Why do we lay on our backs in the bottom of the pool or on the squares or platform at the Crater and try to make the perfect bubble ring? Well it's to be 'like Mike' or in this case the amazing dolphin.
While I have blown the perfect bubble ring on more than one occassion I still can't quite pull off these amazing results. I'll keep striving for perfection. Just need more water time.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Fate of Titanic Treasures in Judge's Hands
NORFOLK, Va. (March 24) -- Nearly a century after the Titanic struck ice in the North Atlantic, a federal judge in Virginia is poised to preserve the largest collection of artifacts from the opulent oceanliner and protect the ship's resting place.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, a maritime jurist who considers the wreck an "international treasure," is expected to rule within weeks that the salvaged items must remain together and accessible to the public. That would ensure the 5,900 pieces of china, ship fittings and personal belongings won't end up in a collector's hands or in a London auction house, where some Titanic artifacts have landed.
I personally feel that is the right thing to do. Good call Judge Smith. Click on the title link to read the full story and view photos.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, a maritime jurist who considers the wreck an "international treasure," is expected to rule within weeks that the salvaged items must remain together and accessible to the public. That would ensure the 5,900 pieces of china, ship fittings and personal belongings won't end up in a collector's hands or in a London auction house, where some Titanic artifacts have landed.
I personally feel that is the right thing to do. Good call Judge Smith. Click on the title link to read the full story and view photos.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
It Sure Is Nice Outside
We seem to be enjoying another one of those "pre" spring days here in Utah. You know it’s that time of year when the storms hit and it’s all gone by Noon. With that, another season of diving is upon us.
Many of us are year-round divers. It could be snowing and we are still diving. But we are spoiled a bit with the warm waters of the Crater, Camperworld (Belmont Springs), Seabase and Blue Lake. Imagine the ‘cabin fever’ those divers in Minnesota get waiting for the ice to come off the Great Lakes. Ohhh I would be cranky.
However many people feel that it is just took cold in the winter, and appreciate the warmer weather to get out and dive. So, what do you need to do to get ready for the dive season?
1. Pull out your dive gear. Shake it out and bring your regulators and BCs in for annual service. Condition the wetsuit or drysuit seals and wax the zipper. Get your tanks visually inspected and filled. Get your storage containers and bags aired out. Have you ever smelled neoprene that’s been left in a bag…yuck
2. Determine what needs to be replaced this year. Make a list and talk to your dive center about upcoming sales that may be going on. You are an actionpass member right?
3. Pick up cleaning supplies for your gear, are all your clips still in place? Do you still have defogger? Restock your save a dive kit, or start a new one.
4. Make sure you renewed your DAN Membership.
5. What are your education goals this year? Talk to your dive center about classes you would be interested in taking.
6. Get a scuba review. Even a seasoned diver can benefit from a skills tune up from a dive professional. It is also a good opportunity to get your gear back in the water, before actually heading into the open water.
7. Talk to your dive buddies and start planning some dives.
8. Pull out your non-diving stuff you use for diving and get it ready too. Tents, tarps, lounge chairs, that big brimmed hat that protects your bald spot….ohh that’s just me.
9. Finally...go dive!
Many of us are year-round divers. It could be snowing and we are still diving. But we are spoiled a bit with the warm waters of the Crater, Camperworld (Belmont Springs), Seabase and Blue Lake. Imagine the ‘cabin fever’ those divers in Minnesota get waiting for the ice to come off the Great Lakes. Ohhh I would be cranky.
However many people feel that it is just took cold in the winter, and appreciate the warmer weather to get out and dive. So, what do you need to do to get ready for the dive season?
1. Pull out your dive gear. Shake it out and bring your regulators and BCs in for annual service. Condition the wetsuit or drysuit seals and wax the zipper. Get your tanks visually inspected and filled. Get your storage containers and bags aired out. Have you ever smelled neoprene that’s been left in a bag…yuck
2. Determine what needs to be replaced this year. Make a list and talk to your dive center about upcoming sales that may be going on. You are an actionpass member right?
3. Pick up cleaning supplies for your gear, are all your clips still in place? Do you still have defogger? Restock your save a dive kit, or start a new one.
4. Make sure you renewed your DAN Membership.
5. What are your education goals this year? Talk to your dive center about classes you would be interested in taking.
6. Get a scuba review. Even a seasoned diver can benefit from a skills tune up from a dive professional. It is also a good opportunity to get your gear back in the water, before actually heading into the open water.
7. Talk to your dive buddies and start planning some dives.
8. Pull out your non-diving stuff you use for diving and get it ready too. Tents, tarps, lounge chairs, that big brimmed hat that protects your bald spot….ohh that’s just me.
9. Finally...go dive!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Wreckage At The Crater
A week or so ago I read that one of the 'hot tubs' OK benches had broken off of the side of the dock at the Crater. My first thought was I wonder what the people sitting inside thought when it let go. Then I hoped it didn't come to rest so it was leaning against the side. All we need is some 'knuckle head' to swim under there and get stuck or muck up the vis more than it usually is. Well this past weekend we had some classes scheduled for the Crater so I was all excited to see the 'wreckage' like everyone else. You know you need an ocean dive when your excited about something on the bottom of the Crater. On one of the dives we ventured down to the diamond for some buoyancy drills and sure enough there it is. Had this flashback of Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation standing on the edge and looking at the Grand Canyon ....yup there it is...let's go.
Well the good news is nobody will get under it to get stuck. The bad news is everbody (self included) wants to go down and look at it. The Crater has plans to break it up and clean it up but no time has been set. In the mean time to curtail the curious they have a sign on the rope. "Do not go below this sign." Makes you wonder how many people can't read or obey some of the simplest requests. So on our dive we made a depth limit of 50 feet. With or without lights we could see the 'wreckage' pretty well. While we're lurking around the triangle here comes a couple 'knuckle heads' down the rope, past the sign on their way to the bottom. Ohh my, what do they spot...you got it..the wreckage. What did we see? Not much except a silt blum.
Let's all remember to please stay off the walls and bottom. The good news is the space left by the dock is a great place to rest, grab a drink of water, debrief and best of all it's not affected by the Crater current. That will be another post in itself.
Dive safe
Well the good news is nobody will get under it to get stuck. The bad news is everbody (self included) wants to go down and look at it. The Crater has plans to break it up and clean it up but no time has been set. In the mean time to curtail the curious they have a sign on the rope. "Do not go below this sign." Makes you wonder how many people can't read or obey some of the simplest requests. So on our dive we made a depth limit of 50 feet. With or without lights we could see the 'wreckage' pretty well. While we're lurking around the triangle here comes a couple 'knuckle heads' down the rope, past the sign on their way to the bottom. Ohh my, what do they spot...you got it..the wreckage. What did we see? Not much except a silt blum.
Let's all remember to please stay off the walls and bottom. The good news is the space left by the dock is a great place to rest, grab a drink of water, debrief and best of all it's not affected by the Crater current. That will be another post in itself.
Dive safe
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