26 replies to this topic

[bigblueplanet]

I was told to say hello in here. I think this is a great idea. We need more communities in the dive game. I am not going to bore you with a resume. I am not that old, but have been diving forever. I have traveled a great deal. Done a ton of things and told a bunch of great stories. Teach diving, shoot and direct some television among other pursuits. I shoot stills a bit too. Seems like there are a few of us brain damaged types in here. LOL Not much I have not done in diving, but I am here because I tend to travel alone when I dive for fun. So, I thought this would be a cool place to look for people to join up with. I am happy to answer questions as people have them about myself or diving or whatever.

Cheers,

Grant

Edited by bigblueplanet, 08 May 2004 - 03:02 PM.

[scubahoney]

You came to the right place if you are looking for a dive buddy on all your solo trips. Have fun and welcome to the zoo!

[Diverlady]

Hi Grant!

Welcome to SD! No need to travel alone any longer! You'll have to put up with US now!! LOL Of course diving with the warped bunch that hangs out here, you'll probably develop new stories to tell!!

Diverlady

[DandyDon]

Howdy Grant!

Welcome to the Loony Tunes! But we do have some serious divers here; I've met one or two of them.

don

[WreckWench]

Howdy!!! Glad you joined us and BETTER YET...want to go diving with us!!! Woo!! Hoo!!

Well you certainly have met the right group of people to have fun with! We have some awesome trips planned to blue water all over the world and will soon have some official trips to your neck of the woods as well as the PNW...NY/NJ...FL area too!

We are playful on the board...perhaps a bit too much sometimes but we don't bite...contrary to popular belief sometimes!! Please jump right in and make yourself at home...and we'd love your feedback on our website as well as our board. We have implemented almost every suggestion or feedback we've gotten from our members so keep 'em coming!!!

I hope to see you on a trip soon! You'll see that we emphasize trips because that's what we do here....1. Have FUN...2. Go DIVING with other FUN people...3. Hang out on the Surface Interval and have FUN when we aren't diving!! Notice a trend???

Welcome aboard and we still have some room left for on my beloved North Carolina trips!!! The next one is the 4th of July...I can bet you've done all kinds of diving...but can you imagine 85 degree warm water wreckdiving on German U-Boats and WWI and WWII wrecks!!! Gosh I love this sport!!! -Kamala aka the "Wreck Wench"

P.S. You have tons of experience in the diving world....I hope SD can tap into some of that talent as time goes on!!!

[Walter]

Hi Grant,

Welcome to your new home! I can tell you like it here already, I think you set a record. Thanks for the support! I hope to share some dives with you soon.

Walter

[mischievous]

hey grant, welcome to the board!

[bigblueplanet]

I know the best and worst of NC diving. Did a fair amount of time on the USS Montior Expedition out there. Both early in the season 51 degrees and zero viz and late in the season 80s and hundreds of feet of viz. Great area to dive. A must do for anyone who loves wrecks.

Grant

[DivingGal]

Wow the Monitor, I'm impressed. I've read about the historical wreck (and know the history behind it ... not bad for a non-American )

Welcome, and enjoy the visits

[Walter]

I've read about the historical wreck (and know the history behind it ... not bad for a non-American )

I'm impressed. That little boat fought the much larger (but slower) CSS Virginia to a draw.

[bigblueplanet]

No reason to be impressed, not the point. Just something I helped with.

Walter,

I am impressed that you actually called it the Virginia.

G2

[Walter]

I am impressed that you actually called it the Virginia.

Grant,

What else would I call it? That was its name. The other name (admittedly, usually used and often misspelled) was the name of a US ship. US ships rarely fight each other. BTW, both ships claimed victory in the battle because of misunderstandings. Each thought the other retreated. Neither did. A shot from the Virginia, blinded the Monitor's Captain, Commander Worden. The vessel was temporarily out of control and appeared to be retreating. The Virginia's commander, Lt. Jones (taking command from the wounded Commodore Buchanan the day before) saw the apparent retreat. Knowing his vessel was too slow to catch the Monitor and being short of ammunition, he returned to port claiming victory. Dana Greene, now in command of the Monitor, gained control of his vessel and brought it around to face the Virginia. Seeing the apparent retreat, he returned to his station guarding the USS Minnesota and claimed victory. Many history texts incorrectly record the draw as a victory of the USS Monitor over the CSS Merrimac. This is an error in outcome and in the Confederate ship's name.

The USS Monitor was a reaction to reports that the CSS Virginia was being refitted as an ironclad. It was hastily built and towed to Hampton Roads to counteract the threat.

[Bubble2Bubble]

Welcome bigblueplanet
I can see your not a Newbie to this.
I'm looking forward to seeing some Great post's from you.


Mike

[bigblueplanet]

Well aware of the history, thanks though. LOL Although, I am sure others here were not aware of that history.

Yes, most call it the Merrimac. It is how I learned it as a kid; the Merrimac and the Monitor The crew of the Virginia often called it the Merrimac. It was known as the CSS Virginia officially. It was built on the hull of the USS Merrimac that burned to the water line. The Confederates salvaged the hull and made the Virginia, so it was a bit of both ships.

The stand off was interesting. Eight hours of firing at each other often only feet away only to make dents in the armor. I have seen the dents personally. I will say it was super fascintaing to see and be a part of that kind of history. It was not till I went to participate in the project that I realized how little a sense of history I really had being from the left coast.

But, I received quick lessons being around the Montior's historian for that long. In Hatteras there is not much to do on land, so we got to hear a lot about all things Monitor.

For those of you back east or who happend to find yourself there for some reason, the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA has the recovered pieces from the Monitor. The prop just came out of restoration. The turret and the engine are currently being restored. Good museum if you like ships.

[WisconsinGal]

to the Group Grant!


WG