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My parents just bought a condo in Stuart Florida, that's pretty close, right? If you do any really cool dives in the area, let me know.
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Nov 5, 2017 16:31
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My favorite dive sites in the West Palm area are the Juno Ledge, or anything in shark or Goliath grouper season. Blue Heron bridge is incredible but the visibility is awful right now. We almost always dive with Pura Vida or walkers. I’m sure there are other places that may or may not be better but we have formed relationships with the people on those boats and won’t likely change.
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Nov 5, 2017 21:27
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Seconding Blue Heron Bridge. Last I saw, some of the local shops run various organized trips there if you're wanting to meet other local divers. Sad to hear about the vis, but I think that's par the course for a brackish zone like that.
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Nov 5, 2017 21:41
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Hurricane and the state dumping the lake have the visibility low. Off shore isn’t the best but it’s better than the visibility at home, so off we go.
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Nov 5, 2017 23:19
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Heading cave diving this weekend...can't wait!
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Nov 6, 2017 02:05
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lord1234 posted:Heading cave diving this weekend...can't wait! Scary and exciting, I would like to see how far i could make it before chickening out.
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Nov 6, 2017 02:28
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Ropes4u posted:Scary and exciting, I would like to see how far i could make it before chickening out. Take training. You'll get more comfortable. Caves are the most beautiful places I have seen underwater. In Mexico, I dove a room called "The Room of Tears". I actually cried upon seeing it, it was that beautiful.
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Nov 6, 2017 15:44
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OK, new safety rule: when storing scuba tanks in our vehicles, we will place them sideways to the forward motion of the vehicle, not in line with it. In particular, don't be tempted to lay them in the grooves in your pick up truck bed. Got into an accident on the way back from a dive on Saturday. I was in a work pickup truck, and we rear ended a smallish minivan. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the tanks in the bed turned into missiles. Thankfully, none of them pierced the bed, but they smashed up a lot of scuba gear. For local shore diving, most of us keep our gear in a plastic tub, to keep water and sand contained. Here is my buddy's gear tub:  It's extra dangerous with the heavy steel tanks we favor here in New England. That's an old steel 95, it's extra heavy. Also, on the previous weekend, someone else in the dive club was rear ended while driving his RAV4 back from a dive. His tanks got pushed right through in the back seat, so it's lucky that no one was sitting back there. No pics of that one, though.
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Nov 6, 2017 20:59
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I drive a car, but if I have single tanks they ride on the floor in the back seat. I can carry at least 4 tanks this way. I haven't found a great way to stash doubles though.
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Nov 6, 2017 21:02
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Ropes4u posted:We almost always dive with Pura Vida or walkers. I’m sure there are other places that may or may not be better but we have formed relationships with the people on those boats and won’t likely change. Hmmm, that's an hour drive... I'll be up near Jensen beach. (my geographical knowledge of Florida is basically none). These guys are the closest shop, but it doesn't look like they have a boat: http://www.kirksjensenbeach.com/
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Nov 6, 2017 23:26
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The best way to carry scuba tanks in a truck bed is to stand them upright and strap them in tightly, as such: If you don't have anything to strap them to lay them down at the front of the bed, bottom side towards the cab. Either way you load them drive as if you were carrying bombs, because you are.
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Nov 6, 2017 23:31
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DeadlyMuffin posted:I drive a car, but if I have single tanks they ride on the floor in the back seat. I can carry at least 4 tanks this way. I haven't found a great way to stash doubles though. Wouldn’t this mean you have a scuba tank flying around inside the cabin if you rolled your car? I mean, let’s hope this never happens but it’s something to consider.
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Nov 7, 2017 07:41
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Collateral Damage posted:Either way you load them drive as if you were carrying Otherwise accurate.
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Nov 7, 2017 16:38
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I remember seeing someone go through the math of it, and calculating that an AL80 pressurized to 3000psi had the same potential energy as a few hand grenades. Always respect your tanks like they're explosive, kids! (because they are, in a very limited set of contexts)
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Nov 7, 2017 19:32
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Icon Of Sin posted:I remember seeing someone go through the math of it, and calculating that an AL80 pressurized to 3000psi had the same potential energy as a few hand grenades. Always respect your tanks like they're explosive, kids! (because they are, in a very limited set of contexts) Yeah, I saw a documentary once about how you can use them to blow up enormous Great White Sharks! Just get them to swallow the tanks first, and then shoot them with a rifle.
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Nov 7, 2017 19:57
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Red_Fred posted:Wouldn’t this mean you have a scuba tank flying around inside the cabin if you rolled your car? I mean, let’s hope this never happens but it’s something to consider. Yes it does, but I think the likelihood of that happening is far lower than them getting loose and banging around in the trunk in the event of a collision.
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Nov 7, 2017 20:16
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Just finished a liveaboard 3 days / nights at simian islands, Khao Lak Thailand with my wife. It was a great experience but I am not sure that the diving lived up to the hype. Will go to Richelieu rock on Saturday and dive there for the day and it is supposed to be superb. The reefs and fishes has been great but no omfg moments ( except on my first night dive and realized that we were stalked by lionfish). No manta rays or whale sharks.
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Nov 8, 2017 08:49
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From what I hear, the Similans are getting a bit crowded. Don't know how well the reefs have held up. I had a great time, but that was years ago. The new "best place to go" is Raja Ampat, Indonesia, I'm told.
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Nov 8, 2017 17:54
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Has anyone dove the Flores area of Indonesia? I grabbed a last minute spot on a trip there (because it was cheap!) but I don't know anything about the area.
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Nov 8, 2017 19:24
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Get a flight to Labuan Bajo, on the west coast. That right there is Komodo National Park. If you like mantas, you will be delighted. The reefs are pretty great too. I recommend Tatawa Besar dive sight for a nice sloping reef with a fast current. Great drift dive. Siaba Besar has a sandy bottom at 14 meters in which you can find flamboyant cuttlefish, as well as mimic octopuses. Mabul Island has mantas, but the north side of the island has a recovering reef which is awesome. It looks like an underwater fish city. Makassar Reef (Manta Point) has all the mantas you could ever care to see. Some of the operators there do an a la carte liveaboard; you can decide how long you want to stay on and when you arrive / depart. You essentially anchor and live in the park. I recommend Blue Marlin's liveaboard. Wicked Diving has a slow leisure boat for their day trips (Blue Marlin's are faster but much less comfortable imo). I'm more than happy to give you tons of info on Labuan Bajo and Komodo if you decide to make your way there.
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Nov 8, 2017 19:36
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Today on the second dive to 60sh feet i experienced the joy of a reverse blockage in a new crown. I suggest you skip the experience unless you have a high to scream or cry underwater. I a little depth adjustments got me to where I could think and I managed another 30 minutes of diving before calling it for the day. Hopefully I have better luck tomorrow
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Nov 8, 2017 21:34
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I'm having a crown made in a couple of weeks and that it will trap air under water is my biggest fear about it. 
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Nov 8, 2017 21:40
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Collateral Damage posted:I'm having a crown made in a couple of weeks and that it will trap air under water is my biggest fear about it. If it happens again i might stab my dentist in the leg with an ice pick when he asks me what it felt like.
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Nov 8, 2017 22:02
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Ropes4u posted:Nice neighborhood, we have been coming here for 20 years but stupidly only diving for a few. I have, my temp place is close to it. Our house is gonna be Tequesta
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Nov 11, 2017 04:07
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Squashy Nipples posted:My parents just bought a condo in Stuart Florida, that's pretty close, right? Yeah, like 40 minutes north
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Nov 11, 2017 04:08
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Ropes4u posted:My favorite dive sites in the West Palm area are the Juno Ledge, or anything in shark or Goliath grouper season. I’ve heard from work friends about the blue heron bridge and will be doing it soon
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Nov 11, 2017 04:09
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let it mellow posted:I have, my temp place is close to it. Our house is gonna be Tequesta Havanas is excellent for Cuban food, we are not sure where work has us moving next but we hope its here or back to Colorado. No more diving until i get my tooth fixed, i guess I get to have the crown redone, so we are volunteering for beach clean up at the state park. Looks like we will be back in December or February.
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Nov 11, 2017 11:50
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Apparently the Bahamas are fine now with hurricane recovery, so I booked a Christmas set of dives for the beginning of the great hammerhead migration. I'm looking forward to it.
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Nov 21, 2017 16:01
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Darko posted:Apparently the Bahamas are fine now with hurricane recovery, so I booked a Christmas set of dives for the beginning of the great hammerhead migration. I'm looking forward to it. I'm heading there for a Blackbeard cruise in mid Dec (leaving here on the 15th), I'll try and get some pics up before you leave 
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Nov 21, 2017 19:08
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We just closed on the Jupiter house and are in mover box hell, but if hammerheads are gonna be here, I’m going
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Nov 26, 2017 03:55
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Well, I'm hooked. Went down to Roatan to do my open water, then as soon as I finished that I jumped immediately into the advanced. I would recommend Coconut Tree Divers, they were fantastic. One thing that really surprised me is how exhausting diving is. I was in by by 9-10 almost every night after struggling to stay up that late. Next stop is Costa Rica in January, so if anyone knows a good dive shop or good dives on the pacific side up by Liberia, I am all ears. And I'm thinking I should probably pick up a computer sometime soon. Any recommendations? I'm thinking a model a step or two up from the base models is probably a good idea.
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Dec 3, 2017 17:50
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It's possible to stay up late after doing two dives. Doing three will get you to 10. Do four and you'll be out by 8.
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Dec 3, 2017 17:54
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The trick is to get out of the water after your last dive of the day, shotgun two beers, and take a nap. Best sleep of your life. 
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Dec 3, 2017 19:02
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If possible I'll take a nap between dives.
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Dec 3, 2017 23:37
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I shouldn’t be surprised but PADI just told me it would cost $58 AUD to replace my card that got stolen in my wallet the other week. That’s about $26 NZD more than it cost me to replace my drivers license which is an official document.
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Dec 4, 2017 03:11
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Red_Fred posted:I shouldn’t be surprised but PADI just told me it would cost $58 AUD to replace my card that got stolen in my wallet the other week. That’s about $26 NZD more than it cost me to replace my drivers license which is an official document. Put Another Dollar In
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Dec 4, 2017 03:13
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It costs like $30 for each digital version of a card in the app. PADI is hilarious.
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Dec 4, 2017 03:18
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I took a screenshot of the PADI mobile app with my cert ID, when I was using the 30-days free version. I've never had a dive shop refuse me with just that.
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Dec 4, 2017 04:12
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Yeah I have a photo of my card somewhere which I think I’ll just use. It’s loving ridiculous the amount they charge. There is literally no incentive to use the app version either as you have to pay each time and probably whenever the platform gets updated etc.
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Dec 4, 2017 04:35
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Pay And DIve I think it’s hilarious that Padi has a separate course and certification for recreational nitrox diving. It's literally five minutes of explaining what partial pressure is and how to calculate your maximum depth, then showing how to use an oxygen analyser. All dragged out to about two hours. Which should really be part of the basic course, since it's all safety related and you should always analyze your gas even if you're diving air.
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Dec 4, 2017 09:37
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