffrey had a great time learning about scuba, navigation the aquatic world and protecting that world. there was some hard work and great teamwork and yes there were a ton of fun and games along the way. Congratulations to those new ambassadors to the deep! Greg and I both look forward to diving with all of these divers in the future.
Carl

Misc Viz Reports

Spanish Rocks yesterday - 6-10' with 87 degree water. Nice amount of life out there.

South Brohard today - 8-15' of viz with large sting ray and lots of fish. Reportedly a great dive.

M5 today - 30-35' of viz wonderful water, in closer 20-25' of viz and mill pond flat. Greg

Service Club - 17 June

Nice morning out there! No waves, good viz (10-15') and 86 degrees. Found an interesting place where I found a couple of nice meg shards. Both were gold in color and were in really good shape, except they were missing an edge of the root. If my other divers weren't low on air, I would have stayed out for a while longer.

We were just north of the stairs, just past the coquina. I was surprised at how close in the teeth were! Greg

Regulator Annual Service Day

Today we converted our classroom into "Service Central". The tables were configured so Greg, Carl & Tom could work and consult with each other. Tools were arranged and the 3 technicians started annual service on our rental regulators. You can count on Florida Underwater Sports for top quality rental gear that is maintained in prime condition.

Those of you who haven't been diving recently should have your gear serviced so it will be ready for you when you want to get wet. The water is warm and inviting now.

We service SCUBAPRO equipment on site and have parts stocked so we can promise it back to you in 4 days or sooner if there are no unusual issues. We always will keep you updated on the status if there are going to be delays. Other makes take 2 weeks; they are sent out to a professional technical service that we have used since we have been open. Bo

Spanish Rocks Clean Up!

First, I wanted to say think you to all those who showed up for the clean-up. We were able to remove approximately 300lbs of trash off the Rocks. Fantastic amount of stuff!

There were 46 of you at the clean-up - a great turnout for not the ideal dive day. Surf was 1-2 feet and viz was 3-4 feet. We had two boats there and Mike in the kayak. With the surface floats, everyone was able to get a lot of trash up.

We tried to make it easy for everyone by getting folks in the water as they showed up. Let us know if you think there is a better way to do the clean-up.

Lots of snacks, some prizes and some great fun. This dive site is important to us as a training site and we really love seeing all the trash we got off the reef.

Of note, we pulled four crab pot lids out of there leaving the encrusted crab pot bottoms there, but unable to trap any animals.

Thanks again for all the great work and fun out there. Carl and Greg

Mote World Earth Day

Today was a red letter day for Florida Underwater Sports. We sponsored our first Reef Clean-up and the World Earth day celebration at Mote Marine. The reef clean-up was a clean sweep of Spanish Rocks, Greg even got that pesky shrimp net out!

The Mote World Earth Day was a worthwhile and fun event for families. There were games, entertainment, food AND education. The wonderful Mote Aquarium is the place to learn about and appreciate our natural resources. We are fortunate to have this top tier research facility and aquarium at our doorsteps.

A huge "Thanks" to Josh and Allison Badgley and Tommy Fetterman for their help today! Congratulations to Stacy Alexander for putting on this super event!
Bo