Most of you know by now that the boats of the Hydrospace Fleet were bought out by Mike Gomez of Panama City Dive Center.
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I had the most wonderful phone call this afternoon one that I would never expect but it was real. Those of you who went to Panama City a few years ago remember a Captain that kind of reminded you of Jack on Pirates of the Caribbean. Kind of gnarly, kind of a big bear with a golden heart and kind of a Captain that you had no doubt that he knows the game. Today in a blast from the past Captain Shannon took the time to call me. It kind of brought chills to my spine and tears to my eyes. Nowdays Shannon has a successful construction business and will be doing boats for pleasure instead of it mattering whether a trip meant beans on the table or not.
It brought back memories of a trip to the Empire Mica. We actually rode the center of a squall all the way down seas rough around us but smooth in the center. When we got to the site one of the Loran transmitters went down from the lightning. Shannon put us on the wreck out in the middle of nowhere with no visual reference with one line on the Loran. Now you old farts who remember Loran know the significance of this. You young GPS dudes can only lament.
When the call ended I mused over the old days when coke was coke and smack meant a punch in the kisser. The many great times we had with Shannon at the wheel. I thought, God how magnificent.
With Captain Shannon we saw seahorses and frogfish and we barbecued what we drug back to the boat. What could me more delicious than a grouper on the grill less than five minutes from the spear? Or a shovelnose - let's don't forget the shovelnose.
Today they took the Island Diver out of the boatyard and returned her to Captain Andersons pier. Captain Shannon was at the wheel. The Island Diver is a grand old boat. Shes long and wide and slow. But God what a ride, shes smooth and steady and roomy. She has a coffee maker and a microwave and a hot shower.
When the Island Diver arrived at her home, Shannon caressed her controls and spun her around and backed the beast into the slip never touching a piling. Everyone stared in awe and repeated in unison, The legend lives!
Hooah! Captain Shannon Brown you are among the best there is at what you do.
***************************************
I had the most wonderful phone call this afternoon one that I would never expect but it was real. Those of you who went to Panama City a few years ago remember a Captain that kind of reminded you of Jack on Pirates of the Caribbean. Kind of gnarly, kind of a big bear with a golden heart and kind of a Captain that you had no doubt that he knows the game. Today in a blast from the past Captain Shannon took the time to call me. It kind of brought chills to my spine and tears to my eyes. Nowdays Shannon has a successful construction business and will be doing boats for pleasure instead of it mattering whether a trip meant beans on the table or not.
It brought back memories of a trip to the Empire Mica. We actually rode the center of a squall all the way down seas rough around us but smooth in the center. When we got to the site one of the Loran transmitters went down from the lightning. Shannon put us on the wreck out in the middle of nowhere with no visual reference with one line on the Loran. Now you old farts who remember Loran know the significance of this. You young GPS dudes can only lament.
When the call ended I mused over the old days when coke was coke and smack meant a punch in the kisser. The many great times we had with Shannon at the wheel. I thought, God how magnificent.
With Captain Shannon we saw seahorses and frogfish and we barbecued what we drug back to the boat. What could me more delicious than a grouper on the grill less than five minutes from the spear? Or a shovelnose - let's don't forget the shovelnose.
Today they took the Island Diver out of the boatyard and returned her to Captain Andersons pier. Captain Shannon was at the wheel. The Island Diver is a grand old boat. Shes long and wide and slow. But God what a ride, shes smooth and steady and roomy. She has a coffee maker and a microwave and a hot shower.
When the Island Diver arrived at her home, Shannon caressed her controls and spun her around and backed the beast into the slip never touching a piling. Everyone stared in awe and repeated in unison, The legend lives!
Hooah! Captain Shannon Brown you are among the best there is at what you do.
