Any SCUBA divers here?

[wetcoast]

I have my open water cert and would like to do more. Trying to finish the snowboarding season before going underwater - but would love to find novice divers to do some shore dives in the near future. I have all equipment, with the exception of a dry suit - Does anyone dive in a wet suit around here?

On my list of purchases this year.

[BC564]

I dove there in a wetsuit....I beleive it was a 6mm suit. They told me the water temp. only changes 1-2 degrees from summer and winter.....our deepest dive was 80' but we spent most of our dives around the 30-40' mark....we were never cold....we had 2 harbour seals swimming with us the second dive...they were like dogs....come right up and play with ya....which was more like teasing then anything else....it was fun....

[BC564]

oh...and fed some wolf eels sea urchins.....wolf eels are not much to look at..

[deep_six]

I just got back from a Cruise in the Western Caribbean. I did a couple dives off of Roatan Island, Honduras. All I can say is WOW! It was a reefkeeper's dream to see the coral formations there. I have done lots of diving in the Hawaiian Islands also, and I found that they didn't even compare to any of the reef systems I saw in Roatan.

Now back to reality..

[justinl]

Ive always wanted to dive the tropics. And Im determined to do so... eventually.

local diving is fun and most people never see what is down there. You don't need a wetsuit here unless you're staying down deep for a lengthy time. Shore dives don't need drysuits imo. even if drysuits do make it more comfortable and are infinitely easier to get in to. My favourite dive so far was off bowen island at miller's reef. There is an underwater canyon and if you go in to it, you are just surrounded by white plumose anemones. ethereal is the only word i can think of to describe it. I want to dive a local sponge reef too. Ive seen beautiful pics, but even good pics never do the underworld justice.

[BC564]

I was actually thinking of doing a cold salt water tank...just from what I have seen on my diving on the west coast ....Im just not sure how critical temp. is in the summer and didnt really want to use a chiller. I guess I could put one in the basement where it is cool but then Id never see it...so whats the point of that.....still thinking and need to do more research on it...

[justinl]

bc564, i have two words for you my friend: tide pools. The species that get stuck in tide pools have to be able to adapt to large and relatively quick changes in salinity and temperature. I would run a couple of fans on that tank just in case and not let the tank drop below 8deg if i could help it.

the nice thing about tide pool tanks is that specimens are not hard to find. the beach is your lfs.

as you might be able to tell, Ive been thinking about this too. My fave local (cold of course) species, although it isn't tidal, is the pacific spiny lumpsucker. They look ridiculous.

[atcguy]

I am a Dive instructor and did 8 months in Grand cayman working for redsail. This is the King of Dive spots. tiny island 35 plus dive operators . I have dove the great barrier reef. amazing for diversity. Cozumel is great current diving at night but Cayman islands are a must. I have touched the tip of a 14 foot hammerhead shark. Dove with 10 plus 8+ foot black tip reef sharks and dove the underwater cenotes in the yucatan peninsula about 2 hours south of cancun. Check out the pics. Freakin unbelievable. Our diving is great around vancouver . winter is best with 1 plus foot of snow on the shore as you dont have run off meaning 100 plus vis. at times. Gotta dive the 5 wrecks off the coast . Chaudier destroyer is the best !!!

but the caves in mexico rock, check the pics out...

http://www.cambsac.com/newsletter/de...0/yucatan.html
http://www.hiddenworlds.com.mx/cavern.html

[Chaloupa]

I am certified as well as my husband as "Open Water" divers. I have asthma but don't require an inhaler either....only if I get a cold with a cough do I have any troubles.....so needed nothing special or specific...I actually found it really really easy to breathe down there...no smog or crud in the air you're breathing.

I have been diving in Jamaica (absolutely gorgeous), Dominican Republic, and a few times in front of Quadra Island - just across the water from Campbell River (absolutely stunning stuff we have here!!!). Here, when we did our local diving, we did it with wetsuits only. You're fully gloved, full head to toe wetsuit with a hood. A bit chilly but ok, not painful by any means. If I were to pursue it a bit more locally, I would consider taking my Dry Suit course and purchasing one...but I enjoy the warmer water dives so would consider it a waste.

[fishface]

i've been diving full time and getting paid to do it for the last 12 years so unfortunately it's lost it's magic for me but i still love to see the look of excitement and wonder on my wifes face...even if there really wasn't anything good to look at! pure joy there!