OK, we talked about a boat/snorkle trip to a local reef, lets see if we can get it to materialize. I did not go to Belize, so I worked on our groups treasure hunting boat that is on land in Cape Canaveral instead. I am back, but may do a little more work on it, since no one else really knows how to do stuff. I would assume weekends are best for all? Any feedback, and we can start some planning. Maybe we can see how the weather/water etc looks and just plan for the next weekend coming. I work this Saturday, but have Sunday off. Next weekend same, only have Sunday off. Water is 85 F and very clear unless it is rough or was just rough. Gimme some input. Thanks, Steve.
Next meeting or snorkle trip?
- Thread starter stevemc
- Start date
Ah64av8tor
Premium Member
Im in with a fresh Dive cert and Jonesen to do diving just let me know when and where!
Greg, I know you can probably make it if given some advance notice. Like I said, maybe this or next Sunday. We'll check the weather, tides and maybe do it both weekends. We have been jonesing to get out here deep diving(not snorkleable) and collect some neat stuff. We have wanted to collect some long tailed blue gobies. They look like yellow headed jawfish, but they are a little longer and are all blue and the males have bright purple on their heads. Just as much as a pain to catch, as they make rubble nests that can be a foot deep in the rubble. They dont have air bladders, so they dont need to be decompressed for hours. If we can get a few people together, we will snorkle at the reef South of Point Of Rocks. That is shallow enough and usually clear enough with enough animals and plants that most will enjoy it. Hopefully everyone has snorkled before.
I cant make it Sunday, I am going back over to work on the salvage boat in Cape Canaveral, as they have a travel lift (giagantic boat contraption) scheduled for Monday to put it back in the water, and work has to get done. Lets keep an eye out for good weather. Corey have a good trip. Maybe one of these days we'll get out on the water together. We are jonesing!
a2fire2i
Premium Member
Steve,
We took out Jennas friends and Greg came out with us. We had a great time. We went to Point of Rocks, then we headed a little more south to the spot you were telling Greg about. It was really cool and there was a ton of orange sponge. Water was pretty clear and warm!
We took out Jennas friends and Greg came out with us. We had a great time. We went to Point of Rocks, then we headed a little more south to the spot you were telling Greg about. It was really cool and there was a ton of orange sponge. Water was pretty clear and warm!
It is a 36' Uniflight Sportfish. It had a weird transom that had a flange going all the way around the rear sides and back, abut a foot high and 2 inches thick at the top. This was for a cushion to snap onto for a couch type seating. We needed to dive out of it(it is going to be a treasure salvage boat to work several wrecks, on the East Coast of Florida and South coast of Dominican Republic-we have leases for both places. We have 3 other dive/dig boats in our fleet-not counting my boat the "Free-Spear-Its")and wanted a flat , short coaming to be able to enter the water and climb back over easily. So I cut off the whole top and insides of the cockpit area. I built a frame work out of 2x4s and covered this with plywood. Transom is curved so it was complicated. Then heavily fiberglassed over. We also put blowers on it(things that lower over the props to move sand off and make a big huge hole, with heavy stuff still there-coins etc.), did lots of electrical work, put in new electronics, stereo, cleaned it, other stuff. Still have some stuff to do. Problem is the other guys dont really know how to do anything- well almost anything related. They do, but they wait for my word to do almost anything. You know, they do something, and dont measure twice, and it has to be taken off and redone or grinded out and massaged to fit. Like predrill holes for a 3/4" pin that must travel 1 foot through 4 different thick pieces of metal and hinge, without making sure they are in perfect alignment. Kind of frustrating. Should be done soon. I will get some pics.
It can be rewarding, both monetarily and the finding of something old and rare. Usually it is the latter. It costs lots of money to do. We are on a trail that has produced many silver coins, some gold coins and a few gold bars. Plus a lot of different artifacts. There are 2 shipwrecks at same spot, one from early-mid 1600s and one from 1715, both were loaded with treasure. The 1715 ship was salvaged some in 1716 by the Spanish and also by pirates later on. This was the fleet whos wreckage just about broke Spain, it had all the Queens jewels, most of the new money, bullion, etc. We have access to the whole 1715 fleet as we are subcontractors for Mel Fishers- Treasure Salvors Inc. Our group is Aquatic Research and Recovery Group-ARRG!!! Where they are the water is not clear very often, and near shore, so it gets murky and a surge. We wont work the DR wreck for a year or so, too busy, paperwork was just signed last week, it had been in the works for a year. My dad used to work wrecks here in FL, the Bahamas, central and south america. I have worked several wrecks with him. Lots of fun if you find anything. Kind of like fishing, its not fun until you catch a fish. When you get into a school of fish, its real fun! Same thing.
I dont think it will be this weekend, as it is the Offshore Grand Prix. Also anybody that has a boat and never uses it, goes out this weekend. Plus they are racing just offshore of where we planned, its a turn. 10th St boatramp will be closed as it is the launching area for the race boats. Should be a good party time though if you are into that. Maybe next weekend?
o2zen, thats not my real job, thats one of my many all consuming hobbies. My real job is a firefighter/paramedic. I work out at the fire station on St Armands circle. We are in charge of the fire/rescue boat and have a fire engine and an ambulance. Some of my other hobbies are spearfishing, tropical fish and invert collection, travel, being on the water or tropical places. It all takes my money though!
