As we have discussed on occasion, there are many Caribbean destinations with appeal and most of us have done at least a few of them. We can list Bonaire, Cozumel, Belize, Caymans Turks and Caicos, Barbados, Roatan, Trinidad and Tobago as "wish list" destinations. And then there are the "exotics". Truck and Palau, the Great Barrier Reef, Phuket, The Galapagos, East coast of Africa, and others. Many of us, however, will make perhaps one or two of these destinations in the next five years. Most of our diving will be done much closer to home. Time and cost considerations will limit the number and durations of the "dream" trips. While we need to plan for these, I propose we need to make some domestic trips (even some fresh water destinations) a priority. Places where we can meet each other as a group and that won't break the bank. We could have a Bonne Terre Mine dive trip which would be accessible for most of the United States at a very reasonable cost. A SD gathering in Florida with Walter would cover points to the East and perhaps a California Kelp diving trip would attract Western divers. The North Carolina trips compare (cost wise) with Cozumel and attract those with a taste for something different. I think we need some regional "cells" to plan get togethers in their respective areas much like the May Athens (Texas) scuba trip. These could be held on a much more frequent basis and allow an inexpensive "domestic" trip with a "host" region that could attract other divers from around the US to dive in different environments. While we are saving for that dive to "go down on Sara" at Bikini, we could enjoy each other's company many times and in many unfamiliar environments around the US. I, for one, enjoy "getting wet" with my friends at any opportunity and the chance to dive an unfamiliar "gravel pit" or "rock Quarry" is very attractive if I'm there with people who I enjoy.
Well Put!
Great suggestion on Bonne Terre as well as the others, I've wanted to check out Bonne Terre out for quite awhile, just couldn't find anyone that has wanted to go or had the time to go. A quick summary of this area is below if interested:
Water conditions remain constant with over 100 foot visibility, Sights include: mammoth architecture, guaranteed year round diving conditions. cal falls, oar carts, scaffolding, grating, staircases, pillars, slurry pipes, the famed elevator shaft, and much more.
The Billion Gallon Lake is illuminated with over 500,000 watts of lighting, a total of twenty-four dive trails have been laid out in the lake, taking the diver through mammoth archways, past beautiful calcium falls, around gargantuan pillars and to the many abandoned mining artifacts. Depths of the dive tours average between 40 to 60 feet. Divers are toured through the mine in groups of ten by two specially trained dive guides. Super 80 cubic ft. aluminum tanks are provided each diver. Dive lights are not permitted in the lake, because they detract from the natural beauty of the illuminated surroundings. Power inflator are required on all BC's. Billion Gallon Lake is 58 (Degree F) and not affected by outside temperatures, there are no thermo clines. Air temperature is 62 (Degree F) year round. Lighting on the rock formations is spectacular. One can descend to 80 feet and look up to see divers silhouetted against a rainbow. Man carved pillars grace the entire Billion Gallon Lake. The 200 foot solid-rock pillar rising from depths and mining artifacts on the walls and floor make for spectacular underwater photography."
My calendar is wide open for 2005 as far as I know, and definitely interested in some of these trips mentioned.
WG
Edited by WisconsinGal, 22 April 2004 - 07:01 AM.
