How many of you are SCUBA divers?

[NeveSSL]

Just curious!

I know of a few. Wayne, CJ, and Brian to be exact. In a couple of weeks I'll be certified, too!

Anyone else?

Just curious and hoping that maybe we could get an MTRC dive together, even if just to Martha's Quarry, although maybe to some springs in Florida or some reefs (if I ever get a job ).

Brandon

 

[Peterock]

i am got mine while being in the navy have 1 great white cage dive under my belt also.... (never again)

 

[crumbletop]

I used to dive but gave it up when I moved up to Minnesota It's been maybe 8 years since I have been diving.

 

[NeveSSL]

I'll have to check and see if they have any great whites at Martha's, Pete.

Jack, it sounds like to me that you need to take a refresher course and come with us.

Brandon

 

[DMBillies]

Brian needs a refresher as well... and to hit the lottery.

Always joked that SCUBA equipment is sold in $300 increments. With inflation (since the last time I was diving) it is probably up to $400. Have been looking for an excuse to get back into it though.

 

[Nashvegas]

I just got back from Florida where we did 3 dives..we dove a navy ship sunken that was cool...also a navy scrapyard where they dump a lot of stuff like helicopter fuge etc. and then an old tugboat...which had a 600 pound grouper living in the front.
You do see purple gorgs and massive white cucumbers..also a few anemones and I saw maybe three pieces of some not too colorful sps pieces..
It's mostly fish but still very enjoyable. I have a picture of us under 80 feet and some corals that we saw... I'll post these soon then.

 

[gflat65]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12862911#post12862911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DMBillies
Always joked that SCUBA equipment is sold in $300 increments. With inflation (since the last time I was diving) it is probably up to $400. Have been looking for an excuse to get back into it though.

That's a good reason not to own equipment. I think for around $12-1500, I could have a nice set up... I can't think of the name of the dive shop in Hendersonville, but they'll rent you equipment. They usually have a weekend or two a month that they go to Martha's. Jenn got certified there (I think Wes is the owner). They also schedule big dive trips (Bon Aire, etc.). The thing to do is to go on a Blackbeards (out of Miami) where you get enough people to charter the whole boat. That was the big trip in college I always regretted not doing. One of these days, I'm going to throw my hands in the air, give everything away and get the certs needed to run a dive shop and move to some 3rd world country with tourism...

 

[NeveSSL]

Brian: I'll definitely be renting BCs, regulators, tanks, etc. for a while as it is simply too expensive to buy no more than I'll be able to dive. The only thing I'm thinking about getting is a wrist-worn dive computer, but if I do it'll only be if I'm able to start diving with MTSU quite a bit (free gear use ).

CJ... you suck, man.

Glad to hear you guys had a good time diving! And get those pics up.

Let us know when you do that, Gary. We'll all be sure to visit. I'll have to check out the shop in Hendersonville, too. I've only been to the one here in Murfreesboro, which is a pretty cool shop. I want one of the masks that has the HUD from the dive computer... that is James Bond diving equipment right there... :lol:

Brandon

 

[Nashvegas]

also I bought all my stuff at scubatoys.com .. they match any price plus let me know if anyone needs gear..i did hours of research and trying on gear..

 

[DMBillies]

I always rented certain things (e.g., tanks) but liked having my own gear for a lot of other things (gear that I know the maintenance schedule and that I know fits me). I'm not against renting, but it is kind of like ski equipment...if you go regularly it's worth it to buy.

In any case it is not a cheap hobby... of course what fun things are. I always put SCUBA on my list of things I will get back into once I have a big boy job (what I also should have done with the SW hobby... of course, I can't DIY regulators or a BC)

 

[HowardCath]

I dive. I was thinking about a doing liveaboard. Blackbeard cruises are sailboats with berth accommodations (not private rooms), but can offer a week of 4 to 5 dives daily for somewhere around $1,200 including equipment rental in the Bahamas (+ airfare). I think you get more bang for the buck than a hotel + dives. Liveaboards with private cabins are closer to $2,000 for a week.

http://www.blackbeard-cruises.com/index.php

 

[HowardCath]

I was certified around 1972, before BCs and octopi. Had a j-valve and a what today is considered a snorkeling vest. Hadn't been diving since college, but got recertified (along with my kids) last summer through Blue Water Scuba on White Bridge Road. Dove in Caymans last winter. I got the bug again.

 

[davidryder]

You don't have to buy equipment new. I think one of the reasons people don't get into diving is because they see the prices of the newest and greatest equipment and are turned away from it.

Craigslist, ebay, and scubaboard are all great places to find used equipment.

 

[dborowsk]

I enjoy SCUBA diving. Although, don't get to do it enough landlocked here in Middle TN. Have my own equipment and experience and opinions and such. Would have to be a cheap trip if anything this year.

 

[NeveSSL]

Wow, Howard. Those liveaboard dive cruises seem awesome. Definitely something to look into. A bit hardcore (almost like the backpacking of diving) but I love the idea. I'm really glad you've got the bug again.

Used is definitely not a bad option, davidryder. Just the same as with reefing.

dborowsk, cheap is my middle name, bro. I don't think a trip to Martha's would be too expensive at all. I need to find some more dive spots around here. I'll ask my instructor this weekend. I know there are a couple more, although possibly small (I think there's a little hole on County Line Road... I'm just not sure what it is).

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Sweet!

We had two GREAT dives today! Other than the bluegill biting the crap out of us... :lol:

Two more tomorrow and I'll be done. The good thing is that we did all of our water skills and our skills test in the pool, so we're just going to the quarry and just chilling out and doing some laid back dives. I think tomorrow we may go to the bus, which is in the deepest part of it (only about 55 ft.).

We went through some buildings and different things while we were there which was pretty cool. The first thermocline was actually kind of nice. Being in those freaking wetsuits was VERY warm, to say the least! The second thermocline, however, was painful. :lol: It was still really nice going down and diving in something other than the pool. I was worried I may freak out a little bit, but it didn't bother me at all. I really and truly believe I received the best instruction possible. MTSU ROCKS!

I'll update again tomorrow. This is awesome! I can't wait to get more certifications and get into some other stuff. Specifically underwater photography of course.

Anyway, just wanted to update.

Brandon

 

[HowardCath]

I just booked myself a personal vacation on a liveaboard (Blackbeard Cruises) for 4 nights/3 days on Labor Day weekend. Never done that before, but I'm very excited.

It's on a sailboat that holds ~ 18 passengers and 5 crew. Leaves Sat. AM from Freeport, Bahamas and returns Weds. AM. It's a berth, not a private cabin. We'll get 10 dives over 3 days including one night dive and one shark feeding.

The total cost including the AA flight from Nashville, the all-inclusive (though rugged) cruise, tipping the crew and equipment rental comes out to about $1,500. My kids will be in school and Cathy doesn't dive, so it's just me. If anybody wants to join me, the boat is not yet fully booked!

They usually just do full week trips, but with this Labor Day special you would only miss 2 days of work, Tues. and Weds. Flying in Sat. AM and out Weds. AM.

 

[NeveSSL]

Wow. Thats not too bad at all. A trip to central Florida can come close to that, so why not do the live aboard!

Can't wait to see the pics, Howard!

Brandon

 

[gflat65]

HMMMM.......

 

[NeveSSL]

WOOHOO! Its not official! I'll have my Open Water c-card in 7 to 10 days. I'm pumped! I worked really hard in that class... it was crazy.

We had two good dives today. The first one was pretty long... about an hour, but we were chilling on the surface for a lot of that. We went to the other side in search of a sail boat but never found it. Then we tried to find a bus thats somewhere at the bottom, but couldn't find it either.

The second dive we went through a couple of the buildings. It was really neat. One of the buildings I think was the crusher which had a HUGE gear in it... actually a couple of gears. From there you can follow the conveyor belt to the next building which was also neat.

WOOHOO! I'm pumped!

Brandon