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Dive Addict in Louisiana


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#1 Ducky

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Posted 07 March 2021 - 10:01 AM

Hello again

So another dive adventure…I went home to visit family and also had someone interested in scuba. I decided I would bring their open water book and all my gear so they could have an idea of what all we use and show them the functionality of each piece.  She loved trying on all the gear and even lifted the tank to get the full effect.

Even this small exposure to diving was enough to set the wheels in motion and when I left her house I immediately sought out a place to get in the water. I grew up very close to a river in Louisiana so I had plenty of places to choose from but I was thinking something with a little less crazy current and maybe more than -4ft viz.. There is a campground off the river called “The Bluff” and down the road from this are some old sand pits… perfect. I drove down the old back roads pulled off on a 4-wheeler path and geared up. I used my fins to knock down spider webs and move aside branches and I only got hung up on my tank once ducking under a limb (which may or may not be a word used in place of “barbed wire fence”) on the way to the sand pit.

I finally reached a place around the pond I could manage to get in and out relatively easy and was only sad because I had to do walk in instead of the giant stride or roll off. That water was cold and it took everything in me to make myself walk all the way in. After getting in though it was really nice. The viz was a good 15-20 I saw several catfish ,bass, brim, and a few white perch that looked quite tasty! It was definitely a satisfying peaceful dive.

About 40 min in I had just about covered the perimeter and was heading to the exit when I felt “the bump” . At first, I was like “ oh that’s nothing you must of hit a branch” I looked around but didn’t see anything I would have ran into. Hmm..just keep swimming. Pause.. Do you ever get that feeling when you are walking in the dark maybe to take the trash out and on the way back you start to feel like something is watching you and if you don’t hurry up its going to grab you so you take off running back to the house?! No?..just me?! Ok anyways. ..so I’m swimming (maybe a little faster) and then I kind of start laughing because I have let myself get scared of nothing. As im thinking this a freaking huge alligator gar swims inches in front of my face. It came out of nowhere and it scared the actual pee out of me! UGH!! Those are ugly, scary, dinosaur fish! If you have not seen one up close you are lucky! If you never see one while diving You Are Blessed! Really ive swam with sharks, barracuda, and even the alligator that lived under my Uncle Joe’s house boat. That is the most scared I have ever been of any marine life.

So I got to share a little about diving with a friend, I got to quench my thirst for diving myself, I had another new dive experience, and I learned “sand pits are a great place to bring your spear”. I have some great gar ball recipes 😊

 


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#2 WreckWench

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Posted 07 March 2021 - 02:14 PM

OMG...you gotta post a pic of an alligator gar when you get a chance!

 

NOW THAT IS TRULY AN ADDICT!!!  I thought I was one...you know give up everything in life including a real job that paid REALLY well and become a scuba bum... but I think this takes the cake! ;)

 

ps You lost me at 'cold water....'  :lol:



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#3 Ducky

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Posted 07 March 2021 - 05:28 PM

OMG...you gotta post a pic of an alligator gar when you get a chance!
 
NOW THAT IS TRULY AN ADDICT!!!  I thought I was one...you know give up everything in life including a real job that paid REALLY well and become a scuba bum... but I think this takes the cake! ;)
 
ps You lost me at 'cold water....'  :lol:

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#4 dive_sail_etc

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Posted 07 March 2021 - 05:35 PM

 

OMG...you gotta post a pic of an alligator gar when you get a chance!
 
NOW THAT IS TRULY AN ADDICT!!!  I thought I was one...you know give up everything in life including a real job that paid REALLY well and become a scuba bum... but I think this takes the cake! ;)
 
ps You lost me at 'cold water....'  :lol:

 

Nice gar but you did not mention bagging the one that was bumping you - was this a previous catch? :cool:

 

Also I am guessing the lady suited in the shop up was not diving with you since there is no evidence of thermal protection. :diver:


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#5 Cajun Diver

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Posted 07 March 2021 - 07:45 PM

I caught a few of those on trotlines and even caught one on a rod and reel while fishing in a bayou near Lake Pontchartrain.  I wouldn't want to dive with one though...


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#6 Ducky

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Posted 07 March 2021 - 08:00 PM

Right?! They are scary and I prefer fishing them than diving with them ! A lot of people use jugs to catch them out of the river. I have seen one over 6ft pulled up on a jug.
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#7 Racer184

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Posted 08 March 2021 - 06:27 AM

Having never even seen a photograph of one before in my life, I would have been seriously scared seeing that in the water for the first time.

 

That fish is  U G L Y.


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#8 Racer184

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Posted 08 March 2021 - 06:32 AM

Wikipedia.....

 

Alligator_gar.jpg


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#9 Ducky

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Posted 08 March 2021 - 09:07 AM

Yes!! Ugly dinosaur fish! You should youtube a video of people jugging for gar. They also do a lot of bowfishing for them. They go at night using spotlights. I've seen them and am aware of them but I did not think to make them a part of my dive plan  :blush: -50 BAR for when you swim past the scary fish...5 min safety stop...

 

Having never even seen a photograph of one before in my life, I would have been seriously scared seeing that in the water for the first time.

 

That fish is  U G L Y.



#10 little mermaid

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Posted 08 March 2021 - 10:48 AM

Wow, that is one interesting fish, have never seen one diving, probably hope not to also!!!


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#11 Ducky

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Posted 09 March 2021 - 07:07 AM

OMG...you gotta post a pic of an alligator gar when you get a chance!
 
NOW THAT IS TRULY AN ADDICT!!!  I thought I was one...you know give up everything in life including a real job that paid REALLY well and become a scuba bum... but I think this takes the cake! ;)
 
ps You lost me at 'cold water....'  :lol:


Nice gar but you did not mention bagging the one that was bumping you - was this a previous catch? :cool:
 
Also I am guessing the lady suited in the shop up was not diving with you since there is no evidence of thermal protection. :diver:

Lol I can’t get anything past you. The gar was indeed from a previous catch and from my perspective no where near as big as the one I saw under water! The woman was also just received an open water book and the first time she had seen dive gear before. I don’t think I will introduce her to diving in the sandpits lol
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#12 dive_sail_etc

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Posted 09 March 2021 - 07:25 AM

OMG...you gotta post a pic of an alligator gar when you get a chance!
 
NOW THAT IS TRULY AN ADDICT!!!  I thought I was one...you know give up everything in life including a real job that paid REALLY well and become a scuba bum... but I think this takes the cake! ;)
 
ps You lost me at 'cold water....'  :lol:


Nice gar but you did not mention bagging the one that was bumping you - was this a previous catch? :cool:
 
Also I am guessing the lady suited in the shop up was not diving with you since there is no evidence of thermal protection. :diver:

Lol I can’t get anything past you. The gar was indeed from a previous catch and from my perspective no where near as big as the one I saw under water! The woman was also just received an open water book and the first time she had seen dive gear before. I don’t think I will introduce her to diving in the sandpits lol

 

Devon unless her name is Laura Croft I would agree skipping the sandpits is probably the right decision. :-D :wacko:

 

However, depending on how warm the water in those sandpits get over the summer this shark encounter diver shark_1f988.pngmight be interested.

Come on, you know you want a rematch! :teeth: :diver: :diver:


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#13 Ducky

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Posted 09 March 2021 - 01:31 PM

Aye!! I will return but this time I will not let the 4 P's ruin my dive and will be properly armed!       :fish2:  <---------  :diver:  :ninja:


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#14 dive_sail_etc

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Posted 09 March 2021 - 05:25 PM

Aye!! I will return but this time I will not let the 4 P's ruin my dive and will be properly armed!       :fish2:  <---------  :diver:  :ninja:

Devon I nearly spit my soda across the screen! :laugh: :D :laugh: :D :laugh: Thanks for the laughs with a VERY clever emoji improvisation! (Makes me think twice about Coz in April!) :diver:


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Brad, the Fledgling Journeyman Master Hedonist
Finally broken to plow and harnessed to the traces. How may I help you today? Questions welcomed to charlies@singledivers.com

"My secret to maintaining this goofy façade? It ain't no façade." - Brad, the Fledgling Journeyman Master Hedonist
"I don't make up jokes; I just observe Congress and report the facts." - Will Rogers

#15 Ducky

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Posted 09 March 2021 - 06:51 PM

We all need laughter and vitamin “sea”! Two of the best medicines IMO
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