Diving the Keys - 4-5 April 2009

Five club members made the trip to Key Largo this past weekend and dove with Capt Slate's Atlantis Dive Center. We did shallow reefs on both days which included Elbow Reef and City of Washington Wreck. The divers were Art LaRue, Billy Schofield, Marshall Gross, Vera Thomas and me J. J. The water visibility was good, running about 30 feet and water temp was great, a very comfortable 77 degrees plus there was no waves a very flat ocean. Both days we were on boats that had new divers finishing up their basic course. That was interesting to watch and listen to the new divers. Underwater we had a great time. Saw lots of lobsters and they were not the small type but the big put them in a pot kind. The reefs and wreck had their share of angle fish, sergeant majors, yellow tails, and many more. The occasional barracuda patrol through to see if we were being careful on his reef. On Sunday, we five were first off the boat and almost landed on top of a 12 foot nurse shark. We had the nurse all to ourselves for a couple of minutes but she was late for the Capt Slate's feeding on the City of Washington. The new divers (students) really had a good time touching the nurse (from the dorsal fin back) and watching the large grouper cruise through for his taste of the hand-outs. The five of us really enjoyed getting back to the Keys for diving and from what I hear there may be another trip to the Keys schedule in August. Remember if we have 10 or more divers on board we control the boat for diving locations.

22 March Dive at Troy Springs State Park

Well club members we didn't have a very good showing for our first try at spring diving. Monster and Annette Molyneux were the only club members to meet up with J. J. and Vera at VyStar. We got to the spring about 1015 am and were met by Marshall Gross. Along with Marshall in the parking lot was a 60 passenger bus from a college up in Georgia. The good thing was that they were finishing up their dive and leaving. Within minutes of their departure two pickup trucks towing trailers arrived from Georgia with their 20 students. To say the spring was a little crowded was an understatement. We all (Jax Dive Club) got suited up and down to the water. The visibility was still good (over 70 ft) and we had a very enjoyable 1st dive. J. J. and Vera went back in for a 2nd dive with their student and the spring was a visibility disaster. Went out to the remains of the steamboat Madison and saw a lot of mullet. We ate lunch after the 2nd dive and enjoyed the company and surroundings. Hope we get a better turn out next month.

Diving at Troy Springs State Park - Mar 6, 2009

Marshall, Vera and J. J. went over to Troy Springs on Friday, 6 Mar. We arrived about 1100am and we were all by ourselves in the parking lot. We got suited up - the dry suiters were all warm and grinning from ear to ear as I, J. J., worked my way into my wet suit. The water level is up about 3 feet so getting into the spring is very easy going down the steps and into the water. The next time you club members see Marshall ask him about zipping your fly before going diving. The visibility was wonderful - 80 feet straight to the bottom. Saw some very large soft shell turtles in the hole but not many fish. J. J. got hungry so we ended the dive and went up to the truck for a snack. Got back into the water but this time only Vera and J. J. We swam out to the floats that block the entrance into the spring and there we saw the biggest alligator gar that I have seen at Troy. The number of gar was something in the number of 30 plus. From the picture you can see the number and size. We continued to see large turtles - size of metal trash can lids. We had two great dives and enjoyed our time out in country. Hope you club divers can join us on Sunday, 22 Mar at Troy Springs.

Guess Who Went Diving Today?

Well dive club members - the oldest Club member, Marshall Gross, went diving at the Blue Hole at Ichetucknee State Park. We departed the Lake Asbury area at 9am and arrived about 1015am. Marshall handled the 1/4 mile walk in fine style - helped push the cart that Vera was pulling. Got to the Blue Hole and almost got in before another team of divers but J.J. took a longer time than usual to adjust to the 70 degree water. Both Vera and Marshall were in their very warm DUI dry suits while J.J. had rubber to fight off the water temperature. Made a gentle descent and got into the cavern about 1145. Made a nice 60 minute dive but didn't find any great treasures. Marshall tried out a new pair of fins - not sure what the final outcome will be - there could be a one time used set of fins for sale at the next club meeting. We all thoroughly enjoyed the time underwater and for a short period all of our combined pains and problems were taken away. It's getting close to the warmer dive season and I hope to see more reports in the future. J.J.

Dive the Blue Hole at Ich State Park - Jan 28, 2009

Well after being under the weather for over two months and the very cold weather this past month a dive was going to be made. We took the lazy man and woman approach and got up at a retired human time and left the house about 945 am. We got to the Ich State Park around 1100 am by the time we unpacked and walked the 1/4 mile to the spring and got dressed we were in the water by 100 pm. Vera said the water was very comfortable at 70 degrees - I said it was damn cold (especially with a wet suit). It took me about 2 minutes to get semi-comfortable. Dropped down through the opening in the ceiling and tied off outside the cave and went in for our first dive of 2009. Looked all over the bottom for some type of treasure but didn't find anything. Saw a couple of good size catfish. After an hour we made our ascent and I was happy to get into the sun's beams.
Oh, we did have a surface watcher - a 6 ft brown water snake - he was smart he didn't go in the water. We have talked with the old guy Marshall and we may be making another trip to the Blue Hole in a week or two (if it warms up (at least 70 degrees) and the sun is out). Vera will see you all at the meeting on Wednesday, 4 February. J. J. and Vera Thomas

NASJAX Scuba Divers at DOG Day

On November 8th and 9th club members journeyed down to Manatee Springs State Park to try diving in DUI Dry Suits. Members in attendance on either Sat or Sun were John and Debbie DeRemer, Ed Fite, Margie Johnson, Kathy and Mitch Maxson, H. F. and Annette Molyneux, Janet Molyneaux and Rick Reckert. Three other club members were there on Saturday and that was Marshall Gross, Vera Thomas, and J. J. Thomas; who were assisting divers in trying DUI dry suits. From all reports that I have received, everyone had a good time and some were really interested in becoming dry suit divers. Others enjoyed the experience but for the time will stay with their trusty wet suit. The diving conditions were perfect for dry suit diving; the air temp was comfortable with the wind giving a nice cooling effect on divers before and after their dive. Lunch was provided and was served from 11 am to 2 pm. I'll leave the individual tales to be told at the Christmas party. The photos were taken on Saturday and show some happy faces. Regards, J. J. and Vera

Vera and J.J. Fun Dive

We finally had a free day to go and do a dive just for us. Didn't have any one along and no one to look after. We headed for Peacock Springs State Park to do some serious cave diving. We arrive and there was only one car in the parking lot. We got suited up and hit the water. The water is so low it is dark and reddish down to about 17 feet and a nice 84 degrees. Once you enter the cave that all changes - clear water (60+ feet vis) and 70 degrees. We headed down the permanent line to the lower tunnel. Just past the sign we went around the corner and tied off our reel and went right down a new tunnel. We have only done this one once before. Went back about 150 feet and found the vertical shaft that drops down to 80 feet from 60 feet. At that point we saw an albino shrimp and continued on, now going to our left down a tunnel we have not been in before. We saw the remains of a turtle (shell only) must have been a good 3 feet across when it was alive. Continued on until we ran out of line on our reel. Head back without any problems, did a deco on 51 mix at 40 feet for a minute then on to 20 feet for 5 minutes. It was a great dive and we really enjoy ourselves. J. J. and Vera Thomas