The Mrs. and I are still in Orlando. DEMA finished Saturday and we decided to hang out for a couple of days and cool our jets. DEMA was a good show, although lightly attended. Several of my reps reported as few as helf of their accounts came to DEMA. There was not a great deal of new products, like there was last year. Aqualung has a new fin out, the Slingshot. It is hinged back towards the heal and has a couple of adjustable power bands that connect netween the blade and the toe. It is an interesting concept and we'll have to see how it does on the market. Zeagle is coming out with a new wrist computer in January. The seminars were good and we'll be trying to incorporate some of the lessons learned into our shop operations.
Today, we drove north to Ginnie Springs. The first dive at Ginnie was interesting. I was surprised at how small the cavern is. I had pictured a room with lots of space. Bottom is 55' and the temp, like Aquarena is a constant 72. I'm usually comfortable in a 3/2, but not moving around much made me chilled quickly. I ended the dive after 30 minutes since I had seen all there was to see, at least twice. The 2nd dive was the Devils Eye complex. You are not allowed to carry a light unless you are certified cave. These spots made Ginnie look huge. Thin slits in the ground where you drop down to a bottom that ranges from 18 - 45 feet, depending on which entrance you use. I think the entrance closest to the river is called Devil's Ear. The force of the water coming out of there was amazing. I literally had to pull my way down to the bottom to get to the cave entrance. It was very narrow down there and not a lot to look at without lights. A couple of cavers were doing a deco stop there, so I got some impression of the detail from their lights.
This little taste of cavern was not enought to convince me to go for full cave. However, I was a bit envious at all of the dry suits roaming around the park. All in all it was a cool trip. I think tomorrow we'll just hang out here in Orlando and then fly back on Wednesday. DEMA is in Las Vegas next year, so I'll probably leave the dive gear at home.
Today, we drove north to Ginnie Springs. The first dive at Ginnie was interesting. I was surprised at how small the cavern is. I had pictured a room with lots of space. Bottom is 55' and the temp, like Aquarena is a constant 72. I'm usually comfortable in a 3/2, but not moving around much made me chilled quickly. I ended the dive after 30 minutes since I had seen all there was to see, at least twice. The 2nd dive was the Devils Eye complex. You are not allowed to carry a light unless you are certified cave. These spots made Ginnie look huge. Thin slits in the ground where you drop down to a bottom that ranges from 18 - 45 feet, depending on which entrance you use. I think the entrance closest to the river is called Devil's Ear. The force of the water coming out of there was amazing. I literally had to pull my way down to the bottom to get to the cave entrance. It was very narrow down there and not a lot to look at without lights. A couple of cavers were doing a deco stop there, so I got some impression of the detail from their lights.
This little taste of cavern was not enought to convince me to go for full cave. However, I was a bit envious at all of the dry suits roaming around the park. All in all it was a cool trip. I think tomorrow we'll just hang out here in Orlando and then fly back on Wednesday. DEMA is in Las Vegas next year, so I'll probably leave the dive gear at home.
