July 17th - 2 tank Night dive

[MilitantMedic]

My understanding was that a carrier is a "ship" whereas subs and smaller vessels are considered "boats."

 

[onfloat]

Anything the Navy drives is a "boat" to a Jarhead.

 

[justleesa]

Can two fresh faced Kiwi travellers join in the fun?

We will have our own gear but we may need tanks (but we can organise that)

sure Where will you be staying?

 

[justleesa]

about Bananas, a few theories...

While spending time in Hawaii fishing I spoke with some "native" Hawaiians who clued me in to the origins of Bananas and bad luck. Back before fiberglass and powered boats the Hawaiian men would go out in dugout canoes and fish for weeks at a time. They would always take Bananas. Well it happens that the Bananas would rot about the same time they would get to far out to really catch any fish. So they associated bananas as bad luck. I learned this the hard way when I took banana boat sun screen out fishing. We were not catching anything and I was baking in the hot sun. I was putting the sunscreen on when the 1st mate saw it was banana boat. He immediately grabbed it from my hands and threw it overboard. Not 5 min later we hooked into a 950# marlin. So I am a true believer in the banana superstition and will not allow anything to do with bananas on my boat at any time. I look forward to possibly fishing with you this year.

Back in the days of the transatlantic crossings by wooden sailing ships many hazards would befall the captains, crew and passengers. Disease, pirates, shipwrecks, storms, etc., claimed the lives of a good percentage of the captains, crew and passengers attempting the dangerous voyage. Needless to say, a transatlantic crossing in the 17th and 18th centuries was a very risky endeavor. Often the vessels would stop along the way in tropical islands to gather provisions such as food and water. There the passengers and crew would often purchase wooden crates of bananas from the locals and bring them aboard the ship. These crates would have all manner of critters in them such as bugs, spiders, vermin and snakes.

These critters would make their way into the bilges of the ships, multiply, and then find their way into the captain's quarters. The captains circulated the rumor that bananas were bad luck in an attempt to keep the critters off the ship and out of their cabin. The crew and
passengers were more than eager to follow suit because of the inherent risk of the crossing. So, if the captain announced prior to the voyage that bananas were bad luck and not allowed aboard the vessel, everyone complied. You must remember that these were the days of burning witches and the like, so superstitions were taken very seriously.

The origin of this superstition is uncertain, but many believe that it began in olden times, when bananas were transported by rickety, overcrowded, top-heavy boats plying the tropics (now known as cruise ships). These boats would frequently sink, leaving behind a residue of floating yellow commas, thus leading witnesses to deduce that hauling bananas was unlucky. A more scientific explanation is that since bananas give off ethylene gas when they ripen, it causes other perishable foodstuffs to spoil more quickly. This expended-gas theory could be why it's also considered unlucky to have a politician on board. Yet another theory suggests that crates of bananas would also contain unwanted pests, such as spiders, snakes, flies, mice and Beanie Babies.
Although the banana superstition is worldwide, nowhere is it taken more seriously than in Hawaii. Some believe the Aloha State's anti-banana sentiment has its roots in legend when the god Pele (apparently before his soccer career) brought his brother to the islands to be the deity in charge of sport fishing. Rumor has it that he was deficient in, how shall we say, the male hydraulics department, giving him a severe case of banana envy. A clue to how Hawaiians feel about the subject can be found on the Kona Fishing Charter website. Although fairly ambiguously written, it states "Absolutely positively, no ifs, ands ,or buts, do not bring bananas on board". Let's just say if questioned by a Large Samoan deckhand folding a filet knife, it might be better NOT to reveal the fact that you had a Bananas Foster for breakfast.
In Florida, charter boat crews have extended the prohibition beyond bananas and related food products to include objects that merely have the word banana on it, such as Banana Boat sunscreen, or items from Banana Republic, During fishing tournaments, anti-banana feelings run high. Not leaving any stone unturned, each person on board is quizzed as to what brand of underwear they are wearing. Should some clueless individual mention they are wearing Fruit of the Loom, a rather unpleasant operation is performed on them. First, they are seized by a couple of stout deckhands and given a punitive "wedgie" to prepare the surgical field. A razor-sharp filet knife is then used to excise the label, which curiously doesn't even have a banana on it. Experts recommend not struggling during this procedure, particularly if after a hard night of carousing the underwear is on backwards.
Some bold individuals spit in the eye of this superstition such as the Banana Lure Co., which features trolling lures that look like half a Chiquita. Attempts to inquire about how business is going have gone unanswered…..

 

[shelby]

Hey Justleesa

We fly into Oahu on Saturday 8th July and we will be heading to Hokondo Waikiki Beachside Hostel. We're actually in Hawaii for a month and we are hoping to do masses, loads and heaps of diving!!

Saturday night we are meeting up with some friends for a drink (or two) that I met when I was first in Oahu back in March. From past experience and my lack of will power to partying in a beautiful tropical country I dont think we will be 'functioning diving material' until Monday!

Hey, if anyone wants to join us on Saturday - the first drink is on me

We can pop into Oahu Scuba Divers and catch up with you Justleesa (if that's ok?)

 

[sea nmf]

Do we have a price yet?

 

[justleesa]

OK, need to know if anybody needs tanks....ironing out the details now

 

[billfish]

Hi,

Is there room for one more? I'm a dive buddy of Sea Nmf, who is signed up. She told me about the dives. Sounds like fun. I really, really really wanna go. Ok? I need tanks.

Cheers,

BillFish

 

[justleesa]

I'll add you BillFish!

Anyone else need tanks? I have to know by this Thrusday - would hate for you not to have tanks on our dives

 

[Randy8876]

I'm still going and I have one person (the other had surgery and is OOC for a couple weeks). I will be bringing tanks for me and my buddy. Are we still planning on bringing food? I also need to know where to meet and how much and who to pay?