Florida Regional trip reports August 2004
#31
Posted 25 August 2004 - 07:22 PM
Since the Florida Regional was a 4-day event, I requested leave for Friday and Monday. My request was denied. I resigned myself to spending just the weekend with my SD.com friends. I did talk them into letting me leave work 30 minutes early (by skipping lunch). Before I left, I saw they had scheduled me off work on Monday, a pleasant surprise.
I pulled into the hotel at about 6 PM on Friday to find several folks separating lead from line after the clean up. They sent me to the ocean a couple of times with starfish they found.
At the BBQ, I saw some old friends and met new ones. This was the first time ZD and I met face to face, yet it seemed almost as if we’d know each other for years. Working closely on this site was a big factor, I’m sure.
Saturday morning, we dived with Tavernier Dive Center. That was old home week for me because I once worked there as a DM/Instructor/Captain. There are lots of changes. The Shadow was a new, beautiful, sleek boat. It’s now showing its age (19). It was once quite plush; it’s now an old workhorse. We had 25 divers on board, which really isn’t too bad for this boat (licensed for 40), but is a tad crowded. Since we made up almost the entire compliment, I didn’t notice the crowding.
Our first dive was on an old favorite of mine – Conch Wall. It was my 166th dive on Conch, but I haven’t dived it in 505 dives. It’s been a while. Susan was my buddy for the morning. We descend against a mild current and dropped over the wall. Circling around the large coral heads on the bottom of the wall we found a 6 ft Nurse Shark. We followed it for a bit. It took us to two of its friends. A nice introduction.
Coming back to the top of the wall, we spotted a French Angel with a tiny shark sucker attached. Susan immediately started looking at the shrimp in the tube sponges. I pulled out my light to help her get a better view.
Kamala & Kim soon joined us. The four of us played around near the mooring line. Conch is still one of my favorite dives; it’s a beautiful reef with lots of life.
Captain Scott took sandwich orders during the surface interval and radioed them in.
For the second dive, we went to a spot on Little Conch Reef they called Three Stooges. Larry, Moe, Curley, Shemp and Joe should file a lawsuit. It’s not a nice spot. I enjoyed the company and hence the dive, but I wouldn’t recommend the site.
Kamala and I made plans to get our nitrox tanks analyzed and signed off first so we could make the sandwich run. While we were in the process of doing that, John showed up and made a rude & crude comment. John was the original owner of Tavernier Dive Center. We worked very closely for over 6 years and became very good friends during that time. I introduced him to Kamala and we chatted for a bit. We excused ourselves to pick up the sandwiches and upon returning, John and I caught up on happenings in each other’s lives since we last saw each other (about 5 years). As we loaded up for the afternoon trip, John invited us to stop by later.
The afternoon trip was two dives on the Eagle. The Eagle is my favorite dive. I’m always happy to have an opportunity to get on it again. Stu was my buddy in the afternoon. He’s a fun dive buddy. He even followed me through the bow section. We sat over the wreck hovering as a large Jewfish exited, swam out beyond the keel and waited for the divers to leave.
During the surface interval, I pulled the goodie bag out of my gear bag when ZD wasn’t looking and gave it to Jill (our DM) to hold out of sight on the swim platform.
When I was ready to enter the water, I took it back from Jill and slipped in with it hidden from ZD all the time. Stu & I descended to the wreck where I filled the bottle, sealed it & returned it to the bag. We then waited for Marvel & ZD to arrive. While waiting we saw a large turtle leave the wreck, then our old friend the Jewfish took up his station out from the keel. Eventually, ZD & Marvel descended. ZD turned left, Marvel circled to the right, I swam over her and passed the bag. She swam right over and presented it to him. He really did tear up when he read the inscription on the flask. Several folks shook his hand in congratulations. Stu & I were out of bottom time at this point, so we started out slow ascent.
After the dive, ZD cracked open the flask and took the first sip of brandy from his new flask. That also brought tears to his eyes. LOL! He then shared the contents of his flask with us.
After the dives, we planned to meet the group a little later for dinner, but first planned to have a short visit with John, his wife Diana and daughter, Jennifer. The short visit turned into about 2 hours although it seemed like 15 minutes.
More (Sunday & Monday) to come……………
DSSW,
WWW™
#32
Posted 26 August 2004 - 08:02 AM
The Eagle is also a wonderful dive. You guys must have had a blast.
Dennis
"Suppose you were an idiot ... And suppose you were a member of Congress ... But I repeat myself." --Mark Twain
#33
Posted 27 August 2004 - 09:11 AM
Thank you to everyone who made this possible for your great work!!!!
Gar
#34
Posted 27 August 2004 - 09:35 AM
Thanks for playing the spanish guitar, really touched me.
You are truly an awesome person.
Ladies, he is a keeper!!!
#35
Posted 27 August 2004 - 10:55 AM
That's it???? That's your trip report????? You slacker!!!!busy week so just a quick note to let everyone know how much I loved meeting and diving with everyone. I am really looking forward to going to SD Reginal events in everyone's back yard over the next couple years.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible for your great work!!!!
Gar
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S. Lewis
#36
Posted 27 August 2004 - 01:15 PM
Sorry, but he was busy.
#37
Posted 27 August 2004 - 03:22 PM
By all that is wet, I do hereby swear, (politely), and attest, upon pain of never diving again, (real or imagined), that I understand and affirm, that I agree to the above.
_________________________________________(log in name signature)
Signed and Dated
#38
Posted 28 August 2004 - 08:54 PM
#39
Posted 29 August 2004 - 10:53 AM
But still no trip report, you gad-about, you!Thanks Sylvia!!! I'm blushing :thank you: and marvel darlin' Thanks so much for all the hospitality! Marvel, Kamala, ZD and Walter and everyone else....So much work on your part so much appreciation on mine!
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S. Lewis
#40
Posted 29 August 2004 - 05:33 PM
Hey, was fun meeting you. Will have to get together next time I'm out visiting my brother. Chatted with him over the weekend. Ther FINE DINING we did in Albq was at the "Frontier" near the college. What a place! Breakfast will never be the sameThanks Sylvia!!! I'm blushing and marvel darlin' Thanks so much for all the hospitality! Marvel, Kamala, ZD and Walter and everyone else....So much work on your part so much appreciation on mine!
#41
Posted 30 August 2004 - 12:39 PM
Yes indeed the Frontier is a ledgend in it's own right here in Albuquacky. I don't get down there very often. Make sure to give me a hollar when you get into town next time!Hey, was fun meeting you. Will have to get together next time I'm out visiting my brother. Chatted with him over the weekend. Ther FINE DINING we did in Albq was at the "Frontier" near the college. What a place! Breakfast will never be the sameThanks Sylvia!!! I'm blushing  and marvel darlin' Thanks so much for all the hospitality! Marvel, Kamala, ZD and Walter and everyone else....So much work on your part so much appreciation on mine!
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