OK lets hear of your great adventures. These land lubbers like to hear about the thing we enjoy.

I personally like diving the wrecks off the North Carolina Coast. Lucky me the Crystal Coast is also known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

I hope to be amongst the few who will be allowed to dive on Queen Anne's Revenge later this year. For those of you who do not know what the QAR is look her up on Google.

If you can stand the 4-6 foot seas (trans-derm scop is required) jumping off a dive boat off of NC is well worth the trip..

More to come.. (stay tuned Byron) Diving picures are welcome here.

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

Scuba duba doo.

Make sure you can swim LOL

> Make sure you can swim LOL
>
>
>

No you need to know how to sink :)

Open Water Certification only requires you be be able to swim 200 meters. I always wonder what good that would do 18-32 MILES out to sea and your dive boat just became part of the artificial reef program...

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

Links to some of the many possible diving opportunities in Scotland

Scapa Flow German Fleet
Away from the Fleet
Official Site
The Scottish Sub Aqua Club

Enjoy, be safe, and only leave behind bubbles!

Willie

> Links to some of the many possible diving opportunities in Scotland
>
> Scapa Flow German Fleet
> Away from the Fleet
> Official Site
> The Scottish Sub Aqua
> Club
>
> Enjoy, be safe, and only leave behind bubbles!
>
> Willie
>
>

Thanks Willie I will add these to my list of Diving links. I'll be updating the diving portion of my web site soon and might as well start adding links such as these..

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

March 11th, 1940 a German Submarine was laid down. In Aug 28th 1941 she was commissioned the U-352 under the command of Kptlt. Hellmut Rathke. She set sail for four months of training her crew.

Under Kptlt. Hellmut Rathke command she had not suffered a single lost during training. His crew thought him and arrogant commander, but I guess a safe one.

On Jan 1st 1942 she started her combat career as the lead sub in a wolfpack heading toward North Carolina. From January to May 9th 1942 she had yet to sink or damage a single enemy vessel. On Evening May 9th the paths of the U-352 and the Coast Guard Cutter USS Icarus crossed. Kptlt. Hellmut Rathke ordered his crew to battle stations and fired a torpedeo on the Icarus know full well he was in shallow water. The Torpedeo exploded prematurely. The Icarus was already at battle stations and dropped deep charges. With it's pumps failing Kptlt. Hellmut Rathke ordered his boat to the surface and ordered his crew to abandon ship. The Icarus continued to fire until is was seen that the U-352 was sinking. Sounding were taken he the screws of the U-352 were heard. The Captain of the Icarus ordered more deep charges and the U-352's career was ended. Fifteen members of her crew parished that day and it was the first recorded losses for the U-352.

Today the U-352 is probably the most popular dive site in North Carolina. She sits in 120-124 feet of water, 28 nautical miles East of Cape Lookout. Her conning tower rises to 95 feet. She is mainly intact except the outside hull has long rusted away. Yet her marking are still visible. She list 45 degrees to her port side. Depending on the currents you can see an unexploded depth charge directly under her tower. The aquatic life around her is abundant and she is where the first Lion Fish in the Atlantic Ocean were spotted. Many times I have dove on the U-352 and marveled at the Sand Tigers circling her as if guarding her from some unknown threat.

Her legacy lives on even if she is now the home of Flounder, Jacks, Groupers and Sand Tigers...

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

You know what is .4 kilometers in diameter, almost perfectly round and drops to a depth of 145 meters?

The Great Blue Hole in Belize

You start out this dive in the shallow water around the hole. Once acclimated to the water and everyone is able to clear their ears and drop over the side and fall into the abyss. At 130 feet you spread your arm like a parachutist to stop your desent and guide into the wall. You make your way behind the stalactites that desend another 30-40 feet before they come to a point. You swim amongst them for 8 minutes and then it's time to ascend back to the real world.

On your way day you see these forms rising to met you. As you and the form get closer to each other you realize what is coming to greet you are Black Tip and Bull Sharks. No need to panic, because they are heading straight toward you dive leader for they know he has food for them. After their feast they head off for the next party desending their way.

If you look close at the wall you are swimming around you may just see the ancient writings. 50,000 years ago where you are was above water and people walked through the cave that one would find if they could venture to the bottom of this hole.

---

I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

Ohhhh I can't be the only Scuba Diver on this site..

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

> Ohhhh I can't be the only Scuba Diver on this site..
>
>
>

Hi,

i'm also a Scuba Diver for three years, living in Germany. Most time i diving at holidays. I was two time in egypt, one in portugal and last november i travel with a group of divers to bonaire.

brgds Wolf

> > Ohhhh I can't be the only Scuba Diver on this site..
> >
> >
> >
>
> Hi,
>
> i'm also a Scuba Diver for three years, living in Germany. Most time i diving
> at holidays. I was two time in egypt, one in portugal and last november i
> travel with a group of divers to bonaire.
>
> brgds Wolf
>

Hey Wolf,

If you would, please tell the group more about your dive adventures. I'd love to hear about Egypt and Portugal.. I know all about Bonaire :)

---

I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

> Hey Wolf,
>
> If you would, please tell the group more about your dive adventures. I'd
> love to hear about Egypt and Portugal.. I know all about Bonaire :)
>
>
>

Hello,

I learn diving in Germany in a lake, 62 Degrees Fahrenheit and I can see betwenn 6 and 8 ft, so i was very happy when the next dive was in Egypt.
You flight to Egypt in 4 hours from Germany and there are 4 cities where a lot of divers travel to, Sharm el Sheik, Marsa Alam, Safaga and Hurghada. We are two times in Hurghada. There are a lot of diving centers also with german speaking guides. There are over 20 near Hurghada with a lot of fish. The most time you travel with boats to the dive spots, so it is very easy. Only three steps and you can go into the water.

bgrds
Wolf

> Hello,
>
> I learn diving in Germany in a lake, 62 Degrees Fahrenheit and I can see
> betwenn 6 and 8 ft, so i was very happy when the next dive was in Egypt.

I was certified in the Florida Springs Area. The water there is a constant 70 degs F and super clear. My first open water dive was actually in Devils Den. Devil's Den is a sink hole that fell through to the Florida Aquafier. Great dive if you like fossils and want to get a fairly safe taste of cave diving.

My real first Open Water dive was in the Rainbow River in Florida. This river is created by 5 huge springs and flows crystal clear. The deepest it gets is 22 feet, but it a really cool dive. Lots of fresh water fish (Small Mouth Bass, Alligator Gar, turtles).

From there we went to the Crystal River where the real fun was. Snorkelling with the Manatee was really cool. You have to snorkel with them because the bubbles scare them off. There is a spring in the river known as Big Spring and it goes to a depth of 45 feet. Around the spring you will find Sheep's Head, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpon (4-5 feet in length).

We do a night dive in Crystal River that will almost always find Manatee. Where we do the night dive you will find baby flounder by the hundreds.. These little guys are bite size :)

If you ever get to Florida you need to make the Florida Springs a stop on your diving tour.

---

I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I learn diving in Germany in a lake, 62 Degrees Fahrenheit and I can see
> > betwenn 6 and 8 ft, so i was very happy when the next dive was in Egypt.
>
>
> I was certified in the Florida Springs Area. The water there is a constant 70
> degs F and super clear. My first open water dive was actually in Devils Den.
> Devil's Den is a sink hole that fell through to the Florida Aquafier. Great
> dive if you like fossils and want to get a fairly safe taste of cave diving.
>
> My real first Open Water dive was in the Rainbow River in Florida. This river
> is created by 5 huge springs and flows crystal clear. The deepest it gets is
> 22 feet, but it a really cool dive. Lots of fresh water fish (Small Mouth
> Bass, Alligator Gar, turtles).
>
> From there we went to the Crystal River where the real fun was. Snorkelling
> with the Manatee was really cool. You have to snorkel with them because the
> bubbles scare them off. There is a spring in the river known as Big Spring
> and it goes to a depth of 45 feet. Around the spring you will find Sheep's
> Head, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpon (4-5 feet in length).
>
> We do a night dive in Crystal River that will almost always find Manatee.
> Where we do the night dive you will find baby flounder by the hundreds..
> These little guys are bite size :)
>
> If you ever get to Florida you need to make the Florida Springs a stop on your
> diving tour.
>
>
>
>
>

---

Marswolf

> >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I learn diving in Germany in a lake, 62 Degrees Fahrenheit and I can
> see
> > > betwenn 6 and 8 ft, so i was very happy when the next dive was in
> Egypt.
> >
> >
> > I was certified in the Florida Springs Area. The water there is a
> constant 70
> > degs F and super clear. My first open water dive was actually in Devils
> Den.
> > Devil's Den is a sink hole that fell through to the Florida Aquafier.
> Great
> > dive if you like fossils and want to get a fairly safe taste of cave
> diving.
> >
> > My real first Open Water dive was in the Rainbow River in Florida. This
> river
> > is created by 5 huge springs and flows crystal clear. The deepest it
> gets is
> > 22 feet, but it a really cool dive. Lots of fresh water fish (Small
> Mouth
> > Bass, Alligator Gar, turtles).
> >
> > From there we went to the Crystal River where the real fun was.
> Snorkelling
> > with the Manatee was really cool. You have to snorkel with them because
> the
> > bubbles scare them off. There is a spring in the river known as Big
> Spring
> > and it goes to a depth of 45 feet. Around the spring you will find
> Sheep's
> > Head, Mangrove Snapper, Tarpon (4-5 feet in length).
> >
> > We do a night dive in Crystal River that will almost always find Manatee.
>
> > Where we do the night dive you will find baby flounder by the hundreds..
>
> > These little guys are bite size :)
> >
> > If you ever get to Florida you need to make the Florida Springs a stop on
> your
> > diving tour.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>Try to get to Wakulla Springs. It's the world's deepest spring and crystal clear. Many of the "Weissmuller" Tarzan movies were filmed there. BTW, you'll need special permission to dive there. It is the most beautiful spring that I know of... and I've dived into many... ask me, and I may tell 'ya about a few in N. Fla. that are just not ANY maps...

---

Marswolf

> >Try to get to Wakulla Springs. It's the world's deepest spring and crystal
> clear. Many of the "Weissmuller" Tarzan movies were filmed there. BTW, you'll
> need special permission to dive there. It is the most beautiful spring that I
> know of... and I've dived into many... ask me, and I may tell 'ya about a few
> in N. Fla. that are just not ANY maps...
>

I am asking :)

---

I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

>
> > >Try to get to Wakulla Springs. It's the world's deepest spring and
> crystal
> > clear. Many of the "Weissmuller" Tarzan movies were filmed there. BTW,
> you'll
> > need special permission to dive there. It is the most beautiful spring
> that I
> > know of... and I've dived into many... ask me, and I may tell 'ya about a
> few
> > in N. Fla. that are just not ANY maps...
> >
>
> I am asking :)
>
>
OK... BTW: Do 'ya like diving sinks? There are a $%#! load of 'em in the Wakulla/Leon Counties area. Look for Big Dismal, Little Dismal, and a really fun one, River Sink (it's an extended spring/sinkhole that looks like a river, even though it's spring-fed.) There is a light sulfur type of spring just north of Newport that used to be a spa (shallow). There is a spring that is the headwater of the St. Marks river called Three-Hole (Because the entryway is a short vertical drop through one of three holes in the ground. Try some of those, and I'll tell 'ya about some of the unmarked deep boys... even one that empties into the gulf, and is quite surprising!>

---

Marswolf

> >
> >
> OK... BTW: Do 'ya like diving sinks? There are a $%#! load of 'em in the
> Wakulla/Leon Counties area. Look for Big Dismal, Little Dismal, and a really
> fun one, River Sink (it's an extended spring/sinkhole that looks like a river,
> even though it's spring-fed.) There is a light sulfur type of spring just
> north of Newport that used to be a spa (shallow). There is a spring that is
> the headwater of the St. Marks river called Three-Hole (Because the entryway
> is a short vertical drop through one of three holes in the ground. Try some of
> those, and I'll tell 'ya about some of the unmarked deep boys... even one that
> empties into the gulf, and is quite surprising!>
>

Deepest one I have been in to date is Paradise Cove. At 100' there is an entrance to go deeper to only enter if you are cave certified. I dive the wrecks off of North Carolina and I am trained to penerate them, but I won't go past that sign. Penetrating wrecks and cave diving are two different animals..

I may one day get cave certified, but I am thinking that Tech Diving is on my next "Need to get trained" list. I want to dive on the USS Saratoga and she sits in a 175' to 195. Her deck is 140' If I ever get a chance I'd love to dive on the Monitor, but she is at 240'

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I'd rather speak my mind because it hurts too much to bite my tongue.

American Spirit BBQ Proudly Serving those that courageously defend freedom.

My urge to submerge is getting the best of me so May 28 and May 29th I will be diving off the Coast of North Carolina.

Pictures to follow.. :)