My first ocean dive!

[MaconBubbles]

All I can say for my first dive in the ocean--Oh Wow! We dove Friday and Saturday at Boca Raton. Friday, the weather was beautiful and the water was calm. Perfect for my first ocean dive. We did two dives that day and went back that night for two night dives. During the day, we got to see a shark hiding under the reef, a sting ray, puffer fish, lobsters, big blue fish that I can't even name and soooo many others. It was just beautiful. Then we went back for a twilight dive. The weather was rough with thunder and lightning all around us and huge waves (to me) as we jumped in. As we descended, you could see the lightning from above and hear the thunder. That was the coolest thing ever. The reef was very active at this time of the day. The current wasn't too bad either so we just floated gently along the wall looking for critters. We saw two wrecks on this dive. We came up just before dark and did another dive after dark. Spooky but fun. We were at the wall of the reef and that's when it happened...we were attacked...by... a turtle! Yes, this peaceful animal came gracefully gliding toward us out of the dark and I thought, "How cool!" But then it kept coming right at me and I had to get out of the way. Tim, Dick and I were right there together and this turtle kept doing figure-eights around us causing us to keep dodging it until it finally rammed Tim and then left. It was quite an experience! Mark, who was hanging out just above all of this commotion, later said that it was quite amusing. The next day we did two more dives. The first was my deep dive for AOW so we went down to 97'. The water was so clear at this location that you could see the bottom almost as soon as you got in. This was also a drift dive but I think it was more like a fly-by as I swear we were going 30mph! (I later asked Tim how fast we were going and he said about 2mph.) Anyway, it felt like we were flying! It was the most beautiful dive of the trip with the water that clear as we sailed over the reef. We saw a couple more turtles on this day but they were all sleeping. Anyway, wow! Thank you Tim From with Marietta D/S (my AOW instructor) and Diversity Diving with Capt. Tony and DM Sherry for a great trip! I hope to do it again soon.

A year ago, you never would have gotten me in the ocean knee-deep. I've been strictly a spring and lake diver. Now, I can't wait to get back in the ocean. Thanks to all of my great dive buddies and instructors for helping me overcome some serious obstacles (not to mention the people here on scubaboard!)

 

[Steve_Dives]

Congrats! And I hope your avatar is a picture taken during a navigation class.

 

[H2Andy]

too sweet!

welcome to a wonderful world ... you have tons more to discover

try to head out to the Caribbean some time soon .... very nice ocean diving

(your wallet won't thank you, though )

 

[divinginn]

sounds like a great trip,hope i can get down there this summer,so many places to dive and so little time and money.:14:

 

[aowdan]

awesome report!! i get all giddy like that on almost every dive i do down here in the keys! may every dive be as good as you described these.

yes avatar does look like "beginning nav"

great job... keep up the enthusiasm

dano

 

[spectrum]

Stephi,

Congratulations on a first and successful visit to the big pond.

I grew up at the ocean and did a lot of ocean and fresh skin-diving before getting into scuba diving. I also got to dive a number of the locations in your dive history this past winter. I can totally appreciate the contrast and wonder you must have felt in the ocean.

Pete

 

[DaleHall]

Congrats Dive Buddy!!! Glad you had a good time.. We'll have to log some bottom time together next time...

 

[m3830431]

The only problem is once you go to the ocean it spoils you for other dives.

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Congratulations!!

 

[PePaw]

Congratsulations !
Three weeks and i'm back in the ocean again !