Thread: Scuba Diving

Time to wake up an old thread.

I'm just back from a trip to Malta. I got in some nice scuba diving in St. Paul's bay.
The water was warm and clear, and I got to see an octopus up close.
When we came a little bit too close it squirted ink.
Sorry, I don't have any pictures.

The first time I tried scuba diving was outside Aalesund, Norway in 1994 or 95, that was way colder even in a dry suit.

Oh yes, SSI Scuba Diver.

Originally Posted by Otto

Time to wake up an old thread.

I'm just back from a trip to Malta. I got in some nice scuba diving in St. Paul's bay.
The water was warm and clear, and I got to see an octopus up close.
When we came a little bit too close it squirted ink.
Sorry, I don't have any pictures.

The first time I tried scuba diving was outside Aalesund, Norway in 1994 or 95, that was way colder even in a dry suit.

Oh yes, SSI Scuba Diver.

Congratulations! I hear that Malta and Gozo have some fantastic dive sites.

I got my PADI Adv. Open Water in 98/99. I haven't been down since 07/08. Before that, dove regularly in Southern California and Hawaii, some in Costa Rica (Pacific and Caribbean), Mexico and Florida. Hawaii was always spectacular - 200ft. vis, sharks, manta rays, dolphins, morays, turtles, and lots of weird little things. SoCal was always good training (low visibility, strong currents and surge to deal with), and interesting Pacific coast wildlife like the garibaldi fish, groupers, sharks, squid, octopus, stonefish - and lots of silly seals!

I mostly used a 7mm wetsuit in SoCal and 3mm everywhere else. I still have a Black Diamond BCD, Mares first and second stages. Oceanic dive computer. Good set of masks and fins.
I'm planning a few dives in the Caribbean later this year. If I decide to seriously get back into it, I would want to upgrade my equipment. First off, by replacing the BCD with a harness and wings system. Much better streamlining, balance and buoyancy control. The reg is still okay, but I would get a newer second stage for sure. Finally, I would consider getting into a drysuit, even in temperate waters. On a cramped boat, in and out of a wetsuit, especially in cooler areas, is just a PITA...

I'm also attracted to try out free-diving down to 20m or so. It'll be a workout for my smoker lungs, but I hear that it's mostly about technique and relaxation. Might be a nice alternative to scuba in some places...

Originally Posted by HamburgO

I hear that Malta and Gozo have some fantastic dive sites.

Yes, their dive sites might be among the best in Europe. I hope I get the chance to dive in CA. WA and Hawaii at some point.

In October I got to spend another two weeks scuba diving based on Malta.

One of my favorite dive sites is Cirkewwa.


The picture is from a boat dive near St. Paul's Island.

Do any of you have experience with SCUBA diving around Bermuda?
Feel free to PM me or post in this thread.

Originally Posted by Otto

Do any of you have experience with SCUBA diving around Bermuda?
Feel free to PM me or post in this thread.

PM earcutter. He lived in the Caribbean for several years.

Anyone dive here? Just got certified last summer in MN.

Heck yeah! The wife and I are both certified.

Want to hear something kind of odd? My wife and I took sign language too so we could talk under water. It was awesome!

We live in Kansas now - not much diving going on, but she continued with signing.

Lots of divers I guess. I hope to get the wife up on it, she was going to be certified with me but we have to wait since we are expecting now. Hopefully sometime soon! The sign language thing is a good idea too.

I'm a PADI instructor and have done around 1500 dives! Love it love it love it!!!