Manatee Springs Pictures

[mike_s]

Yet another question for Yoda, where is the best LDS in the area? Mike, you can answer too, if you use one along the coast. I don't see myself traveling north for air fills.

I think that SeaYoda already gave some good answers on shops.... I don't live down there so he'd know better than me. I think he told me that if you buy tanks from ScubaTech that you get "so many air fills" for free after the purchase of the tank, so that seems like a good deal. However, since most of these shops don't do huge equipment volumes, they still are pretty high on prices.

For better discounts on other gear, check out Dive Sports (http://www.divesports.com). They are further north in Alabama, but close enough that shipping via UPS ground will only be one or two days. They have much better discount prices than most of the panhandle dive shops because they sell in volume, they can offer lower prices. You also won't have to pay 8 or % sales tax since they are out of state... That and you'll get your stuff quickly since they are so close.

 

[SeaYoda]

...Out of curiosity, what kinds of tanks are you using?...

I have 2 AL 80's (singles) and an AL 19 pony for solo dives.

 

[photohikedive]

Thanks Mike. I bought all my original gear used. But had been getting replacement items from the LDS, both because their prices weren't that much more than online, and because if you don't buy from them, they close, and then where do you go when you need that local shop?

How deep are you diving Yoda? I solo dive almost exclusively, and never use a pony. Most my dives are under 30' though. Rarely have I gone deeper. I always come back with 500 psi, and usually get over an hour bottom time.

Dang I wish I was there now. It is the warmest it has been all day, and it is only 20 degrees out.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

One that looks pretty good is the Sealife DC500. Do you know anything about it? Do you have any other suggestions?

Before I purchased my own cam and housing, I was using a buddies DC310(3.2mp) SeaLife. I used it for about a year, before forking my own $$ over. Its a fun camera and very simplistic. It doesn't give you much in terms of manual settings and I found that most pics lacked in serious quality, but you got any amount of fun snapshots that you wanted.

I would suggest a digital PnS(Olympus, Canon, or Fuji are what I preffer) with a manufacturer housing. You could get the entire setup for $500-600, maybe less.

Even swam with one at alexander spring.

I was really hoping to see a gator there this past weekend. I guess it was too cold.

Glad to see you are still diving.

How deep are you diving Yoda? I solo dive almost exclusively, and never use a pony. Most my dives are under 30' though. Rarely have I gone deeper. I always come back with 500 psi, and usually get over an hour bottom time.

LOL, I've seen SY break from his primary tank and grab at his pony I guess he was just TOO good for my air!

 

[photohikedive]

I would like to get the additional strobe set up too. When I get there, I will have to pick your brains on how best to set myself up. While I don't plan to sell my photographs, I would like to be able to adjust some settings. I love silohette shots, bright blue backgrounds with shadowy divers ghosting across the image.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Several PnS's with manual capabilities Helped keep my learning curve down when I moved up to a dSLR for surface fun(SLR won't get near the water - I'm too cheap/scared).

 

[photohikedive]

I am in the same boat as you, and I dont mean Miss Jellyfish. I have the D70 for surface stuff, so, thinking a p&s would be great for the dive stuff. I am really surprised at how many people share my hobbies on here. Until I came across this board, I was the only person I knew who did what I do for fun. I have come across several here, that not only scuba and do photogrpahy, but hike, cycle, read, canoe, and so on.

What kinds of photography do you do, when not diving?

 

[SeaYoda]

...How deep are you diving Yoda? ...

I will routinely go to the Destin Jetties and hit 55'. I have on occasion gone into the cavern at Morrison - about 85'. I never go places that I'm unfamiliar with and never in poor conditions. I try to lower risks as much as possible so the pony may be overkill in some situations. I will even take it when buddy diving - it comes in handy when I hang out on the bottom (10' below) fellow divers like SuPrBuGmAn. He saves his air and has a better sac rate - I drag the bottom and take those upward shots that we're supposed to get. His air's not bad, I just have more of it in my "reserve" tank .

 

[Vayu]

I don't think suprbugman breathes at all...

-V

 

[SeaYoda]

I don't think suprbugman breathes at all...

Maybe that's why he keeps complaining about a headache at the end of the dive??????