View Full Version : My Diving Experiences
Wasn't quite sure where to put this topic, but since it's sort of relationship related, this was as good as anything. :)
My possible new beau is an avid scuba diver. I did some googling and it was interesting reading. He's actually a recently certified dry suit diver. Anyway, I thought I'd do some reading since it's a big interest of his. He's not said anything that he would like me to try it yet (sort of early for that), but I've got one heck of a strong fear of deep water. I don't like being in water deeper than I can stand in with my head out of the water. I can swim, but learned as a teenager. Come to think of it, I'm fine on boats and other floaty things on the Great Lakes. It's swimming pools that seem to trigger the fear, now that I think about it. Anyway, I've come a lot of blogs and such online from people who used learning to scuba dive as a way of conquering their fear.
The other issue is a strange one. I have an extremely strong gag reflex. I have to have an empty stomach (other than water or tea) when I have a dentist appointment. A couple of years they did impressions for something and my breakfast of cereal and milk came up, all over me. The heaving didn't stop until my stomach was empty and beyond. I'm wondering if the mouthpiece (regulator?) used in scuba diving would set off my gag reflex. I have a "flipper" from the dentist to cover a missing tooth (needs an implant and they are thousands of dollars). The flipper covers a good portion of the roof of my mouth. It hits the spot towards the back of the roof of my mouth that triggers my gag reflex. I can't wear it, as a result.
Any ideas or thoughts? Thanks!
Go take a look at the mouthpiece of the regulator - it doesn't go into your mouth much at all. You hold it in place with your teeth, and only a teeny bit extends past the area of the tooth.
iris lilies
7-22-16, 1:16pm
There is no way I would do scuba diving. I would be perfectly happy snorkeling, though, and you can see a fair bit snorkeling.
I've never done snorkeling either. I've never been to the tropical places I associate with snorkeling. I don't think there's much snorkeling done on the Great Lakes! ;)
Thanks, Bae. I've not seen one in person yet so I couldn't tell much from pictures.
Just cause he likes something doesn't mean you have to. That's as silly as saying he should give up scuba cause it makes you gag.
You are two separate people who can have two separate groups of interests.
This is, I'm convinced, why my husband and I are still happy after 35 years of marriage. We don't do everything together. In fact he's taking two vacations this year without me. It's to places I don't want to go. Doesn't mean he can't.
It is early days for this, but good for you to want to explore his likes/interests.
My son is a dive instructor. If you get a good one, they can work with you to overcome any fears. Here in Florida, most all the lessons are done in swimming pools, then the check out dive is done in open water (frequently lakes, fresh water springs or the ocean). If a pool is a problem but a lake is not, again a good instructor should accommodate.
Hubby has a strong gag reflex, too. He has cut off the "ears" of his snorkel and regulator. You must then ensure you hold them in place with your lips - not a very secure placement, but doable.
Also, what tammy said. ...
And:
I don't dive, but am happy to be the spotter who stays on the boat and makes sure everyone is ok.
Teacher Terry
7-22-16, 4:40pm
I grew up on a lake but don't like to be under water very far. I attribute that to my older brother holding me under against my will and feeling like I was drowning. so I know just what you mean about that. My sister had the gag reflex you mention so could not wear top dentures and had to get all implants.
Just cause he likes something doesn't mean you have to. That's as silly as saying he should give up scuba cause it makes you gag.
You are two separate people who can have two separate groups of interests.
This is, I'm convinced, why my husband and I are still happy after 35 years of marriage. We don't do everything together. In fact he's taking two vacations this year without me. It's to places I don't want to go. Doesn't mean he can't.
I didn't said I had to do it. However, even if nothing happens, I've learned something new from my research. I enjoy learning new things. So maybe the guy and I get together, and he wants to keep the diving hobby with himself and his buddies. That's fine, I'm got my own stuff. But if he asked if I was interested, I can say I've done research and yes or no on whether I want to try it or not. I could also talk halfway intelligently about it.
He was talking about diving at lunch on Saturday and mentioned having to ascend slowly. "Yes, to prevent the bends" I commented. He looked surprised and said I know my stuff. I had been really into the space program when I was in school and did a lot of reading on it. There seems to be some information crossover between diving and the space program.
I grew up on a lake but don't like to be under water very far. I attribute that to my older brother holding me under against my will and feeling like I was drowning. so I know just what you mean about that. My sister had the gag reflex you mention so could not wear top dentures and had to get all implants.
I learned to swim as a teenager via a class at the Y. The regular parks and rec dept swim lessons when I was 5 or 6 just didn't "take" for some reason. Anyway, in the Y class, at the end of the first class meeting, they literally pushed you off the low diving board into the deep end. An instructor was down below with a bunch of kick boards floating around to grab onto. I think that's what got my fear going, more than anything else. Plus, I remember seeing a 20/20 story 25+ years ago about pool drains that had too much suction and would rip out the insides of kids who sat on them (there's wasn't an auto shut down on the system like has to exist now). Stupid thing, but it freaked me out. Still kind of does. Pools don't have these kinds of drains anymore, regulations don't allow them, but dang, why that has stayed with me all this time, I have no clue. Lakes (I've never been on the ocean, just stuck my toes in the Atlantic last year) don't have drains. ;)
Well that's just abuse. You'd think the Y would know better. Wow.
Well that's just abuse. You'd think the Y would know better. Wow.
This was about 1982 or so.
Somewhere else I hang out online, that has a number of divers, suggested I check out a "Discover Scuba" class offered by a lot of dive shops. It's about an hour and you just get introduced to the basics, how you breathe underwater, etc. Might be something to check out just for the experience of it.
I'm signed up for a Discover Scuba course in a couple of weeks. It's done in a pool. I'm actually really looking forward to it and excited to try it. My guy is very excited I'm trying this. I simply told him his talk about it piqued my interest, I did research, and decided to try it. He's great at answering questions. So who knows what will happen once I try it. At worst, I've tried something new. At best, I have another hobby! :)
Sounds like fun and that you are ready for a new adventure.
Intro class is tomorrow evening (got rescheduled from original date). I'm so looking forward to it. I'll have the instructor to myself. :)
As someone who almost drowned at age 20 because I didn't know how to deal with an undertow in the ocean I also now have a fear of open water (I'm fine with pools) that didn't exist before. I have, however, done 2 intro to Scuba classes/dives while on vacation in a couple of tropical locations and have really enjoyed it. I know everyone is different but for me about 2 minutes after I get under the water I totally forget about it because there's so much to see.
Good luck and hope you have fun tomorrow!
Took me about 20 minutes to get the underwater breathing thing down, and a bit more to get the buoyancy thing down, but once I did, I was cruising around the pool. They had to kick me out! I'm signing up for the certification class on Saturday! I'm glad I did the Discover Scuba class first, so I could get a taste of it, without being thrown into the deep end (so to speak) in the open water class (the certification class). The first pool day of an OW class was going on at the same time. There was a woman, a little older than me, so early 50s, taking the OW class with her husband. She was really scared. What really frightened her was the thought of going in the deep end and having to stay down, not being able to come up when she wanted. So, she was sent over to the instructor doing my Discover Scuba class. It was nice to have a buddy. She had the mask clearing down cold and I sort of stink at it.
We stayed in the shallow end (no deeper than 5'), which was fine with me. When I got near the drop off for the deep end, it was almost like staring into the abyss! I have to admit I was somewhat scared at first, but I got over it.
Sounds like a good class and program that really meets people where they are and takes them slowly to enjoyment of scuba. Good!
Signed up for my certification class today, combined with dry suit cert. Doing the online learning option, with a 3 hour classroom review of digital learning. This and the pool dives will be done by the end of this month. Check out dives are mid-September (Sat & Sun, 2 each day) with the dry suit dive also done the Sunday of that weekend. There's a BBQ the shop does after the OW dives are done on the Sunday of that weekend.
The check out dives are at a local quarry, about 90 minutes south of Chicago. I'll be certified in time to do the underwater pumpkin carving at the quarry if I want to. Sounds like fun!
Forgot to mention, the first couple of times I had the regulator in my mouth, I *did* start gagging. But I figured out where to place it and then it didn't happen.
When I was at the dive shop yesterday, the husband of the frightened woman was there, turning in her rental gear. She had decided not to continue on with the class.
I'm working on my online work for the open water cert this week (classroom review is next Monday) and reading the dry suit book and doing the test for that, as well. I ended up buying the book for the dry suit cert, as it's just easier. We need to print out everything from the OW online learning and when you figure in printer ink and paper, having the book is nicer.
I hadn't read this thread before as no knowledge of scuba diving, but I decided to check it out today.
I had a very similar experience with boyfriend. He has a motorcycle and I'm really phobic about speed and most things with physical danger, so I never thought I'd get on the motorcycle with him.
But we decided to start really slow and give it a shot. He was really sensitive to my fears and we researched it (he hadn't had a passenger before either) and very slowly got me accustomed to it, and I ended up liking it a lot, even considering getting my own bike eventually. We still have only gone to 90 k/hr (max speed limit where we lived before) so I'm nervous about 110k/hr that is the limit here, but hopefully I'll get used to that too.
Anyhow, moral is it's great when a new person encourages us to or just gives us a reason to get out of our comfort zone and we gain a new experience because of it.
I hadn't read this thread before as no knowledge of scuba diving, but I decided to check it out today.
I had a very similar experience with boyfriend. He has a motorcycle and I'm really phobic about speed and most things with physical danger, so I never thought I'd get on the motorcycle with him.
But we decided to start really slow and give it a shot. He was really sensitive to my fears and we researched it (he hadn't had a passenger before either) and very slowly got me accustomed to it, and I ended up liking it a lot, even considering getting my own bike eventually. We still have only gone to 90 k/hr (max speed limit where we lived before) so I'm nervous about 110k/hr that is the limit here, but hopefully I'll get used to that too.
Anyhow, moral is it's great when a new person encourages us to or just gives us a reason to get out of our comfort zone and we gain a new experience because of it.
Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself now! I'd not get on a motorcycle, for the sole reason of other drivers acting stupid around them.
It's interesting how many older women have told me they had wanted to try diving when they were younger, but never did or chickened out.
My guy friend is super excited that I'm getting into diving. He said it's fun for him, too, seeing my enthusiasm. :)
I had my classroom session and pool work this week. So much fun! But a lot of work, too. Definitely a stretch for me, but in a good way.
You have to do a 200 meter regular swim or 300 meters with mask, snorkel, and fins. Thought latter would be easier as it's all legs. Wrong! Couldn't get comfortable with breathing through snorkel and it meant I had to look down into the water - deep end fears. Aborted that after half a length and did regular swim. Dang near did me in. I was the slowest. Apologized to the other 3 in class for holding them up. Instructor did it with me. Urging me on, but also I think he wanted to make sure I didn't drown! I did it mainly on my back, no back stroke, just kicking and moving my hands to push me through the water. When instructor asked what the problem was, I told him about deep end fears.
But I was totally fine underwater in the deep end. Sat on the bottom in 12 feet of water and just chilled! :). I was near a drain, too (they had low square plastic covers over drains with a solid top and small slits in the sides, so nothing scary about them.
A couple of the skills caused me issues, but with a little extra attention from the instructors and I got through it.
Actual cert dives at the local quarry are in about 3 weeks.
iris lilies
8-28-16, 12:11am
Tradd,that is amazing progress, you are going after ths thing!
As for the gagging issue, I bought my own regulator set and had it fitted with a smaller mouthpiece. No more gagging.
You are making it work for you! It is wonderful to hear that you are succeeding in overcoming your fears and letting others know what is possible.
As for the gagging issue, I bought my own regulator set and had it fitted with a smaller mouthpiece. No more gagging.
I sure wish we had a "like" button! Nice job, Tradd !
I sure wish we had a "like" button! Nice job, Tradd !
:cool::D
Thank you! This is a huge personal accomplishment for me, in much the same way passing the customs broker license exam and getting my license was. But this is it in a different way, because I stared some fears in the face. The gal instructor asked me yesterday what I was going to do in the quarry when I was looking at jumping in where the depth was 20 feet. I told her that since it's not a pool, I don't have issues. She was amazed I had no issues underwater, but that the issues were all on the surface.
Certification dives are this weekend!
I've teamed up with someone local off a diving forum to go diving the 24th and I'm doing a Lake Michigan dive on either the 25th or the following weekend (my guy friend is doing the Lake Michigan charter with me! :)). Not far off Hammond, IN, there are a number of wrecks in shallow water, just perfect for newbies.
That's terrific, I know you'll do well. I had no idea there were that many wrecks that a new diver could go check out.
Well, my cert dives were supposed to be last weekend, but I only got 1 of 5 done.
Saturday was a perfect storm of discombobulation. I slept badly, got to the quarry to encounter a long check in line, and then was behind in getting my gear set up. Visibility was very bad, arms length. Lot of divers churning things up, plus there was a lot of rain the night before. I was unable to get comfortable in the water. Tried to descend with group on Dive 1, but it wasn't happening. After trying several more times, instructor had me get out of the water and take my gear off to take a break. She tried solo with just me after the group had done that dive, but it just wasn't happening. I hung out the rest of the day, as there was some other land stuff it was good for me to be in on. Instructor told me to have a good dinner and a lot of sleep. Made all the difference.
On Sunday, I completed Dive 1 solo with an instructor. He was great and was the one who did the pool swim with me. He's a firefighter/rescue diver and used to dealing with nervous people. Took me in the shallows and got me comfortable. Then we went on a tour of part of the quarry. Let me hold his hand at the beginning when I was a bit nervous. But once we got going I was fine. Got about 22 feet down. The tour was a sneaky way of getting me to the training platform (think big wooden deck on the bottom) to do some skills (flood mask and clear it, take regulator out of mouth, let it go, and find it).
We got partway into Dive 2 when we had to stop as instructor was having issues with his ear.
I was so happy to get past the hurdle. Viz was much better on Sunday, about 10 feet. I go back on the 1st and 2nd to finish up my other 4 dives.
I have all my own equipment now (except for tanks, which are easy to rent) including a drysuit. I do not fit into stock sizes and the rental drysuit I used for one session in the pool just did not fit. Let's just say my own was not cheap, but once you have your equipment and maintain it, you're good. Drysuit was custom, but the custom fit was only $150 over stock size pricing, which was a bargain compared with some of the other manufacturers (Bae, I went with USIA, based in Oregon). To dive up here in any comfort, you need to dive dry. My dive shop is their biggest dealer and somehow got the manufacturer to have it done in time for my dives last weekend. Black with purple accents. :)
I'll post an update after next weekend.
iris lilies
9-23-16, 3:26pm
Tradd, that is all good. Is it realistic to think that you could get all of your certification dives in on one weekend, or even two weekends? Seems fast to me.
But you are goong at a good pace.
After you are certified, what does that mean? That you can go out by yourself on dives? Or?
Yes, many people do get all the dives done in one weekend. But some have issues like I did and have to go back another time to finish.
Think of the cert like the gun FOID card (can't buy ammo, shoot at the range, etc.) in IL. You can't rent hear, get air tanks filled, dive off a charter boat (the CG checks), or dive at controlled sites (like the quarries) without being certified. Too dangerous and opens up liability issues if dive shops rent gear to people who aren't certified or boats let people dive from them. The only difference is if you can show you're diving under the immediate supervision of an instructor.
You don't dive by yourself. Have to have a buddy.
More details later, but just a quick update. I passed all my dives and got certification today! Yay! Instructors were fab.
More details later, but just a quick update. I passed all my dives and got certification today! Yay! Instructors were fab.
That's terrific, very big accomplishment!
Congratulations! And BRAVO!!
Well done on getting over fear, tackling new adventures and succeeding in all!
iris lilies
10-3-16, 10:51am
Tradd, good job!
Diving pics from Saturday! I went to Gilboa Quarry near Findlay, OH, for a weekend of diving with a Midwestern group. They knew I was a rank beginner and welcomed me with open arms. These were my first post-cert dives.
First pic. We were going over the school bus when all these fish came out of nowhere. Turns out this is where they're fed by a lot of people (you buy fish food from the quarry). I was warned to wear my hood if I didn't want my ears nibbled by the bitey, aggressive fish! :0! I pulled up, went vertical, and put my arm up (instinctive reaction) to shield my face!
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/IMG_2664.jpg
There was also a huge a$$ monster catfish on the bottom, about 10-12 feet below us. Ugly mother!
Other two pics. These were also from the first dive Saturday and I was nervous, so the guy with me and the gal taking pics let me hold his hand! I'm the one with the blue gloves who is not diving "level." I'll get better with practice. These pics are so cool, though, to see myself in the water!:cool:
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/IMG_2665.jpg
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/IMG_2666.jpg
iris lilies
10-15-16, 12:36pm
Yes, these are realyl interesting!
Tradd, it amazes me how quickly you took up this new hobby and became certified. It is just so, I don't know, out of the box!
Now you will have to plan a Caribbean vacation.
Wow - great pictures!
They're so neat, aren't they? All the non-diving people go "oooh, aaah"! Tomorrow is underwater pumpkin carving at our local quarry and i even have a costume to wear underwater that doesn't interfere with my gear. You get bonus points that way! ;) A friend made my costume. I'll post pics.
Yes, these are realyl interesting!
Tradd, it amazes me how quickly you took up this new hobby and became certified. It is just so, I don't know, out of the box!
Now you will have to plan a Caribbean vacation.
I'm going to Little Cayman next August with a friend in another state. I didn't even know she dived until I started talking about it. She's only a vacation diver. Thinks I'm nuts to be drysuit diving in cold Midwestern waters! ;) She invited me on the trip a few days before I got certified. Gave me extra incentive to get 'er done! We're going as part of a group.
I envy your intrepidness!
Jane, no one has ever called me intrepid before!
I won the underwater pumpkin carving/costume contest yesterday! My costume was a ballerina - purple and pink tulle tutu to match the purple trim on my drysuit. My prize was a rather expensive piece of diving gear.
Carving a pumpkin underwater is more difficult than it appears. I was nearly upside down at one point. It was a ton of fun! The gal I dove with last weekend in Ohio drove in for the weekend and was my diving buddy. We had a ball.
Tradd, it amazes me how quickly you took up this new hobby and became certified. It is just so, I don't know, out of the box!
Sometimes things just click. I still have a few anxiety issues with getting comfortable, especially on first descending, particularly with low visibility conditions, but it will get better with more time in the water. Yesterday, I had issues descending on the second dive, but I just talked myself through it (out loud to my dive buddy) and went down. She understands since she had a LOT of water related fears when she started diving last summer. But she spends a lot of time in the water and is quite good.
You should be really proud of what you have done and I am delighted that it has opened up a new world for you to explore.
That's a blast that you actually won. Good fun too.
You should be really proud of what you have done and I am delighted that it has opened up a new world for you to explore.
Believe me, I really am! Still amazed I did it!
My dive buddy finally posted the pics of me underwater on FB.
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14700928_10209259198470244_7592528396770936518_o.j pg
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14682143_10209259200150286_7335049592252431902_o.j pg
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14715587_10209259198990257_6021402494815614750_o.j pg
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14633600_10209259209230513_2558059674913312009_o.j pg
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14711269_10209259205630423_5152066924975998377_o.j pg
You can really see my costume better in this one.
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14681027_10209259196030183_4722700603628862706_o.j pg
That last picture is darling; love the tutu!
iris lilies
10-18-16, 9:08pm
Those fish are helping? Great photos!
The fish want the pumpkin innards!
You just made my day happier!
Very glad to hear that! :)
iris lilies
10-20-16, 12:49am
An action figure of Tradd is needed. It would come with tiny accessories: 2 guns, dive suit and scuba gear, church lady hat and printed music.
An action figure of Tradd is needed. It would come with tiny accessories: 2 guns, dive suit and scuba gear, church lady hat and printed music.
IL, that is freaking hysterical! :D
iris lilies
10-20-16, 1:23am
IL, that is freaking hysterical! :D
I would buy one!
I've decided no Florida trip this winter, even for a weekend. Simply not in the budget, plus I have a severe aversion to flying out of O'Hare in the winter. Flights get cancelled waaayyy too often.
No Lake Huron diving trip next summer either. I'll be spending about $3K on the Little Cayman trip. I'll take a few of the Lake Michigan trips out of Hammond, IN on the boat my dive shop runs. That way I'll get some experience diving off a boat, which is what we'll be doing on the Cayman trip.
I'm going to get in the pool as much as I can over the winter. I discovered another dive shop in the area has an indoor pool. You can dive in the pool for $10/hour, including tank rental. I'm going to see if my local dive buddy is interested in that, even though it will be a 90 minute drive for him.
Will attempt a quarry trip or two over the next few months. Both the Ohio quarry and Mermet in southern IL are open year round. Yes, I will dive in cold water. That's what the drysuit is for. :)
You just made my day happier!
+1
I've canceled the Little Cayman trip for a variety of reasons. Let's just say my friend expected me to do things I wasn't comfortable with in diving and still expected us to be buddied up, even though she needs someone much more experienced.
Trip would have run $3K or so. I now have the $$ for the Alpena, MI/Lake Huron trip I REALLY want to take.
Tussiemussies
11-1-16, 7:45am
HI Tradd, haven't been here in a long time, but just came back and read your thread about your adventures with diving...you are so inspiring! You really got it all down so quickly and were on you way...so great!
HI Tradd, haven't been here in a long time, but just came back and read your thread about your adventures with diving...you are so inspiring! You really got it all down so quickly and were on you way...so great!
Thank you! Well, not really got it all so quickly! I still have some issues getting comfortable in the water. Closed out the season at our local quarry on Sunday. I was holding hands with my dive buddy, but only because viz was so bad (about 5 feet). No tight grip, though, so that's an improvement!
iris lilies
11-1-16, 8:40pm
I hope you get to warm water dive places one of these days, the flora and fauna will be wnderful.
I hope you get to warm water dive places one of these days, the flora and fauna will be wnderful.
I don't really get excited by the tropical flora and fauna many folks rave over.
My dive shop is sponsoring the Lake Huron dive trip and will advertise it to help fill the boat! :) Water temps are in the 50s, even at the height of summer. Wrecks! :)
iris lilies
11-1-16, 9:24pm
I don't really get excited by the tropical flora and fauna many folks rave over.
My dive shop is sponsoring the Lake Huron dive trip and will advertise it to help fill the boat! :) Water temps are in the 50s, even at the height of summer. Wrecks! :)
I was going to ask about wrecks. Those would be very interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBT0IQScIdI&feature=youtu.be
Interactive map - click on shipwreck icon on the left if they don't show up on the map.
http://www.us23heritageroute.org/activeadventures.asp?ait=cv&cid=8&s=m
Someone just posted these pics of me on FB from the Midwestern dive group gathering in October, where I did my first post cert dives. First close-up pics of me underwater I've seen. And look at those chubby cheeks of mine! :D If you look closely at my mask, you will see water at the bottom of the lens. I'm on a never ending search for a mask that doesn't leak...much. I have prominent smile lines on either side of my nose and that's where the water comes in.
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/14991136_10153828998692364_892786975367769760_o.jp g
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/15002355_10153828999382364_241467784298509307_o.jp g
I was going to say you look proud and happy, as you should!
I was going to say you look proud and happy, as you should!
Thank you! This was my first post-cert dive and frankly, I was pretty nervous. That's why I'm hanging onto the buoy line! My goal when I go diving the first week in December at the Oho quarry is no hand holding!
Someone just posted these pics of me on FB ...
That is just awesome!
iris lilies
11-13-16, 7:39am
Tradd, these are great!!!
Took back two leaking masks to the dive shop yesterday and brought another one home. Took my snorkel with me to put in my mouth when trying on masks, as having snorkel or reg in your mouth obviously can change the shape of your face. What's great is that the new mask was $40, half the cost of each of the masks I exchanged. A previous mask also fit pretty. It leaked some, but not as bad as the others. And it was only $50. Shop also gave me some silicone grease to try at sealing up the bottom of my mask. Shop couldn't believe how much water I had in my mask in the above pics.
iris lilies
11-13-16, 8:43am
Took back two leaking masks to the dive shop yesterday and brought another one home. Took my snorkel with me to put in my mouth when trying on masks, as having snorkel or reg in your mouth obviously can change the shape of your face. What's great is that the new mask was $40, half the cost of each of the masks I exchanged. A previous mask also fit pretty. It leaked some, but not as bad as the others. And it was only $50. Shop also gave me some silicone grease to try at sealing up the bottom of my mask. Shop couldn't believe how much water I had in my mask in the above pics.
Im glad they are working with you on this.
You look fabulous--makes me think of my childhood visits to the Everglades!
Just something of an update:
I didn't end up doing the Ohio quarry trip at the beginning of December. That was cancelled, and I've been working one on one with my instructors several times. First time, we just went to a pool with no scuba equipment on, but with mask, snorkel, fins, and a kick board to work on my kicks. Tweaked the basic "flutter" (what your legs do when freestyle/crawl swimming) so it doesn't hurt sciatica in left hip. This was before Thanksgiving at a health club gym. I did 500 yards in the pool.
A couple of weeks ago, several students cancelled, and so we were able to do a pool session with scuba equipment in the big community pool (12' deep end) the dive shop rents a lane from. We were in the water about 2.5 hours. It was so much fun! :D We worked on a number of things, but it had been really cold and snowy and getting in the water was just lovely! Worked more on frog kick, which is essentially the breast stroke kick. Each of the two kicks serves different purposes. Frog is harder to learn, but working on it early before I've formed bad habits, is a good thing.
The best part of the session were the videos I got that instructors shot with their GoPro, so I can actually see what I'm doing underwater and work to correct it.
I was delighted when instructors said I was greatly improved over my certification class and our first pool session. I'm much more comfortable in the water now. I'll even swim in the deep end (albeit with kick board), which was much easier than it was before. I even had mask/snorkel on and was looking down. Wasn't too much of an issue. LOL
I'm going to Mermet Springs, a quarry in southern IL (near Padaucah, KY) the end of January with a friend or two. Water temp should be around 38-40F! :0!:~) I'll have a pool session or two with friends in the next couple of weeks. There's a local dive shop that rents time in their small indoor pool (when not using it for classes ) for $10/hour plus tank rental. I did that once before with them.
11.5 year old goddaughter's Christmas present was her own "Discover Scuba" pool intro class, just like the one I did. She's doing it this Saturday. She'll be in the shallow end with an instructor, while I'll be in the deep end working on things with my instructor. I'll be able to swim over and get pics and video.
The dates for my Lake Huron/Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary dive trip have been set for the end of July and deposit sent it. We only need 2 more people for the boat.
I joined LA Fitness last week and I was in the pool 3 times last week and 2 already this week. I just do laps with mask, snorkel, fins, and kick board. I did 350 yards per session last week, and I'm now up to 400. The Lake Huron and Lake Michigan dives will be much better if I'm in better shape. I don't aim to really lose weight (that custom drysuit would need to be replaced!), but to build leg strength and cardio. I'm actually enjoying it, and I've found the pool is a good way to decompress after a stressful day at work. I go after work, not in the morning. I'm simply not a morning person.
Thanks for giving us an update, I enjoy hearing of your progress. It seems scuba has become a new interest that will stick around.
Given all the political BS and hoo hah, thought it would be nice to have something fun to post about.
Goddaughter did her Discover Scuba thing at the beginning of January. She had fun, but cut it short by about 10 minutes due to being cold (this was in a public indoor pool kept at 80F - I always freeze in this pool). I was in the pool at the same time, working on my own stuff. Got a few pics.
All the pool time this winter has paid off. Was in the pool with instructors last weekend when they had no students for scheduled pool time. Said the basic flutter kick (scissors) had pretty good form, just had to slow it down. Learning frog kick next.
Signed up for my Advanced course this coming spring/summer. It's four specialties - underwater navigation (lots of compass use), night/low visibility, deep, wreck. As a reward for all my work over the winter, instructors offered to make special arrangements for me to do my deep and wreck classes on Lake Michigan. Much nicer than doing them at the local quarry. The quarry has a "deep hole" where there's a black sulphur layer about 60' which turns everything pitch black. Sounds like a nightmare. On the lake, there will still be some light at 80-90' and viz will be better than the quarry. Wreck involves 3 dives, the last which is "limited penetration" of a wreck (limited penetration means still being in view of exterior light source from entry point). Local dive buddy who is doing Lake Huron trip with me will be doing Advanced with me.
Went cold water diving (48F water temp) for the first time a couple of weeks ago at a quarry in southern IL (Mermet Springs, near Metropolis). These were "shakedown dives" for the experience and to see what issues might come up (needing more weight due to undies, etc.). Our local quarry is open for cold water diving (since there is no ice for the ice divers) this coming weekend, and I'll be out there with people from my dive shop.
Lots of good stuff coming up this spring/summer. Local quarry opens April 1 and the dive boats get out on the lake sometime in May. :)
Wow.. you're really doing some serious stuff here! It sounds so neat to have found something that's so fun and challenging for you! Keep us posted!
I'm very excited for you Tradd. You have taken this seriously and to get joy out of it too!
From a pool session a month ago. A FB friend photoshopped the shark behind me. :laff:
The yellow tank is called a "pony," basically emergency air, especially if diving deep/cold water. The lower bungee should be closer to my body, I've shortened it up. This was my first time diving with it. Pony is named "Old Yeller." :~)
From a pool session a month ago. A FB friend photoshopped the shark behind me. :laff:
Love the Shark!!!:devil: Funny friend!
I went diving today - for all of 5 minutes underwater. That's right, 5 minutes. The water was 38F/3C. No one I know was able to make it today, so I took a chance on finding an "instabuddy," as it's called. You get matched up with someone else. The quarry owner introduced me to a father and son (the son was in his 20s). Turns out they're friends of my instructors, too! Anyway, the father was wearing inadequate thermals under his drysuit and got cold, plus once we descended 21 ft/6.4m, and got to the training platform on the the bottom, I realized I had too little weight on and was drifting up, so I signaled thumb up to ascend so I could add more weight. Plus, visibility was awful. Maybe 5ft/1.5m. It shouldn't have been that bad, but the warm winter and no ice meant the algae bloom was a lot. The father got an awful headache from the cold water and didn't want to go back in. There was no one else for me to dive with. So, I packed it up and went home. But the weather was very unseasonably warm today. 69F/20C, so I got to be outside. But I realized the cold water doesn't bother me much. My cheeks were very cold, but I would have gotten acclimated if we had gone back down.
I'm now up to 27 dives. Our local quarry opened April 1 and I've been diving every weekend except Easter weekend and this past weekend. Had a buoyancy class at the end of April. Things are slowly coming together. Still get a bit nervous at times, but it's much better than it was. I have my underwater navigation class Sunday taking it with my regular dive buddy. Deep class is on Lake Michigan June 19 on a shipwreck. :)
I'm slowly getting in better shape. I snorkel a mile of laps in the pool twice a week. I've started to do a bit of yoga at home with YouTube videos to get better flexibility. I've lost 10 lbs since I went to the doctor last July. My endurance is much better and I'm not nearly as wiped out as I was last fall after a day of diving.
Lake Huron trip is a little more than 2 months away. Yay!
Tradd, I am so impressed with your journey!
Tradd, I am so impressed with your journey!
Yeah, me too! I'm curious--didn't you get into diving because of a guy you were dating? Is the guy still around, or did he serve his purpose by giving you your passion for diving?
Guy is still around, but just as friends. Nothing will ever develop out of it. But I took off diving and ran with it, making it my own.
Sounds as though you are having fun with it. Wonderful to read seeing all your progress.
This is where I will be diving in late July - Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in northern Lake Huron. 3D virtual dives on a number of wrecks.
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/vr/thunder-bay/
I had my underwater navigation class today. Underwater work with a mechanical compass. It's filled with oil, rather than water (as in a regular land-based compass), to withstand the uw pressure.
It beat my butt today!
First dive was surface: 100'ft out back out for kick cycle average. Triangle with 100 ft sides and square with 50'ft sides. Then repeat all at depth. This was one heckof a workout! You count your kicks to give you an idea of distance.
2nd dive was hitting 8 directional points in an octagon course at the quarry, with 50 to 100 ft waypoints.
I'm also now very comfortable in low viz. due to other students silting the bottom up, we had NO vis for a time. Just focused on my compass and kept plugging along. Back in October, I would have said "the heck with this" and headed for the surface! Water temp was about 56F. I actually dove withOUT gloves on 2nd dive. Everyone did. Hands weren't cold.
Had some buoyancy issues, especially on the second dive. Popped to the top (very slowly) from 20 ft. Had a difficult time getting back down. Instructor had to pull on my fins to get me past the first 3 feet to get me started. Not sure what the issue was, aside from too much air in wing. Continual tweaking process! She said she can't wait to get me in a wet suit and suspects I will have much fewer issues than diving dry. I bought a 3mm wetsuit recently. She allowed me to try her new one on. It FIT! Holy cow! By all logic, going by the size chart, it should not have fit me. It was the largest women's size they offer (14). It stretched 3 inches in the chest to fit me. Wow! I'll have to wait another 5-6 weeks to pull it out at the quarry.
I almost gave up once today, but instructor is a tough one and kept encouraging me. She said I've greatly improved in a short time. And no quitting now! Her partner instructor (they're a couple, too) told me everyone else has faith in me to do this, but I keep doubting myself. They're lovely people. I got big hugs from each at the end of the dive.
So this was a really good class. It was regular buddy and I, plus some other guy no one knew. He had been reminded via email and phone call of today's starting time, but he showed up about an hour late. ARGH. I hate that! If I hadn't been doing all the swimming over the winter, I'd have been done after dive 1! Deep is June 19th on Lake Michigan. Night is June 15th at quarry, and Wreck is late August on the Lake. 30 dives now. Will be diving two days next weekend, both days the last weekend in June, and every week in between. I'll have over 40 dives by the end of June and should hit 50 before Lake Huron trip in late July.
Regular buddy took his basic class with instructors from another area dive shop and was just amazed at how good my instructors are. We're taking advanced together.
I'm thrilled I did so well and passed this! Woot! And I don't ever have to do it again! Woot! I'm so proud of myself! I am exhausted! I was nervous about today and expected it to be a total cluster, but it went much better than I thought!
Tradd, I do enjoy reading the updates on your progress so keep them coming. Well done on the latest dives!
Tradd, I find your progress truly inspiring!! We have some good diving up here by Traverse City so think about coming up this way some time. (We don't dive but I think it is wonderful how you have gotten into this sport and overcome your fears. Yay!)
I might apply your method to learning something new myself this year--thinking of taking up the violin so that I can participate in Scottish dancing groups as I get too old to dance.
Tradd, You are inspiring! I love reading about how you progress and am awed by the amount of physical work it is, plus the fear factor. Have you gone back and read your first post about this? What a journey and you are letting us join in!
Tradd, You are inspiring! I love reading about how you progress and am awed by the amount of physical work it is, plus the fear factor. Have you gone back and read your first post about this? What a journey and you are letting us join in!
Yes, I have. The difference is astonishing! :D
Tradd, I find your progress truly inspiring!! We have some good diving up here by Traverse City so think about coming up this way some time. (We don't dive but I think it is wonderful how you have gotten into this sport and overcome your fears. Yay!)
Yes, I do plan to get up there sooner rather than later!
Forgot to post about the very neat experience I had last weekend.
Did a chamber dive today at the only hyperbaric chamber in the area that is open to taking divers and other emergencies. It's in a hospital that is a Level I trauma center. We were taken down to 130 ft. There were 12 of us. We had empty water bottles and balloons to demonstrate Boyle's Law. When we were descending it was very hot - around 100 degrees. As we were coming up, it cooled down and actually got foggy in the chamber (they can't totally dry out the air fed to the chamber). It was funny to see. We took brought our dive computers into the chamber with us, immersing them in water to activate them. It was neat watching my computer throughout the "dive."
This was an opportunity to experience getting "narced" - have nitrogen narcosis - in a very controlled environment. Invaluable for when you're at depth. It goes away when you ascend. It's very similar to being drunk. I had a buzz going.
I got very silly and giggly when narced. I had a very high pitched voice at depth due to the pressure change. Minnie Mouse on steroids! One diving family was there - dad (an instructor), mom, and their three teenaged sons, who were very funny to watch as they got narced.
The respiratory therapist in charge of the chamber did a very good 45 minute lecture beforehand. He has been at the hospital for about 30 years and has been doing these presentations and chamber dives since 1994, when they began at the request of the local Chicago dive community. He said more than 1000 divers have been through the chamber. They only see 2-3 cases of DCS a year. He talked about DCS (Decompression Sickness), AGE (Arterial Gas Embolism), etc., from a medical perspective, which was an interesting difference from the way it was taught in OW classes. However, one of my instructors is a nurse, so she had inserted some of the medical perspective in my OW course.
rosarugosa
5-23-17, 4:48am
Tradd: I'm glad this has turned out to be such an enjoyable hobby for you!
Tradd: I'm glad this has turned out to be such an enjoyable hobby for you!
Rosa, now that I'm getting past the issues (leaking mask, anxiety, etc.), I'm able to relax and enjoy it so much more!
Went to our local quarry today. First dive we were on the shallow side. It was my first time diving with my pony (extra air for emergencies) tank outside of a pool. I was very lopsided. Need to play with it more tomorrow at Pearl Lake (quarry on Illinois/Wisconsin border), maybe adjust how much weight I'm carrying. On the second dive, we went down to the Flamingo (33 ft cabin cruiser) and an old fire truck on the deep side. We got down to 50 ft, which is the deepest I've been yet! Yay! We're certified down to 60 ft right now. Buddy took the photos with his GoPro. First is on the fire truck, the second is on the Flamingo. It was a great day, great confidence builder since I didn't pop to the top, have any anxiety issues, etc.
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/IMG_3211.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/IMG_3211.jpg.html)
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/GOPR0417.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/GOPR0417.jpg.html)
Went to a quarry on the IL/WI border yesterday. It's spring fed, so the water has a different quality than the groundwater fed quarry with the green water.
Me on our safety stop at end of first dive (when you've dove deeper than 40' (maybe?) it's good practice to do a safety stop for 3 minutes at 15-20' to off gas some of the nitrogen in your blood). Camera was on a lanyard on my wrist, but I just extended my arm to buddy, who took the camera from me to take the pic.
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/PICT0024.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/PICT0024.jpg.html)
Looking up towards the surface while on our safety stop
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/PICT0031.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/PICT0031.jpg.html)
World War II U-boat sub replica (33' long)
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/PICT0006.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/PICT0006.jpg.html)
A bluegill on the sub
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/PICT0007.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/PICT0007.jpg.html)
This was an open water certification dive for a big class (8-10 people) from a dive shop. They came out of the blue as buddy and I were taking a break on a training platform. I was closer to them, and buddy thought I was going to get kicked, but didn't. They were all over the place! Looked like they were having fun, though!
http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/theodorae2003/PICT0016.jpg (http://s771.photobucket.com/user/theodorae2003/media/PICT0016.jpg.html)
I just wish the photos didn't have the time/date stamp. :( This was the first time I had taken this camera underwater. It's an Intova Nova HD. Basically a GoPro knockoff. Think I paid $130 for it. A friend had one (the picture with me and all the fish taken last October were taken with this camera) and I liked it. Nice big buttons that are easy to work with gloves on. I had gotten it last November, but it wouldn't recognize a memory card, so I exchanged it with the manufacturer. I think I'll take this camera on the Lake Huron diving trip and do stills. Buddy has a nice GoPro and can do video. My camera does video, but I'm much more into stills.
And, yes, I do plan on taking an underwater photography class once my buoyancy is better.
I dove the Great Lakes for the first time yesterday! Southern Lake Michigan, out of Hammond, IN. Buddy took the great pic of me, and I uploaded my vids to YouTube. Wrecks were the David Dows, a wooden schooner that went down in 1889, and the Material Service Barge, a steel barge that went down in 1936 with 15 men.
1775
https://youtu.be/U-2PRwbkfQ4
https://youtu.be/9V-M8VzfHuw
https://youtu.be/bgNIPNlmUaU
https://youtu.be/WfHyKUth39A
Lake Huron trip is in a bit less than a month. I've been working really hard and yesterday's dives were sort of the culmination of that. Had a ball. Loved being out on the lake. Yes, my "trim" (being horizontal in the water) needs work, but that will come. Yesterday was dives 45 and 46.
Wow, that is amazing! Thanks for sharing.. congratulations on your great progress. The videos really helped to bring your experience to life!
I completed my 50th dive yesterday! :0!:D Had to take a commemorative pic! The thing on my forehead is my mask turned backwards (how you're supposed to do it out of the water).
I'll have my Advanced rating after night dives on Saturday. Lake Huron trip in two weeks!
1784
I had my night class Saturday evening. I'm very happy to report that I've now gotten my Advanced rating! You needed 4 separate specialties, plus 25 logged dives. I came in at 53 dives. I leave for my long-awaited Lake Huron trip next Tuesday. :D
iris lilies
7-19-17, 1:29am
great progress, Tradd. Glad to hear this update. How long is this Lake Huron trip, and how many dives will you get?
Happy diving, tradd. I love your enthusiasm and enjoy hearing of your adventures.
Iris, 3 days of diving, 2 dives each morning.
Picked up my Advanced card yesterday. Rescue class is probably late September.
Can't wait to dive Wednesday! Leave Tuesday. It's an 8 hour drive each way. At least my diving buddy is driving with me, and can drive if necessary.
My Lake Huron trip had to be cancelled due to weather conditions. Yesterday and today there are up to 12ft waves on the lake. T'storms and high waves forecast for the rest of the week. I talked to the dive boat captain yesterday and we cancelled then. He had wanted to wait until today to make a decision, but as we would have been leaving today at 5 am, with an 8 hour drive before us, that was the best decision.
Dive buddy and I are hitting the local quarry tomorrow. We'll be diving Lake Michigan Saturday and Sunday morning. Our dive shop has a boat on the lake. So, we'll be getting two days of Great Lakes diving with only an hour's drive from home and without the hotel costs.
We're not out any money due to the cancelled trip. The dive boat captain didn't cash my deposit check and is sending it back. I specifically made hotel reservations with a slightly higher rate that would allow for cancellation without penalty.
Glad you will still be able to get some diving in this weekend. It's a drag when you're looking forward to something and it has to get cancelled, but I admire your attitude on going to Plan B.
Related to that, a friend told me her son-in-law's mother is gravely ill. However, he and his wife have been saving for a big vacation in the Caribbean for many months which is planned for her SIL's 50th birthday. Now, it's a tough decision on proceeding or cancelling or waiting or what.
I think latest is that they are buying trip insurance, which I believe may be used for situations like this.
Well, Plan B may not work.
4-5ft waves are forecast for Saturday, so the boat may not go out on Lake Michigan at all. We're still 2 people short for the boat anyway (needs 4 to go out).
2-3ft waves on Sunday, which are doable, if a bit "sporty," but we still need 1 more person for the boat.
Dive shop let the boat go out today even though we only had 2 people (3rd person cancelled yesterday). We just had to pay for a 3rd seat. That was fine. We needed a break from the local quarry! Waves were 3-4ft and my stomach got a bit off kilter from it. Didn't puke, but we didn't go a 2nd dive due to me not feeling 100%.
We dove the Louisville, a wooden steamer that sank in 1857 on the IL/IN border after a fire. 7 miles from shore. 60ft deep, temp was 74F at 60ft.
http://i.imgur.com/lRtIp0G.jpg
Me above the propeller
http://i.imgur.com/EFm0scw.jpg
Steeple engine
http://i.imgur.com/prO6l9J.jpg
Prop
http://i.imgur.com/9BxgNE8.jpg
Bow
http://i.imgur.com/cI13Mer.jpg
Ribs
http://i.imgur.com/UGfTSEy.jpg
https://youtu.be/x6P9cJk5DAk
https://youtu.be/uZRaz4wxLoI
https://youtu.be/zRHNLKOmtxg
I have a nice update. I met a nice couple through my dive shop last fall, at the underwater pumpkin carving event. They live in Michigan and have their own little dive boat. They invited me out to dive. We did that on Sunday. We went out on Lake Huron about 1/3 of the way up Michigan's Thumb.
These were my first deeper dives outside of my deep class (when we went to 85ft in the deep hole at the quarry, down and up, no room to swim around). One wreck was at 75ft and the other at 85ft. I was a wee bit nervous at first, but had two great dives. Huge confidence builder. I'm also not afraid to dive without my regular buddy. I just make it very clear to new dive buddies what my experience level is (I just did dive 60 on Sunday), that I'm still working on being horizontal in the water (aka the Seahorse Syndrome pops up a fair bit), and that I can be a bit nervous. The couple were wonderfully patient with me, gave some good suggestions, and were very nice. Turns out the wife had some big water fears when she began diving 4 years ago. She still doesn't really like to be on the surface in water deeper than she can stand in, but is just fine underwater! They both said they remembered what it was like being a novice. I so appreciated that. I was a good guest - I offered $40 for boat gas (which they took) and brought snacks for the boat.
We dove the Regina and Mary Alice B wrecks. The Regina went down in a very bad storm in November 1913 that claimed 6 other wrecks on Lake Huron. All went down with all hands. The Regina is a 270ft steel freight that was at anchor when the storm hit. She landed upside down. There is a big gash in her side. The anchor and chains are still in place. The Mary Alice B is a tug from the 1920s that sunk in the 1970s. It's thought she might have been scuttled for the insurance money. She's wonderfully intact and a nice small wreck.
First pic is the big gash in the side of the Regina. The other two are the Mary Alice B's wheelhouse and inside the wheelhouse from the door, with the wheel still in place. YouTube link is of the Mary Alice B.
1875
1876
1877
https://youtu.be/zBX9ttI2DV4
iris lilies
8-16-17, 1:11am
Those photos are beautiful,and mysterious.
Some photos from diving Lake Michigan the past few weeks.
1911
1912
1913
After a lot of work my buoyancy is finally decent. Getting more horizontal in the water needs more work, as do the other kicks I need to learn, but that will be a winter project. I've been diving in a wetsuit for the past three months, but now the the air temps will be cooler next weekend, I'll be back to my drysuit.
Some photos from the quarry this past weekend. Dive buddy put them through Photoshop as the quarry water is much greener. The black and white photo came from a frame of video. I think it may be a photo insert for my Christmas cards!
1943
1944
Rescue diver class this weekend. Has nothing to do with public safety diving, but with skills for laypeople. Everything from self-rescue, towing tired divers, helping calm panicked divers, to bringing someone up from the bottom, and getting them onto shore. I had to take a CPR/AED/first aid class as a pre-req. Never had CPR before.
Oh, and this is really funny. The guy who inspired me to try diving? He's not speaking to me any longer. Haven't heard from him in weeks. He's pissed that I'm diving as much as I am, and very put off that I'm going to have more training than he does. The last time we talked he mentioned diving Lake Michigan with me again. I told him that it wouldn't happen. He's all talk, and I told him so! Said he'd been saying that for months, and yet when the dive boat schedule was put up in the spring, he couldn't even be bothered to look at it. Also told him that if he was upset at me diving so much, he should just get off his butt and do it. But he couldn't be bothered to schedule anything and now the season is just about over. He won't dive with anyone but his brother or their mutual friend. If they don't want to dive, he won't.
He ended that phone call pretty quickly. I don't think I'll be hearing from him again. He didn't like hearing those truths.
Oh, I'm now at 78 dives and nearly 2 days total underwater time! :D
Tradd, I am so pleased you found something you love, especially when you were so concerned about safety, breathing etc. This guy gave you a gift and that's terrific. Too bad for him he doesn't want to dive. Enjoy.
Agree. Definitely his loss, your gain.
I know, I'm lucky I have literally stumbled onto something I love.
Now I just have to get over my catfish fear!
catherine
9-22-17, 10:55am
Tradd, I am so pleased you found something you love, especially when you were so concerned about safety, breathing etc. This guy gave you a gift and that's terrific. Too bad for him he doesn't want to dive. Enjoy.
+1
Now I just have to get over my catfish fear!
Have you seen some big ones? There's always stories about catfish at the bottom of lakes that can swallow a person whole. I've thankfully never seen one that big from my kayaks! Or is it their whiskers that bug you? Catfish creep me out and I don't really like the taste of them either.
The biggest I've seen are 3-4 ft long ones. It's just the look of them, especially when I see them head-on. I saw one on Sunday, as it was on the platform, put its whiskers down and start feeling for food. It was kind of neat to watch in a gross way. LOL.
Dive buddy on Sunday and I had a good laugh when one came really close to me and I went a few feet up on the buoy line. I'd told him I really hated catfish as this was my first time diving with him, but he really got it when he looked up and saw me upnthere with catfish below me. I agree it's very silly, but I'll have to get over it. I can laugh at it, though.
I like catfish dead! Thin sliced, breaded and deep fried with Cajun spices. Yum.
On the conquering fears thing, at the beginning of April, going down to 45ft was scary. Now going 85 ft down to a wreck on the bottom of Lake Huron is nothing! I mean, it's serious being a deeper dive, but it doesn't create undue stress in me.
I'm at 96 dives now and may hit 100 this weekend!
It's Dunkin Punkin time again! Underwater pumpkin carving event with my dive shop is Sunday, which is also the last day the quarry is open for the season. I practiced on Sunday with two friends, as I have my first place win last year to defend! I'm going as Annie Oakley! I tried to carve a pumpkin into my target, but it didn't turn out well!
https://i.imgur.com/F7EXaz2.jpg
Cute pic of Dante the Dive Shop Dog helping me analyze a tank.
https://i.imgur.com/StbEiRO.jpg
Pic of me and buddy before we got into the water Saturday.
https://i.imgur.com/ynp0LzH.jpg?2
iris lilies
10-26-17, 10:42pm
So cute! Both you and the dog. Nice.
Dante is the shop owner's dog and is at the shop weekdays. He's a soft coated Wheaten terrier. He loves giving kisses and will come running if you tell "steak!" :D
I keep you in mind when I am debating about doing something. You were so nervous about this and look at you now! 96 dives! Enjoying them! Thank you for continuing to post.
Nswef, it's been quite a journey so far! Glad you're enjoying my posts. It's fun showing off my pics. :D
Dunkin Punkin (as I call the underwater pumpkin carving) was last Sunday. I won for the second year in a row! I went as Annie Oakley. I carved a star into my pumpkin with a couple of holes for "bullet holes" on either side of the star. Pumpkin was very buoyant and thick walled. Took me about 20 minutes just to cut the top off (everything has to be done underwater). Buddy had to help hold pumpkin down and had to loan me his longer knife as mine was too short!
I won a regulator set worth a bit under $600. The best part is that I was going to buy it anyway! I'm going to take my sidemount class next summer. That's for longer/deeper dives in the future. Sidemount is where you have a tank on each side of you. Many people will do two connected tanks on their back, but that can weigh more than 100 lbs and my bad knees/sciatica would not be able to take that weight. Sidemount is great as it's best if you put your tanks on in the water. They just clip to your harness. The tanks are totally independent (you breathe them down evenly). If I'm diving at the quarry, you just wheel your tanks down to the water's edge. For boat diving, you put one tank on, jump in the water, and then put the other one on. The other tank would be hanging in the water, clipped to a rope.
I tried sidemount at a gear tryout day at our local quarry over the summer. It was great fun! The time allotted was 20 minutes, but it was good enough to get a good try at it. Felt very stable. After that, I kept an eye out online and bought my side mount harness used for a good deal.
The big milestone on Sunday was my 100th dive! I had quite the entourage on it - both instructors, two regular buddies, and a friend from Ohio who had come out for the event. I did another dive with Ohio friend earlier in the day. I hadn't dived with her since my first post-certification dives last October, when I was very nervous. She was astonished at how far I've come. My logbook page from the 100th dive is a keeper. Everyone signed it and wrote messages of congratulations. :D There were times I wasn't sure if I'd make it this far!
Carving pumpkin. You can see the star
https://i.imgur.com/do1iklO.jpg
I like this one with the fish (bluegill)
https://i.imgur.com/KeSbBH7.jpg
Instructor got this pic on my 100th dive
https://i.imgur.com/PbdUuvJ.jpg
This is what sidemount looks like. I'm on the left, Ohio friend is on the right. I was showing her the Tasmanian devil-faced cement shark on the old rock crusher in the quarry.
https://i.imgur.com/t6RJEU7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/uTHl6mx.jpg
A mutual friend of OH friend and I took this pic on my 99th dive. We were following a line on the bottom (you can see it at the bottom of the pic) from a training platform to the old quarry rock crusher. I am just thrilled with what this picture shows. I'm pretty horizontal, not kicking up the silty bottom, etc. At the beginning of the season, I was hanging onto that line!
https://i.imgur.com/HRqcAPu.jpg
iris lilies
11-5-17, 11:41am
That is a pretty and interesting image.
Recently I have become attracted to natural emeralds because they have that murky green appearance with inclusions that mimic deep water objects. Each emerald is unique, like an underwater scene. This photo reminds me of a good emerald.
I'm delighted to report I'm on the verge of going down another pants size (this would be the second)! :D. The only drawback is that at the far I'm going I'll have to replace my drysuit sometime next year, which is an expensive proposition. Several thousand dollars! But the hope is that I will be able to fit into a stock size suit and not have to pay for a custom one (which would be an upcharge of at least $300).
That is a pretty and interesting image.
Recently I have become attracted to natural emeralds because they have that murky green appearance with inclusions that mimic deep water objects. Each emerald is unique, like an underwater scene. This photo reminds me of a good emerald.
I love natural emeralds with the jardin, but that picture reminded me of the guy who killed his wife on a scuba dive in Australia, for some reason. There was a chilling photo taken of her used in evidence at the trial. Oh morbid me.
Gee, Jane, thanks. ;-). That IS morbid.
I think he's a free man, too--so be careful out there...;)
I went to Mermet Springs, a quarry in far southern IL this weekend with two friends. I swam through the 727 from the movie US Marshals (late 1990s) that is sunk in the quarry!
Video I took!
https://youtu.be/QvXeN5MCbBg
I also rode an underwater motorcycle! Probably the only such ride I'll take! :D
http://i.imgur.com/OUCQPiK.jpg (https://imgur.com/OUCQPiK)
Float On
11-20-17, 10:14am
Love the sound of your bubbles in the video and how sobering to dive through the airplane. Motorcycle is just funny!
Congrats on the smaller pant size!
iris lilies
11-20-17, 11:13am
This is amazing, both the video and the motocycle image. Good job!
2016
This is me on the jet ski on top of the 727. :D
I had to put my drysuit (the purple trimmed black diving suit from my early pics) up for se as I've shrunk so much! This is a very good, although expensive, problem to have! I spent about $2K, trying to sell for about $1300. Alterations would be too expensive. I can't replace it until I get to my goal weight and so I might as well get the $$ for it now, which can go towards something else.
I had tried diving the drysuit in early October and the upper arms were so big on me that there were huge air pockets, which made it difficult to go under and stay under.
congratulations Tradd on all your changes!
Today was the next big step in my diving journey! Maiden voyage in my own side mount gear. :) This is for a couple years down the road when I begin the much more advanced training for deeper, longer dives. Dive shop manager, who also dives sidemount, helped me set everything up the week before Christmas. SM is very stable and comfortable for me. There is some tweaking that needs to be done, but that's to be expected. My trim (horizontal aspect in the water) has improved so much and is so much better now. My instructors were in the pool today, having fun on their own (it was a pool practice for already certified divers), and they complimented me several times on my trim. :D I've got two more pool sessions (one per month), and my SM class in the spring.
Someone hung a mirror in the deep end, and I got my first underwater selfie. It was very neat to see myself "live" rather than after the fact in pics/video.
https://i.imgur.com/O15E9SV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/lT9fOzR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j4G4uvA.jpg
This just makes me smile!!!! I think of where your were before your started and where you are now!
catherine
1-21-18, 12:19pm
I agree with nswef! You look great! So great to have a passion to sustain you! It also shows how sometimes hobbies and passions find YOU rather than the other way around.
Yes, and look, I'm next to a drain! :) LOL
iris lily
1-21-18, 11:49pm
Yes, and look, I'm next to a drain! :) LOL
Oh thats right, you were leery of drains! Well, they ARE creepy.
You’re going to love this... the guy who started me on all this? He seems to have had a change of heart about me. Don’t know what caused it as he didn’t anwer when I asked. I told him I was sorry, but that ship sailed for me more than a year ago. He was just silent. He’s made no effort at all to see me before he said this. He sold his company to a bigger one two years ago and now he’s down to just doing some sales for them part time. He’s pretty much retired in his mid 50s. He essentially has very little claim on his time and he still couldn’t come see me? Sorry, bud.
Nice pic from pool session last weekend. 2091
I love the mirror pic, Tradd. You should submit that to a diving magazine for publication--it is awesome.
That guy did you a favor! Look at all you've accomplished without him! Good for you! I'm proud of you, for what it's worth!
That guy did you a favor! Look at all you've accomplished without him! Good for you! I'm proud of you, for what it's worth!
Thank you!
iris lilies
2-25-18, 9:01pm
Thank you!
I dont see why you wont take this guy on as a friend and see where that goes.
We are not all in the same place at the same time for romance.p and that may ezplain his lack of interest prior to thos.
He sounds like a good thIng, 50’s and FIREd. That could work for you in major ways.
We are remaining friends.
One of the wrecks I plan on diving in Thunder Bay/Alpena, MI this summer. EB Allen, 100ft deep, sunk in 1871. Simply gorgeous!
https://youtu.be/lZD6RRcjNNM
In Michigan this weekend for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival in Ann Arbor all day today. It was fab! Met some online friends from a regional diving group’s FB page.
The shipwreck diving looks very cool!
There's some interesting discussion on diving forums about divers being given rental equipment that then fails underwater, etc.
I want to respond, but won't, that what do you expect when you go to out of the country to Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, etc., that don't exactly have a culture of accountability and safety. Diving staff are paid very little and as far as I can tell from the multiple accounts I've read, they will take divers way past their training to do things like shipwreck penetration because the divers want to do it and the dive staff need the employment.
The divers involved are often infrequent vacation divers and either don't have their own gear or don't want to drag it on vacation.
I put together a video of pics of my first year diving.
https://youtu.be/smPjYC0BHxM
Tradd, That gave me chills, made me smile and I am so excited for you!
Thank you!! I can't wait for the quarry to open at the beginning of April! :D
That was great, Tradd - thanks for sharing with us!
Well, today is the first diving day on the Great Lakes this season for me. 4 dives on Lake Michigan today. The morning boat has 3 friends (I pretty much filled it) including one gal who asked me to introduce her to my Great Lakes Underwater world, as she put it. She’s an experienced diver, but only warm water. My enthusiasm for the wrecks is contagious! :)
I’ve had 8 dives at the quarry since the middle of April. Today will be interesting with the weaker leg after shingles to see how it handles the boat ladder. I have the option of handing up my tank if need be.
I’ll update you later! Tomorrow I’m at the quarry with 2 regular buddies.
I hope you have a marvelous time! Keep making new enthusiasts.
22092210Dive buddy just sent these pics of me from Sunday.
The guy who introduced me to diving is all talk, no action. He sold his company and is doing very little. He tells me he sits around all day reading by his pool or working on house projects. Kept telling me he wanted to dive Lake Michigan after seeing my recent pics. But when I suggested he look at boat schedule and to let me know what worked with his schedule, he was suddenly full of reasons why he couldn’t even look at schedule.
We still talk every now and then, but that’s it.
This is a pic of me that regular dive buddy took within the past few weeks. I'm nice and horizontal. That took a TON of work.
https://i.imgur.com/EqlMfLJ.jpg
Great seeing the pictures with your comments added.
iris lilies
7-22-18, 10:10pm
That is beautiful! The horizontal one,
I mean.
That is beautiful! The horizontal one,
I mean.
Thanks, Iris! That's the old road bed down into the quarry (the beach entrance). It's the one part of the quarry with consistently good visibility and very good light.
Every time this thread comes up I kinda wish we could change the title. I think Tradd has overcome her gag reflex! ;)
I'm so glad you've stuck with this and its become such an important hobby and part of your life.
What is the story with that hand sculpture in your "good horizontal" photo? Is that one of those garden hand chairs and how did it end up there? I want one!
Have you had some canvas prints made of some of your shipwreck dive photos? So interesting and would make good apartment art.
iris lilies
7-23-18, 12:01pm
Tradd, if you want to change the title, let me know, I can do it with moderator powers. I think it is a good idea, too.
Tradd, if you want to change the title, let me know, I can do it with moderator powers. I think it is a good idea, too.
Yes, please do. Make it something like “My Diving Experiences.”
Thanks! Kept meaning to ask this and always forgot!
What is the story with that hand sculpture in your "good horizontal" photo? Is that one of those garden hand chairs and how did it end up there? I want one!
Have you had some canvas prints made of some of your shipwreck dive photos? So interesting and would make good apartment art.
There are all sorts of things from old boats, a fire trunk, dump truck, to many little statues and such in the quarry for divers to look at. There are a number of these hand chairs!
iris lilies
7-23-18, 1:13pm
Title changed!
Love the pictures, and the new thread title. Rock on, Tradd!
My trip to northern Lake Huron/Alpena, MI (the one that got cancelled last year due to bad weather) finally happened this weekend. More later, but here's a really neat video I shot. It's on the Grecian wreck, a steel freighter that went down in 1906 on its way to Detroit to get repairs. Empty, no lives lost. Her middle has collapsed, giving access to her innards. I didn't go inside, but I did swim through some open deck framing on another wreck. This was my deepest dive yet at 93ft. It was 48F. Bottom was at 100-106'.
https://youtu.be/c9FX_9rr580
https://youtu.be/5Nna_WUM4PQ
https://youtu.be/pT4_ISuQbS0
Here are some pics.
Pretty bubbles as we were on our safety stop on a dive on the 2nd day of the trip.
https://i.imgur.com/uJHHC3i.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rcN61kz.jpg
Me on the Montana wreck
https://i.imgur.com/m2WTSfK.jpg
This is just a fun pic from going between wrecks on Lake Michigan last Sunday. I’m the one with the short dark hair on the right. We cold water divers don’t care much what we look like while diving. That’s Chicago in the background.
Ultralight
8-31-18, 7:36am
This is just a fun pic from going between wrecks on Lake Michigan last Sunday. I’m the one with the short dark hair on the right. We cold water divers don’t care much what we look like while diving. That’s Chicago in the background.
You all look like underwater sea pirates! Very cool! Arrrrgh, matey!
I loved seeing Chicago from the water! Long time Chicago dweller, and what a beautiful picture.
Great to see you so happy!
It gives me such joy to see how you've become so fearless and accomplished!
iris lilies
8-31-18, 10:35am
Tradd, is the single source of light down under surface light? Or do you guys have lightson your helmets?
Teacher Terry
8-31-18, 12:32pm
Beautiful!
Tradd, is the single source of light down under surface light? Or do you guys have lightson your helmets?
Helmets are only for cave divers. ;)
There’s a lot of ambient light, depending on depth. We do carry dive flashlights.
This is video someone else took Sunday. We’re in the wide open cargo holds (and lots of openings above) of the Material Service Barge. 35ft to the sand. I come along about the 4:10 mark. Tried to swim under the bar, when I should have gone over. Stirred up the silt some as a result. ;)
https://youtu.be/afT6Tfd22Gs
It gives me such joy to see how you've become so fearless and accomplished!
Still get overly nervous at times, but it’s so much better than it used to be.
Still get overly nervous at times, but it’s so much better than it used to be.
It's admirable that you work through your fear and do it anyway. That's the definition of courage.
Yesterday, I did both charters (morning and afternoon) on my local charter boat, Sun Dog (Double Action Dive Charters). I have a season pass for the boat.
We did four wrecks, the Louisville (wooden propeller steamer, sunk in 1857), a new wreck known as the "mystery barge" (I didn't do this dive as I didn't like the surface conditions), The Straits of Mackinac (a coal-fired car ferry that operated between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan from 1928 to 1956 when the Mackinac Bridge opened - this wreck was sunk in Lake Michigan in the late 2000s as fish habitat and diver attraction), and the Wells Burt.
The Wells Burt was a triple-masted wooden schooner, massive at 201 ft long (201' x 33'5" x 14'2"). She was built in 1873 and sank in a storm off Evanston, IL, in May 1883, going down with all 11 hands. Despite a lot of wreckage, none of the crew were ever found. She is almost entirely intact, amazing for a wreck only 40ft deep. This is my favorite local wreck. The deadeyes are the highlight of this site for me. They were used to manage the rigging.
Pics and video were taken with an Intova Nova HD. This is a small waterproof camera with the camera body built into the floating housing. It was only $140 off Amazon a couple of years ago. Video isn't the greatest, but it gives you an idea of this awesome wreck.
Some more advanced divers have shrugged off this wreck to me, saying it's too shallow for them to bother with. Their loss! It's just incredible. What makes it even more incredible is that it survived so intact at just 40 ft, not having been beaten to pieces by the winter ice and wind. I've read that ice on the Great Lakes can go as deep as 70 ft. And with this shallow of a wreck, you can spend more time on it.
https://i.imgur.com/E3EWESB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/anb9xcT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/N3EfUVp.jpg
More from the Wells Burt
Deadeyes - used for managing the rigging on a sailing ship. This first photo would be a great Halloween one!
https://i.imgur.com/0CyqorF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/toHYuzK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/v6QTTt0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8pgioVF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NBPhB9P.jpg
Videos
https://youtu.be/rNZRyBA6W4A
https://youtu.be/bNqfwNqeZus
Those photos are so amazing to see. Wonderful how much enjoyment you are getting out of your diving experiences.
Thank you! It’s been life changing.
https://www.facebook.com/742609033/posts/10156537109534034/
Hope this works...there's been much talk about red ride here. My son is the captain.
Interesting! Thanks for the video.
This pic is of me from Sunday. I went up to Milwaukee with a friend and we did two wrecks off a charter boat there. I did my deepest dive to date - 117ft! I got “dark narced.” Feelings of gloom and anbit scared, too. Rented a bigger tank from my dive shop, which was a good idea!
I’ve replaced my drysuit. Ordered it right when I got back from Lake Huron trip. Took a month to come in. Much more comfortable diving now. Stay warm and dry!
An online friend sent me this. Litany against fear from Dune. Didn’t know it existed. Said he memorized it and it helped with the feelings of gloom and doom when being dark narced.
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Today is my 2nd diversary. 172 dives and 35 lbs lighter!
Tradd, I know you've come a long way from day 1. Please celebrate your success - as do I! Proud of you!
Tradd, You are amazing! Thanks for sharing your journey!
Thank you! I’m going to work really hard to get in better shape this winter.
Did 45 minutes / bit more than 10 miles on the recumbent bike at the gym the last two evenings. Dripping with sweat by the time I’m done. I have a workout playlist with mostly 80s-90s music going while I’m watching Fox News (with closed captioning) on the TV on the bike. I don’t have cable so this is the only time I watch it. Bit of an odd combo but I find the music really helps me GO!
Today is my 2nd diversary. 172 dives and 35 lbs lighter!
Love the diversary concept. Well done, Tradd.
Just put a deposit down on a diving trip in July to Tobermory, Ontario. Can't wait! On Lake Huron/Georgian Bay.
Been a few months since I've updated this thread.
The sidemount (tanks on my sides) experiment is over. Didn't go well. Gearing up was just too complicated and took too long, compared with just slipping int my harness. It was just a mess off a boat. I've sold the sidemount gear online. I'm now diving back mounted doubles or what the Brits call a twinset. ;) Two tanks on my back. Originally I thought I wouldn't be able to do this due to my knees/sciatica, but I'm finding ways to manage it. I'm really building strength. I've found I can do squats with a 5lb dumbbell in each hand that don't hurt. If I do it without dumbbells, my knees travel past my toes, which really hurts. That doesn't happen with the weights. My knees are feeling much better and I'm walking easier.
For the twinset, I've just doubled up the tanks I already have. I've not spent too much. A lovely online friend from a large scuba forum, upon reading that I was thinking about doubling up my tanks, sent me an isolator manifold (to connect the two tanks together) and a wing (the blue air bladder in the pics). The manifold is about $100 new. The threading didn't fit my valves, so its up for sale. The wing is about 10-12 years old. I needed about $50 in parts to bring it back to life, but it's as good as new. The current model of this wing runs $330! Friend is an older diver (60s) and has lots of equipment sitting around that is no longer used.
https://i.imgur.com/FjxwstI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/k1acKru.jpg
The whole thing - double tanks, regulators, steel backplate, weighs about 80 lbs! But I can walk around with them OK. I use my collapsible cart to move them around.
I did my first pool session with them a couple of weeks ago. Resounding success! So much easier to get geared up than with the side mounted tanks. Regular dive buddy said I was always so stressed with doing sidemount and I was so unstressed getting geared up in the pool. I'm using the same backplate and harness, just moved to the twinset. So very familiar there. I had to hang some weights off my harness' butt D ring to balance things out, but I've got very light fins. These are short tanks and they tend to make people go head down. I got some heavier fins used very cheap on a FB sale group, so I'll try those in the pool next month. But with the small tweak of 4lbs hanging off my butt D ring, my trim (horizontal aspect in the water) was very good. People on the scuba forum were surprised I got the tanks to trim out so well, as people often have a hard time with these tanks. They work for me since I'm short. They're 4" shorter than the next size up! Trim has been something that I've had challenges with, so the wonderful compliments I got on my trim with the doubles was wonderful to hear.
https://i.imgur.com/GeNAJhe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ul076VX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bfx9pFM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NC550oE.jpg
I've got some wonderful plans for the year.
Wreck diving in the Straits of Mackinac (between the Upper & Lower Penninsulas of Michigan, where the Mackinac Bridge is) in June for my 50th birthday trip. Tobermory, Ontario in July.
In August, I'm going to be driving 13 hours each way to Temagami, Ontario to do my first technical diving class (Intro to Tech). I've really hit it off with an instructor on the big diving forum. He offered to do the class for free. It would run about $250 if I did it locally, and while I like the two local tech instructors well enough (one did my sidemount class), but I had a 5 hour phone conversation one night with the instructor in Ontario. He's got 2 busted knees himself, is wreck obsessed like I am, and sort of specializes in divers with mobility issues. The friend who sent me the manifold and wing lives in DE. He's done an ice class with the Ontario instructor before and he's actually coming up to Temagami to do the Intro to Tech class with me. It's a long drive, but I've got online friends in the Toronto area (from an author fan group on FB) that I'll get to meet, as well.
If the intro to tech class goes well in August, I will do Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures class locally in Sept/Oct. It's done in two weekends - one at the local quarry, and another a couple of weeks later at a deep quarry in WI (Wazee Lake). The dives for AN/DP class go to 150ft. This will allow me to do the deeper wrecks or to spend more time on shallower wrecks without having to worry about coming up before no decompression time ends. You have a number of deco stops at certain depths to get nitrogen out of your system to prevent the bends. You generally use either 50% O2 or 100% O2 for a deco gas.
I'm working on the homework for the Advanced Nitrox class. There are a lot of manual calculations for things like how long you can stay down with your breathing rate on a certain size tank and planned depth, best gas mix for a dive, etc. But now there are phone apps and computer programs that most use, in additional to much more advanced dive computers than there used to be. I have a phone app /desktop program called MultiDeco. It's almost like a video game to divers - running the numbers in various ways for certain dives is a lot of fun and quite educational. Screen shot from the app for a local wreck off Milwaukee that sits at 130ft (Milwaukee car ferry). Anyway, you have to show you know how to do the manual calculations for class. Math takes me a lot of time, so I'm sitting down with it months in advance to make it much easier on me later!
https://i.imgur.com/WnOvOlx.jpg
Very interesting. I had no idea that there were math calculations involved for this advanced diving. Your 50th birthday trip sounds like it will be really memorable, especially to enjoy the rewards of your increased exercise levels. I'm sure it will be great!
Happy Divaversary! Tradd, I remember how nervous you were and look at you now!!!! Bravo! Bravo! BRAVO!
iris lilies
1-26-19, 12:46pm
This is still amazing to me! The very idea scares the beejesus outta me.
Congrats! You have come so far. This is all so exciting! I look forward to your future excapades!
It's so awesome how you embraced your passion like this! I remember when you just tagging along with the guy you were dating for a while. Interesting the ways in which God / Universe works! You have come so far! Thanks for keeping us up to date on your dives!
Look - me in action! :D. Last pool session of the winter yesterday. Stuff just sort of came together.
https://youtu.be/MfF6bHOYplA
You look like a mermaid; well done.
I'm with Iris Lily; I'll just stay here on shore...
Teacher Terry
3-10-19, 1:04pm
Scares me too:))
Looks like fun. I wish I could get the wife interested. We are going to key largo next week. Maybe do some snorkeling, but most likely just do the glass bottom boat ride. Maybe do a little kayaking.
This video is mostly from this year's Great Lakes diving and the associated road trips. I'll come back a bit later and update with my adventures from this year. It's been a fabulous season.
https://youtu.be/nXeZjWytZ6I
Neat video, Tradd. There is a red freighter in different parts of the video. I think that I need some more info on how the Great Lakes trip was arranged. Where do you dive from, where do you stay, what are the goals of the adventure?....
P
Neat video, Tradd. There is a red freighter in different parts of the video. I think that I need some more info on how the Great Lakes trip was arranged. Where do you dive from, where do you stay, what are the goals of the adventure?....
Hi Razz -
This wasn't one trip. Most of my diving is local on Lake Michigan. I'm only an hour from the Chicago boat, 2 hours from the Milwaukee boat. These are day trips from home.
I spent Memorial Day weekend in Port Sanilac, MI. My Chicago-based dive charter operation also has a boat on Lake Huron, halfway up Michigan's Thumb. Stayed at a local mom and pop motel.
Second weekend of June was in the Straits of Mackinac (stayed in Mackinaw City, MI). I chartered the entire boat in July of last year. Good charter ops book up quick. The captain trailers his boat over from Two Rivers, WI. We had the boat for three mornings and another group had it for the afternoon. There are several Great Lakes charter ops that have 30ft (or under) boats that are trailered to various points on the lakes during the summer months.
Third weekend of July was Tobermory, Ontario. I drove to Toledo, OH and met up with a group from a dive shop there. Then caught a ride with trip organizer to Toby. There is the Fathom Five National Marine Park. Awesome shipwrecks. We all stayed at a cottage the trip organized rented via Air BnB.
First weekend of August was Temagami, Ontario for my Intro to Technical Diving class. 1800 miles roundtrip, two days each way. Instructor is someone I connected with online and I actually know local people who have taken classes from him. Came very well recommended. I needed to work on some things before my Decompression Procedures class next year, so this was the class for it. Small steps and then put everything together. Instructor has property on a small inland lake in northern Ontario (6-7 hours east of the Soo), with water on 3 sides. There is a 1920s cottage on the property where students can stay - part of course cost, although this class was free. I did pay for tank inspections class, as did the friend who did the class with me.
The red freighter was 3 different boats. There was a Canadian Steamship Lines laker, another one I'm not sure what it was, as well as the old US Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, that was the heavy ice breaker on the Great Lakes from 1944 through 2005. The Mac is a museum ship in Mackinaw City, MI.
The goals? Just to see neat old wrecks. A lot of people visit historic sites or museums. Mine just happen to be underwater. :)
Thanks for the info. I have a little better understanding now. Looks like a lot of fun!
Thanks for the info. I have a little better understanding now. Looks like a lot of fun!
It was fabulous! I will do a weekend trip to Sanilac next year, but I'm primarily going to be concentrating on my advanced training, which will get me down to 150ft and allow more bottom time on shallower wrecks.
Ultralight
9-8-19, 10:32pm
This video is mostly from this year's Great Lakes diving and the associated road trips. I'll come back a bit later and update with my adventures from this year. It's been a fabulous season.
https://youtu.be/nXeZjWytZ6I
Very cool! Please share more.
More has been shared. Lots of pics in the thread.
Thanks, Tradd! What an adventure!
Pics from UASC survey dive last weekend.
Ultralight
9-20-19, 1:30pm
Pics from UASC survey dive last weekend.
Where was this? Very cool!
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southern Lake Michigan. Forgot to post the neat pic of a freighter with Chicago in the background. The other photo is when I jumped in with my camera somehow on. Caught a pic of boat with the diver down flag from a bit underwater.
Was at a quarry in NW OH yesterday with some friends to practice for my big technical diving course next summer. These friends are already tech trained. And the guys are fab about helping to haul my heavy double tanks around. There was a photographer with his big camera rig out yesterday and he got some pics of me. I’m the one with white fins. See how horizontal I am? That’s the ideal.
iris lilies
11-11-19, 7:27pm
Another pic. 3018
hahaha! The whole underwater scene is kind of beautiful/scary anyway and that figure just added to it.
Tradd, I love seeing this progress. Horizontal! In the lake! A lake that would terrify me in a boat! I keep remembering how uncertain you were at the beginning. I am in awe!
It’s an old rock quarry. Not Lake Michigan. :)
Thank you. I’m having fun.
Teacher Terry
11-12-19, 12:41pm
Great pictures! I really miss Lake Michigan. My walking route for 14 years was alone the lake unless it was to windy and cold to walk next to it. The old mansions are down there in Kenosha so always fun to walk in that area.
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