Hello all, my name is Simon, it's been about 8 years since my last dive, and I have fallen off the no-dive wagon.
I can't actually recall how long its been since I was last effectively on here or really last wet (some Paradise Springs dives with Roxanne and Cardzard in 2010? and maybe 2005 prior to that according to my log book). Dropped off the radar after I got married as my now ex had started, but then we both ceased diving shortly afterwards - sold all my cave gear back in '05/06 (for practically purchase cost
). About the same time I pretty much got off SB full-time and was due to inactivity that my moderator status was revoked. Sophie and Nick came along (they just turned 4 and 5), and I had a few offers for occasional dives with friends I had kept outside/after SB. Now my GF Christa (for a bit over a year) decided she wanted to start diving and this weekend she completed her checkout dives on "Little Deeper" through ScubaQuest. She's super-amped about getting into diving, so while neither of us (if she joins) may be crazy-active on here, at least I can dust my gear off and bring out of retirement.
Just got all my stuff inspected ahead of those dives and a big thanks to our LDS Seminole Scuba for turning my regs around in about 4 days (all clean still, except a slightly perished LP inflator hose after 8+ years in the garage). Got in two dives, buddied Christa until her class went up and then hung with the remaining insta-buddy diver and DM Debby(ie?) until the other guy got lowish. Yeah I know, no plan, potentially bad move, but we were pretty shallow, I was still confident enough in my abilities given time already spent on first dive, still had DM if he got in trouble, we chatted during SI about 2nd dive plan. Altogether two 42 min dives ave 44/45 ft on a couple reefs around Breakers. Had on my 1mm and it was 84F, which felt fine. I've lost over 70# since my last dives, so had no idea what I was going to need weight-wise and went with an extra pound over my SS BP/Wings (6# total), but all seemed fine. Trim was pretty good, just hung on the drift, SAC a little elevated at 0.60 and 0.54 cuft/min compared to the older 0.38-0.48 I would get on similar dives - but I also had a newbie to look out for, and a group to stay with (who were chasing all over looking at stuff - up and sometimes across current). My old equalization issues were still evident - some things never change... but I did get down relatively easily, no bloody snot or pain, which was a plus! It was nice to see some sea life up close again, viz was a little short at 50 ft, but I heard that the day before was more like 10-20, so we lucked out a little there.
In other news, besides the marriage/divorce/custody issues (Christa in the same boat with her son, also 5), I had a nice epiphany around 5 years ago when Soph was born, that I needed to change jobs and get healthier. So I changed that up in 2009 when Nick was born and had been working up until that time, as well as more recently losing some weight. Did the biggest drop through mid-'11 and have maintained/slight loss since. Most of this can be attributed to better eating and a significant amount of time training for triathlons (what is it about gear intensive/expensive sports - sailing, windsurfing, diving, now triathlon). Completed my first in 2011, and have worked through a couple dozen sprints, Olympic and half-iron distance races (placing or winning a few of my age group races), this winter I go to Key West for my first full-ironman distance race, which is going to take a whole load more time to train for still! Work has me driving all over the northern portion of the state, I'd be tempted to bring my dive gear with me and hit springs, but few short-notice buddies and uncertain timeframes, plus the load of work equipment I have to carry means I often just take some running shoes and hit a trail for a run after work, time-permitting.
Altogether, glad to be wet again, that my gear still works (& didn't have to buy more than a hose given all that time), to have a GF who wants to dive, and hopefully catch up with a few old friends along the way. Given my travel all over the state for work, 50% parental custody, GF, and triathlon training, I probably wont be on the 100+ dives/year schedule from before, maybe vacationing and a monthly trip at most, but that's a crap load more than I've been doing for the past 8 years!
Man, that was a long re-intro, good to be back amongst old friends and near-family of the board. We are lined up to join the megadive in October, so should be able to catch up with a few folks there!
I can't actually recall how long its been since I was last effectively on here or really last wet (some Paradise Springs dives with Roxanne and Cardzard in 2010? and maybe 2005 prior to that according to my log book). Dropped off the radar after I got married as my now ex had started, but then we both ceased diving shortly afterwards - sold all my cave gear back in '05/06 (for practically purchase cost
). About the same time I pretty much got off SB full-time and was due to inactivity that my moderator status was revoked. Sophie and Nick came along (they just turned 4 and 5), and I had a few offers for occasional dives with friends I had kept outside/after SB. Now my GF Christa (for a bit over a year) decided she wanted to start diving and this weekend she completed her checkout dives on "Little Deeper" through ScubaQuest. She's super-amped about getting into diving, so while neither of us (if she joins) may be crazy-active on here, at least I can dust my gear off and bring out of retirement. Just got all my stuff inspected ahead of those dives and a big thanks to our LDS Seminole Scuba for turning my regs around in about 4 days (all clean still, except a slightly perished LP inflator hose after 8+ years in the garage). Got in two dives, buddied Christa until her class went up and then hung with the remaining insta-buddy diver and DM Debby(ie?) until the other guy got lowish. Yeah I know, no plan, potentially bad move, but we were pretty shallow, I was still confident enough in my abilities given time already spent on first dive, still had DM if he got in trouble, we chatted during SI about 2nd dive plan. Altogether two 42 min dives ave 44/45 ft on a couple reefs around Breakers. Had on my 1mm and it was 84F, which felt fine. I've lost over 70# since my last dives, so had no idea what I was going to need weight-wise and went with an extra pound over my SS BP/Wings (6# total), but all seemed fine. Trim was pretty good, just hung on the drift, SAC a little elevated at 0.60 and 0.54 cuft/min compared to the older 0.38-0.48 I would get on similar dives - but I also had a newbie to look out for, and a group to stay with (who were chasing all over looking at stuff - up and sometimes across current). My old equalization issues were still evident - some things never change... but I did get down relatively easily, no bloody snot or pain, which was a plus! It was nice to see some sea life up close again, viz was a little short at 50 ft, but I heard that the day before was more like 10-20, so we lucked out a little there.
In other news, besides the marriage/divorce/custody issues (Christa in the same boat with her son, also 5), I had a nice epiphany around 5 years ago when Soph was born, that I needed to change jobs and get healthier. So I changed that up in 2009 when Nick was born and had been working up until that time, as well as more recently losing some weight. Did the biggest drop through mid-'11 and have maintained/slight loss since. Most of this can be attributed to better eating and a significant amount of time training for triathlons (what is it about gear intensive/expensive sports - sailing, windsurfing, diving, now triathlon). Completed my first in 2011, and have worked through a couple dozen sprints, Olympic and half-iron distance races (placing or winning a few of my age group races), this winter I go to Key West for my first full-ironman distance race, which is going to take a whole load more time to train for still! Work has me driving all over the northern portion of the state, I'd be tempted to bring my dive gear with me and hit springs, but few short-notice buddies and uncertain timeframes, plus the load of work equipment I have to carry means I often just take some running shoes and hit a trail for a run after work, time-permitting.
Altogether, glad to be wet again, that my gear still works (& didn't have to buy more than a hose given all that time), to have a GF who wants to dive, and hopefully catch up with a few old friends along the way. Given my travel all over the state for work, 50% parental custody, GF, and triathlon training, I probably wont be on the 100+ dives/year schedule from before, maybe vacationing and a monthly trip at most, but that's a crap load more than I've been doing for the past 8 years!
Man, that was a long re-intro, good to be back amongst old friends and near-family of the board. We are lined up to join the megadive in October, so should be able to catch up with a few folks there!
