10-03-2006, 05:51 PM
Hi All!
Had a great dive, talked for a while and scooted off to another shore to go bodysurfing for a while. Saw some nice stuff, was a little disappointed to come up and find the lifeguard chastising the group. I think this can be a thing to be taken well and acted on proactively. Pam, Dan, and I all talked happily and about dive safety after the dive and agreed on some methods of managing our visual ranges and pacing so as to avoid losing one another.
The visibility was poor this last dive, that's why we were seperated, out failing was in how to deal with this when it occurs. Things like this are what you take for granted when you one dives with the same people/buddies for a while. We are a new club and will work through all that. I don't have a printer, but was thinking that we might make up a short ettiquite list for the club. What to do if you're seperated from your buddy, hand-signals, dangerous spots at Richardson's, alcohol policy, etc... Nothing like rules or such, we are a group of adults (kinda right!), intelligent fun-lovers. There are extremely varied levels of ocean experience amongst us. This is a great chance for everyone to learn and appreciate this wonderful ocean. I really envy the children who get to grow up here.
We are group of equals, as such everyone matters. Pam mentioned some were uncomfortable with the presence of alcohol, especially since we had already warranted lifeguard attention. I had a beer, i ask if anyone is uncomfortable with one or two beers (only!) after a dive in plastic cups. I submit to the will of the group. I am somewhat uncomfortable with glass at the park and irritating the lifeguards by flagrantly violating the alcohol ban. I think a compromise can be reached. I look forward to our next dive.
I saw a leg-sized stonefish (poisonous), an octopus, a small lobster (HA! Pam!), a huge school of tangs, a big group of starfish, a pair of banded-coral shrimp, and a type of corralimorph i hadn't seen in Hawaii yet. I also found a really interesting canyon filled with rocks, crashing waves, and fish.
When i went to refill tanks the guy at Nautilus expressed some trepidation at a rumor that we are promoting/hunting at Richardson's. I told him that no one would probably turn away a lobster dinner, but that no one was spearing or promoting at Richardson's. I think his fear was for children and the already severely depleted reef at Richardson's. I agree with this. I told him that we were environmentalist first. I generally shoot with a camera. I, other divers, our new sponsor and the gentleman at the dive shop are all in favor of ocean hunting/gathering. But i think we can all agree that the hunting is best elsewhere where there are more things to actually go after. Lobsters are marine cockroaches and breed about as quickly. Most other game is more sensitive. I for one am not concerned and hope that others are not. Perhaps a dialogue can be started. I plan on buying more dive lights soon for our group to use (a silent thank-you for the members who have let me use their gear). If we see lobsters on our night dive, i'll take one. A legal size one, if i feel like it. I'll frisk Pam down after the dive, and make sure she doesn't have more than ten in her wetsuit and BCD. Maybe i'll eat a raw shrimp or urchin to show my appreciation of fresh ebi and uni.
Lastly, i just want to say thanks to all the great folks who show up! (and even you cool ones who can't make it). As to pansies like Andrew and Mark who think it's excuesable to miss a dive! "Embolisms and broken bones? WHIMPS!" You shoulda' seen the hangnail i had getting in the water! after my hands got all raisiney it was like, twice as big! Between that and all the blood in the water from some crazy kayake, phew... You guys are gonna get it next time i see you, no hot dogs for you!
Chili! Where were you? I had at least three people ask me about where you were? I had to make up stories! Your energy was missed. We'll see you next time.
Mahalo to all,
Hazen
p.s. i really need to get a BCD, reg, and octopus, (cheap) so if anyone see's anything please contact me.
Had a great dive, talked for a while and scooted off to another shore to go bodysurfing for a while. Saw some nice stuff, was a little disappointed to come up and find the lifeguard chastising the group. I think this can be a thing to be taken well and acted on proactively. Pam, Dan, and I all talked happily and about dive safety after the dive and agreed on some methods of managing our visual ranges and pacing so as to avoid losing one another.
The visibility was poor this last dive, that's why we were seperated, out failing was in how to deal with this when it occurs. Things like this are what you take for granted when you one dives with the same people/buddies for a while. We are a new club and will work through all that. I don't have a printer, but was thinking that we might make up a short ettiquite list for the club. What to do if you're seperated from your buddy, hand-signals, dangerous spots at Richardson's, alcohol policy, etc... Nothing like rules or such, we are a group of adults (kinda right!), intelligent fun-lovers. There are extremely varied levels of ocean experience amongst us. This is a great chance for everyone to learn and appreciate this wonderful ocean. I really envy the children who get to grow up here.
We are group of equals, as such everyone matters. Pam mentioned some were uncomfortable with the presence of alcohol, especially since we had already warranted lifeguard attention. I had a beer, i ask if anyone is uncomfortable with one or two beers (only!) after a dive in plastic cups. I submit to the will of the group. I am somewhat uncomfortable with glass at the park and irritating the lifeguards by flagrantly violating the alcohol ban. I think a compromise can be reached. I look forward to our next dive.
I saw a leg-sized stonefish (poisonous), an octopus, a small lobster (HA! Pam!), a huge school of tangs, a big group of starfish, a pair of banded-coral shrimp, and a type of corralimorph i hadn't seen in Hawaii yet. I also found a really interesting canyon filled with rocks, crashing waves, and fish.
When i went to refill tanks the guy at Nautilus expressed some trepidation at a rumor that we are promoting/hunting at Richardson's. I told him that no one would probably turn away a lobster dinner, but that no one was spearing or promoting at Richardson's. I think his fear was for children and the already severely depleted reef at Richardson's. I agree with this. I told him that we were environmentalist first. I generally shoot with a camera. I, other divers, our new sponsor and the gentleman at the dive shop are all in favor of ocean hunting/gathering. But i think we can all agree that the hunting is best elsewhere where there are more things to actually go after. Lobsters are marine cockroaches and breed about as quickly. Most other game is more sensitive. I for one am not concerned and hope that others are not. Perhaps a dialogue can be started. I plan on buying more dive lights soon for our group to use (a silent thank-you for the members who have let me use their gear). If we see lobsters on our night dive, i'll take one. A legal size one, if i feel like it. I'll frisk Pam down after the dive, and make sure she doesn't have more than ten in her wetsuit and BCD. Maybe i'll eat a raw shrimp or urchin to show my appreciation of fresh ebi and uni.
Lastly, i just want to say thanks to all the great folks who show up! (and even you cool ones who can't make it). As to pansies like Andrew and Mark who think it's excuesable to miss a dive! "Embolisms and broken bones? WHIMPS!" You shoulda' seen the hangnail i had getting in the water! after my hands got all raisiney it was like, twice as big! Between that and all the blood in the water from some crazy kayake, phew... You guys are gonna get it next time i see you, no hot dogs for you!
Chili! Where were you? I had at least three people ask me about where you were? I had to make up stories! Your energy was missed. We'll see you next time. Mahalo to all,
Hazen
p.s. i really need to get a BCD, reg, and octopus, (cheap) so if anyone see's anything please contact me.