Achieved My PADI MSDT

I now have my Master Scuba Diver Trainer Certification. I'm able to certify people in the following specialties:

Enriched Air
Deep Diver
Wreck Diver
Underwater Navigation
Night Diver

Take the Master Scuba Diver Challenge

"Live Free or Die"

I passed the PADI IE

Much thanks to Steve, Sharon, Carol and Lance of Diver's Two for all of their help. I passed the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor's Exam today!

Saint Lawrence River, Brockville, Ontario Canada

Just got back from a Diver's Two trip on the Saint Lawrence River up in Brockville, Ontario Canada. This was all fresh water wreck dives that go back to the 1800s. Our dive operator. We were diving once again with Kevin and Edi of Seeway Vision Dive Charters. Kevin and Edi run a wonderful operation and I would not consider going with anyone else while visiting the Saint Lawrence River. Click here for a complete scrolling of photos

Dutch Springs Tour for BSA Troop185/Branchburg

I took my friend Jim Longo's Boy Scout Troop 185 from Branchburg for a couple of tours up at Dutch Springs on Saturday (5/31/2008). Visibility was about 20' in the am and 10'~15' in the afternoon. Temps were 67 at the surface and 57 below the thermo cline. Everyone stayed warm and there were no complaints about the cold

I did it!

Thanks to Steve, Carl, Denis, Pete, Scott, Katy and Mark for helping me obtain my PADI Divemaster Certification.

I finished up today!

Woohoo!

Wreck Diving @ Pompano Beach w/Diverstwo

2/1~4/08 - What an AMAZING trip down here while wreck diving with Diverstwo on South Florida Diving Headquarters dive boats. We did 4 days of wreck diving with 40-50 vis and water temps around 73. For the most part the surf was 2' or less until the end of the trip. Once the waves kicked up, I stopped bringing my camera out. Here is a slide show of pictures that I took on the dives: SlideShow. I'm getting a little better with my strobe placment.

Any PADI Divemaster Student Can Relate

The dreaded "Wheel"

Twas a week before Christmas and I was a diving

Today (12/19/2007) was a great day of diving on Black Condos Reef off of Boynton Beach, Florida w/Splashdown Divers. It was the first time with my new underwater housing for my Nikon D200. What a monstronsity. Thankfully Lynn's divemaster was kind enough to hand me my camera and pick it up while I was already in the water. I'm still getting used to setting up the strobe angle to the dome in order to reduce background scatter. This picture was of a sea anenomie along the rocks. I'm going to switch out my Nikon 20-35 2.8D for a Nikon 12-24. This appears to be the optimal underwater lens.

Happy Hour Dive at Dutch Springs

Fun was had by all during the Happy Hour Dive at Dutch Springs w/Lance (Sponsored by Diver's Two).

Busy Diving

Wow ... where do I begin. After taking the plunge and purchasing a dry suit, I've been pretty active diving locally in the Shark River "Back Bay" and Point Pleasant Railroad Bridge this season. I also just came back from a week of amazing wreck diving up on the Saint Lawrence River, Brockville, Ontario Canada (http://www.divebrockville.com/). While up there I finally finished up with my Advanced Open Water Certification. I just have to take my written test and I've completed the Dive Rescue Certification. This is my last prerequisite for Dive Master Certification which I hope to start this September through Diver's Two (http://www.diverstwo.com/).

So this is what I have been doing lately "Dive Dive Dive".

Happy Diving!

Boynton Beach 5/11/07 Gazebo & Black Condos

Back with Splashdown Divers on Gazebo Reef (80 feet) and Black Condos Reef (80 feet). Visibility cleared up quite a bit and water temps were 82 at the surface. Only 11 people on the boat. Divemaster was able to join us on 2nd dive. Seen couple of sea turtles on the reef and one surfaced by the boat. Just after the turtle surfaced we seen a few dolphin showed up.

Boynton Beach (Horse Shoe Reef)

5/5/07 - 2 tank dive onto Horse Shoe Reef (Max Depth 60') - w/Splashdown Divers

Afternoon Dive - Visibility pretty poor (20'). Strong currents but at least the swells were less then 2 feet. Seen more wildlife on the 2nd dive. Seen a 4' loggerhead turtle that wedged himself into the rocks trying to scrape barnacles off his back. Divemaster later said that they do this sometimes to sleep for up to 2 hours at a time without getting swept off from the currents or having to come up for air. Shortly after this I seen a pretty decent sized (??) sting ray. He swam up along side the side of the reef and then over top and out of site. Didn't bother with pictures because of the poor visibility. Lynn (Captain/Owner) and divemaster on the boat were very hospitable. Nice wide boat with a center railing down the middle that you can hold onto while walking to the back of the boat before jumping in. Convenient hot shower in the aft along with plenty of drinks and snacks.

[Tornado Warning, Lightening & High Windws (70-80mph) kicked up the seas the next day to 15+ foot swells. This kept me from diving until 5/11/07]

Cozumel Video (Click here to view)

Cool video but nope ... I didn't take this one either. This video was taken by Sea Star Underwater Video (video@seastarcozumel.com) while we were diving in Cozumel with Sand Dollar. Pretty decent video but do not think about downloading on a dialup. Takes a bit to download. Took me about 4 minutes on my broadband connection. You may or may not need to download --> Quick Time in order to play video.

Video of Sea Turtle in Boynton Beach (click here)

I took this short video of a 3' Loggerhead Sea Turtle in Boynton Beach. Takes a bit to download so don't even think about doing this with dial-up. Took my PC about 2 minues to download but worthwhile watching. You may or may not need to download --> Quick Time in order to play video.

Boynton Beach, Florida is Amazing

Boynton Beach, Florida is Amazing. The reef there is so awsome. All I can say is turtles turtles and more turtles. The reef here is so prestine. We seen gobligots of different type of fish. It was like Mutual Omahas Wild Kingdom. (Much thanks to my friend Jonathan with the help of some of these photos - click on any to enclarge)

Video While in Costa Maya (click here)

Nope ... I didn't do this video. Mine didn't come out as nice. Takes a bit to download so don't even think about doing this with dial-up. Took my PC about 2 minues to download but worthwhile watching.

You may or may not need to download --> Quick Time in order to play video.

Grand Cayman "Trinity Caves"

I took these photos along a wall dive (we were at 95') but they tell us the wall drops sever thousand feet below us (click on photos to enlarge):

Not quite sure what kind of fish this is.

















Along the wall we found ourselves in/out of caves













Less fish at this depth but the coolest sponges and coral


















Really have to keep an eye on your depth gauge

Cozumel "Paraiso Reef"

I took these photos on a drift dive along Paraiso Reef at 65' (click on photos to enlarge):

Blue Chromis (Chromis cyanea).


















Peacock Flounder












Yellowtail Parrotfish














Brain Corel














Blue Tang

My First Open Water Dive

What a blast this diving thing is going to be. Steve & Sharon of Diver's Two took me for a fun dive in the Shark River Inlet on 10/3/2006. Sorry but I didn't take this picture ... Sharon is the photographer (click on photo to enlarge).