Looking for dives/buddies

[bane51031]

My wife works at NWA and because of that I get the benefit of free airfare, she is one of my usual dive buddies but, work makes it hard for her to travel whereas I work 4 days a week as a nurse and can easily take a couple of days to travel. Would like to get to know some people online and do some diving, to be honest I live in Iowa and have only dove in the local lakes/quarries have never dove the ocean yet.

Am a diver for the local Sherriff's dept. and get alot of zero/low viz. dives in. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would like the opportunity to meet some divers and do some diving whether it is fresh or salt water.

Not sure if it was kosher to just show up at a dive? also would like to plan a week or two in advance,

Thanks
Chad

 

[K Mejean]

It is absolutely kosher to just show up at a dive. If it is posted here then everyone is welcome. Whenever you make it down this way just let us know and we will get something set up. We can always do one of our local shore dives. Those would be a good way to break you into the BIG SALTY WATER!!!!!!! Welcome to the Florida Board.

 

[Divergirl4U]

Wow you are in for a treat ... get salty as soon as possible
Kim P

 

[Scott5644]

My wife also works for NWA here in Tampa. Come on down and get some diving in.

 

[bane51031]

Appreciate the response, I plan on coming your way a time or two yet this year. Do you guys/gals reg. meet on the weekends? I am thinking of flying in on a Thursday evening and heading out on a Monday.

Any good dive shops in the area to rent tanks? also what type of exposure protection do you use down there? I run alittle warm ,dive here in 55-60 degree water in a 3/2mm and a hood too cold for that now.
Just curious so I can start planning what to pack,

again Thanks for the welcome

Chad

 

[Lil Bit]

Last I heard, the Gulf temp is around 68. Been a bit chilly for us thin blooded ones but sounds like your 3/2 will serve you well. . . Me, well, I'm considering a 5 or 7 to get me through the winter.

 

[flowerpotter]

Hi Chad. I was very surprised to see you are from Iowa! I too am from Iowa and my Fiance' , like your wife travels all week. I am so anxious to go diving. I have been to Hawaii, Mexico, Bonaire and Some Springs in Florida. If you get a dive planned and need the company let me know. Thanks, Theresa

 

[eandiver]

Appreciate the response, I plan on coming your way a time or two yet this year. Do you guys/gals reg. meet on the weekends? I am thinking of flying in on a Thursday evening and heading out on a Monday.

Any good dive shops in the area to rent tanks? also what type of exposure protection do you use down there? I run alittle warm ,dive here in 55-60 degree water in a 3/2mm and a hood too cold for that now.
Just curious so I can start planning what to pack,

again Thanks for the welcome

Chad

There is usually a couple of us doing something somewhere each weekend and if someone from out of state shows up thats all the more reason to go diving.

There are plenty of shops around to buy, rent or fix equipment.

The summer is 3mm or a skin, winter depends on how cold tolerant you are. The springs are 68 to 72 degrees year round and the gulf gets between 50 and 60. It's about 68 now.

When you come down I'll be glad to get in a dive or two with you and I'm sure some of the other usual suspects will go too.

 

[bane51031]

eandiver, Thanks for the reply I figured the 3/2mm would be suff. curious where the popular dive spots are around Tampa that you guys like to haunt. I was in Clearwater about 2 years ago but, was unable to go diving actually was looking at job possibilities there, I know my wife can transfer to the Tampa NWA office and as a nurse jobs are there just got to make up my mind.

Theresa, nice to meet you. Where abouts in Iowa are you? I live in Lemars,Iowa NW corner (Ice Cream Capital of the World) about 30 miles from Sioux City. I am heading to Okoboji here in the next hour, breaking out the drysuits for today and looking at getting in 2 or 3 dives if my buddy doesn't run to the car crying after the first dive, as he is alittle cold blooded.Not sure how the viz. is? best I ever had there was 35-40 feet on 2 dives memorial day weekend, then the viz droppped to 5-10 feet.Spend alot of time at the lakes during the summer, my wife just got cert. O/W this past summer up there.

I'am looking to head down to Tampa to get some diving in, for the first trip going to keep it simple and see how the flight goes, probaly go for 4 or 5 days so you are more than welcome to meet up to dive if your fiancee' could go that would be cool too. Maybe we can all do some diving around here in the spring?

Chad

 

[bane51031]

Okay, heading to Tampa on Dec. 6th and staying for sure till Dec. 9th maybe the 10th. If anyone will be doing any diving on that Friday or Saturday please give me a shout, I will have to find a dive shop to rent a tank/weightsbut, will bring all my gear with me.

I have a non diving buddy coming along he will hang out on the beach or something, haven't talked him into scuba yat...

I have no preference on locations just hoping to meet up with some of you guys and gals down there.

My email is:

diver51031@premieronline.net

Thanks and hope to see ya soon...

Chad