SLA031911A

The crew arrived at about 4:40pm. They were late due to Davis Tours, traffic and the need to get something to eat. They're a good bunch of folks; all new divers but one; he's advanced. We didn't get to dive on Sunday as it was quite sporty; winds at 20+. But we did sail, really sail as the winds were up enought to move the Conch Pesrl under sail. Hopefully we'll get into the water today, even if it's just to do saltwater buoyancy checks.
This is the second of four weeks in a row. As long as I get to sleep as needed I shouldn't have any trouble making it through the weeks. The only reason I don't sleep as needed is when I fill tanks. I feel guilty if I don't do my share.

Crew SLA031211A

Yesterday was the first full day of diving for the crew. We went to three different sites to dive; Toppinos, Sand Key and Eastern Dry Rocks. The conditions were fairly nice. The sun was out most of the time with temps. in the upper 70's but a stiff breeze kept it cool; especially when taking off the wetsuits. The waves were a little sporty with a good surge below. Visability was 40-50 feet. Water temp is someshere around 70-72. Most of the crew, althought new divers, did well. We did have one diver with some anxiety on the first dive. His weight belt keeps slipping down because it's heavy and he is pear shaped with little or no hips to hold the belt. He was close to panic as he returned to the boat, claiming it was too hard to breathe through his regulator. As he reached the ladder he dropped his belt, possibly to become more buoyant but I think it just slipped off. Regardless of the reason, I had to recover it from 25 feet; it was a heavy belt which is why I have a heavy lift, buoyant BCD. I hate recovering weight belts as it is one more bounce from the surface to the bottom and back. Overall it was a good day of diving; no Portugese Man-o-wars!

delivering tanks

Yesterday we had to exchange 28 tanks with the tanks on the Conch Pearl so that we could do their inspections. It was a two hour drive each way. That sucks. I would rather have been doing something productive. It was also a pain in the ass because there is a small set of stairs that the tanks have to be carried up and down. It was good seeing Denny and Holley. We had lunch at the Hogfish where they actually had hogfish for once.

the light at the end of the tunnel

We're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as tank inspections go. We should be done with the inspections today and have only to fill and move about 80 tanks today. I'm relieved. I'm tired of looking into the tops of tanks. My eyes are tired and my back and neck hurt from bending over. I don't mind moving tanks because it's good exercise. I only get pissed off when I have to work alone without help.

more and more tanks

We've finally started inspecting the older tanks. This takes longer because we have to disassemble them, clean them and inspect the interiors and threads. The threads take the longest as we have to look carefully for cracks.
We've also started filling the completed tanks. This is a major milestone. After filling we inventory and sticker them then they are complete.
On to more tanks.

Tanks, tanks, tanks

Today we really dug into the new tanks. Steve purchased about 120 new tanks that needed to be inspected, valves installed and bottoms painted. We paint the bottoms to help prevent corrosion on that portion of the tanks. The staff working on the tanks really kicked ass; Laura, Stephanie, Meagan, Maggie and Aaron. We ran out of paint but all the tanks are ready. After they are painted they have to be booted, labeled, filled and inventoried. That's the new tanks.

The old tanks require more work. They have to have their boots removed, stickers scraped off, wirebrushed and valves removed before they can be inspected. Some even have to be washed out.

Back to the Blog

I haven't been paying much attention to this blog so I plan to start posting scuba news now that I'm back in the Florida Keys.
I come to the Florida Keys to volunteer at the Boy Scouts of America National High Adventure Sea Base. It's one of three national high adventure bases. We focus on sailing and scuba programs. I pretty much exclusively work out on the scuba live-aboard boat, the Conch Pearl.
The scuba live-aboard program consists of taking 12 divers out for a week where we live on the boat, together, for the week and dive, sleep, eat, sleep, fish, sleep and sleep.
I can do these things with my disability because I can pretty much sleep as much as I need to whenever I need to. Not a bad accomadation.
Right now I'm stuck on base until the next live-aboard trip that starts on March 12th. Until then I will be inspecting and assembling scuba tanks; a necessary but boring and tiring job. I'm working with Laura Kuras, the new scuba commisioner.
More tomorrow.