Search results

I recently returned from several weeks worth of scuba and first time usage of GoPro/Backscatter's Macromate Mini Lens. I was able to obtain some fairly impressive results, especially when combined with a simple editor (I used Android's Photo Editor Pro app on a Samsung Tablet). Overall, I was...

DandyDon - Mystery solved. Amermaid was another diver on location that week and was aware of the incident. Thanks for all your contributions to this thread. BJ139 - I'm starting to hear of similar encounters with aggressive eels and that's certainly disturbing, but the experience hasn't...

AMERMAID – I never mentioned the name of the dive site. It was, in fact, Villa Blanca. I’m curious how you knew this? MERXLIN- One of the few to recognize why gear control is problematic if you’ve got one arm elevated and the other applying direct pressure. DUMPSTER DIVER...

OK. Definite vagal response with perceived threat of shock from blood loss. I felt blacking out was a possibility, and thus C.A.P.E., a controlled ascent because of potential emergency, with buddy assistance. And now... should we all sign up for the PADI lionfish elimination specialty course...

Oh Peter Guy, let's not quibble about words and semantics when you've just implied loss of consciousness isn't an issue until it actually happens. That was the chief concern precisely because I do know regulators tend to fall out of mouths in such circumstances. You're obviously articulate and...

Lots of inaccurate readers, erroneous assumptions and word parsing going on with this thread. PeterGuy – you are so off in your statement “there is only one Underwater Emergency, and that is being out of gas -- everything else is an inconvenience!” How about loss of...

To TSandM: [I don't always agree with Dumpster Diver, but I find myself doing that in this case. Dumpster Diver wasn't there, doesn't have all the details, and overstated a few things. I guess someone who's been bit by eels many times and admits to being a dumb ass likes a little drama. To...

DD - that's the thing about hindsight, it's always 20/20. But I hardly think a “controlled” ascent can be described as “wild panic” and it was pain, not panic, that made it difficult to handle my gear. What’s “kinda funny” about your comments, is you...

Karibelle – you’re correct and thanks for supplying PADI's skill brief. A “controlled” emergency ascent is not about getting to the surface as “fast as possible”. You exhale to avoid lung damage and skip the safety stop, but try to maintain a normal ascent rate to minimize risk of DCI. Fire...

By "filleting" I mean that after the lionfish had been speared, a knife was employed to remove spines and further section the fish. And here's a PS: Immediately after the attack, I made a CEA (not knowing if venom was involved or if I was at risk for losing consciousness). So besides the...

I just came back from Cozumel where I sustained a nasty bite by a moray eel. Contrary to most assumptions, I was not being provocative or reckless, and I had not inadvertently invaded the eel’s territory or been in contact with the reef. I'm an experienced, NON-camera toting DM with terrific...

Glad it worked out for you to stay in Westpunt. Kura Hulanda Lodge is beautiful and Ocean Encounters West is such a great gang! I had a spectacular time with them, and the diving was so fantatic that I've booked a return trip end of October with 4 friends. Thanks for posting pictures, I...

Superior Producer is a great wreck, but generally ranked "advance" dive because of depth and current (not for relatively new divers). Mushroom Forest and Watamula both have highly unusual coral formations, but these west end dives are quite a boat ride away from east end Curacao. Overly long...

Me too! I want to see the pictures from the Scuba Board dive group we did at Playa Kalki. It was so nice to meet you and the rest of your family.

I also just returned from Curacao (last week). Must be a lot of USAF fellows there. I had the pleasure of meeting 3 in Westpunt (Kirkman, Himelhoch, Johnson) and had the honor of doing a couple dives with 2 of them. You USAF guys are grand! Welcome to the board and enjoy your new...

SeaHound - I'm married 33 years. First 25 years of it (when we could manage a vacation), we'd go someplace where my spouse would: bike, hike, fish, ski, kite surf...blah, blah, blah and I would sit around, read, twiddle my thumbs, drink fruity frozen cocktails and wait for him to finish...

I'm voting for Curacao. Just returned from a 2-week trip (my first time there) and had a fabulous time. I'm a divemaster (travel solo) with lots of Caribbean experience. The majority of my dive buddies on this trip fit your description. The bulk of my trip was spent in Westpunt (off the...

Ron, I'm in a similar situation. In my 50s, do a lot of solo traveling and have no interest in the young and love to party singles crowd. I just got back from a fantastic 2 week dive trip to Curacao. Some of the best Caribbean diving I've ever done, incredibly cost effective, no problem...

Just got back from Curacao last week (my first time there). Spent 2 weeks diving all over the island (east end, west end) both by shore and boat. I did the Superior Producer with The Dive Bus (excellent shore dive operator located not far from Superior Producer on Pierbaai). Superior Producer...

Dirty Dog - Just got back from Curacao. The Dive Bus WAS fantastic. I used them during my stay in the Willemstad area. The second half of my vacation I stayed in Westpunt (All West Apartments) and used Ocean Encounters WEST for a combination package of boat dives/unlimited shore dives...