It all started rather innocently - a request to my boss to attend a conference. Much to my surprise, as the request was late in the year, it was granted . Once approved, I quickly contacted NetDoc and Walter and asked "Can we go diving?" Much to my delight both said yes.
The trip down was disrupted with a fuel spill by my plane which caused a delay of over an hour. Arrival in Orlando - yippy... All my luggage arrived YAHOO. As the taxi driver didn't know where the hotel was located he called ahead for directions. After hanging up, he tells me that I have a problem, but it should be ok. "Excuse me?" Well it seems, that the hotel gave up my room. Geesh. Needless to say this was not something I was happy with. Arriving at the hotel they informed me that they would pay for the taxi to the new hotel, the night's stay, and the taxi back. The only problem that I had was NetDoc and I were meeting the next morning. So I told them should he call to tell him where I was.
Well let's just say he was surprised the next morning when he arrived at the hotel, and found out I was not checked it! Fortunately, it was a short time later I called to tell him the mix-up, and that I would be arriving shortly. Then we were off to Blue Springs. We geared up, and hiked to the entry point, entered the water and walked upstream to the spring boil (?). A sweet dive. Number 1 for me this year.... P*** O** Pete for what number it was for you! After the dive we took a stroll along the water. I was glad we did this after and not before, because we spotted an alligator sunning itself along the bank.. After a bite to eat we then headed off to Alexander Spring. Another lovely dive. Pete found a shark's tooth, and I thought I found one too --- but later found out it was "just" a fossilized bone.
I settled down to attending the conference, worth while for me so I'll be asking to go to it next year (scheduled for San Diego). I had invited Walter to attend the social night, so he showed up for the evening out to CityWalk at Universal Studio. I had the conference wrap up to attend, then we were off.
Walter and I head off to Deerfield Beach (the sight of Wreckmania). Checked in to the hotel and after a bite to eat, and a rest decided to do a night dive off the beach. After a quick location change (due to a street party going on), we got ready and entered the water. Walter being the gentleman he is, graciously provided support while I struggled a bit getting my fins on. As I turned to him to provide the same service, he said "I 'm calling the dive". "Ok, but why?" He then shows me he mask --- a lens had fallen out. Even after a quick look, I couldn't see it, so we exited. Then a funny thing happened. I had joked with Walter that I could be foolish on my vacation as there wasn't anyone in the area that would know me. Har-har. When we were removing our kit, a family came up and asked what we could see in the water at night. I let Walter answer that one. Hearing a French accent we asked them where they were from. They informed us that they were from Quebec -- from the city where I work! In fact the husband works in my building complex.
The next morning we headed to Dixie Divers to pick up the charter. The boat soon filled up with eager divers. I got more than a few chuckles seeing folks wearing drysuits. That morning we did two reef dives (pictures to follow). Critters spotted: lobster, cornet fish, green turtle, damsel fish, parrot fish, green moray eel, spotted moray eel, blue heads, squirrel eyes (?) just to name a few.
The next day we returned to Dixie Divers and four of us headed out to visit a couple of wrecks. First was the Ancient Mariner, followed by the United Caribbean. Both vessels allowed from some penetration, and critter sittings abounded. I goofed on the second dive. I had switched tanks, and when the time came I followed Walter into the water. Ooops -- for the first time in my diving I had forgot to turn on the air! The boat DM came through - turn it on, and the dive continued. Seeing the 5-6ft Southern Stingray was the highlight I think.
All too soon, it was time to head back to Orlando so I could catch my flight back..
Walter, Pete, thanks, I owe you guys.....
Just to let you know, it's snowing, and about 33F out.... Can I come back now?
The trip down was disrupted with a fuel spill by my plane which caused a delay of over an hour. Arrival in Orlando - yippy... All my luggage arrived YAHOO. As the taxi driver didn't know where the hotel was located he called ahead for directions. After hanging up, he tells me that I have a problem, but it should be ok. "Excuse me?" Well it seems, that the hotel gave up my room. Geesh. Needless to say this was not something I was happy with. Arriving at the hotel they informed me that they would pay for the taxi to the new hotel, the night's stay, and the taxi back. The only problem that I had was NetDoc and I were meeting the next morning. So I told them should he call to tell him where I was.
Well let's just say he was surprised the next morning when he arrived at the hotel, and found out I was not checked it! Fortunately, it was a short time later I called to tell him the mix-up, and that I would be arriving shortly. Then we were off to Blue Springs. We geared up, and hiked to the entry point, entered the water and walked upstream to the spring boil (?). A sweet dive. Number 1 for me this year.... P*** O** Pete for what number it was for you! After the dive we took a stroll along the water. I was glad we did this after and not before, because we spotted an alligator sunning itself along the bank.. After a bite to eat we then headed off to Alexander Spring. Another lovely dive. Pete found a shark's tooth, and I thought I found one too --- but later found out it was "just" a fossilized bone.
I settled down to attending the conference, worth while for me so I'll be asking to go to it next year (scheduled for San Diego). I had invited Walter to attend the social night, so he showed up for the evening out to CityWalk at Universal Studio. I had the conference wrap up to attend, then we were off.
Walter and I head off to Deerfield Beach (the sight of Wreckmania). Checked in to the hotel and after a bite to eat, and a rest decided to do a night dive off the beach. After a quick location change (due to a street party going on), we got ready and entered the water. Walter being the gentleman he is, graciously provided support while I struggled a bit getting my fins on. As I turned to him to provide the same service, he said "I 'm calling the dive". "Ok, but why?" He then shows me he mask --- a lens had fallen out. Even after a quick look, I couldn't see it, so we exited. Then a funny thing happened. I had joked with Walter that I could be foolish on my vacation as there wasn't anyone in the area that would know me. Har-har. When we were removing our kit, a family came up and asked what we could see in the water at night. I let Walter answer that one. Hearing a French accent we asked them where they were from. They informed us that they were from Quebec -- from the city where I work! In fact the husband works in my building complex.
The next morning we headed to Dixie Divers to pick up the charter. The boat soon filled up with eager divers. I got more than a few chuckles seeing folks wearing drysuits. That morning we did two reef dives (pictures to follow). Critters spotted: lobster, cornet fish, green turtle, damsel fish, parrot fish, green moray eel, spotted moray eel, blue heads, squirrel eyes (?) just to name a few.
The next day we returned to Dixie Divers and four of us headed out to visit a couple of wrecks. First was the Ancient Mariner, followed by the United Caribbean. Both vessels allowed from some penetration, and critter sittings abounded. I goofed on the second dive. I had switched tanks, and when the time came I followed Walter into the water. Ooops -- for the first time in my diving I had forgot to turn on the air! The boat DM came through - turn it on, and the dive continued. Seeing the 5-6ft Southern Stingray was the highlight I think.
All too soon, it was time to head back to Orlando so I could catch my flight back..
Walter, Pete, thanks, I owe you guys.....
Just to let you know, it's snowing, and about 33F out.... Can I come back now?
