Barney's cool technical gear!

[Chad Carney]

Saturday Mike Barnette and I went exploratory wreck diving with John Schmidt on his boat.

John and I shot a few fish and tried to figure out what the heck we were looking at, while Mike shot photos and confirmed his speculation.

Mike's Megalodon is very compact, about the weight of a single steel 100, a little wider and shorter, but with 10+ times the dive capability of a set of doubles.

If I was into the kind of diving Mike is, I'd have to take a closer look at one of these gizmos!

Maybe Mike will add some of his pics.

Chad

#1 - gearing up.
#2 - ready to roll
#3 - gone... (Damn digital shutter lag!)

[dagodiver]

Cool stuff Chad thanks.
I always feel bad as it takes me way to long to get ready.!


Dago.

[Mobile Diver]

I had Barney & a group of his on the boat with rebreathers & they are pretty cool. At $12,000 a copy, I'm not going to see one anytime soon. Besides you can't spear with them.

[GRIM REEFER]

Very cool, Thanks for sharing.
Was it a big wreck? How deep?

[Charlestondivin]

Mike sure takes up a lot less room on the boat now adays. Those rebreathers take up very little room.

[aue-mike]

Thanks to Screen Name for taking me out for a nice, albeit gray and overcast, day of diving.

The rebreather has definitely made my life easier, as well as made diving fun again. I will have to post some pics of what my car looks like loaded up for a typical weekend of tech diving on open circuit, versus what I take now. It has also been a wonderful load off my back (literally), especially since the cervical disc fusion surgery. For liveaboard trips, it is simply awesome.

I have posted some pics from the dives to the AUE website:
http://uwex.us/082606.htm

Cheers,
Mike

[Scubado]

that is to cool! the water is very clear at that depth, nice pics of the wreck. I will be able to dive that wreck soon :D I have my ER class fri and sat.at forty :thumps:

[aue-mike]

This is what I don't miss: loaded up to go and play for a weekend on the Slayride. Lots 'o helium...

[dagodiver]

Note to self.....dont buy a used vehicle from Barney.!



Dago.

[inletsurf]

Mike Barnette: sponsored by Megalodon, Halcyon, and Monroe shocks!!! :D

Great stuff Mike! When you coming back this way for another "fuggetaboutit" dive???

[Chad Carney]

Cool pictures Mike!

Unless you guys like looking at very little rubble and a few small fish, the MILLIE R. BOHANNON or 28 fathom Wreck is not for you! (BTW, it's closer to 31 fathoms. Commercial fishermen always get the depth shallow.)

John and I shot a few unimpressive mangos at 185'... that's all.

The Pride has continued to crush down and spead in the center, since the No Name Storm of 1993 started ripping it apart. It's a cool wreck dive, better than when it was intact!

At the stern there were several rays and two cobia flashed by me in the green before my eyes adjusted, not presenting a shot. Later I took a wild shot at a big gag that was hauling butt out into the sand, but the spear landed right next to him. Had I tagged him, I had another shaft already loaded and ready to finish him. But he didn't do that button hook trick, he just took off like a bullet.

Chad