Scuba divers in FT?
 

There does not seem to be a thread about this so here's a new one (please post older threads if there is one).

Many of us spend plenty time in the air, but what about under water?

The Mrs. and I wil be heading to GCM (Grand Cayman Islands) during the week of Thanksgiving to check out the sting rays and enjoy great beach dives.

How about a FT gathering at a good diving spot? Florida? Mexico?


My last three dives: Cozumel, Kauai, and Catalina (SoCal)

There are quite a lot of FTers who dive. I haven't been there, but I've heard Belize has some great diving. We're going to Molokai in February, mostly to see the whales, but a friend of mine's dive club went at the same time last year. Diving is OK there although most skipped some of the dives to just watch the whales. I'd love to dive in Palau. The good thing about most dive locations is that there is still a lot for non-divers to do.

Then reef in Belize is incrediably alive, although there has been some hurricane damage- There is a wonderful, small dive resort on Andros in the Bahamas- Small hope bay lodge, which has boat access to great diving.

I no longer dive, but snorkel and often choose to vacation in places where snorkeling and diving can be done. I would love to join a dive/snorkel trip.

I will third Belize as an excellent place to dive. Although not the best dive destination I've been to, it ranks right up there.

If you are ever near Placencia, run, do not walk, to Luba Hati for their poached lobster.

If you are in Belize City, run, do not walk, to the Smoky Mermaid for their lobster burger!

Modestly, our trip report is here: http://www.batnet.com/bogart/belize/BelizeInWinter.htm http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Last three dives: GBR, Australia; Yap; Maui.

birdstrike

[This message has been edited by birdstrike (edited 10-26-2002).]

I've been certified since 1978 ... for diving too http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanksgiving is out for a dive trip but I was thinking of perhaps doing a trip to the Cayman's in February for Valentines weekend. A local dive club schedules long weekend trips to the cAyman's about once a month out of DCA.

Im a diver. Advanced certified, looking to do nitrox cert. next.

Wierd! I was just talking to a FT about this..I was thinking about a day trip off of Phuket in January. But I suppose the Carribean IS slightly closer..

I understand that Jailer has been known to suck on a hose underwater in order to survive.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'm an (infrequent) advanced diver, but I've been diving off Australia, the Indian Ocean (Mozambique, Zanzibar and the Seychelles), Hawaii and in a cave in the Yucatan (absolutely amazing... highly recommended!). But I have yet to dive in the Caribbean http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif My wife is also certified (but has yet to do her first dive since getting certified). We are going on a 2-day trip to the Similans in Thailand on Christmas this year.


[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 10-28-2002).]

I have been BSAC certified since 1977

I have dived much lately and I am probably would need a refresher course( at least to do the dives I used to do)
There was a time when I used to dive multiple times almost every weekend and and there was one year (many years ago) I did over 150 club logged dives, but then living in the Caribbean helped, no need for boats on a lot of dives.
Seems though diving has become a much more expensive sport, back when I started a full set of equipment inluding a tank ran about $400.00

Just curious has anybody done some really deep dives?

Mike

[This message has been edited by MIKESILV (edited 10-28-2002).]

Same here. Except for a refresher course in Turks & Caicos to introduce my son to diving, I haven't done much in a very long time. The trip to the Cayman's in February that I mentioned will be for re-certification and advanced. I haven't done any deep diving and won't even consider it until I am certified for it specifically. Things have changed so much since I took my first courses!

I am PADI certified and would definitely be up for a FT dive trip.

I gave up on trying to keep up with the equipment and now just rent. My deepest was a 123 foot 2-tanker off of a shelf in Jamaica. 1 tank to get down and look around, the second to decompress. We used tables and grease pencils in those days, I'm afraid. I'm shocked that I am still alive!

As for a FT scuba trip...BRING IT ON!

I don't scuba dive, but just know that you're not supposed to dive and fly, or is it fly and dive, no wait, drink and dive! ... or is it... ah heck, nevermind. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

FewMiles..

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An underwater photo of the FT divers will surely beat the regular mugshots (i.e. bars and restaurants) found at most gatherings! LOL. Good luck telling one person from the other though.

So, where shall it be? Florida, Carribean, or Thailand? What's one place where most # of airlines fly and most lodging chains have a presence?

Oh, I got certified in Scuba (now PADI advanced) because of Jailer so he definitely dives. My deepest dive is about 110 ft. Would like to try Nitrox too; heard that there is less fatigue.

On Grand Cayman, nobody beats Nick Buckley who now runs 2 - 6 packs and offers very personal service.
Hiscompany is called Red Baron. I don't have the web site on hand, but I'm sure a quick google search will find it.

I get down to Florida on a regular basis and I think that the West Palm area is a great deal that offers very good drift diving. The fish life and quantity is hard to match.
For an easy gathering, I vote for West Palm (that way I can dive and work on the same trip)

I am a certified assistant instructor and would make a serious attempt to attend such an outing. Unfortunately, new work has prolonged my absence from open water. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I am PADI advanced certified but have not been diving in the past few years. Belize has got to be up there with the best dive locations.

Hmmm...South Florida works for me...in fact I'll be there in early December...I understand The Wall at Biscayne National Underwater Park is a site to behold....

Hey, in a very round-about way, you have brought up a valid concern when diving. Most places now will not let you schedule dives on your day of arrival or departure if you are flying.

Drinking and diving has always been a no no and is the reason I never made it out to the reef while in Aruba last month http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ...priorities, **** priorities!

I think a dive Do woould be great! I vote for the Caribbean. Caymans would be great http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

FewMiles can come along to make sure we drink/dive/fly within regulations http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

btw, American has a promotion called Dive for Miles where you get miles for courses, equipment, travel, etc. Here's the link to the information:

http://www.diveformiles.com/



[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 10-28-2002).]

The standard rule of thumb is that you should avoid flying 24 hours after diving. I've been diving on Nitrox for years and it theoretically gives you a little leeway. I've flown 14 hours after a dive with no problem. There are current studies being made with respect to this and the general thought is that 24 hours is too long.

(edited for clarity)

[This message has been edited by Tomphot (edited 10-29-2002).]

I guess I should clarify the rule regarding the relationship between flying and diving.

Flying before diving on the same day is generally accepted as okay. You should NEVER dive within the 24 hour window prior to flying. Some now use a 12 hour window, which of course is less conservative.

You guys probably remember this rule but here is its explanation anyway. When you dive the increased pressure of the water requires that you breath equivalently pressurized air to prevent your chest from collapsing. In this process your body begins to equalize within this increased pressure environment and thus absorb more nitrogen (air = 79%Nitrogen & 21% oxygen). Nitrogen is inert and for the most part merely sits in your system.

It takes time for this absorption process to occur. Where the problem arises is when pressure is released from your body too quickly and the "additional" nitrogen remains. If this occurs to quickly, then the analogy of opening a soda bottle and watching bubbles form will appropriately describe what is happening in your body.

So that is why we use dive tables for our own safety. However, dive tables do not account for the additional loss of pressure that occurs when you go aloft in an airplane. (Some new dive computers purport to do this.) As a result, scientists have formulated the aforementioned rule.

Here is a linkwith some valuable information.

I could get more technical with partial pressures but I think my basic explanation is functional.

[This message has been edited by CountinPlaces (edited 10-29-2002).]

Same here

Same here too.

And, some notes:

Thailand - it's just a puddle and is generally regarded as not the best place to go, if diving is your first priority.

Florida, the Keys, specifically Key Largo area - great places to dive around here, especially the wrecks, the 327' US Coast Guard cutter, the Duane, was my favorite. On a clear day, you can see it from the surface 120' down. On a crummy day, expect to throw up in your reg as you decompress. You are pulled back and forth, back and forth by the strong surge as you hang onto the tourist rope.

Ireland & N. Ireland - great place to dive because a) a small fee, paid beforehand, to an area dive club will insure use of their gear and their boat! It seems that is how they do things there, the clubs have their own boat and extra gear for paying visitors. And, b) you can collect! Dive places even advertise to all to come collect, collect, collect. Try even touching the bottom in Florida, let alone trying to collect a shell or, god forbid, an artifact. Do I remember correctly that it's like actually against the law? And, c) parts of Ireland, like on the coast of Waterford County are not cold at all (in the summer). In fact, this coastline is identical to Laguna Beach, CA with its sandy shores full of sea caves, rocky outcrops, sandy tidepools and, yes, water temperatures. And, d) It's inexpensive there. Try $30 a nite for a killer B&B right on the cliff above your beach. And, e) no crowds or competition. Since not that many have popularized diving in the area, the locals don't know how easy it is to go in and get the stuff they know is sitting out there waiting to be collected.

I have been trying to get people to go to Ireland and dive with me for so long, but it has to be in the summer months and with others who can use a drysuit. So, not much luck. Anyway, for now, I would be interested to see where you guys end up. Didn't someone mention Mexico? Depending on where you go, it's a blast from like November on because of the warmth and the whales. They come right into some of the small bays that are off the beaten path. It's an incredible experience to see them so close up.

Ahhh, the Keys http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif That is where I was certified while living on a campground in Marathon. I'm up for any trip to the Keys. Will be moving back within the next two years.

Don't forget the Spiegel Grove...newest dive site.

[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 10-29-2002).]

What kind of stuff did you get?

[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 10-30-2002).]

Ms. rtpflyer is a diver and wants me to monitor this thread for any definite plans (after her most recent surgery heals). I can (barely) snorkel, and will be looking for a destination that also has landside interest.

Advanced. Been NASDS certified since 1982. Dove in Cayman in 1984 and in 1998. Its gone WAY down over the years I'm sorry to say guys.

You are not alone hfly, most divers get their certification, go on a few dive trips and then basically hang it up.

why the decline?

My NAUI card has a cert date of July 1982. I enjoy diving on my vacations and on some work trips and have been doing so for years.

I have dove all over the world and one of my favorite places is the reef off the islands of Utila and Roatan in Honduras. Its the same reef as in Cozumel but with far fewer people. The locals there are the Garifuni which is a must meet for you list of peoples.

Sweet Willie took this to mean your number of dives has gone down over the years; I read it as the quality of diving in Cayman has gone down. Who wins the prize?

My experience has certainly been not only that I dive less - we still have a dive boat, it just gets used every X years now instead of every weekend (it's tough to get in the water in Northern California and certainly other things start to take priority) - but also that the quality of most dive sites has diminished. I was terribly underwhelmed by the Great Barrier Reef this year and have certainly seen the diving in Hawaii deteriorate.

Another Carribean Vote

This sounds really good. I've been to Cozumel twice now and noticed, within just several years time, the deterioration of that reef ... very sad http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I'm a now infrequent diver (just too busy!) but a couple of years ago when I was loyal to CO, I always used to fly to asia via Guam, and spend a long weekend there to do some diving with Micronesian Diver's Association ( http://www.mdaguam.com/ ). I've also been to Grand Cayman & the Keys. I'll be in Krabi & Phuket in January and I'm looking forward to a PADI Refresher for me & maybe a discover SCUBA for my wife. Anyone have any recommendations for dive shops there?

Just as an FYI for Phuket, we could not find a dive shop to do the typical 2 tank 1/2 day dives. Every dive shop was doing full day itins. Many head to the Similan(sp?) Islands off the west coast of Phuket in the Andamman Sea. This was in January.

Clarification:

The amount of divers in Grand Cayman has SKYROCKETED. The quality has gone WAY down!

To me Carribean is a non-vote because there are are at least a dozen countries we can choose from! Should we jusy say Florida for the first FT Scuba Do?