MitchFtLaud
Contributor
Been lurking at the depths for a while, thought Id pop up and introduce myself. First off, nice site here, thanks to all who have shared their wisdom, Im an obsessive researcher and have landed here with questions often since my return to diving.
My name is Mitch, I live in Plantation (just west of Ft. Lauderdale) Florida and I started diving again this summer with my wife who recently certified PADI OW. I started diving in 1987 and went on about 200 dives between then and when I got injured and out of the Navy in 1996. Notice I didnt say logged, because I never bothered back then, although Ive logged 21 dives since May when I started back up, so Im learning. Weve gotten down to 80ft a few times, been on two wrecks with light penetration in one, caught our limit of bugs during mini season, done night diving and have plans to do the Vandenberg in November, so we are getting comfortable and growing. Nitrox cards showed up last week, and Advanced is done except for sending off the paper work. That is where we plan to stop paying for certifications as we can do everything we want to do for now. Education, however, never stops and I've already got my eye on rescue diver, although, I'm not sure if the honey will come along for that ride.
Right after PADI certified me in 1987, I was lucky to be in the Navy, on ship, and made friends in the dive locker. Not only were the rental rates the best Ive ever seen (free), but I had some real Barnacle Bills show me how little I knew. Id share some of my stores, but Id likely get yelled at for the numerous rules we broke back then. Anyway, Im trying to find a philosophy that suits me, somewhere between the high risk taking but self sufficient and capable salty dogs that I knew from the Navy and the take no risks, rely on your buddy, the lawyers dont want us to teach you that approach that some organizations have now. For now I'm a DIW diver who perfers to dive with other self sufficient divers when I can, but will go solo on very conservitive dives (thing Blue Heron Bridge) rather than miss a day I can be in the water.
I don't quite go back to the double hose era, although J valves were still around when i started, and alot has changed since buddy breathing off your only reg and following your little bubbles to the surface, so please let me know if Im way off. I also tend to find my own way of doing things, so I may come from left field with questions now and then, please be kind unless I just need a smack down. Either way, Im looking forward to making friends, having discussions about a love we share and perhaps doing some diving with the locals.
My name is Mitch, I live in Plantation (just west of Ft. Lauderdale) Florida and I started diving again this summer with my wife who recently certified PADI OW. I started diving in 1987 and went on about 200 dives between then and when I got injured and out of the Navy in 1996. Notice I didnt say logged, because I never bothered back then, although Ive logged 21 dives since May when I started back up, so Im learning. Weve gotten down to 80ft a few times, been on two wrecks with light penetration in one, caught our limit of bugs during mini season, done night diving and have plans to do the Vandenberg in November, so we are getting comfortable and growing. Nitrox cards showed up last week, and Advanced is done except for sending off the paper work. That is where we plan to stop paying for certifications as we can do everything we want to do for now. Education, however, never stops and I've already got my eye on rescue diver, although, I'm not sure if the honey will come along for that ride.
Right after PADI certified me in 1987, I was lucky to be in the Navy, on ship, and made friends in the dive locker. Not only were the rental rates the best Ive ever seen (free), but I had some real Barnacle Bills show me how little I knew. Id share some of my stores, but Id likely get yelled at for the numerous rules we broke back then. Anyway, Im trying to find a philosophy that suits me, somewhere between the high risk taking but self sufficient and capable salty dogs that I knew from the Navy and the take no risks, rely on your buddy, the lawyers dont want us to teach you that approach that some organizations have now. For now I'm a DIW diver who perfers to dive with other self sufficient divers when I can, but will go solo on very conservitive dives (thing Blue Heron Bridge) rather than miss a day I can be in the water.
I don't quite go back to the double hose era, although J valves were still around when i started, and alot has changed since buddy breathing off your only reg and following your little bubbles to the surface, so please let me know if Im way off. I also tend to find my own way of doing things, so I may come from left field with questions now and then, please be kind unless I just need a smack down. Either way, Im looking forward to making friends, having discussions about a love we share and perhaps doing some diving with the locals.
