Florida Diver Looking for Possible Dive Sites

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OrlandoRogue

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Location
Emeryville, CA
Hi!

I will be up in Mansfield, Mass. on October 29th for business. I am going to stay up in New England for the weekend because I used to live up there and love any opportunity to revisit my old stomping grounds. I would like to see if I could get in a few dives while up there, but am unaware of any since I was not a diver when I lived there. Any suggestions? Is it too cold for diving at that time of year? I am AOW/Nitrox certified and will be cavern certified (and possibly Intro to Cave) by that time. So, I am accustomed to both fresh water and salt water diving.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Rebecca
 
OrlandoRogue:
Hi!

I will be up in Mansfield, Mass. on October 29th for business. I am going to stay up in New England for the weekend because I used to live up there and love any opportunity to revisit my old stomping grounds. I would like to see if I could get in a few dives while up there, but am unaware of any since I was not a diver when I lived there. Any suggestions? Is it too cold for diving at that time of year? I am AOW/Nitrox certified and will be cavern certified (and possibly Intro to Cave) by that time. So, I am accustomed to both fresh water and salt water diving.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Rebecca
Aren't you just the little scuba jet setter!
 
Who me?! Yep, just got some new responsibilities and loving it.... What can be better than getting my company to pay for me to conduct training sessions in other cities on Fridays and then stay and explore the locales on the weekends. It is a good life. Now, where next? (I think Charleston, SC-on to the Dixie Divers forum) :)
 
Hi, Rebecca -

You sound a lot like me - I lived here during college, moved to FL for professional school (and lots of dive training)... I like it here, but I miss FL (OK, maybe not right now with a hurricane headed your way every week and a half). I also looked at your public profile - we are pretty similar in build, I think.

My husband and I dive here year round, pretty much, but while he is OK in a wetsuit in August/Sept, I do the drysuit thing. In fact, 4 weeks ago, I attempted to dive in a 7 mm wetsuit with hood and goves, and I had to call the dive after 30 min. I had lost sensation in my feet, fingers, and lips, which is just not so good... Like you, I am on the thin side, but I never had a big problem doing springs/caves in FL in a 7 mm wetsuit and 5 mm booties, no hood or gloves, including some dives a few hours long. I never thought I was that wimpy until I tried to dive here in a wetsuit.

In other words, unless you are VERY different from me or plan to dive in a drysuit up here, prepare to be - ah - CHILLY.

So, that said - there are plenty of places to dive from shore, and I and/or the hubby will definitely join you - but I highly recommend that you get a hood, gloves, and thick booties if you intend to dive wet - and I promise to understand if you call the dive after 10 minutes.

Have a great visit, if I don't hear from you, and stay safe down there this hurricane-ridden fall, OK? By the way -who are you doing your cavern/cave class with?


***wait - just realized that we'll be in England that weekend - but I hope this info was helpful, anyways! I am sure any one of these guys will be happy to go diving with you. have a great time - Allison
 
vetdiver:
Hi, Rebecca -

You sound a lot like me - I lived here during college, moved to FL for professional school (and lots of dive training)... I like it here, but I miss FL (OK, maybe not right now with a hurricane headed your way every week and a half). I also looked at your public profile - we are pretty similar in build, I think.

My husband and I dive here year round, pretty much, but while he is OK in a wetsuit in August/Sept, I do the drysuit thing. In fact, 4 weeks ago, I attempted to dive in a 7 mm wetsuit with hood and goves, and I had to call the dive after 30 min. I had lost sensation in my feet, fingers, and lips, which is just not so good... Like you, I am on the thin side, but I never had a big problem doing springs/caves in FL in a 7 mm wetsuit and 5 mm booties, no hood or gloves, including some dives a few hours long. I never thought I was that wimpy until I tried to dive here in a wetsuit.

In other words, unless you are VERY different from me or plan to dive in a drysuit up here, prepare to be - ah - CHILLY.

So, that said - there are plenty of places to dive from shore, and I and/or the hubby will definitely join you - but I highly recommend that you get a hood, gloves, and thick booties if you intend to dive wet - and I promise to understand if you call the dive after 10 minutes.

Have a great visit, if I don't hear from you, and stay safe down there this hurricane-ridden fall, OK? By the way -who are you doing your cavern/cave class with?


***wait - just realized that we'll be in England that weekend - but I hope this info was helpful, anyways! I am sure any one of these guys will be happy to go diving with you. have a great time - Allison


Thanks for the info, Allison! I actually miss New England a lot, particularly during the fall and winter (since there is basically no fall and winter here in Florida!). But, a benefit of Florida living is the year-round diving. That is somewhat comforting.:)

I will probably be a bit cold in the 7mm, hood and gloves, but I would be willing to give it the old girlscout try! Do you know what the average water temp is at that time? Maybe if I numb myself enough by doing cavern dives in a 3mm here, then I'll be ready for the cold in New England.

Sorry I'll miss you and your hubbie that weekend, but I know I'll be back in the spring for more training. Hopefully we can catch some dives then! In the interim, if you all travel to Florida to escape the cold, let me know and we can go diving down here (just wait until hurricane season passes!).

Have a great weekend, Rebecca

PS-My cavern and intro to cave instructor is Rick Murcar with GDI. He is terrific!
 
Hi Rebecca, the water temp will probably be in the low 50s by then, which may not be so bad with a nice thick wetsuit. The thing that might get you is changing out of the wetsuit afterward! Count on only doing one dive wet unless you're blessed with a nice warm day (which you probably won't get). On thing you might want to consider is bringing a thermos full of warm water to pour in your suit before and after entry, to ease the transition into or out of the chilly water.

There are a lot of good sites up here though, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks who'd be happy to show you around. My girlfriend is just finishing up her open water cert dives this weekend, so we might be available then. I'll have to check the calendar.
 
Dontcha just love these guys who say it's not so bad diving wet in 50-degree water?

Just remember - bring the thickest booties you can find...I speak from experience...

Have a great Oct trip, I'll let you know if our plans change. We'll probably be in north Florida the beginning ot Thanksgiving week with gear, hopefully we'll get in a dive somewhere in north/central Fl. Give a shout when you're back up this way in the spring!

Have a GREAT time with your course (my instructor was Brent Booth, who used to be with Diver's Supply in Gainesville...not sure where he is now...). It is fun to be so little that you can just scoot through...
 
I guess it all depends what you're used to... I grew up swimming (with no exposure protection) in water that barely hit 60, so low 50s with a thick wetsuit seems nice by comparison.
 
MSilvia:
I guess it all depends what you're used to... I grew up swimming (with no exposure protection) in water that barely hit 60, so low 50s with a thick wetsuit seems nice by comparison.

Yeah, I'll fully admit - I'm a wuss. I'd need a wetsuit in a hot tub.
 

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