A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
All things SCUBA related can rest here in this thread.
SCUBA Diving
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smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
Just in time. Going to get certified in August. My certification Dives will be at the Devil's Den in Williston Florida.
OP
OP
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
Just in time is right! I'm excited to join you before you adventure starts with SCUBA. Congratulations on pulling the trigger with this adventure! I have heard a lot of good about that place.
Have you checked out Blue Grotto? http://www.divebluegrotto.com My Master Instructor speaks highly of the location and team there. It's on my USA bucket list for sure
Wow buddy! Thank You for sharing! I am just as addicted to diving photo's as I am display photo's with FTS's & micro captures of coral.
smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
I am taking the lessons from a dive shop in Jax Beach. I know she told me two different places we were going and Devil's Den was the one that sticks out. Both were in Williston, so unless there's another place Blue Grotto might be it. I'm really excited about this also can't wait to do this and then start trying to hit some reefs and see what it's all about.Just in time is right! I'm excited to join you before you adventure starts with SCUBA. Congratulations on pulling the trigger with this adventure! I have heard a lot of good about that place.
Have you checked out Blue Grotto? http://www.divebluegrotto.com My Master Instructor speaks highly of the location and team there. It's on my USA bucket list for sure
Wow buddy! Thank You for sharing! I am just as addicted to diving photo's as I am display photo's with FTS's & micro captures of coral.
smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
I'll try and get some pics for you while I'm doing my cert Dives. Hopefully share what it is all about. I'll make sure I'm not any of the pictures so nobody thinks they're abusing a manatee down in Florida. LOL
OP
OP
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
I have not heard of Jax Beach, but the name reminds me of my Dad, "Jack."
We were invited to go diving in Devil's Den by a recording crew (The show was cancelled) earlier this year. I'm hoping you get to go and experience it.
Once you hit the water, you'll never look back. I've wanted to dive for over 30 years. Finally, I am blessed to enjoy SCUBA! Yea! Stoked for you buddy.
Please, don't delay. It will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. Make sure you take your time, enjoy it and learn how to be properly safe. I stared death in the face last month and because of the grace of God and my training I was able to save myself. It was an incredible experience that I hope no one else goes through, but I'm overjoyed that it was added to my resume along the journey of SCUBA Diving. I can help protect myself and others when I dive with them because of it. One really important thought, if you feel bad about a dive for ANY reason, do not go. Do not go unless you are feeling 100% amazing and thinking amazing. Be safe! Be wise! Be caught going back home to your family. It's an amazing opportunity, but it's not something to be taken lightly in the slightest.
Hahaha! That's funny stuff. - speaking of manatee's, I would like to dive in Manatee Springs. I have visited, but not dove there.
Here is there site if you haven't visited it already:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/manatee-springs
smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
Sorry, Jax is short for Jacksonville Florida.
smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
Just getting back from my scuba cert in Florida.
I took my classes from Atlantic Pro Divers out of Jacksonville Beach Florida where we did our pool training.
These guys were two of our instrutors, Mike (shirts) was the head instructor and Joe (skins) was one of his assistants.
Here I am looking all sexy in my wetsuit.
Stuff gets heavy after a minute. Next time ill try and be first in the pool.
This is what the stride in the pool is supposed to look like.
Then there's me.
Hey, no pushing. Well I screwed that up.
The next day we went to the Devils den in Williston Florida. Absolutely beautiful.
That ones not my pic. But I wanted show a good pic. I was focused on learning to stay alive underwater but managed to get a few shots.
That's the hole there, kind of hard to see.
The pictures really don't do this place justice. The water is the almost an aquamarine blue color. And surprisingly there were fish in there. Don't know where they came from, but they were thriving.
We got down to about 38 ft here. There is a cave type swim thru that had more traffic than a super highway on this day. It was a Saturday and everybody was out. There was still plenty of room and we had a great day.
The next day we met at the KP Hole on the rainbow river. We took a boat up river and dropped in. This is were a lot of the training came together and we had a great fun dive drifting downstream with the river.
This is a little cave we were able to explore.
Always time for a selfie.
Got all I could out of my tanks and got to snorkel the last bit back to the boat ramp.
This is me and my buddy Bryan. The two oldest guys in the class. Two of the younger students had to back out due to ear issues.
This was a great experience that I plan on continuing with. I already have a local dive planned to hone in my skills learned doing a cleanup of our local lake here in South Carolina.
As soon as I can I plan on doing the advanced class out in the Atlantic where we get to go deeper and do some spear fishing.
I took my classes from Atlantic Pro Divers out of Jacksonville Beach Florida where we did our pool training.
These guys were two of our instrutors, Mike (shirts) was the head instructor and Joe (skins) was one of his assistants.
Here I am looking all sexy in my wetsuit.
Stuff gets heavy after a minute. Next time ill try and be first in the pool.
This is what the stride in the pool is supposed to look like.
Then there's me.
Hey, no pushing. Well I screwed that up.
The next day we went to the Devils den in Williston Florida. Absolutely beautiful.
That ones not my pic. But I wanted show a good pic. I was focused on learning to stay alive underwater but managed to get a few shots.
That's the hole there, kind of hard to see.
The pictures really don't do this place justice. The water is the almost an aquamarine blue color. And surprisingly there were fish in there. Don't know where they came from, but they were thriving.
We got down to about 38 ft here. There is a cave type swim thru that had more traffic than a super highway on this day. It was a Saturday and everybody was out. There was still plenty of room and we had a great day.
The next day we met at the KP Hole on the rainbow river. We took a boat up river and dropped in. This is were a lot of the training came together and we had a great fun dive drifting downstream with the river.
This is a little cave we were able to explore.
Always time for a selfie.
Got all I could out of my tanks and got to snorkel the last bit back to the boat ramp.
This is me and my buddy Bryan. The two oldest guys in the class. Two of the younger students had to back out due to ear issues.
This was a great experience that I plan on continuing with. I already have a local dive planned to hone in my skills learned doing a cleanup of our local lake here in South Carolina.
As soon as I can I plan on doing the advanced class out in the Atlantic where we get to go deeper and do some spear fishing.
OP
OP
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
@smokin'reefer Any dives added to your belt? I enjoyed the pictures you shared!
I do not feel confident enough to take a camera underwater yet haha
I do not feel confident enough to take a camera underwater yet haha
smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
Oh yeah. I was able to hit our local lake a few times.
There is a truss bridge there underwater I am trying to make it to to
My daughter went and got her cert and we are taking my granddaughter who just turned 10 right after christmas, to get hers next w/e.
Still haven't made it to dive in salt water and check out a reef, but we are working ourselves to that goal.
There is a truss bridge there underwater I am trying to make it to to
My daughter went and got her cert and we are taking my granddaughter who just turned 10 right after christmas, to get hers next w/e.
Still haven't made it to dive in salt water and check out a reef, but we are working ourselves to that goal.
OP
OP
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
That makes me feel a lot better you saying, "working yourselves to that goal."
I don't feel 100% comfortable with being able to take care of myself in the water or being 100% relaxed so hopefully by the time I hit 35 dives or so I will feel better. Right now I have 12 dives, all in the local quarry at less than 80'
I don't feel 100% comfortable with being able to take care of myself in the water or being 100% relaxed so hopefully by the time I hit 35 dives or so I will feel better. Right now I have 12 dives, all in the local quarry at less than 80'
Greybeard
2500 Club Member
I got my PADI license what... over 30 years ago now. Haven't had gear on in over a decade. Missouri mud diving just isn't much fun, and I don't have anybody to go with. Back in the day, I used to do the kelp beds off of Santa Catalina every summer. The density of life in those underwater forests is just incredible.
If there's any other middle of the USA divers looking for a weekend trip, try Bonne Terre mines, an hour south of St. Louis. It's been many years since I was there, but it was a _very_ cool dive. Like diving through Swiss cheese It's way underground... I seem to remember them saying the water surface was 150' below ground level... anyway, it's crystal clear, and very well lit, or at least it used to be. Stayed at a neat little bed and breakfast nearby.
If there's any other middle of the USA divers looking for a weekend trip, try Bonne Terre mines, an hour south of St. Louis. It's been many years since I was there, but it was a _very_ cool dive. Like diving through Swiss cheese
It's way underground... I seem to remember them saying the water surface was 150' below ground level... anyway, it's crystal clear, and very well lit, or at least it used to be. Stayed at a neat little bed and breakfast nearby.
smokin'reefer
Sea Urchin
I'll have to check into that. I do a lot of travel for work and have talked to o e of my dive buddies about taking our gear when we hit the road.I got my PADI license what... over 30 years ago now. Haven't had gear on in over a decade. Missouri mud diving just isn't much fun, and I don't have anybody to go with. Back in the day, I used to do the kelp beds off of Santa Catalina every summer. The density of life in those underwater forests is just incredible.
If there's any other middle of the USA divers looking for a weekend trip, try Bonne Terre mines, an hour south of St. Louis. It's been many years since I was there, but it was a _very_ cool dive. Like diving through Swiss cheese
OP
OP
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
Any new updates on SCUBA experiences in this interesting 2020 diving season?
Hoping all my dive buddies are A-okay.
Hoping all my dive buddies are A-okay.
Auquanut
5000 Club Member
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Reef Squad Emeritus
Hospitality Award
Midwest Reefer
My Tank Thread
Got certified in 1995. Being in the Navy, I was blessed to be able to visit some of the best sites in the world. Now I'm landlocked in Mid Missouri. The dive trips are getting fewer and farther between. Gonna have to check out Bonne Terre Mines.I got my PADI license what... over 30 years ago now. Haven't had gear on in over a decade. Missouri mud diving just isn't much fun, and I don't have anybody to go with. Back in the day, I used to do the kelp beds off of Santa Catalina every summer. The density of life in those underwater forests is just incredible.
If there's any other middle of the USA divers looking for a weekend trip, try Bonne Terre mines, an hour south of St. Louis. It's been many years since I was there, but it was a _very_ cool dive. Like diving through Swiss cheese
I think this just made my bucket list. I'd LOVE the chance to dive with manatee's.
OP
OP
A+Aquatics
Rare Coral Curator
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