Troop from Rochester, New York
More adventures from the Florida Sea Base liveaboard dive boat, the Schooner Conch Pearl.
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- A glimpse of below deck, peering down the ladder of the main companionway.
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- Megan briefs on how to signal air pressure under water.
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- Dave briefs on the “okay” signal
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- Denny describes the dive area.
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- Shuffling tanks between dives.
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- Changing out the tanks.
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- The guys work in teams of two while changing tanks to make the job a little easier on a heaving deck.
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- Eric seems to be on his own for changing his tank!
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- More swapping out empty air cyliners for full ones.
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- These guys are checking out a tape measure sticker that has images and limit sizes of various game fish.
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- Cheesing for the camera! Paul exhibits the latest Conch Pearl fashion–using performance winter thermals for jellyfish protection. Great Idea!
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- We use frisbees as our paper plate holders. Here the guys are cleaning them after dinner.
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- So, for the second week in a row, the fish have IGNORED us! David and Dave are putting on about a fish on the line! Wishful thinking, fellas!
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- But we still keep trying! Just like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play! Keep those lines in the water boys!
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- Getting ready to dive.
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- Jared dipping his mask to clear the defog coating.
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- Gearing up for the next dive.
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- Eric waiting for assistance with his tank.
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- Gearing up.
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- One guys sets down on the end of the dock box. A second fella picks up the tank/bcd and assists the diver into it. They then do their buddy checks together, and the diver is ready to deploy.
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- Cheerful guy, that Chris!
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- Some examples of diver apparel to protect skin from the infernal jellyfish.
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- I am ready for my tank, please!
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- Cleating the forsail halyard.
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- Preparing to hoist the foresail.
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- Lunchtime.
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- Lunch is usually prepared and eaten while we are underway.
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- Dane has trouble smiling for the camera….
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- Hoisting the mainsail.
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- First victim of the “mal de mer”.
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- Cruising past the famous Mallory Square Sunset Festival.
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- Megan is perfecting a new jellyfish prevention headpiece.
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- With two buffs and a head band over her upper lip, everything is covered. She’s taken quite a few jelly hits recently trying to prevent the guys from getting stung at the ladder.
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- While we were at Sand Key, a new type of jellyfish came floating by. I need to look it up. My suspicion is that it stings as bad or worse than the moon jellyfish.
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- Cheesing for the camera on the bow, Sunday afternoon.
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- David brought his sailing teams pirate flag along.
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- Returning from the deep.
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- The last step up the ladder.
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- Handing up fins. This guy should really have his regulator in his mouth.
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- Another diver returns.
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- More returning from the dive…
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- After some quick action, Jared rescues the empty snak pak cup. Good job, man! We don’t want to contribute to already over polluted oceans.
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- A storm approaches as we dive near Key West. It went around us, did not disrupt our dive.
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- Giant stride.
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- Giant stride.
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- More giant stride.
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- Tanks rest by the bridge, waiting for the next diver who needs a refill.
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- Here are some war wounds! Killian took a hard hit from a moon jelly.
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- More war wounds from the moon jellies. The guys are getting stung alot, but seem to be taking it in stride. Vinegar and bactine are our onboard cures.