Well, I appear to have survived my annual south Florida/Keys adventure yet again but not unscathed. Minor camera damage, a run in with some sketchies that resulted in the Sea Hawk being drawn in anger at BHB, a futile attempt to buck a raging current on a wreck in Pompano that for the first time (or maybe third or fourth) I thought I might die and had to let go of the anchor line. It was simply to much for me pushing my camera and trying to tow myself with one arm and those crappy Mares plasti-fins, I had never wished more for Jets and a third arm.
Beach dives --- Commercial Pier, Ft Lauderdale - three dives, each lasting over three hours and one approaching five hours. Blue Heron Bridge (yawn, what a snoozer)
Wrecks --Spiegal, Vandenberg, Thunderbolt, Duane, Cayman Salvager, Benwood, Mizpah
Reefs -- Five deep ledges, one over 150 feet up WPB to Fort Luaderdale, plus French, Elbow, Sambos, Shark Gap (Marathon).
Fights---aforementioned jackass on dive boat in Pompano and the BHB sketchies that got s little close on e time to many. Fortunately, no local natives were seriously harmed though the jackass on the boat might be a bit sore. What the Hades is a trip to Flraiduh without beating up on the local wildlife at least a little.
All dives on Phoneix 006 except for the beach dives on my Titan. Sorry, double hose suck at long swims on the surface and when I say long, try three miles both ways.
Had a near fight and I do mean it, on one boat with some dude who kept telling me I could not be his buddy and he poked me in my chest for some reason when I tried to ignore him at which point I tried to break his arm. He went down and at that point, I explained to him in colorful terms that I never asked him if he would buddy with me, I would be with the guide in Group 1, if he was there, fine, if not, I could give a flying XXXXXX! People in Flariduh need to learn some southern gentility or suffer the consequences of poking me in the chest.
Got to help release a dozen baby logger heads, amazing dive with the baby turtles. In yet another dive in WPB, I counted over two dozen turtles before I lost interest in counting them!!!!, in a single dive!
Despite my two run-ins, all was mostly fun if not wet and cold. I ran the heater in the Keys! I have some decent pics, will try to post a few.
Will I return for yet another Invasion of Florida, not entirely sure, there are other places with friendlier people but where could anybody see more than two dozen turtles in a single dive and get to release an additional dozen baby turtles. Oh well, all in the balance.
Nemrod