Just curious if we have any divers in the forums. If so, where is your favorite dive location?

 

Various springs in Florida. High Springs, Wakulla, Weeki Wachee and various private locations. Not too many features off the gulf coast, but some formations we have found and fished had plently of beauty. There's a few offshore freshwater springs as well.

 

Usually a swimming pool; preferably filled with water.............or beer.

 

Herman have you ever been diving in Mosquito lagoon? The water is crystal clear
and since it is brackish there are gators and bull sharks in there and all kinds of
fish to see. I have caught many redfish, trout, shrimp and crabs and they all are
the tastiest seafood almost sweet, I guess from all the rocket fuel!!
There are seahorses and some spots have coral growing, A lot of it is shallow water
but if you get the nautical map of the area there are a few deep holes like Blue hole
and it is 20 some feet deep and who knows what is down there. There are lot's of
man made areas there since in the 1800 people were digging canals and farming fish
and plants out there on the islands, There are who knows what kinds of artifacts
out there a metal detector in some choice areas might bring up some treasures.
There is a old spanish fort out on an island in one of the backwaters not many people
know it is there and I always wanted to go out there and hit it with a metal detector
since a few battles were fought in the New smyrna edgewater are. One of the islands
are manmade it has about a 18 foot hill and when you get to the top it drops down
and is like a wall perfect for firing a weapon and taking cover, I am sure there is lots
of stuff on the island and probably more in the waters around there. I found a bunch
of old nails bent at perfect 90* angles up top and who knows what they were for.
If you go to that satellite map site and search for 32169 and look at the shapes of
the islands and see the water where the deep spots are and stuff you might get some
ideas too.

 

After learning to dive in 1967 at the age of 13 and hitting the cold water off Catalina I gave it up. Then when in the Philippines I went to a unknown resort and got the Aussie guys to certify me in advance open water and rescue. Have been diving in the Philippines ever since. The water is warm...

 

I got my Advanced Open Water Diver, Cavern Diver, and Wreck Diver certifications done while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. It was simply amazing. Warm, crystal clear water, and all manner of sights to behold--WWII wrecks, sharks, coral reefs, etc.

Man, I miss that!!!

 

Funny you should mention that as I was thinking of replying to your other thread in which you mention Mosquito Lagoon. I haven't been down at the site but you brought back some great memories of fishing there. I was living in Gainesville when we went down there. Left Gainesville at about 2:00 AM and was fishing at 5:30. Fished all day and when we went to the hotel for the night I was out in 30 seconds. We made it over to Port Canaveral and just inside the coastline there was a waterway that heads north. We spied a school of bluefish and chose to ignore the 'do not enter' sign. In a couple of minutes a few jeeps (with 50 cals on top) showed up on land and nicely asked on the radio that we depart the area. (I think that’s where the subs are kept.) What fond memories.

 

Since I only got it last summer I am limited to Hawaii and my pool. I can tell you my pool is totally clean in the summer.

 

Hey, now you are talking! I am also a Certified Advanced Diver and probably my favorite location is Cozumel which is not far from Cancun, Mexico. The Vis was over 200 Feet!!! Personally, I have NEVER found a participatory sport that even comes close to diving in that it is a "whole new world" swimming with the Sharks! However, it is also one of the most dangerous sports as well as you will be dead in a second if not properly trained; rule number one, NEVER stop breathing!

The colors are magnificent and the sea-life is beyond words. Unfortunately, there are not too many oceans here in the Mojave Desert of California! Hence the User ID as I live in the desert and I have 1 dog.

Happy Diving!!!!!

 

Mojave Desert is full of oceans.............of sand.

Makes it tough for diving, though.

Where abouts in the Mojave Desert are you located?

 

Last summer I learned to dive on a Royal Carribiean cruise ship. I unfortunately did not get certified as an open water diver. I am only certified as a diver only allowing me to dive with an instructor. My dive was in the pretty water of St Maarten. Going back to the Carribean this May. Hopefully I can get my Open Water certificate.

 

I live in Landers which is in the Hi-Desert between Yucca Valley and Victorville adjacent to the 29 Palms USMC Air/Ground Combat Training Base which I have read is the largest in the USA and some have said in the world. The closest City that the entire Forum would recognize is Palm Springs which is approximately 60 miles "down the hill." The Joshua Tree National Park is also approximately 60 miles away in the opposite direction.

Thanks for asking and oh how I miss diving!!!!!!!!!!!! Another good spot that was close when I lived in Long Beach, CA is called the Pinnacle which is located just off the tip of Catalina. However, a few divers die there every year as the top of the Pinnacle is eighty feet deep and as you are well aware the "rooks" stay down too long and some make it to a Decom and well, some do not. Gotta know your stuff when diving; agreed?

Take care and Godspeed!

 

I remember 29 Palms. I use to live in Mojave, and worked at a glider repair facility the Mojave Airport.
I used to pick up items for the company's projects at Edwards AFB.
But that was a long time ago.
Someday, I'll go back a take a visit to my old stomping grounds, before gas reaches $10.00 a quart.

As for diving/swimming, etc., my folks should have nicknamed me "Rock".

 

If you do return give me a "heads up" and we can meet in YV for lunch. I can definitely relate to the rock statement as I had a "shortie" 3MM Wetsuit and also a Full 7.5MM Lined Suit which were both Custom Made and I hiked down a hill to access White Point in San Pedro for a shore dive and brought the Heavy Weight Belt for the 7.5MM down with me instead of my appropriate belt. You know the rest; the BC was nearly full even at 40 feet! I got my workout on that day.

Take care and Godspeed!

 

Just got off of this years Caribbean cruise. I was able to upgrade from Scuba Diver to Open Water Diver. Completed my training in Cozumel. Water temp 81* and vis about 100 ft. Gonna be hard to beat the Caribbean for me. I guess it will be quarry diving for me for a while.