May 29, Sun - Gypsy's Summer Sunday

[Kriterian]

Just posting this for those that aren't signed up for the newsletter. I'll probably be there and will bring some of my world (read: in my mind) famous lemon poundcake.

The May Summer Sunday is Memorial Sunday, May 29
10AM until the last bubble busts

We'll be diving and socializing at Fantasy Lake all day- Chillin' in the water, chicken on the grill!

Summer Sundays are nothing but fun - divers congregating and enjoying life.

And they typically go like this:
10AM is when we start to gather, but you can show up at any time. Bring a buddy if you have one, or come on out anyway and meet some buddies. There is nothing 'organized' about the diving. Just get wet as you wish.
1PM is typically when we take a break to eat - and we'll be having barbecued chicken and some other great stuff, courtesy of Gypsy Instructor Steve Wring (at right) and some really great friends.
Then we'll dive some more, or just hang out, or whatever...
As always, any friends of your are friends of ours and are welcome to attend. And you're welcome to bring a dish to share. We do like to have an informal head count so we bring enough food, though, so either pop us an email or give us a call - 255/1931.
And yes, we have rental gear available, and yes we have tanks, and yes - the visibility is really good right now, and yes, the water is still a bit brisk so hood and gloves are a good idea, and yes, days like this is what diving is all about - good people interacting in not-normal ways!
BE THERE!

 

[suthnbelle]

Just posting this for those that aren't signed up for the newsletter. I'll probably be there and will bring some of my world (read: in my mind) famous lemon poundcake.

The May Summer Sunday is Memorial Sunday, May 29
10AM until the last bubble busts

We'll be diving and socializing at Fantasy Lake all day- Chillin' in the water, chicken on the grill!

Summer Sundays are nothing but fun - divers congregating and enjoying life.

And they typically go like this:
10AM is when we start to gather, but you can show up at any time. Bring a buddy if you have one, or come on out anyway and meet some buddies. There is nothing 'organized' about the diving. Just get wet as you wish.
1PM is typically when we take a break to eat - and we'll be having barbecued chicken and some other great stuff, courtesy of Gypsy Instructor Steve Wring (at right) and some really great friends.
Then we'll dive some more, or just hang out, or whatever...
As always, any friends of your are friends of ours and are welcome to attend. And you're welcome to bring a dish to share. We do like to have an informal head count so we bring enough food, though, so either pop us an email or give us a call - 255/1931.
And yes, we have rental gear available, and yes we have tanks, and yes - the visibility is really good right now, and yes, the water is still a bit brisk so hood and gloves are a good idea, and yes, days like this is what diving is all about - good people interacting in not-normal ways!
BE THERE!

Bummer....I'm going to be out of town and will miss this. Gypsy has a great bunch of people that usually get together for these dives. Have fun Chris, and post some photos afterwards if you can.

Mel

 

[Jason B]

I may head out there Chris.

Jason

 

[Kriterian]

I may head out there Chris.

Jason

Ah, you must have heard of my cake!

If you're actually here to dive though I could use a buddy probably <chuckle> I'll probably be there around 10am in the spot we were last time if it's not taken.

 

[suthnbelle]

I may head out there Chris.

Jason

Jason, you'll have to meet Dave (owner of Gypsy) and Laura (one of the instructors) while you're out there. Really nice people with that shop. Dave took our group picture out at the quarry on New Years Day, but I don't think I introduced him to you all.

 

[Jason B]

I've met Dave before, I got my OW through Gypsy many moons ago. Glenn introduced me to Laura a few weeks back.

Jason

 

[herman]

I'm out of town also. Oh well, the quarry is still too cold to suit me but I hear the vis is 30 ft. Any plans for a NCWD meeting in the near future?

 

[Jason B]

Hey Herman, it was 63 degrees last weekend. I think we are planning on hitting Lake Rawlings on June 18.
I'm off on Fridays now so if you want to shoot up there one Friday let me know.

Jason

 

[herman]

I have every other Fri off, I may just have to take you up on the offer.

 

[Kriterian]

Just got back from the "Summer Sunday" cookout at Fantasy Lake. The topside temperature was around 84 degrees, but was wonderful with a cool breeze. No one showed up that I knew so I didn't have a buddy. I futzed around with my gear and discovered my crotch strap wing nut had come off and was nowhere to be seen. I did have a bag of cable ties with me, so two of those run through the holes seemed to hold good. I was tempted to just call the dive since I didn't know anyone, but Dave from Gypsy's said he would dive with me. He ended up getting in the water without me but a couple of newly certified divers named Dana and Tim took pity on me and brought me with them.

The dive: The water temperature was around 64 degrees up top but since this was my first dive below 50 feet, we got down to 52 degrees. They were new and I was new so we just decided to head out to a buoy and follow the ropes to the sights. The visibility was fairly decent, about 15-20 feet, but holy crap was that water cold. I've dove in those temps before but apparently my hood was bunched up and letting water run down my back. Eventually I figured out a good head position to stop it, and it went smooth from there.

Problems:

I don't know what it is with hoods, but last time it was so tight it hurt my jaw and gave me a headache. I went a size up this time and it did the same thing. Once in the water it's perfectly fine but up top I was close to ripping the thing to shreds. Hopefully a hyperstretch model will be better than a normal Henderson hood.

My weight was off and I was having to swim down constantly to keep the tank from pulling me to the surface. Luckily we swam to a platform so I had something to hold on to the whole time. When using my BP/wing and 5mm suit and hood last time I used 10 and it seemed like too much. I decided to go with 10 lbs again since this time I was using an AL80 instead of the steel 80 like last time. I guess I should have gone with about 3 or 4 more lbs.

My air consumption wasn't as bad this time, hopefully it's a comfort thing.

I'm glad we got to go to 60 feet, it was a big confidence builder to see that it was just like 30 feet except on my gauges.

POST DIVE:

Oh my god was that food good! That barbequed boneless ribs were worth the 15 dollar entry fee. There was also quarter chickens (also bbq'd) but they were, ahem, slightly crispy. No one tried my lemon pound cake since fresh baked brownies were out in the open, I was hoping for some comments (bad or good). When I put my gear up and came back almost half of it was gone, so I took that as a good sign. Plus it was more for me.