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Posted: 12/14/2020 4:32:00 PM EDT
[#1]
Curious does anyone know any good fiction books on the subject? Either wicked deep sea stuff or seam monster crap or lovecraft style type?
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Posted: 12/14/2020 4:44:25 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Curious does anyone know any good fiction books on the subject? Either wicked deep sea stuff or seam monster crap or lovecraft style type? Not seamonster type, but one of my favorite sea 'thriller/horror' stories as a kid was reading Edgar Allan Poe's 'A Descent Into The Maelstrom'. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/POE/descent.html |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 4:48:12 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Here's an off topic story I have about that... I went with a recovery crew from our base to help the feds pull a crashed plane out of a field with a HEMTT wrecker. There were a few catholic priests on board who were turned to burger in the crash. Just absolutely annihilated. My old CW5 and I were standing there next to some FAA guys, FBI agents, state police, and some others, silently looking at brains all over the place when my CW5 pipes up and says, "looks like dip. Who brought the chips? Hehehe" They looked at us like they wanted to shoot us on the spot. I was embarrassed as all hell. Guys who have been in the Army for 35 years generally don't have a lot of tact and decorum left.  I can relate to what he said. Alot of FRS doing same thing. It's kinda like a defence mechanism that keeps you from going crazy from all the horrible things you see. Of coarse you don't say stuff around victims family. One medic made up a thing one night night after a boat load of stoned drunks decided to run their boat wide open in the dark and hit a piling. One's head hit a pole and spilled his brains all over the inside of the boat. Myself and two others were slipping and sliding all over the place on blood and brain matter trying to lift him out of boat on to dock to work on him. Went back to dock the next day. Brain matter was still on public dock and people thought it was bait or fish parts. He said if your head hits a pole and it runs like a tea bowl or pot it's a bad day. Something to that effect. But it was just his way of dealing with what he saw. I've heard worst though. But you just let it go. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 4:57:30 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You weren't alone by any stretch. I remember a few of the guys in my class struggling at Victory Pond and test in the pool at Benning, but I don't remember anyone having any real difficulties when we were down in Eglin. Seeing gators cruising around right before a river/stream crossing. Good times.  Those were great days. Victory Pond is the only place I remember guys having problems. By the time we got to Florida we were to fried to care about anything except lasting the last 2 weeks. That was the longest two weeks of my life I believe. I didn't struggle at anything thank GOD no more than anyone else. I just did not like rowing out into the gulf of Mexico and getting out of that rb-15 into the water. They had a boat with a tower and a guy armed with a rifle in it I remember. I knew what it was for too. It was about 50 meters from us. Lol. That was class 10-80 I was 18. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 5:05:32 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/148425/128276653_4118454758171225_7687999292903-1730842.JPG One must be careful what they say when they are within earshot of those not in the same career field.. That's true brother. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 5:15:26 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I just remembered, that might seem a little creepy. On our first warm water dive trip, my wife and I went to Belize. Between certification, going to a quarry, and a few dives off San Diego, we had maybe 10 open water dives under our belt. So the very first dive in Belize is off a boat, about 60 feet deep. The crew set up our tanks and gear, which we thought was cool - so we just had to put on our gear and roll over the side. We drop in and are waiting near the bottom, waiting for the rest of the group. Saw an eagle ray cruise by, which was cool. That's when I noticed that I wasn't getting as much air as I expected. As I start to really notice it, the air drops to almost nothing. I looked at my air gauge, and could see the needle dropping way down as I took a breath. So I took off my BC, so I could check the tank - and it turns out that the valve was almost completely closed.  I think one of the crew members opened it, and then (for whatever absentminded reason) turned it almost all the way closed again. No idea why. So it provided a little bit of air at first, but then essentially stopped. Easy fix - i just opened the valve and put the BC back on. No problem.It was interesting, because in retrospect, I was almost surprised I didn't freak out or panic. since I was a pretty inexperienced diver at that point and basically ran out of air at 60 ft. I was just very focused on diagnosing and solving the problem (and being confused), that I forgot to freak out. I remember looking up at the boat, and figuring that I could easily do an emergency ascent if it turned out I had been given an empty tank. So there really was no danger involved. On that dive, I learned to NEVER rely on someone else to set up my gear without checking everything myself! When we got out of the water after the dive, both my wife and dive master said they were somewhat worried and trying to figure out WTF I was doing, when I starting getting out of my gear at 60 feet. Once I explained it, the dive master went off to yell at the crew. |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 5:18:52 PM EDT
[#7]
More porn
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Posted: 12/14/2020 5:23:58 PM EDT
[#8]
4 or 5 years ago i almost drawn while spearfishing because the rope attached to my rifle got stuck in a rock underwater and got entangled around my lead weights on my chest. I was sure i would have died and then i was able to reach my knife and cut the rope. Then i repaired the rope and continued fishing for some hours
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Posted: 12/14/2020 5:26:55 PM EDT
[#9]
Anyone have good pics of Fire Coral?
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Posted: 12/14/2020 7:45:11 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Those were great days. Victory Pond is the only place I remember guys having problems. By the time we got to Florida we were to fried to care about anything except lasting the last 2 weeks. That was the longest two weeks of my life I believe. I didn't struggle at anything thank GOD no more than anyone else. I just did not like rowing out into the gulf of Mexico and getting out of that rb-15 into the water. They had a boat with a tower and a guy armed with a rifle in it I remember. I knew what it was for too. It was about 50 meters from us. Lol. That was class 10-80 I was 18. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: You weren't alone by any stretch. I remember a few of the guys in my class struggling at Victory Pond and test in the pool at Benning, but I don't remember anyone having any real difficulties when we were down in Eglin. Seeing gators cruising around right before a river/stream crossing. Good times. Those were great days. Victory Pond is the only place I remember guys having problems. By the time we got to Florida we were to fried to care about anything except lasting the last 2 weeks. That was the longest two weeks of my life I believe. I didn't struggle at anything thank GOD no more than anyone else. I just did not like rowing out into the gulf of Mexico and getting out of that rb-15 into the water. They had a boat with a tower and a guy armed with a rifle in it I remember. I knew what it was for too. It was about 50 meters from us. Lol. That was class 10-80 I was 18. I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! |
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Posted: 12/14/2020 9:13:50 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: You weren't alone by any stretch. I remember a few of the guys in my class struggling at Victory Pond and test in the pool at Benning, but I don't remember anyone having any real difficulties when we were down in Eglin. Seeing gators cruising around right before a river/stream crossing. Good times. Those were great days. Victory Pond is the only place I remember guys having problems. By the time we got to Florida we were to fried to care about anything except lasting the last 2 weeks. That was the longest two weeks of my life I believe. I didn't struggle at anything thank GOD no more than anyone else. I just did not like rowing out into the gulf of Mexico and getting out of that rb-15 into the water. They had a boat with a tower and a guy armed with a rifle in it I remember. I knew what it was for too. It was about 50 meters from us. Lol. That was class 10-80 I was 18. I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! 
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Posted: 12/14/2020 10:00:44 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! ETA: I wonder if the shots would attract curious sharks though? 
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Posted: 12/15/2020 9:16:54 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: @starman27 with one story at a time  You have a large audience... Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I was on the Sheriff's Office dive team...where to begin. with one story at a time You have a large audience... Members of our agency to include SWAT (Sit, Wait And Talk) always said they would never enter the water for fear of the gators. I assured them it wasn't the gators one had to worry about, it was the damn turtles. We went in for a body recovery and the damn turtles were having their way with the poor guys face. Lets say it was definitely a closed casket funeral. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 10:03:13 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Members of our agency to include SWAT (Sit, Wait And Talk) always said they would never enter the water for fear of the gators. I assured them it wasn't the gators one had to worry about, it was the damn turtles. We went in for a body recovery and the damn turtles were having their way with the poor guys face. Lets say it was definitely a closed casket funeral. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 10:22:09 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: While I have not personally experienced this I have seen it 3 times. The first thing I do on any boat or dive trip is politely but firmly ask the crew NOT to set up my equipment. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I just remembered, that might seem a little creepy. On our first warm water dive trip, my wife and I went to Belize. Between certification, going to a quarry, and a few dives off San Diego, we had maybe 10 open water dives under our belt. So the very first dive in Belize is off a boat, about 60 feet deep. The crew set up our tanks and gear, which we thought was cool - so we just had to put on our gear and roll over the side. We drop in and are waiting near the bottom, waiting for the rest of the group. Saw an eagle ray cruise by, which was cool. That's when I noticed that I wasn't getting as much air as I expected. As I start to really notice it, the air drops to almost nothing. I looked at my air gauge, and could see the needle dropping way down as I took a breath. So I took off my BC, so I could check the tank - and it turns out that the valve was almost completely closed. I think one of the crew members opened it, and then (for whatever absentminded reason) turned it almost all the way closed again. No idea why. So it provided a little bit of air at first, but then essentially stopped. Easy fix - i just opened the valve and put the BC back on. No problem.It was interesting, because in retrospect, I was almost surprised I didn't freak out or panic. since I was a pretty inexperienced diver at that point and basically ran out of air at 60 ft. I was just very focused on diagnosing and solving the problem (and being confused), that I forgot to freak out. I remember looking up at the boat, and figuring that I could easily do an emergency ascent if it turned out I had been given an empty tank. So there really was no danger involved. On that dive, I learned to NEVER rely on someone else to set up my gear without checking everything myself! When we got out of the water after the dive, both my wife and dive master said they were somewhat worried and trying to figure out WTF I was doing, when I starting getting out of my gear at 60 feet. Once I explained it, the dive master went off to yell at the crew. I’ve never been on a boat where they set up your equipment. That’s not how it’s done on the Great Lakes. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 10:38:25 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've never been on a boat where they set up your equipment. That's not how it's done on the Great Lakes. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: I just remembered, that might seem a little creepy. On our first warm water dive trip, my wife and I went to Belize. Between certification, going to a quarry, and a few dives off San Diego, we had maybe 10 open water dives under our belt. So the very first dive in Belize is off a boat, about 60 feet deep. The crew set up our tanks and gear, which we thought was cool - so we just had to put on our gear and roll over the side. We drop in and are waiting near the bottom, waiting for the rest of the group. Saw an eagle ray cruise by, which was cool. That's when I noticed that I wasn't getting as much air as I expected. As I start to really notice it, the air drops to almost nothing. I looked at my air gauge, and could see the needle dropping way down as I took a breath. So I took off my BC, so I could check the tank - and it turns out that the valve was almost completely closed. I think one of the crew members opened it, and then (for whatever absentminded reason) turned it almost all the way closed again. No idea why. So it provided a little bit of air at first, but then essentially stopped. Easy fix - i just opened the valve and put the BC back on. No problem.It was interesting, because in retrospect, I was almost surprised I didn't freak out or panic. since I was a pretty inexperienced diver at that point and basically ran out of air at 60 ft. I was just very focused on diagnosing and solving the problem (and being confused), that I forgot to freak out. I remember looking up at the boat, and figuring that I could easily do an emergency ascent if it turned out I had been given an empty tank. So there really was no danger involved. On that dive, I learned to NEVER rely on someone else to set up my gear without checking everything myself! When we got out of the water after the dive, both my wife and dive master said they were somewhat worried and trying to figure out WTF I was doing, when I starting getting out of my gear at 60 feet. Once I explained it, the dive master went off to yell at the crew. I've never been on a boat where they set up your equipment. That's not how it's done on the Great Lakes. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 11:15:00 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: We call it "Concierge" diving. The crew on the resort dive ops will usually swap your tanks between dives. I like to do my own set up and swap, and run my system of assembly and pre-dive checks before every dive. I'm polite about it but it's my life and I'd just as soon NOT have to beat someone up after surviving an equipment issue when I get back to the surface. I definitely wouldn’t mind someone schlepping my tanks, but I handle my gear - unless someone offers to move it on/off the boat. Definitely don’t mind that! That would probably account for some people I see at the quarry diving with buddies who barely know which end of a tank is which. If someone looks really lost or is doing something wrong, I’ll poke my nose in and tell the the correct way. I’ll even show them after asking to touch their gear. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 12:09:59 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: You weren't alone by any stretch. I remember a few of the guys in my class struggling at Victory Pond and test in the pool at Benning, but I don't remember anyone having any real difficulties when we were down in Eglin. Seeing gators cruising around right before a river/stream crossing. Good times. Those were great days. Victory Pond is the only place I remember guys having problems. By the time we got to Florida we were to fried to care about anything except lasting the last 2 weeks. That was the longest two weeks of my life I believe. I didn't struggle at anything thank GOD no more than anyone else. I just did not like rowing out into the gulf of Mexico and getting out of that rb-15 into the water. They had a boat with a tower and a guy armed with a rifle in it I remember. I knew what it was for too. It was about 50 meters from us. Lol. That was class 10-80 I was 18. I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! I laughed, but that's just cruel! |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 1:33:02 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: One must be careful what they say when they are within earshot of those not in the same career field.. This was beaten into my head when I was doing search & rescue. We were constantly reminded to watch what we said to each other in person, and over the unencrypted radios we used. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 3:05:01 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I definitely wouldn't mind someone schlepping my tanks, but I handle my gear - unless someone offers to move it on/off the boat. Definitely don't mind that! That would probably account for some people I see at the quarry diving with buddies who barely know which end of a tank is which. If someone looks really lost or is doing something wrong, I'll poke my nose in and tell the the correct way. I'll even show them after asking to touch their gear. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: We call it "Concierge" diving. The crew on the resort dive ops will usually swap your tanks between dives. I like to do my own set up and swap, and run my system of assembly and pre-dive checks before every dive. I'm polite about it but it's my life and I'd just as soon NOT have to beat someone up after surviving an equipment issue when I get back to the surface. I definitely wouldn't mind someone schlepping my tanks, but I handle my gear - unless someone offers to move it on/off the boat. Definitely don't mind that! That would probably account for some people I see at the quarry diving with buddies who barely know which end of a tank is which. If someone looks really lost or is doing something wrong, I'll poke my nose in and tell the the correct way. I'll even show them after asking to touch their gear. More than once I've observed someone struggling with gear assembly in the morning (I make it a habit of watching everyone on my boat before dives the first few days) and what I have taken to doing is asking them to check my gear for me as a second set of eyes, and then they usually ask for a return if they are still struggling to get their gear put together. Usually people respond pretty well to that. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 3:14:08 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'm sure it does. That and the whole vacation diver reputation on top. I am one though, living where I live. I get about 100 dives a year in as a purely recreational diver, and always warm water! More than once I've observed someone struggling with gear assembly in the morning (I make it a habit of watching everyone on my boat before dives the first few days) and what I have taken to doing is asking them to check my gear for me as a second set of eyes, and then they usually ask for a return if they are still struggling to get their gear put together. Usually people respond pretty well to that. I can’t do that with my gear. Sidemount? Long hose? What is that extra hose? Drysuit inflator. Why is your one reg on a necklace? I even dive a long hose single tank with a BP/W. My gear confuses the standard recreational diver.
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Posted: 12/15/2020 3:37:13 PM EDT
[#22]
Great thread indeed OP.
My salt adventures are mostly with my head above water. Night fishing in SC and wading out chest deep to get line in the 2nd trough got a little bump on back of my leg. I start walking backwards towards coast with rod in hand and about waist high now I got a second bump that about took my legs out from underneath me... water was murky and rough so never saw it in my red light but knew what it was. Thankfully no taste test. I've caught lots of sharks at night right where we swam all day. It is their home. I fish every other weekend year round and mostly tailwaters at night chasing big browns. I've had lots and lots of shit happen that will creep or scare the shit out of me. Had fog so thick envelope me I couldn't tell which direction was out to deeper water vs back to shore. Luckily it didnt last long. Running red headlamps at night for vis you get reflections off a shark or walleyes eyes. Had a big walleye swim slowly right up to me just 2 glaring eyes staring at me... creeps ya out. Had another set of eyes on surface start out across the river and came straight towards me. Literally focused right on me and moving pretty fast despite the current. Turns out it was a skunk who'd fell in and swam wrong direction. Was about dead before he made it to shore and I gave him a wide berth. Was in middle of tail water one night with a buddy and were walking the shelf when we see a light bobbing underwater... both our hearts sunk as we were like yep that's a headlamp. Luckily no body attached to it, but I was certain we were going to find a body in the middle of the tailwaters that night. Run in s with Herons who will sneak up on ya and squawk 2 feet away from you will just about make you shit your waders. Was on far side of tailwater one night and they started generating water without blowing the horn... barely made it back across the shoal. Water was cooking and up to the lip of my chest waders... that sucked. All this pales in comparison to some of these, and props ton you divers, and especially you service guys. |
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Posted: 12/15/2020 4:31:11 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I laughed, but that's just cruel! Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: You weren't alone by any stretch. I remember a few of the guys in my class struggling at Victory Pond and test in the pool at Benning, but I don't remember anyone having any real difficulties when we were down in Eglin. Seeing gators cruising around right before a river/stream crossing. Good times. Those were great days. Victory Pond is the only place I remember guys having problems. By the time we got to Florida we were to fried to care about anything except lasting the last 2 weeks. That was the longest two weeks of my life I believe. I didn't struggle at anything thank GOD no more than anyone else. I just did not like rowing out into the gulf of Mexico and getting out of that rb-15 into the water. They had a boat with a tower and a guy armed with a rifle in it I remember. I knew what it was for too. It was about 50 meters from us. Lol. That was class 10-80 I was 18. I didn't even think about "being fried" but that is a very good point. I think I was on cruise control when I got graded for my "major go" the first night in Florida Phase...Platoon Sergeant to police all my Classmates off the DZ. What asspain! Holy shit, that reminds me of a great story! Lol! When I was a Third Phase BUD/S Instructor (I would have been the reptile nerd at 6th RTB teaching the reptile classes in a heartbeat if I could have) when we would get the incoming BUD/S Class at San Clemente Island, we'd have them watch a film called "The Red Triangle" about great Whites around the Channel Islands, and then give a tour of the camp placing great emphasis on all the sea lion bones scattered across the beach by the camp. That night the students are tasked with only a one mile night ocean swim. I'd make a big deal out of making sure the Class grabbed me an M-4 and NODs from the armory and launch a Zodiac from the beach as a safety boat, making sure they knew that I'd be out in the boat as a safety precaution for "large predators". When the Class was about halfway done with the mile swim that snaked between the sea lion colony on "Bird Rock" back to the camp (I could tell since each swim pair had a chemlight for safety purposes), I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! I laughed, but that's just cruel! It's called BUD/S. It only sucks once...from beginning to end... 
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Posted: 12/15/2020 5:07:53 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I can't do that with my gear. Sidemount? Long hose? What is that extra hose? Drysuit inflator. Why is your one reg on a necklace? I even dive a long hose single tank with a BP/W. My gear confuses the standard recreational diver. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I'm sure it does. That and the whole vacation diver reputation on top. I am one though, living where I live. I get about 100 dives a year in as a purely recreational diver, and always warm water! More than once I've observed someone struggling with gear assembly in the morning (I make it a habit of watching everyone on my boat before dives the first few days) and what I have taken to doing is asking them to check my gear for me as a second set of eyes, and then they usually ask for a return if they are still struggling to get their gear put together. Usually people respond pretty well to that. I can't do that with my gear. Sidemount? Long hose? What is that extra hose? Drysuit inflator. Why is your one reg on a necklace? I even dive a long hose single tank with a BP/W. My gear confuses the standard recreational diver. |
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Posted: 12/16/2020 1:09:38 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'd face out to sea and rip off a magazine of rifle rounds. You'd see the chemlights stop swimming, register "oh shit!" and then start kicking out FAST! Lol! Was the fastest swim they did the whole six months of training. Lol! You're an asshole, LOL! I would've shit myself. |
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Posted: 12/16/2020 3:49:00 AM EDT
[#26]
Jason Voorhees statue at the bottom of crystal lake
https://www.reddit.com/r/thalassophobia/comments/kdzl4w/jason_voorhees_statue_chained_to_the_bottom_of/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 12:32:57 PM EDT
[#27]
Bump.
Certainly nothing compared to the majority of these stories, but somewhere I have a picture of a 6'+ barracuda taken just feet away from me with one of those shitty underwater disposable cameras back in the mid 90's. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 1:30:15 PM EDT
[#28]
MOAR PORN.
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Posted: 12/17/2020 1:40:07 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Bump. Certainly nothing compared to the majority of these stories, but somewhere I have a picture of a 6'+ barracuda taken just feet away from me with one of those shitty underwater disposable cameras back in the mid 90's. Barracuda are cool. 
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Posted: 12/17/2020 2:39:13 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Nothing to crazy. In the reef looking in different holes and cracks in the coral and see a big eye looking back at me. Turned out to be a huge eel with big teeth and decided to let me have a close look for my trouble. I got back away from it as best I could without putting my hands in front of me. They like fingers apparently. Yeah. Visiting Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, I snorkled through a channel in the reef and looked back and a large moray eel had come out of it's hiding spot to check things out; I found a different path back. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 2:43:45 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yeah. Visiting Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, I snorkled through a channel in the reef and looked back and a large moray eel had come out of it's hiding spot to check things out; I found a different path back. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Nothing to crazy. In the reef looking in different holes and cracks in the coral and see a big eye looking back at me. Turned out to be a huge eel with big teeth and decided to let me have a close look for my trouble. I got back away from it as best I could without putting my hands in front of me. They like fingers apparently. Yeah. Visiting Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, I snorkled through a channel in the reef and looked back and a large moray eel had come out of it's hiding spot to check things out; I found a different path back. The Dragon Moray in Hawaii is super cool. They do seem reluctant to come out of their holes in the coral.  I've gotten pretty close to morays for photos, and they generally seem pretty chill as long as you don't move suddenly or get right up in their face. (Sorry for spamming the thread with photos, but I figure some of the non-divers might enjoy them  )       
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Posted: 12/17/2020 2:46:54 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: (Sorry for spamming the thread with photos, but I figure some of the non-divers might enjoy them )I certainly do.
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Posted: 12/17/2020 2:54:55 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Bump. Certainly nothing compared to the majority of these stories, but somewhere I have a picture of a 6'+ barracuda taken just feet away from me with one of those shitty underwater disposable cameras back in the mid 90's. I drifted nose to nose with a 4-5 foot barracuda in Coz years ago. The other divers were chasing fish all over but I just drifted through. He was at my depth straight ahead and when I got within 5 feet of him he just drifted backward. All I did was cover my wedding ring. We drifted for about 50 feet then he just went around me. Beautiful fish. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 2:59:36 PM EDT
[#34]
FUCK.
THE. OCEAN. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 2:59:41 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The Dragon Moray in Hawaii is super cool. They do seem reluctant to come out of their holes in the coral. I've gotten pretty close to morays for photos, and they generally seem pretty chill as long as you don't move suddenly or get right up in their face. (Sorry for spamming the thread with photos, but I figure some of the non-divers might enjoy them )https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9306.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9317.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9319.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9323.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9325.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/11788.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20749.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20750.JPG Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Nothing to crazy. In the reef looking in different holes and cracks in the coral and see a big eye looking back at me. Turned out to be a huge eel with big teeth and decided to let me have a close look for my trouble. I got back away from it as best I could without putting my hands in front of me. They like fingers apparently. Yeah. Visiting Hanauma Bay in Hawaii, I snorkled through a channel in the reef and looked back and a large moray eel had come out of it's hiding spot to check things out; I found a different path back. The Dragon Moray in Hawaii is super cool. They do seem reluctant to come out of their holes in the coral. I've gotten pretty close to morays for photos, and they generally seem pretty chill as long as you don't move suddenly or get right up in their face. (Sorry for spamming the thread with photos, but I figure some of the non-divers might enjoy them )https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9306.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9317.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9319.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9323.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9325.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/11788.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20749.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20750.JPG Awesome photos! Inadvertently came face to face with a moray while snorkeling amongst corals during low tide. Less than arms length away when it popped it's head out of its hidey hole. Yeah, that was a really cautious backing away, while mentally cursing at the waves that were pushing me to and fro. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 3:39:40 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The Dragon Moray in Hawaii is super cool. They do seem reluctant to come out of their holes in the coral. I've gotten pretty close to morays for photos, and they generally seem pretty chill as long as you don't move suddenly or get right up in their face. (Sorry for spamming the thread with photos, but I figure some of the non-divers might enjoy them )https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9306.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9317.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9319.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9323.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9325.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/11788.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20749.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20750.JPG 
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Posted: 12/17/2020 3:46:35 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Not necessarily diving related, but crocs and gators are very much "not cool" when you are in their environment and potentially part of the food chain. We used to have a training area down in the Canal Zone in Panama. You'd shine your flashlight along the shore and see dozens of eyes shining back at you from the water...the same water you were just crossing through up to your chest just a few hours before. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 4:03:41 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted: They generally aren't aggressive and will typically leave an area when humans get too close. I was standing on a pier on Tybee Island last summer watching guys pulling small black tips out of the water just a short ways down the beach from swimmers. Those were just the little ones that didn't break the line. A lot of people have been a whole lot closer to sharks than they'll probably every know. Fortunately for us we just aren't appetizing to them. I'm generally 100x more concerned about jellies than sharks when I'm swimming at the beach. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: fuck the ocean. I'll go out waist deep. THAT IS IT! There's still things that can eat you at that depth. Indeed. Sand sharks anyone? I've seen those suckers parked in knee-deep water by the shoreline. They generally aren't aggressive and will typically leave an area when humans get too close. I was standing on a pier on Tybee Island last summer watching guys pulling small black tips out of the water just a short ways down the beach from swimmers. Those were just the little ones that didn't break the line. A lot of people have been a whole lot closer to sharks than they'll probably every know. Fortunately for us we just aren't appetizing to them. I'm generally 100x more concerned about jellies than sharks when I'm swimming at the beach. Having flown a small plane along the Florida coast, I assume that anytime I'm in the water at the beach, there are sharks within fifty yards. If not fifty feet. Fortunately, the vast majority only care to stay out of our way. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 4:26:36 PM EDT
[#39]
After almost 50 years as a certified diver, I've got my share of "moments".
A few: 17 years old, diving in central IL lakes, ponds and rivers. Surfaced once in Lake Shelbyville to find a fucking water moccasin swimming 4 feet from me. INSTANT submerge! On Okinawa, diving off Seragaki, I swam over the top of a coral head and kissed a moray that was coming over from the opposite side. I dunno who was more surprised. 1st stage freeze at 80'... after exhaling. That was a fun ESA that I honestly thought I was gonna die. More sharks than I can shake a speargun at. Had one of the sumbitches bite my catch bag as it was going back up the float... 5' away. Solo diving in a CA kelp bed (I've been solo diving LONG before it became a "thing" that the cert agencies could scam money for), had a damn harbor seal that thought I was it's new play toy. Fucker wouldn't leave me alone. Ice diving in IL, had the entry hole ice over because the asshole that was supposed to keep it clear got cold, got in the truck and fell asleep. Luckily the ice wasn't real thick and my buddy and I were able to chip a hole big enough to let us break through. The 'tender' got some tender treatment afterwards. Got caught in a ghost net off the CA coast in a kelp bed. Fucking thing weighed so much, I couldn't surface, no matter what I tried. Ended up sawing my way free, with help from my buddy and surfaced on my Spare Air. Learned to NEVER, EVER have a dull dive knife again. Got stuck in a hole chasing bugs and had to strip out of my gear to get out. My buddy said I looked like a snake shedding it's skin, I was wiggling around so much. I've had a lotta fun diving over the years and when I was younger, probably shoulda died because of some of the stupid shit I did; but I didn't and now I'm at the point where I can say "Nope, y'all have fun." when others want to do them. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 6:29:57 PM EDT
[#40]
Night diving in Belize with HUGE Tarpon.. The sit right behind/beside you like big puppies.. Didn't seem to mind being touched. Faster than you can comprehend, they hit ANY shiny reflection in your light. It was fun to hunt with them.
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Posted: 12/17/2020 8:03:00 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Night diving in Belize with HUGE Tarpon.. The sit right behind/beside you like big puppies.. Didn't seem to mind being touched. Faster than you can comprehend, they hit ANY shiny reflection in your light. It was fun to hunt with them. Tarpon would be cool to see. In Roatan we had grouper follow us around like that. Every diver had one trailing waiting for us to scare out food. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 9:05:33 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I drifted nose to nose with a 4-5 foot barracuda in Coz years ago. The other divers were chasing fish all over but I just drifted through. He was at my depth straight ahead and when I got within 5 feet of him he just drifted backward. All I did was cover my wedding ring. We drifted for about 50 feet then he just went around me. Beautiful fish. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Bump. Certainly nothing compared to the majority of these stories, but somewhere I have a picture of a 6'+ barracuda taken just feet away from me with one of those shitty underwater disposable cameras back in the mid 90's. I drifted nose to nose with a 4-5 foot barracuda in Coz years ago. The other divers were chasing fish all over but I just drifted through. He was at my depth straight ahead and when I got within 5 feet of him he just drifted backward. All I did was cover my wedding ring. We drifted for about 50 feet then he just went around me. Beautiful fish. Haha. My story happened in Cozumel too. I was snorkeling though. There was a boat sunk just just offshore from the hotel and shallow enough to where you could swim down to it with only a snorkel and fins. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 9:15:07 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: After almost 50 years as a certified diver, I've got my share of "moments". A few: 17 years old, diving in central IL lakes, ponds and rivers. Surfaced once in Lake Shelbyville to find a fucking water moccasin swimming 4 feet from me. INSTANT submerge! On Okinawa, diving off Seragaki, I swam over the top of a coral head and kissed a moray that was coming over from the opposite side. I dunno who was more surprised. 1st stage freeze at 80'... after exhaling. That was a fun ESA that I honestly thought I was gonna die. More sharks than I can shake a speargun at. Had one of the sumbitches bite my catch bag as it was going back up the float... 5' away. Solo diving in a CA kelp bed (I've been solo diving LONG before it became a "thing" that the cert agencies could scam money for), had a damn harbor seal that thought I was it's new play toy. Fucker wouldn't leave me alone. Ice diving in IL, had the entry hole ice over because the asshole that was supposed to keep it clear got cold, got in the truck and fell asleep. Luckily the ice wasn't real thick and my buddy and I were able to chip a hole big enough to let us break through. The 'tender' got some tender treatment afterwards. Got caught in a ghost net off the CA coast in a kelp bed. Fucking thing weighed so much, I couldn't surface, no matter what I tried. Ended up sawing my way free, with help from my buddy and surfaced on my Spare Air. Learned to NEVER, EVER have a dull dive knife again. Got stuck in a hole chasing bugs and had to strip out of my gear to get out. My buddy said I looked like a snake shedding it's skin, I was wiggling around so much. I've had a lotta fun diving over the years and when I was younger, probably shoulda died because of some of the stupid shit I did; but I didn't and now I'm at the point where I can say "Nope, y'all have fun." when others want to do them. Water dogs are cool as hell. I’ve scratched a few behind the ear while spear fishing along the central coast jetties. Sharks are plentiful. Saw a juvenile white shark by Target Rock in Morro Bay. 6’ or so. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 9:15:28 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted: No stories, but I've always been fascinated by caves in Florida. Supposedly extremely dangerous to dive in them as they can be incredibly complex to navigate. They are. My grandmother had a house on Merritts Mill Pond which is a Mecca for cave diving. People die there every year it seems. They get back in the caves, get silted up and disoriented and run out of air. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 9:40:27 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: They are. My grandmother had a house on Merritts Mill Pond which is a Mecca for cave diving. People die there every year it seems. They get back in the caves, get silted up and disoriented and run out of air. That’s why you get training. People go into the caves who have no business being there. They don’t have the proper gear or training or dive beyond their training/experience. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 10:04:33 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Either 118 or 128’ it’s been a while. Most of my best dives were 30’ or so. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: This thread is interesting as shit. Thanks to all the divers for sharing their experience of a world few of us ever see. Just curious, what is the greatest depth to which you guys have gone? Either 118 or 128’ it’s been a while. Most of my best dives were 30’ or so. I’ve hit 135’. Not that enjoyable. Bottom time is limited and much more stressful. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 10:09:49 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I am only moderately experienced in scuba and free diving, but have never heard of not having a "dive buddy". Supposed to dive with a buddy but a lot don’t. I’ve done a lot of spear fishing in 90’-120’ without a buddy or separated from a buddy. Not the smartest thing in the world. |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 10:41:08 PM EDT
[#48]
Peter Benchley “beast” is one of my favorites.
When I was a kid my folks took us on a family vacation to the Cayman Islands. I was a total fish growing up so we did a snorkeling tour on one of those big party boats. I was 12 years old. We were offshore at some big reef. I got bored of the shallow area so I slowly made my way to the deeper water following different fish. My parents stayed with my kid sister in the shallow area with the rest of the smart people. I was so immersed in all the amazing fish and colors I lost track of time. Next thing I know I look up and I’m a good 100 yards away from anyone else and all the tour boats are leaving.. the boat I came on was already on its way. I swam like heck and started shouting when I got close to another boat. Thankfully some guy saw me and told the captain to hold up and he yanked me out of the water. The captain radioed the hair I came on and told him to hang out while he had me swim over. I remember being so mad at my dad for leaving me in the water. How neither him nor my mom figured out I was still in the water still gets me to this day lol |
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Posted: 12/17/2020 10:49:27 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Peter Benchley “beast” is one of my favorites. When I was a kid my folks took us on a family vacation to the Cayman Islands. I was a total fish growing up so we did a snorkeling tour on one of those big party boats. I was 12 years old. We were offshore at some big reef. I got bored of the shallow area so I slowly made my way to the deeper water following different fish. My parents stayed with my kid sister in the shallow area with the rest of the smart people. I was so immersed in all the amazing fish and colors I lost track of time. Next thing I know I look up and I’m a good 100 yards away from anyone else and all the tour boats are leaving.. the boat I came on was already on its way. I swam like heck and started shouting when I got close to another boat. Thankfully some guy saw me and told the captain to hold up and he yanked me out of the water. The captain radioed the hair I came on and told him to hang out while he had me swim over. I remember being so mad at my dad for leaving me in the water. How neither him nor my mom figured out I was still in the water still gets me to this day lol I guess your discovered who their favorite child was. Seriously, though - that's actually a pretty scary story. Glad it ended well.
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Posted: 12/18/2020 10:52:41 AM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The Dragon Moray in Hawaii is super cool. They do seem reluctant to come out of their holes in the coral. I've gotten pretty close to morays for photos, and they generally seem pretty chill as long as you don't move suddenly or get right up in their face. (Sorry for spamming the thread with photos, but I figure some of the non-divers might enjoy them )https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9306.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9317.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9319.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9323.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/9325.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/11788.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20749.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/1715/20750.JPG They always look like they just told a bad joke and are awaiting your reaction. |
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