Hello all!

[fishoutawater]

New guy here.
I've been diving off and on pretty much all of my life. I was first certified in 1972, way back before the BC came out. Dove the Gulf of Mexico a few times, then didn't dive again until I was in the Air Force where I was recertified, and did a few more dives. I again became recertified in Laguna Beach Ca a couple of years ago. Since then I've dove the Fla Keys, Cancun and Cozumel.
Living here in the midwest is torture for me, as it would be (I suppose) for any diver. There are a few flooded rock quarries to play in, but hardly worth the effort, unless you would consider a '62 Pontiac on the bottom of a lake, a wreck dive. The Mississippi River is obviously out of the question. The visibility sucks, and I'm not too sure I'd want to see whatever's down there anyway.

I guess the biggest reason I'm here is to research my next dive vacation, and to get back into it. Plus the fact that this is, without a doubt, the largest and most diverse crowd of people I've ever seen on a message board. I'm bound to learn a lot!

 

[pasley]

Welcome from Southern California where the diving is great, or at least it would be if it stopped raining. I can't imagine living where there is not much diving. I have never dove outside of California so i am afraaid I am not much helpin the vaation diving planning department.

I hear There are working hard and have reopened some of the resorts in the Tsunami area. They are publishing ads begging the tourist to come back as much of the regions economy is based on the tourist dollar. Might be worth a thought. You could enjoy a good vacation and know your money is helping the people recover from a disaster.

 

[fishoutawater]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
Pasley, I love that Socal diving. Didn't get to do much of it though. Just my cert dives, which were a blast! Surf entry and exit, but one of the student's father was there with a boat, so the instructor talked him into letting us practice boat entries in 5 or 6ft seas. Way cool! As a side note, me and my newly acquired dive buddy were celebrating our successful checkout dives in the Marine Room Tavern downtown Laguna Beach, when the local news broadcast informed us that somebody caught a 15 ft Great White less than a mile from where we were diving.
"Bartender! Make that a double!"
You've never dove anywhere but Ca? Man, you gotta try somewhere in the Carribean just once. You'll freak. You'll feel nekkid. It's like a warm bathtub compared to what you're used to. I didn't even use my shorty in Cozumel.
I hadn't even thought about going to Asia for a vacation though. Mostly because of the expense. That, and I know it would (in a miniscule way) help with their recovery efforts, but at the same time, I'd feel kinda silly having a good time while they're humping butt to rebuild. I have donated through work though.

 

[murphdivers286]

Welcome to the boad fishoutawater. You sound like you will have a lot to offer to this board. I hope I get a chance to dive with you someday. If you are ever in Florida give me a PM. I would be nice to go diving.

P.S.---------

There are a few flooded rock quarries to play in, but hardly worth the effort, unless you would consider a '62 Pontiac on the bottom of a lake, a wreck dive.

I don't about you but when I haven't been diving for awhile, a mud puddle sounds like a good dive to me.

 

[fishoutawater]

Wow! A SWAT guy in Florida! Now that's job security! How do you find time to dive though?
My mother in law lives in Melbourne just up the road. I don't see us visiting her in the immediate future though. My wife just came back from visiting her.
BTW, that little blue sign on the highway that says I-95. Do the locals think that is a speed limit sign? I remember doing 75 and 80, and I was STILL getting passed like I was standing still.
And being a LEO and a fitness freak, maybe you've already checked this out:
http://www.crossfit.com/ Lots of LEO's, fireman, and military folks use that as their primary fitness philosophy. Great bunch of people! And absolutely no BS!
Are there any reef or wreck dives near you? Melbourne doesn't have much (that I know of anyway).

 

[baitedstorm]

Heya and welcome to the Board!!!! I checked out that site you posted and ......wow! Looks serious. As for wrecks by us (286's wifey) I havent been in any of them but I checked out Ned DeLoaches book and there's some in Sebastian. We usually hit Palm Beach and south.

Cheers,
Vickie

 

[Matt the Aquaman]

Hey there FishOutaWater, welcome to Scuba Board! and safe diving :butnhome:

Click here to greet a new member! :happywave
No experience needed and it feels great!​

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Welcome, enjoy the scubaboard

 

[Scott Riemer]

Hello fishoutawater, welcome to Scubaboard! I wish I was planning a vacation...

 

[scubajoe]

Welcome to the board!

Joe