Post by ScubaAdmin on Sept 15, 2002 14:31:12 GMT -5
DRY TORTUGAS OCTOBER 3-6
Up to eight dives a day, beautiful location, great visibility, and lots of marine life are a
few of the reasons this fourth trip aboard The Ultimate Getaway won’t be my last. (For
details on diving the Dry Tortugas, please see this month’s Featured Dive Location.) Not
only is the lobstering and spearfishing first rate, the dive sites are more than large
enough to accommodate hunters and non-hunters alike. And for the first time, our club
will do two dives in the Dry Tortugas National Park.
The Ultimate Getaway is 100’ long, and carries 20 divers pampered by five
crewmembers. Our boat will depart Fort Myers at 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 3. Service starts
12 hours later, 150 miles away, with a “wakeup and dive, dive, dive” call. This is the
pace for the next 2½ days: Mark the board so everyone knows whether you are in or out
of the water, and unscrew the first stage from your tank when you want a fill. A meal or
hot snack is usually ready before you’ve finished toweling off after a dive. While you fill
your stomach and swap stories with your buds, Capt. Rick is raising anchor to motor off
to the next site while the rest of the crew fills tanks, asks you about your dive, etc. By
the time you are back in your wetsuit the crew is crying out “dive, dive, dive” again.
Extra energy at the end of the day? The night dive should do the trick. For people who
still don’t need rest, the chessboard, videos, TV and VCR keeps noisy people in the
galley or out on deck so sane folks can get some rest down below. You provide your
own alcohol, but that first sip signifies you are done diving for the day. Big jugs of water
and juice are kept cold and full, fountain dispensers tap several popular sodas, and a
bottomless supply of cookies, pretzels and candy bars should tide you over between the
frequent meals.
Following dinner on Saturday, the boat heads for Sunday’s wakeup dive: the Baja
California, about 60 miles towards Fort Myers. The next (and final) dive of the trip is a
naval communications tower about four miles away. After that, lunch is the only
remaining sponsored activity distracting you from naps, socializing and policing your
gear. After returning to port around 5 pm, the crew actually cleans your fish and lobster
while you load up your stuff for the drive home.
Four private heads with showers, plenty of hot water and air conditioning fit for penguins
makes for an easy transition between fun-filled days and relaxing nights. The smallest
bunkrooms hold four persons, and a lack of doors means limited privacy during those
hours you’re too tired to do anything but sleep, anyway. Cost is $530 for club members,
$550 for non-members, including weights, tanks and air fills. Add $10 total if you want
nitrox. Feel free to bring your own (i.e. bigger) tank.
Misc. info: UW scooters, spearguns and other fun toys welcome. No fishing license
required (Capt. Rick carries a boat license). Huge cooler on board with plenty of ice for
packing all the fish we can catch. Absolutely bring: Sheets, warm blanket, pillow,
towels, C-cards, your own alcoholic beverages.
P.S. This trip goes better with nitrox, so why put off certification any longer?
Still need more information? Check out www.ultimategetaway.net.
Want to sign up? Contact Peter Raymond, peter@praymond.net, 407-963-7771.
Up to eight dives a day, beautiful location, great visibility, and lots of marine life are a
few of the reasons this fourth trip aboard The Ultimate Getaway won’t be my last. (For
details on diving the Dry Tortugas, please see this month’s Featured Dive Location.) Not
only is the lobstering and spearfishing first rate, the dive sites are more than large
enough to accommodate hunters and non-hunters alike. And for the first time, our club
will do two dives in the Dry Tortugas National Park.
The Ultimate Getaway is 100’ long, and carries 20 divers pampered by five
crewmembers. Our boat will depart Fort Myers at 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 3. Service starts
12 hours later, 150 miles away, with a “wakeup and dive, dive, dive” call. This is the
pace for the next 2½ days: Mark the board so everyone knows whether you are in or out
of the water, and unscrew the first stage from your tank when you want a fill. A meal or
hot snack is usually ready before you’ve finished toweling off after a dive. While you fill
your stomach and swap stories with your buds, Capt. Rick is raising anchor to motor off
to the next site while the rest of the crew fills tanks, asks you about your dive, etc. By
the time you are back in your wetsuit the crew is crying out “dive, dive, dive” again.
Extra energy at the end of the day? The night dive should do the trick. For people who
still don’t need rest, the chessboard, videos, TV and VCR keeps noisy people in the
galley or out on deck so sane folks can get some rest down below. You provide your
own alcohol, but that first sip signifies you are done diving for the day. Big jugs of water
and juice are kept cold and full, fountain dispensers tap several popular sodas, and a
bottomless supply of cookies, pretzels and candy bars should tide you over between the
frequent meals.
Following dinner on Saturday, the boat heads for Sunday’s wakeup dive: the Baja
California, about 60 miles towards Fort Myers. The next (and final) dive of the trip is a
naval communications tower about four miles away. After that, lunch is the only
remaining sponsored activity distracting you from naps, socializing and policing your
gear. After returning to port around 5 pm, the crew actually cleans your fish and lobster
while you load up your stuff for the drive home.
Four private heads with showers, plenty of hot water and air conditioning fit for penguins
makes for an easy transition between fun-filled days and relaxing nights. The smallest
bunkrooms hold four persons, and a lack of doors means limited privacy during those
hours you’re too tired to do anything but sleep, anyway. Cost is $530 for club members,
$550 for non-members, including weights, tanks and air fills. Add $10 total if you want
nitrox. Feel free to bring your own (i.e. bigger) tank.
Misc. info: UW scooters, spearguns and other fun toys welcome. No fishing license
required (Capt. Rick carries a boat license). Huge cooler on board with plenty of ice for
packing all the fish we can catch. Absolutely bring: Sheets, warm blanket, pillow,
towels, C-cards, your own alcoholic beverages.
P.S. This trip goes better with nitrox, so why put off certification any longer?
Still need more information? Check out www.ultimategetaway.net.
Want to sign up? Contact Peter Raymond, peter@praymond.net, 407-963-7771.