SCUBA is ruining my life!

[SM Diver]

What a comfort to know I am not the only one with the illness. Yes, there are others out there across the globe having difficulty staying on task at work due to the wandering scuba mind. Must stay on task, must stay on task ...... Well, maybe I'll just play with my dive simulator a little while longer.

DivingGal once bubbled...


(but don't make fun of the others... you never know when you'll meet them and want to dive)

In an ill advised move, Uncle Pug decided to save big bucks by air brushing the boat himself....

 

[Brad B]

You are definitely not alone. I'm new at this too and because of a work overload haven't been since OW 4 weeks ago. Yesterday I went up to my LDS to pick up some new gear and when I finally looked at my watch I had been there for about 3 hours. Did meet two possible hunting partners so it was all good. When I finally got home last nite I spent the rest of the nite playing with my new SmartCom. This afternoon I'm headed to my buddies pool to practice with my new gun(had to bribe him with hog snapper filets to be delivered at a later date) and tomorrow I'm gonna tag along with a class going to blue springs. Now all I have to do is count down the 26 days until I get to spend 3 days out in the Middlegrounds diving my brains out.

 

[SM Diver]

Brad, where do you dive out of? I hunt in the Florida Middle Grounds myself. Going there in two weeks for the Southern Open Spearfishing Tournament out of Tarpon Springs.

I'm probably the last person you'll catch preaching to anyone, but I have to say that if you're just picking up your gear and getting started, targeting the Florida Middle Grounds in less than a month sounds too agressive. That is not a beginner dive by any stretch of the imagination. We're talking depths of generally 90-130 feet, with big ledges that are easy to lose track of depth on. Some of the dives are air only, so very short no-deco times w/ mandatory stops. Combine that with the task loading effect of hunting, and it's just not a good idea at this time.

Allow me to make a friendly recommendation: Don't even think about the middle grounds until you have your AOW and Nitrox certifications, along with many dives. Make several deep dives with an instructor, and incorporate the task of hunting on shallow dives. We have gorgeous little ledges in 20' around here teaming with grouper, mangos, triggerfish, and hogs, so it's not as though you can't have fun without being in the Grounds.

 

[JDostal]

You're not alone...ever since I've started diving, it has become an obsession!

Luckily, a lot of my friends dive...a lot....which is why I started diving in the first place, because of their urging.

Now, you have to pull me out of the water kicking and screaming (or just shut off my air supply)....it's pretty bad.

I dive every single weekend, and usually get in a dive at least once during the week. And I'm one of the lesser addicted ones of the group!

 

[sillygrendel]

I was supposed to go today but couldn't because of ear problems! Grrr!!! :boom:

My next project is to find people and places to dive with during the week! (I'm currently on 'vacation' between serious jobs doing some part time consulting)

How about I go down there for a while and we can dive full time?

Good luck!

 

[Brad B]

Hey TampaScott, your also known as Venture 34 on the FS board,aren't you? I appreciate your concerns and don't consider it preaching at all. As a matter of fact I hope to get hooked up with somebody to dive the shallower stuff over the next 3 weeks. I'm boatless so I gotta go when/were I can get a ride. I am Nitrox certified and was concerned myself about the depths. However, we are going to the North Grounds out of Steinhatchee and the guy who put it together said it was more like 80 to 90 feet there. He is very experienced and said he wouldn't mind me tagging along and seeing how things are done. I am no Rambo and don't care if I shoot a fish, I'm more interested in learning right now. Good luck in your upcoming tournament, hope ya have better weather than the St. Pete Open. If ya ever have an open spot give me a yell. I am new to diving but am a very experienced bottom fisherman so I do know my way around a boat.

 

[SM Diver]

I know the group you're going out with. Those guys were actually slated to be on my boat today, but we cancelled it last night due to that 20kt wind blowing right now. They were on my boat for the St. Pete Open, and will be on my boat for the Southern Open. D4B is one of the best spearfisherman you'll run across, as is his friend Chris. You'll definitely see some awesome things out there with those guys.

If your dead set on going, then do as many dives as you can in the Gulf between now and then. Grotto practice is nice, but without the potential for high seas and a ripping current, it's totally different in the Gulf. It sounds like you've already expressed concerns to those guys, and they are going to stay with you on the dive.

I'll keep you in mind for future outings. I like to get out about every weekend, and lately I've been playing hooky one day a week from work to dive (it's that dreaded got-to-get-wet disease). I'll keep you in mind, as my boat handles six divers and we normally have room for one more.





Cheers,

Scott

 

[Brad B]

I thought that was you. Did the 20 Kt winds ever develop over there. I decided to go to the office today and try to pay for all my new toys and the Oaks in Winter Park are shaking a little, but not to bad. I am set on going out in October and will definitely be out as much I can. You will see me begging for rides on all the boards. If that doesn't work I will be going out on some charters. I don't know too much about spearing but I can relate it to deer hunting. When I am 50' up a pine tree if I screw up or my equipment screws up, if I haven't taken the proper safety measures I am in a world of hurt. Thats why you get top notch equipment, learn how to use it, and never get so excited you forget where you are at or what you are doing. I have seen you post looking for buddys to go work on skills. I have a flexible work schedule, except when I have been slam dunked like I have for the last month. If you want to hit a spring or something when the wind is blowing let me know. I could learn something and you could decide if you would be comfortable having me on your boat.

 

[MikeS]

You get no sympathy from me! There you are sitting in Tampa, how far from the ocean? Here I am, I have the VIN number of the bus sunk in Millbrook memorized and live for the few occasions I actually get to the ocean. Just remember, it could be worse!

Mike

P.S.

Uncle Pug might look good with a pink boat; he said he was thinking of changing the color anyway.

 

[ScubaStan]

I too am an addict.

Just the other night, I had a friend over to test out his new gear. We went to the pool here at my apartment complex and burned up a tank of air at 8'. The kids get a kick out of seeing "frogmen" sucking air in their pool. They dive down and wave at us. During our getting prepped to drop in, we managed to corrupt a few more people and they have signed up to take classes at local LDS shops. The hobby is addictive and contagious, so spread the diease. Maybe if everyone dove, it would make the world a better place.

Cheers!