Diving - Day 2 (136/365)

TIME: 3:30 PM
PLACE: Mermet Springs
SUBJECT: The Group

*~*~*

We finished off today with 2 dives.  The first dive we did compass navigation (a straight line out and back) and more stinkin' mask work (removal and replacement underwater - ugh!!!)  Once again, I powered through it and made it back up without too much struggle.

Me on the left, surviving the dive.

For the last dive, we swam above water across the quarry.  HH and I are bringing up the rear here.  If you look between us, you can see little red balls way out there in the quarry.  Look to the right of them - you can barely make out a white pole.

That's were we went.  

The Boeing 727 airplane form the movie "U.S. Marshals" is sunk there.  We descended with an instructor to explore around the fuselage.  The nose is at 50 feet, but we did not go down that far.  We only went to about 35' where there was a Jetski.  From there we made our way back past the Cessna (which I swam to yesterday) and then to the platforms by the primary dock.  It was a long swim in the murky water, but there were guidelines to follow and I had an instructor by my side and one just above me to make sure I went in the right direction and kept my buoyancy in the right spot.

I passed!  I am now Open Water Certified.

I am pretty proud of myself.
Yay me!!!

Diving - Day 1 (135/365)

 

TIME: 8:33 AM
PLACE: Mermet Springs, Belknap, IL
SUBJECT: View from the Deep Dock

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Well, since I am posting this, it means I made it through the 1st day of the certification.

I had a few moments of panic during the mask flooding and purge on the 20' platform; I inhaled water and thought I was drowning, but I kept faith in the respirator, calmed myself down and completed it.

The visibility in the water was not the best - it was maybe 3 feet at the most.  The instructor said he had only seen it worse than this one other time(!).  On the bright side, he also said that if we can do this in this water, then all our other dives will be a piece of cake.  Hmmmmm.

I did get to see some bass and bluegill swimming around me. They got very close, so that was cool.

The wife of one of the people in our group was kind enough to take many photos and text them to me.  This is HH and I checking each others gear before going down to the dock.

And here I am stepping off the dock - or am I walking on water?  You didn't know I was that divine did you?

Here is HH going in as well - he hovers though.

Day 2 tomorrow!

Jack Beans (134/365)

TIME: 4:24 PM
PLACE: Home Office
SUBJECT: Jack's paw

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Mr. Jack cannot jump up on my desk anymore because of his arthritis.

Instead, he enters the room and meows at me - very loudly too I might add. 

I pick him up and place him on the corner of my desk.

I like having him there.  Dirty little paws and all.

Pool (133/365)

TIME: 9:25 pm
PLACE: Sportsplex
SUBJECT: Pool

*~*~*

We had our last pool session tonight.

Next time we dive, it will be in the quarry for certification.

I can do this....right?

 

 

Wetsuited (132/365)

TIME: 12:18 PM
PLACE: Scuba World
SUBJECT: Me and HH

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We were fitted for our wetsuits to wear this weekend during our open water diving certification.

These are 7mm (1/4") suits - they are for water temps between 59 degrees and 68 degrees..

 

We will also be wearing gloves, booties and a hood.

I will still probably be cold.

Hooray for the Archives (131/365)

TIME: 11 May 2010, 6:31 PM
PLACE: Little League Fields
SUBJECT: Bleacher seats

*~*~*

I was not in the mood to take any pictures today.

Here is one from the archives instead.

Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days. 

 

Love You Tessa (130/365)

 

TIME: 8:11 AM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Tessa

*~*~*

We had to say goodbye to this sweet girl today.  Having her give us 17 years of head butts, purring, love, and resting bitch face made the goodbye all the more difficult.

StellaDella and Tessa grew up together and can't remember a time without her.  She is having a hard time with this.

We miss you so much already Tessa. You were the best girl. Even when you were grumpy.