Any Open Water Divers Here?

[SoCalOffshore]

Taking my final dives this Friday at the Channel Islands.

[Spotondl]

Rescue Diver... Was certified in the Channel Islands too... Some of the best diving around if you know what to look for... What boat are you going out on? Peace, Liberty?

[Spotondl]

You will probably go to the "fish bowl" and/or the Windward Scott wreck... About 35 - 60 feet and really awesome... Watch out for those stupid purple urchins, they are EVERYWHERE...
Windward Scott is an old wreck of a paddle boat that wrecked off of Anacapa in a storm back in the '30's or so... Pretty cool to see the paddle wheel, axle and stuff...

[SoCalOffshore]

Rescue Diver... Was certified in the Channel Islands too... Some of the best diving around if you know what to look for... What boat are you going out on? Peace, Liberty?
I think Liberty. The paper is downstairs. We were in the pool tonight for a couple of hours. It should be wild.

[MudPumper]

Congrats on getting certified. It's a bitchen world down there. I'm certified Master Diver and Nitrox. Remember to relax and control your breathing, you'll enjoy it more and your dives will last longer. Pay attention to see if you are biting on your mouthpiece, that's how I know if I'm relaxed. You know you are relaxed when your reg accidentally falls out of your mouth. Lastly, don't ever hold your breath and have fun. :rollside:

[beyondhelpin]

Diving can be a blast. Come lobster season I will expect a few!

[Spotondl]

You know you are relaxed when your reg accidentally falls out of your mouth. Lastly, don't ever hold your breath and have fun. :rollside:
Now THAT's relaxed or narced... LOL :D :D :D

[Craig]

Tonna & I both did our class and pool time here in Phoenix and then did our open water cert's in Moorea and Bora Bora. That was great :smile: Talk about a lot of sharks, Black Tips and Lemon Sharks. We were down 87 feet and it was unbelievable how far you could still see. Need to make some more trips. I'd love to do dome dives to some wrecks. Truk Lagoon would be the ultimate.

[Backtanner]

Ya know there might be something in it for you if you find Jethydros sunk boat out in KS.
I got my AOW in puerto vallarta last may. Yeah, whoop-de-do. Maui in a week and a half. Best diving I've seen yet.

[Tom Foolery]

Congrats! Its really a lot of fun. I see things that blow me away everytime I go.

[SoCalOffshore]

We are heading to Grand Cayman and Cozumel in November. I look forward to getting my Advanced OW.

[DCB]

Congrats on your certification. Getting certified opens up a a bunch of vacation possibilities. If you ever get an opportunity, plan a trip to Fiji. I was a Diving instructor for many years, and traveled to some cool places. Fiji, was the absolute best. The Fajian people are by far the nicest people in the world. Have fun, and really think about taking the AOW course. It will give you a lot more diving freedom on your vacations.

[SHAKE-YO-AZZ]

Congrats on getting certified. It's a bitchen world down there. I'm certified Master Diver and Nitrox. Remember to relax and control your breathing, you'll enjoy it more and your dives will last longer. Pay attention to see if you are biting on your mouthpiece, that's how I know if I'm relaxed. You know you are relaxed when your reg accidentally falls out of your mouth. Lastly, don't ever hold your breath and have fun. :rollside:
Sounds like you are giving him instructions on sex ;)

[ACCEPTENCE]

Dive Master, Rescue, Deep, Nitrox.
All in a days work :D
acceptence<<<<lookin for any reason to dive!!! :D

[TrojanDan]

I got my AOW in puerto vallarta last may. Yeah, whoop-de-do. Maui in a week and a half. Best diving I've seen yet.
Got certified in May also. I'll be in Maui from Aug 26th-Sept 1 then off to Kona till Labor Day Monday. I'll probably dive two days while on Maui (maybe the backside of Molokini if they think I'm advanced enough). What days are you diving?

[Froggystyle]

I've got a qual or two around here somewhere... ;)
I stopped diving for a while. Doing it for a job can take the fun right out of it. Especially since 100% of the dives we did were closed circuit O2 rigs. (Draeger)
I have a killer BC and some 80's and all the gear still. I need to find a manifold still, but other than that I can go right out.
Anyone dive off San Diego?

[Backtanner]

Trojan check your PMs

[KACHINA KEN]

Taking my final dives this Friday at the Channel Islands.
I picked up my book and CD last week, doing pool 27-29, we'll have to keep up on this. we can all do some shore diving at Casino Point (Catalina) if you want Sept 17-19.

[SoCalOffshore]

I picked up my gear the other day and went with Scubapro. The gear seems pretty good and i liked the BC w/ integrated weight belt and built in alternate air source. I look forward to diving at Casino Point and I want to try some sea kayaking out there as well.

[Spotondl]

I picked up my gear the other day and went with Scubapro. The gear seems pretty good and i liked the BC w/ integrated weight belt and built in alternate air source. I look forward to diving at Casino Point and I want to try some sea kayaking out there as well.
Your buddies helping you lift your BC outta da water and into the boat will not like that integrated weight belt.... :eek: :eek:

[79 HUSTLER]

If anyone is interested in some new equip. Sports Chalet is having a once a year sale on dive equip. It is this weekend with special pricing for different items on FRI, SAT, SUN. Different clearances on each day.. The add says from 30%-70% off. They had some masks listed at $59 for sale for $19 and some fins for $99 on sale for $39. Looked like some good deals :idea: :idea: KELLY

[Ducatista]

Taking my final dives this Friday at the Channel Islands.
My wife & I got Padi certified off of Santa Cruz. I later went & took the advanced open water, the deep dive was off of San Clemente. We went through Sports Chalet, a good way to go. It is something Mariann & I have been able to do together and enjoy, all over the world. And I will say that diving off of Socal is still some of the best, and hardest. Cold water, swells, current, kelp, 7mm wetsuits and all the weight, these conditions help make you a very good diver.
Congratulations, I know you're excited. I remember my certification dives like they were yesterday. If you know one thing, and one thing only.....remember "kelp is your friend". Happy diving :cool:

[MudPumper]

Anyone dive off San Diego?
I dove of San Diego about 4 times a weeks when I was living down there. Never locked out of a sub but did some cool ass dives. :p

[J540]

Dive Master, Rescue, Deep, Nitrox.
All in a days work :D
acceptence<<<<lookin for any reason to dive!!! :D
Are we make'n bubbles this weekend, :D under pressure is fun, especially when you find some oakleys,raybans spy,ect. in copper cyn,steemboat,river, mojave wherever. :D
Greg where's my Tank..............OH here it is in the bow of my boat :messedup:

[J540]

Taking my final dives this Friday at the Channel Islands.
Like Kelly said sports Chalet has a good computer and psi gage
,console combo for 199 its a nice computer. norm, is high 200s just for computer. Going to get two my self. well inlaws will get it for me, since i'll be in Havasu :D :D
SoCal, you should try Diving the river some time its a blast, Greg (acceptence)and I do it a lot. Way fun. and easy.
John.

[SoCalOffshore]

Like Kelly said sports Chalet has a good computer and psi gage
,console combo for 199 its a nice computer. norm, is high 200s just for computer. Going to get two my self. well inlaws will get it for me, since i'll be in Havasu :D :D
SoCal, you should try Diving the river some time its a blast, Greg (acceptence)and I do it a lot. Way fun. and easy.
John.
Just watch out for those boats!!

[TrojanDan]

Like Kelly said sports Chalet has a good computer and psi gage
,console combo for 199 its a nice computer. norm, is high 200s just for computer. Going to get two my self. well inlaws will get it for me, since i'll be in Havasu :D :D
John.
Just make sure they go to the Sport's Chalet offering this sale. Not all the stores are having it. :cool:

[HighRoller]

Is there anything that a claustrophobic guy can do to get over the fear of diving? I hate the feel of water compressing my chest but love to dive.

[Backtanner]

Is there anything that a claustrophobic guy can do to get over the fear of diving? I hate the feel of water compressing my chest but love to dive.
Don't dive below the 1000 ft mark? The only pressure that I've ever heard of being a discomfort problem is with the ears when descending too fast.

[HighRoller]

You don't notice the pressure difference when under 5 or 10ft of water and breathing through a snorkel? I do...it creeps me out.

[Backtanner]

You don't notice the pressure difference when under 5 or 10ft of water and breathing through a snorkel? I do...it creeps me out.
At the risk of being a smartass.....5 or 10 ft is a pretty long snorkel. :D But to answer your question, snorkeling is much more uncomfortable to me than actual scubaing(sp?). I am always worrying about sucking water on that one odd wave.

[scarabrick2]

I did it for 9 yrs in the navy. U/W construction and demo.
I do it now for a living out here in Las Vegas.
Fountains at Bellagio.
If you guys ever nedd GOOD GEAR not the sports chalet junk, Please feel free to use my name at CHANNEL ISLANDS SCUBA IN THOUSAND OAKS CA.
805-230-9995. Ask for Mike he's the owner. Tell him your a friend of mine and he'll give you a good price. if not, tell him Rick said go ahead and close the corporation (bellagio) acct.
I run, take care of all the ordering for the 36 divers we have on staff.
Also the Divemaster.
Rick Borba

[Ducatista]

Are we make'n bubbles this weekend, :D under pressure is fun, especially when you find some oakleys,raybans spy,ect. in copper cyn,steemboat,river, mojave wherever. :D
Greg where's my Tank..............OH here it is in the bow of my boat :messedup:
Have you done the caves at Steamboat? I droped a pair a prescription sun glasses in Steamboat last year. I came back 2 weeks later with my gear, went down and recovered them after about 20 minutes. I looked for the caves in the area I thought they were, but no luck.

[scarabrick2]

ttt , keep it real

[Froggystyle]

You don't notice the pressure difference when under 5 or 10ft of water and breathing through a snorkel? I do...it creeps me out.
Not to get too technical, but there is a setting in the second stage regulator call the "over-bottom" pressure. This adjusts the pressure that is going into your lungs from the regulator and increases as the water pressure increases.
Holding a full lung of air from the surface and diving 10 feet will compress quite a bit. This creates pressure. Lots of it. If you were to be able to breath that out, then take in a new breath with higher pressure behind it, it normalizes the whole thing and you feel completely normal, save for the noise and the restricted breathing through a mouthpiece.
The call someone made about the mouthpiece slipping out accidentally is totally accurate. As a SEAL, we got very, very, veeerrrryyyyy comfortable while diving. Keep in mind we often dive for up to and past the four hour straight mark. We actually have a strap that holds the mouthpiece in place to keep it from slipping out as you get comfy, and aids in preventing mouth fatigue from pinching it in your teeth the whole time.
I would give the scuba a shot if you want to HR. Don't let the initial scare fool you. It is a total blast.

[scarabrick2]

Are you still with the teams?
I know a few people down in your area

[TrojanDan]

If you guys ever nedd GOOD GEAR not the sports chalet junk, Please feel free to use my name at CHANNEL ISLANDS SCUBA IN THOUSAND OAKS CA.
805-230-9995. Ask for Mike he's the owner. Rick Borba
Hummmmm. Might have to check that out. :cool:

[scarabrick2]

I fell asleep many times on the bottom waiting for my turn with the jack hammer. Most of the time it was in a hard hat; But in scuba ,after about a few houndred hours of bottom time ( have proof) you just learn to relax.
Rick

[Froggystyle]

Are you still with the teams?
I know a few people down in your area
"With the Teams" is all relative... ;)
I am still in San Diego, and as such, I am pretty much still "with the Teams" if you know what I mean. I still hang out with all of my old platoons, and many of the freinds I made while in.
But, for discussions sake, no. I retired almost 3 years ago medically after a couple of brutal parachute accidents.
Who do you know???

[wildbillg]

Your going to love diving out in southern california. Catilina is a GREAT place to dive. I truly cant count the amount of dives ive done off the coast and catilina. IT IS AWSOME to get out there in the quiet of the ocean !!! :)

[DCB]

If you are buying your own BC's, there is only one that I would purchase, the name is Zeagle. Check them out before buying anything else. Only purchase your gear from a store that will let you test it in the water(pool) before buying it.
As a previous owner of a scuba shop, it was amazing how people would skimp, and buy the cheapest gear from anyone who was having a sale. Would you buy the cheapest gear you could find if you were going skydiving? Scuba equipment is life support gear. Is your life worth the cheapest gear, or the best price you can find? Just something to think about :idea:

[77charger]

As a previous owner of a scuba shop, it was amazing how people would skimp, and buy the cheapest gear from anyone who was having a sale. Would you buy the cheapest gear you could find if you were going skydiving? Scuba equipment is life support gear. Is your life worth the cheapest gear, or the best price you can find? Just something to think about :idea:
I saw that too when buying my equipment.Esp when it comes to regulators.
As for diving i got certified a few years ago just haven tmuch time lately i did 60 dives the first year and probaly 15-20 the last 4.But lobster season is around the corner and time is on my side :) .My favorite time is winter i mostly went to laguna areas pearl st,deadmans reef,moss point,woods cove,outer reef in the reserve.Also a few trips to catalina

[Drunk tank]

I'm just open water certified. First time diving out in cali I went off of Catalina Island round november. Was wearing a 4/3 wetsuit which works great for me... but I/ve never been in the pacific diving....
Got down to about 35 ft and hit the thermocline. HOLY SHIT! My body was fine.... but my head was freezing!!! Couldnt focus on my breathing for shit ended up sucking my tank up in about 25 minutes. When I finally got back to the surface... I'm like "****, I'm not feelin to good." Boat captain is lookin at me wondering if I'm okay... then just as he starts to say something *BARF* Out comes everything i had for breakfast!!! So there I am floating in my own chum slick and the cap looks at me and starts laughing "swollow a little air did ya?"
That definatly sucked.... the next dive I wore a one of those wetsuit baklava type things (like everyone else) and had a great dive :D so ya... channel islands round november, the deep water gets colder than all fawk! wear a head thingy :redface:

[MudPumper]

"With the Teams" is all relative... ;)
I am still in San Diego, and as such, I am pretty much still "with the Teams" if you know what I mean. I still hang out with all of my old platoons, and many of the freinds I made while in.
But, for discussions sake, no. I retired almost 3 years ago medically after a couple of brutal parachute accidents.
Who do you know???
Hey Froggy, you werent the guy who hit the wires at Qualcomm a few years back were you?

[MikeF]

A good friend from high school has a dive business in Majuro. It is beautiful down there and the water @ 120' is still 80 degrees! There is a WW2 Hellcat about 500 yrds in front of the hotel. It is an awesome place!
www.bakodivers.com

[SoCalOffshore]

I did it for 9 yrs in the navy. U/W construction and demo.
I do it now for a living out here in Las Vegas.
Fountains at Bellagio.
If you guys ever nedd GOOD GEAR not the sports chalet junk, Please feel free to use my name at CHANNEL ISLANDS SCUBA IN THOUSAND OAKS CA.
805-230-9995. Ask for Mike he's the owner. Tell him your a friend of mine and he'll give you a good price. if not, tell him Rick said go ahead and close the corporation (bellagio) acct.
I run, take care of all the ordering for the 36 divers we have on staff.
Also the Divemaster.
Rick Borba
Thats where I bought all my gear from. Infact, I saw Mike yesterday and Alex is my Instructor. We did 3 dives today at the Channel Islands. The weather, water and vis was awesome! Our second dive was with hundreds of seal lions. They love doing kamakaze runs at you for fun. I had a pup nibbling on one of my fins.

[Slib77]

We did our beach dive at Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach, still go there. Pretty cool reef. Loreto is real fun, anytime of the year, direct flights from LAX.

[SoCalOffshore]

<----Is now Open Water Certified. Did our beach dive this morning at Malibu. Going back out on the Spectre, out of Ventura Harbor, in a couple of weeks and dive the Channel Islands again.

[Froggystyle]

Hey Froggy, you werent the guy who hit the wires at Qualcomm a few years back were you?
No it. I know him really well though. That was a bad injury too. We were in hospital getting surgery at the same time for similar injuries.
I landed in a tree during a night combat equipment jump. Blacker than the inside of a cat, and 18 knot ground winds. My left foot jammed into a vee in the tree, and stuck. The wind took my canopy and dragged me through the tree, twisting my foot damn near off.
Long story short, three spiral fractured metatarsals, snapped calcaneous, snapped plantar fascia ligament, and numerous other broken/torn ligaments on the outside of the foot. :(
Then I started building boats... ;)

[SoCalOffshore]

No it. I know him really well though. That was a bad injury too. We were in hospital getting surgery at the same time for similar injuries.
I landed in a tree during a night combat equipment jump. Blacker than the inside of a cat, and 18 knot ground winds. My left foot jammed into a vee in the tree, and stuck. The wind took my canopy and dragged me through the tree, twisting my foot damn near off.
Long story short, three spiral fractured metatarsals, snapped calcaneous, snapped plantar fascia ligament, and numerous other broken/torn ligaments on the outside of the foot. :(
Then I started building boats... ;)
That sucks! What are the kewl dive spots in San Diego?

[Dan Lorenze]

I'm Padi certified and my girlfriend is SSA certified. We love to dive, it never gets old. Diving has improved our relationship, it's something that is not competitve and we plan vacations around diving. I'm glad she likes it so much, it's the one sport she participates in. We bought most of our stuff at the Sport Chalet june sale a couple of years ago, with the gift certificates they give you and low blowout prices we saved a ton. I have to admit, going to Grand Cayman (east end) spoiled us rotten.. She dove in her bikini and I dove in my trunks, we saw everthing there... Now, I never want to put on my 7mm suit and dive Catalina again.. We went to Maui this year and dove the Molokini crater, man that was boring, did a shore dive and that was even more boring.. We're thinking of Cozumel next because it's cheap and warm. After that, Belize and Bonaire.
Dan

[Froggystyle]

What are the kewl dive spots in San Diego?
I like anything off of La Jolla. Good stuff to look at, great dropoff, cool marine life. The swell is pretty fun too. Sometimes you even get great visibility.
I have dove out at San Clemente Island, where there is an AMAZING dropoff, and more marine life than you can see in one mask-full. Only bummer out there is there is a ton of sharks, and I hate sharks. We would go... uhhh.. swimming.. at night and dive down to... uhh.... Look at lobsters and stuff ;) and usually come right back up. I had a buddy tell me to go down, turn over on your back and shine the light up and around a little. I have yet to do that and not see a reef shark.
That just creeps me out now...