Back From the Keys!!!!

[sharpshooter]

Will post the story on Tues. or Wed.. I dove off Key Largo, Marathon,Key West. Will tell ya about the "good" people,the "bad" rip-off artists,and "ughly" viz relating to diving. see ya!!!!

[keezdiver]

figured i would post some pics from my excursion with Keysspearfisher and sharpshooter this weekend:

we did a little "salvage" from the thunderbolt

[keezdiver]

here's a quick shot of a freindly spotted moray that i ran across on the reef later in the day.

[keezdiver]

as for my experience...

i had a fun time diving with sharpshooter, it's always nice to go out with some real experienced guys. i've learned alot from Keysspearfisher and i'm learning from the other guys that i've been out spearing with recently.

we managed to retreive two anchors, one was the one pictured from the thunderbolt. the other i pulled up form the reef line. it was an almost brand new "fast set" or "quick set" design. the rope attached was still nice ad white, and the anchor itself stillhad stickers on it...so it was new.
it took a full inflation of my BC to lift the anchor, a couple fish, my gun and myself up to the boat. definatly was a work out. i gave the prize to sharpshooter cause he said he knew someone who could use it, and i know i sure can't...don't even own a boat yet!

we had some moderate shooting success. the vis was horrible out on the Tbolt, and there was a current. i saw a couple nice blacks on the reef but none allowed me to get close enough.

i did manage two 14" hogs though...they sure tasted good...i fed a buddy of mine a gourmet meal of fried hogfish sandwitches...MMMMM

[keezdiver]

shot of the superstructure that shows the crappy vis

[keezdiver]

top of the pilot house

[keezdiver]

brian on a "seek and destroy mission"

[keezdiver]

someone's sick sense of humor....but funny none the less!!:-D

[LobsterVac]

it took a full inflation of my BC to lift the anchor, a couple fish, my gun and myself up to the boat. definatly was a work out.

Keez, I hate to bring it up after a great post of your experience, but you may want to invest in a lift bag, rolled up and tucked in your BC or something. I, too, have retrieved anchors using the inflate the BC trick. That was before I was certified and learned the reason why it is a method that will seriously harm or kill.

I don't mean to offend and if I have I am sorry. There are a lot of "young (and old) gung ho inexperienced divers" lurking this site. I have to point out the danger involved if the anchor or whatever is being retrieved slips from your grasp you will ascend uncontrollably to the surface and suffer, possibly die.

P.S. Pictures were great:)

[keezdiver]

hey man...no offense taken...

actually keysspearfisher or sharpshooter mentioned the same thing when i got back to the boat.

i made sure to have a good grasp on it.

thanks for the words of wisdom anyway, and the compliments on the pics...

[keyspearfisher]

You mean you aren't supposed to carry around an anchor for some stopping power when you line shaft the big one? Like a brake on a dog sled.

[BentShaft]

Lobstervac......that is an excellent point, of which I hadn't thought before your post. I will remember that before I try to bring anything heavy to the surface. Thanks!

[yonfuki]

Lift bag use and importance was definitely stressed in commercial dive school. Don't trust your life to your grip...no matter how much you exercise it in the shower!