Johnoly
Contributor
- Messages
- 4,513
- Reaction score
- 6,496
- # of dives
- 2500 - 4999
Jumped on Jupiter Dive Center's Republic IV for a quick 2 tanker. I needed to be back home early afterwards or I would have done 3 tanks. 76 degree water temps, flat seas with leeward winds off the land, 1.5 knot current, and top to bottom 90ft of Viz.
Most of my gear is weird & customized to solve my unique diving issues. My underwater lobster 'hotel' also functions as a lionfish container. But lionfish have venomous spines that slide right thru a normal bag's open netting and will stab you in the leg while you kick. The beauty of the bag's netting is it's a 'Full Flow' no water drag as it goes right out the bag's bottom netting. It's purpose is so it doesn't slow you down hauling it around underwater swimming from reef to reef hole. I sewed an open bottom fake leather liner on the sides and that stops the spines poking thru. At the top chute opening there are 2 large gaps that can allow small lionfish to float / escape as they get buoyant on ascent. Last week I lost 5 lionfish because of this. So I installed 2 small nylon broom brush bristles that cover the gap openings but continue to let all the water flow right thru. Plus, it still allows me to insert my spear and pull it out keeping the LF inside. I tested it today with a small live lionfish and even kicked into the current backwards and it was effortless with no water drag. I'm going to "thin-out' the bristle stalks, but the concept & idea worked perfectly. No more escaped tiny lionfish.
Back at the dock there were several big invasive Iguanas that Floridians have a huge problem with. My idea was,,,why not try to see if the iguana will eat the invasive venomous lionfish?. Kinda like taking care of 2 problems at the same time huh?
Well the iguana licked the lionfish placed infront of him & promptly turned away. Further google research revealed that they are 'Vegans'. So that idea went in the dumpster fire.
It was a really nice day on the dive sites called 'Scarface' and Lighthouse reefs and the huge loggerhead turtles are sleeping bumper to bumper during this peak of mating season. Look each morning for all the turtle-tracks up the beach on the Jupiter inlet camera. Big Thankyou to Capt Ryan and the JDC team.
Most of my gear is weird & customized to solve my unique diving issues. My underwater lobster 'hotel' also functions as a lionfish container. But lionfish have venomous spines that slide right thru a normal bag's open netting and will stab you in the leg while you kick. The beauty of the bag's netting is it's a 'Full Flow' no water drag as it goes right out the bag's bottom netting. It's purpose is so it doesn't slow you down hauling it around underwater swimming from reef to reef hole. I sewed an open bottom fake leather liner on the sides and that stops the spines poking thru. At the top chute opening there are 2 large gaps that can allow small lionfish to float / escape as they get buoyant on ascent. Last week I lost 5 lionfish because of this. So I installed 2 small nylon broom brush bristles that cover the gap openings but continue to let all the water flow right thru. Plus, it still allows me to insert my spear and pull it out keeping the LF inside. I tested it today with a small live lionfish and even kicked into the current backwards and it was effortless with no water drag. I'm going to "thin-out' the bristle stalks, but the concept & idea worked perfectly. No more escaped tiny lionfish.
Back at the dock there were several big invasive Iguanas that Floridians have a huge problem with. My idea was,,,why not try to see if the iguana will eat the invasive venomous lionfish?. Kinda like taking care of 2 problems at the same time huh?
Well the iguana licked the lionfish placed infront of him & promptly turned away. Further google research revealed that they are 'Vegans'. So that idea went in the dumpster fire.
It was a really nice day on the dive sites called 'Scarface' and Lighthouse reefs and the huge loggerhead turtles are sleeping bumper to bumper during this peak of mating season. Look each morning for all the turtle-tracks up the beach on the Jupiter inlet camera. Big Thankyou to Capt Ryan and the JDC team.
