Any other Scuba people here?

[carbineone]

I have been a certified diver since 94 and was just looking to see if theres any other divers here.

I have never dove in any exotic places unless you consider Canada exotic.Dove there when we rented a houseboat at Lake of the Woods I believe it was..Went down on one dive and picked up a bag of Crawdads and we boiled em up for a feast.

The diving where I live in Nebraska is mostly confined to Sandpits,not to exotic either but we do get some good water especially earlier in the year..One pit I dive has up to 30 foot visibility at times.

Anyway I need to replace my aging BCD and if anyone has any suggestions on a Brand they like that would be great..My current one is a old Dacor I had since 94 and it was five years old then and I am sure they have changed alot since then..Just looking to buy used on Ebay or local used but would like to know your thoughts on a good Brand and model to seek out..

Also if there are any divers in Nebraska that would not mind a guy tagging along that would be cool too.I am the only one in my vast dive group,LOL

I always wanted to dive those Bonne Terre Mines in Missouri too.Anyone ever done that? Looks really interesting..Bruce

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

Funny thing, I was thinking the same thing! Upgrading my aging BC.

I have a Seaquest and a Sherwood BC, both are rebuild-able....and kinda old!
The Sherwood seems to have a leak somewhere, but checks out fine at the dive shop!
Only leaks when in use, nothing serious, but it's aging.

I wouldn't buy something like this on eBay, I'm going to a dive shop and buy a used one. I can try it on, fit is very important. It's usually warrantied and already checked out by someone I can trust.
I'll probably stick with the Seaquest or Sherwood brand, and something with releasable weight for better balance.

I've never dove in fresh water!
I've always lived near salt water and don't know anything else!

Dove Bermuda, all around Florida and the Keys numerous times, mostly in RI and Ma waters and now I'm in NC I'll be diving here.

LOVE searching and finding relics!!!

 

[mphy98]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I have been a PADI open water certified diver since the early 80's. I still use my original Dacor BC. I have upgraded my regulator and gauges, but I kind of like my old friend. I just rinse it out salt from it real well. I have dove the Caymen's, Hawaii, Bahamas and all throughout Gulf. I do not do it as much any more, but it is still one of the best views on earth.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I became a PADI Instructor when I lived in Hawaii, but sold all of my gear when I moved back stateside and have not been in the water since, after receiving my wound in Desert Storm, I am unable to dive anymore so have really not paid attention to the sport anylonger.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

Yepper NADA and PADI certified.. Tho non current. I think after a year of non diving you need a recertifaction. Dove San Diego and Mexico [recreationally] when I was in the NAVY. Never dove in fresh water. I think Green Lake is one of the popular lakes in MN for clarity... Spring fed...............goin down!

 

[carbineone]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

First off thanks to both of you for your Service.

My Dacor BCD has been very good and I did like it but the bladder has develop a bad leak over the winter for some reason so it needs to be replaced..My local dive shop does not deal with any used Dive stuff anymore unfortinatley and I cannot afford new.

I am going to look at a used tomorrow when a guy comes to town but I think it is going to be too small for me..I have gotten fatter over the years too,LOL so my old Dacor does not fit well anymore.

Yes Ebay does scare me a bit but around here its about the only option to finding a used one and new is just not going to financially be possible..Thanks

 

[carbineone]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

Oh I was going to mention,once you are certified by PADI as I am theres is no expiration on your Certification..They may have changed that in recent years but mine is good for life..

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

First off thanks to both of you for your Service.

That was nice of you... Thanks , and your welcome!

Oh I was going to mention,once you are certified by PADI as I am theres is no expiration on your Certification..They may have changed that in recent years but mine is good for life..

Good to know, and thx for that info!

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I don't think a recert is necessary but most dive shops will charge a small amount to get 're-acquainted'.

Also, thank you guys for your service.

I have been an associate instructor and some dive locations offer dives for physically challenged.

Once dove in a group with a guy with no legs, paddles on his hands, still brings a tear to my eyes.
Didn't go very fast but the look on his face said it all

I know down near Jacksonville NC and Morehead City/Beaufort NC we have some charter fishing boats that take physically challenged kids, veterans, enlisted etc for fishing trips, most are free or nearly free!

Checkout The Hull Truth for more info.

 

[oops!]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

erick green is one....in fact i think the new boat he is building might be a dive platform.

he never sticks his head in the basement....so im proxy for him.....lol

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

My PADI certification as an Instructor does not require that I re-certify, of course if I were ever to get in the water again, I would sure go with another instructor to get reacquainted..The reason I left the Islands was to ship out to go to the middle east on January 17th, 1991, which just happened to be my birthday.. My poor wife, who happens to be a PADI Master Diver, didn't know what the heck was going on, she ended up selling our gear while I was deployed and met me back in the states after the war was over, but she has expressed the desire to dive again, so we have been investigating the local options for her where we now live.

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I've been open water certified (PADI) for about 7 years now. I learned when I was stationed on Guam (U.S. Coast Guard). It was cheap to learn out there, I caught a training special for $75.

The reefs out there were amazing to dive, lots of cool stuff. Did a night dive, and a drift dive as well. The drift dive was really cool, we drifted around 1.5 miles before we had to surface

While we were out there I bought an Aeris Atmos XT BC. It works well, plenty of attachment points. It inflates mostly on the back, but also inflates along the sides some. Integrated weights, easy to dump them in emergencies. Very comfy too.

I have since been stationed in Connecticut, and haven't dove at all since I've been here. Guam kinda spoiled me with 82-86? waters, and visibilty most days between 100-300+.

 

[JB]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I dove with SCUBA in the mid 1950s, before there was any regulation except that you couldn't fill your tanks from any but a water lubricated compressor. I did take lessons at the USO/YMCA on Hotel Street in Honolulu, but there was no certification.

Dove all over the Pacific when the reefs off Waikiki still held a great variety of fish and spiny lobster.

Best diving in those days was Kwajalein atoll. . .500 acres of untouched reefs.

I suspect that there will never again be such great SCUBA diving, anywhere.

 

[smclear]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I've been certified (PADI - Open water) since 78 but have not been for 10 years. Found a "free introductory lesson" coupon in the local yellow pages and checked it out with a couple of friends. We all ended up enrolling in the full course. Diving in Indiana isn't exactly thrilling. But when I honeymooned in St. Thomas I was blown away. Spent 10 years in Ft. Lauderdale and did a lot of diving in the area from Bimini to the keys. If I were to get back in to it, I would definitely take a refresher course.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

PADI certified open water in 1983

 

[carbineone]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

Thanks for replying everyone,never thought I would get as many responses..I always wanted to do some ocean diving but I am about 2000 miles from any big water..I used to live in CA but was not a diver then.Besides that I have seen Jaws like 5 times,LOL and I am sure theres no Sharks in Indiana either.

The underground mine I speak of, Bonne Terre Mines in MO sounds very interesting,I have read up on it and even old Jaque Custeu named it as one of the top five or ten dives to make.It looks really crazy,its a old abandoned mine that has flooded over the years and everything was left down there.It is all lighted and visibility is near as perfect as you can get as there is no current,runoff or rain dirtying it up.

I guess all the dives there are guided as they do not want people just wandering off I suppose..If someones been there let me know....Another good thing about the mine is you can dive it year round as the air and water temp is constant..

 

[carbineone]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

Just thought I would throw a pic of the mine up there in case you have never heard of it..

It would be worth becoming a diver I think just to go there...

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

Been YMCA certified since 1981. Havn't been diving since moving down south, but that will change soon (the fact that I havn't been diving, not the fact that I live down south)

Again, I've been out of it for a while now, and couldn't give you a knowledgable suggestion. Mine's a Sea-Tec, and I always loved it. I work with a married couple who dive regularly. they have Sherwoods and are very happy with them.

 

[smclear]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

and I am sure theres no Sharks in Indiana either.

The underground mine I speak of, Bonne Terre Mines in MO sounds very interesting,

Although a shark in Indiana waters would be possible (the bull shark is the only shark that can tolerate fresh water), I have never heard of any. But the quarry where I took my final certification dive does have paddlefish that reach 6 feet in length. Visibility on a good day was about 3 feet so imagine the shock when one sees a 6 foot fish that close. Especially when the water is murky and you're not sure what you're looking at.

I lived in Kansas City (Kansas) for about 18 months and also heard about Bonne Terre. Always wanted to go, but never made it. If you do end up going take a camera and posts some pics to go alaong with the story. I'd love to hear/see what you think.

 

[PW2]

Re: Any other Scuba people here?

I was also PADI certified, and dove a fair bit in Puget Sound. Visibility was always in the 15-20 ft range generally, but you could see a lot in that 20 feet.

Dove one time at the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon and visibility was down around 6 inches! Never do that again!!! Could not believe how claustrophobic I was!!

But other than that dive, it was great fun!!!

Not up to date on equipment, but I would not skimp on a BC. It's far too important