Diving in the Keyes

[KurtG]

I had my first glimpse of wild reef systems over the weekend. Very,
very cool. Dived in Key Largo which was also the site of 3 diving
deaths on Friday which prevented us from diving the Spiegal Grove (
http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s070318.html ), but all worked out well
as I spent more time on the reefs.

I was completely amazed by the wild life and corals. I saw a French
Angel (1 of many) which was about 2 feet long and the size of a serving
platter. Many mated butterflies. Schools of blue chromis. Tons of
Tangs, Yellow tails, lobster, crabs, Butterflies, damsels, etc. A brain
coral that that was 6 feet tall and 3 feet across at it's base. Parrot
fish, zoas, on and on.

The sand between reefs appeared lifeless, but looking closely, it teamed
with a blennies. Copepods (or similar flea like creature) swarmed
around small cave entrances, and I even found small multi-celled
cylindrical creatures that floated freely that I can't identify.

My last dive I spent looking for eels and succeeded with a 7 foot Moray,
another small moray, and yet another that resembled a snow flake eel.

It does put my aquarium to shame, but then again, it's the only way I
can keep a reef in my living room. I'll still keep it.

--Kurt

[George Patterson]

KurtG wrote:
>
> I had my first glimpse of wild reef systems over the weekend.

Way cool! Closest I've gotten is the Boston Aquarium with its schools of French
Angels.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[Susan]

Wow, how neat!!! I'm jealous. I can't even swim in shallow water :)

Susan :)
"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:5tHLh.12673$1a6.8166@trnddc08...
> KurtG wrote:
>>
>> I had my first glimpse of wild reef systems over the weekend.
>
> Way cool! Closest I've gotten is the Boston Aquarium with its schools of
> French Angels.
>
> George Patterson
> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
> to anything.

[Pszemol]

"KurtG" > wrote in message ...
> Copepods (or similar flea like creature) swarmed
> around small cave entrances,

Could be fish larvae, too...

[Pszemol]

"Susan" > wrote in message news:ojJLh.9037$zx.6243@trndny05...
> Wow, how neat!!! I'm jealous. I can't even swim in shallow water :)

Diving has little to do with swimming... :-)
You can do diving with very little swimming.

[KurtG]

Pszemol wrote:
> "Susan" > wrote in message
> news:ojJLh.9037$zx.6243@trndny05...
>> Wow, how neat!!! I'm jealous. I can't even swim in shallow water :)
>
> Diving has little to do with swimming... :-)
> You can do diving with very little swimming.

I had to swim 200 yards with no gear to get certified. I don't know if
that's a requirement or if the instructor just wanted to get a feel for
our skill levels.

If you can't swim, you usually have a reasonable fear of water, and it's
best to feel perfectly comfortable jumping 10 ft off a boat with 80 lbs
of gear on.

Not that I wouldn't encourage anybody to get swim lessons and get
started. It's a really awesome experience.

--Kurt

[KurtG]

Pszemol wrote:
> "KurtG" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Copepods (or similar flea like creature) swarmed around small cave
>> entrances,
>
> Could be fish larvae, too...

I bet you're right.

I also saw two blue chromis during their ritual mating dance on the sand.

I also found many black/dark blue fish with a yellow tail and bright
blue dots along it's back fin. It's about 6-8". It turned out to be a
"yellow-tail damsel". I'm starting to understand the need for
scientific names.

--Kurt

[Susan]

I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would never make
it. :)

Susan :)
"KurtG" > wrote in message
.. .
> Pszemol wrote:
>> "Susan" > wrote in message
>> news:ojJLh.9037$zx.6243@trndny05...
>>> Wow, how neat!!! I'm jealous. I can't even swim in shallow water :)
>>
>> Diving has little to do with swimming... :-)
>> You can do diving with very little swimming.
>
> I had to swim 200 yards with no gear to get certified. I don't know if
> that's a requirement or if the instructor just wanted to get a feel for
> our skill levels.
>
> If you can't swim, you usually have a reasonable fear of water, and it's
> best to feel perfectly comfortable jumping 10 ft off a boat with 80 lbs
> of gear on.
>
> Not that I wouldn't encourage anybody to get swim lessons and get
> started. It's a really awesome experience.
>
> --Kurt
>
>
>

[Pszemol]

"KurtG" > wrote in message ...
> Pszemol wrote:
>> "KurtG" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Copepods (or similar flea like creature) swarmed around small cave
>>> entrances,
>>
>> Could be fish larvae, too...
>
> I bet you're right.

I saw it swarming the same way in rock holes when I was snorkeling
on Maui/Hawaii or Cayman Island. Unfortunatelly did not have my
plankton net to catch them for closer inspection :-)
Next trip I will have to get one :-)))

> I also saw two blue chromis during their ritual mating dance on the sand.

I did not see mating, but saw blue/purple eggs of some striped fish
on the patch of rock and fish guarding them with passion... :-)
They resembled my maroon clown pair eggs nest but it was of course
much, much larger - my fish are very small compared to the ones I saw.

> I also found many black/dark blue fish with a yellow tail and bright
> blue dots along it's back fin. It's about 6-8". It turned out to be a
> "yellow-tail damsel". I'm starting to understand the need for
> scientific names.

Yes,. in some countries in Europe they stop even using common names
in aquarium trade, just to avoid confusion. All corals/fish/inverts are called
with their scientific names, which is hard to browse for an unfamiliar :-)

[Pszemol]

"Susan" > wrote in message news:DPTLh.12096$dG.141@trndny08...
> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
> it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would never make
> it. :)

Do not say this to yourself - since you are not afraid swimming at 4ft deep
it is now only a matter of practice and building your self confidence to
make the next step: deeper water and than diving... Good luck - you can do it!

[~Roy~]

You really are as dumb as you sound are you not asshole. Swimming has
nothing to do with diving..get ****ing real you clueless ****wad!

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:37:25 -0500, "Pszemol" >
wrote:

<<>>"Susan" > wrote in message news:ojJLh.9037$zx.6243@trndny05...
<<>>> Wow, how neat!!! I'm jealous. I can't even swim in shallow water :)
<<>>
<<>>Diving has little to do with swimming... :-)
<<>>You can do diving with very little swimming.



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[KurtG]

Susan wrote:
> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
> it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would never make
> it. :)

I taught a friend to swim and he was doing great. Then I told him that
he was in deep water and he completely lost it. This was in a pool with
life guards, and I was right next to him. He pulled me under, and I had
to wrestle him into an head lock and drag him to the side. My bad, but
he never tried again. I understand.

Although, it sounds like you can swim. It's probably just a matter of
building confidence and overcoming primal fears. Easier said then done,
but it can be done... and, summer is coming.

--Kurt

[George Patterson]

Susan wrote:
> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
> it.

Pick up an inexpensive set of fins, mask, and snorkel and try that out in a
pool. You may find that you lose your fear when you can travel rapidly, see
clearly, and breathe normally. If so, moving up to SCUBA is simply a matter of
training and better gear.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[Add Homonym]

Susan wrote:
> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
> it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would never make
> it. :)
>
> Susan :)

I am a pathetic swimmer.

I got lucky and found this place in Cancun, run by an ex navy diver. H
egive you a crash course for about 2 hours - (basically - MAKE SURE YOU
BREATH NORMALLY ON THE WAY BACK UP, OTHERWISE YOUR LUNGS WILL RUPTURE
repeated over and over.) Then they take you out to one reef in about 15
ft of water to see how you do. (you have to take mask off, then put it
back on and blow the water out it, show you can work the bouancy
compensator, etc) Those that don't completely blow it then get taken to
a better reef in about 30 feet. Both dives are about 15-20 minutes each
- not enough down time and not enough depth to worry about the bends.

[Add Homonym]

George Patterson wrote:
> Susan wrote:
>
>> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I
>> should have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got
>> older. I totaly agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once
>> I realized I could just stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no
>> reason to fear I took off across it.
>
>
> Pick up an inexpensive set of fins, mask, and snorkel and try that out
> in a pool. You may find that you lose your fear when you can travel
> rapidly, see clearly, and breathe normally. If so, moving up to SCUBA is
> simply a matter of training and better gear.
>
> George Patterson
> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
> to anything.

I find SCUBA EASIER than snorekling. Waves break over the snorkel closer
in, and I feel I can't breath. No issues like that with a regulator.

[~Roy~]

Well with all you dick bloweres in this group learning to snorkel or
scuba dive should come as a natural thing

And when you get done blowing "bubbles" ask him what his real name is!
Probably Wayne or Pszemol!

Yea right, just strap carol gulley on your ass and you have a handy
dandy bouyancy compensator.......

Your ****ing wrong about not being able to be bent in 30 feet of water
dude.....Prove me wrong.....

Oh and does it count if my middle name is Bubbles too, so here blow me
while your at it.




!On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:50:50 -0400, Add Homonym
> wrote:

<<>>Susan wrote:
<<>>> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
<<>>> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
<<>>> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
<<>>> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
<<>>> it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would never make
<<>>> it. :)
<<>>>
<<>>> Susan :)
<<>>
<<>>I am a pathetic swimmer.
<<>>
<<>>I got lucky and found this place in Cancun, run by an ex navy diver. H
<<>>egive you a crash course for about 2 hours - (basically - MAKE SURE YOU
<<>>BREATH NORMALLY ON THE WAY BACK UP, OTHERWISE YOUR LUNGS WILL RUPTURE
<<>>repeated over and over.) Then they take you out to one reef in about 15
<<>>ft of water to see how you do. (you have to take mask off, then put it
<<>>back on and blow the water out it, show you can work the bouancy
<<>>compensator, etc) Those that don't completely blow it then get taken to
<<>>a better reef in about 30 feet. Both dives are about 15-20 minutes each
<<>>- not enough down time and not enough depth to worry about the bends.



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[Pszemol]

"George Patterson" > wrote in message news:7dULh.13799$O_5.10435@trnddc03...
> Susan wrote:
>> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
>> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
>> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
>> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
>> it.
>
> Pick up an inexpensive set of fins, mask, and snorkel and try that out in a
> pool. You may find that you lose your fear when you can travel rapidly, see
> clearly, and breathe normally. If so, moving up to SCUBA is simply a matter of
> training and better gear.

Exactly this is what I had on my mind when I said diving is not
really swimming. Swimming is much harder: coordinate breathing
with moving hands/legs and taking air is hard - all these things
are no problem with snorkeling/diving.

And one more thing everybody tends to forget: sal****er is heavier
than swimming pool water, so you tend to stay at the surface more
often when you play in the ocean than on the pool...

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_sea
Scroll down to the section Chemistry and health effects and look
at the picture on the right. Dead Sea is little bit saltier than the ocean so
the effect is exgagerated but you will understand what I am talking about :)

[Reel McKoi]

On Mar 20, 2:54 pm, ~Roy~ > wrote:
> Well with all you dick bloweres in this group learning to snorkel or
> scuba dive should come as a natural thing
>
> And when you get done blowing "bubbles" ask him what his real name is!
> Probably Wayne or Pszemol!
>
> Yea right, just strap carol gulley on your ass and you have a handy
> dandy bouyancy compensator.......
>
> Your ****ing wrong about not being able to be bent in 30 feet of water
> dude.....Prove me wrong.....
>
> Oh and does it count if my middle name is Bubbles too, so here blow me
> while your at it.
>
> !On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:50:50 -0400, Add Homonym
>
> > wrote:
> <<>>Susan wrote:
>
> <<>>> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
> <<>>> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
> <<>>> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
> <<>>> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
> <<>>> it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would never make
> <<>>> it. :)
> <<>>>
> <<>>> Susan :)
> <<>>
> <<>>I am a pathetic swimmer.
> <<>>
> <<>>I got lucky and found this place in Cancun, run by an ex navy diver. H
> <<>>egive you a crash course for about 2 hours - (basically - MAKE SURE YOU
> <<>>BREATH NORMALLY ON THE WAY BACK UP, OTHERWISE YOUR LUNGS WILL RUPTURE
> <<>>repeated over and over.) Then they take you out to one reef in about 15
> <<>>ft of water to see how you do. (you have to take mask off, then put it
> <<>>back on and blow the water out it, show you can work the bouancy
> <<>>compensator, etc) Those that don't completely blow it then get taken to
> <<>>a better reef in about 30 feet. Both dives are about 15-20 minutes each
> <<>>- not enough down time and not enough depth to worry about the bends.
>
> -------
> I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

I bet carol was not the least bit surprised when she found out that
was not a snorkel that Wayne gave her to breathe through. Ans wayne
thought he was pulling the wool over that bitches eyes. Hell she is a
night time prowler of many years and used to be the main entertainment
for a motor cycle gang.....all y ou really have to do is ask carol and
you shall receive.

[Reel McKoi]

On Mar 20, 3:11 pm, "Pszemol" > wrote:
> "George Patterson" > wrote in messagenews:7dULh.13799$O_5.10435@trnddc03...
> > Susan wrote:
> >> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
> >> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
> >> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could just
> >> stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off across
> >> it.
>
> > Pick up an inexpensive set of fins, mask, and snorkel and try that out in a
> > pool. You may find that you lose your fear when you can travel rapidly, see
> > clearly, and breathe normally. If so, moving up to SCUBA is simply a matter of
> > training and better gear.
>
> Exactly this is what I had on my mind when I said diving is not
> really swimming. Swimming is much harder: coordinate breathing
> with moving hands/legs and taking air is hard - all these things
> are no problem with snorkeling/diving.
>
> And one more thing everybody tends to forget: sal****er is heavier
> than swimming pool water, so you tend to stay at the surface more
> often when you play in the ocean than on the pool...
>
> Check this out:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_sea
> Scroll down to the section Chemistry and health effects and look
> at the picture on the right. Dead Sea is little bit saltier than the ocean so
> the effect is exgagerated but you will understand what I am talking about :)

I hear you like to play th eskin flute there Pszemol...Did Wayne teach
you or did CArol Gulley

[Wayne Sallee]

Pszemol wrote on 3/20/2007 4:11 PM:
> Dead Sea is little bit saltier than the
> ocean

More than a little bit :-)

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets

[George Patterson]

Add Homonym wrote:

> I find SCUBA EASIER than snorekling. Waves break over the snorkel closer
> in, and I feel I can't breath. No issues like that with a regulator.

True enough in the ocean or a lake, but I was suggesting she try this out in a pool.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[Pszemol]

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message thlink.net...
> Pszemol wrote on 3/20/2007 4:11 PM:
>> Dead Sea is little bit saltier than the ocean
>
> More than a little bit :-)

Like ten times more :-)
But this was exactly the point of using it as an illustration
of much easier swimming in the ocean than in the pool.

If you have couple more pounds of fat around your
stomache it makes it even easier to float in the ocean :-))
.... and probably makes you tastier for sharks, too ;-)

[George Patterson]

Pszemol wrote:

> ... and probably makes you tastier for sharks, too ;-)

Damn. We almost had her talked into it.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[KurtG]

George Patterson wrote:
> Pszemol wrote:
>
>> ... and probably makes you tastier for sharks, too ;-)
>
> Damn. We almost had her talked into it.
>

Unfortunately, shark populations are dwindling rapidly. There were only
two sitings in a group of 21 drivers and 5 dives each. Both were nurse
sharks.

[Susan]

Thanks Pszemol for the encouragement. I'm sure it will be awhile for me
before I dive :)

Susan :)
"Pszemol" > wrote in message
...
> "Susan" > wrote in message
> news:DPTLh.12096$dG.141@trndny08...
>> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
>> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
>> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could
>> just stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off
>> across it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would
>> never make it. :)
>
> Do not say this to yourself - since you are not afraid swimming at 4ft
> deep
> it is now only a matter of practice and building your self confidence to
> make the next step: deeper water and than diving... Good luck - you can do
> it!

[Susan]

Did someone say "sharks"?? YIKES!!!! ;-)

Susan :)
"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:Y60Mh.11632$e47.119@trnddc05...
> Pszemol wrote:
>
>> ... and probably makes you tastier for sharks, too ;-)
>
> Damn. We almost had her talked into it.
>
> George Patterson
> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
> to anything.

[~Roy~]

Pszemol crotch dives ob Wayne..



On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:44:09 GMT, "Susan" >
wrote:

<<>>Thanks Pszemol for the encouragement. I'm sure it will be awhile for me
<<>>before I dive :)
<<>>
<<>>Susan :)
<<>>"Pszemol" > wrote in message
...
<<>>> "Susan" > wrote in message
<<>>> news:DPTLh.12096$dG.141@trndny08...
<<>>>> I took swim lessons and still am not the best swimmer. I guess I should
<<>>>> have done lessons in my "younger" years and not as I got older. I totaly
<<>>>> agree that fear plays a huge part in swimming. Once I realized I could
<<>>>> just stand up in the 4ft. of water and had no reason to fear I took off
<<>>>> across it. I've always wanted to dive in the reefs but I know I would
<<>>>> never make it. :)
<<>>>
<<>>> Do not say this to yourself - since you are not afraid swimming at 4ft
<<>>> deep
<<>>> it is now only a matter of practice and building your self confidence to
<<>>> make the next step: deeper water and than diving... Good luck - you can do
<<>>> it!
<<>>



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[~Roy~]

I bet Wayne would love to muff dive on you susan! Hell he muff dives
Carol Gulley.


On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:45:28 GMT, "Susan" >
wrote:

<<>>Did someone say "sharks"?? YIKES!!!! ;-)
<<>>
<<>>Susan :)
<<>>"George Patterson" > wrote in message
<<>>news:Y60Mh.11632$e47.119@trnddc05...
<<>>> Pszemol wrote:
<<>>>
<<>>>> ... and probably makes you tastier for sharks, too ;-)
<<>>>
<<>>> Damn. We almost had her talked into it.
<<>>>
<<>>> George Patterson
<<>>> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
<<>>> to anything.
<<>>



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[swarvegorilla]

"KurtG" > wrote in message
...
>
> I had my first glimpse of wild reef systems over the weekend. Very, very
> cool. Dived in Key Largo which was also the site of 3 diving deaths on
> Friday which prevented us from diving the Spiegal Grove (
> http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s070318.html ), but all worked out well
> as I spent more time on the reefs.
>


but why link to a diving fatality?
poor souls.

[KurtG]

swarvegorilla wrote:
> but why link to a diving fatality?
> poor souls.
>
>

Dive accidents are investigated to learn from the mistakes of others. I
provided the link just as a convenience to other divers that may be
interested. I didn't intend to be morbid.

[swarvegorilla]

"KurtG" > wrote in message
...
> swarvegorilla wrote:
>> but why link to a diving fatality?
>> poor souls.
>>
>>
>
> Dive accidents are investigated to learn from the mistakes of others. I
> provided the link just as a convenience to other divers that may be
> interested. I didn't intend to be morbid.
>

True just sounded like ya had fun.... was expecting to see pics of ya foray
iz all.
Silting up sounds..... like something I could go me life with out doing.
heh

[KurtG]

swarvegorilla wrote:
> True just sounded like ya had fun.... was expecting to see pics of ya foray
> iz all.
> Silting up sounds..... like something I could go me life with out doing.
> heh
>

Completely agree. Cave and wreck diving doesn't sound like fun to me.
I'll leave that to others.

I'll try to get my pics online tonight and post a link.

--Kurt

[swarvegorilla]

"Pszemol" > wrote in message
...
> "Susan" > wrote in message
> news:ojJLh.9037$zx.6243@trndny05...
>> Wow, how neat!!! I'm jealous. I can't even swim in shallow water :)
>
> Diving has little to do with swimming... :-)
> You can do diving with very little swimming.

I agree, just for the sheer weirdness of it you should try and get divetime
in a swimming pool with scuba gear.
Its great, you can just look around..... like being in space, going up and
down.
Your breathing is easy and normal, infact the one thing to remember is not
to hold your breath.
First time I did pool time with scuba I was impressed.
I swim well but its effort, diving unless theres a current can be a lot
less effort.
Even to lay on the bottem and watch a blenny go about it's life.
is really something.