MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version

brockbr · 14th July 2008, 02:06

I'm sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my flight home and reflecting on the last week on MOD3 with Mel.

At first, I thought I landed at the wrong airport - The sun shone for the entire week I was here. I lived in Seattle for a short time, and back then, it rained every damn day. Not this week - We had perfect weather.

We started with the normal "lets make sure you're not going to kill your buddy nor your instructor" dives. We did these at Alki, across the bay from downtown Seattle. These dives were drill heavy but we had a good time.

The next couple of days we spent in Lake Washington, diving the "Hunk of Junk" and the Bomber. The bomber is in 150ft of water with viz of about 5' and dark as night. Passing through 60ft and it gets VERY dark. The bomber itself is very well intact, and you can read more about it here: Bomber. We got a chance to see a good amount of the wreck and it was nice being that deep with no narcosis.

We also dove the "Hunk of Junk", which is a little deeper at 200'. This is the remnants of either a barge or floating roadway - We're not sure. One of the drills done on this particular wreck was our OC bailout from depth which went of without a hitch.

After making sure we covered all of the required skills and drills, we moved on the Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea which is in puget sound: (Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea Info). This wreck is deeper (220+ft) and much larger, and was more more of a challenge.

We had a lot of fun, and learned a ton from a very energetic, driven, funny, smart instructor. The arrangements included staying at her home with her husband Curt (also an extremely accomplished CCR diver) making meals, and being the boat captain.

I was lucky to be buddied with a good guy from Canada named Owen who was an excellent diver, and whom made the course more pleasurable to take since I only had to worry about myself - Owen was completely worked out and is a VERY strong Meg diver.

...ok, well I guess that's it

b

camerone · 14th July 2008, 04:28

Quote: (Originally Posted by brockbr)

I'm sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my flight home and reflecting on the last week on MOD3 with Mel.

Good to meet you today at Mel's house!

I would have gone out diving with you two this morning, but having to run up to Mill Creek to mix gas (since I'm out of He at the moment) at 5:30 AM would've required toxic amounts of caffeine in my system.

Hopefully, if you're back up here sometime, with your unit, I'll get a chance to splash around with ya!

brockbr · 14th July 2008, 16:13

Here are some pics of the adventure... I don't have any of me

since I was the one taking the pictures below...

Here's Alki on day 1:

Owen and Mel with Altech:

Lake Washington on the first dives on the Bomber:

Mel filling O2 for one of our trips:

And here is what my KISS Classic looks like now

Owen about to splash in on Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea

Erik about to splash in behind Owen:

And here is one of the valuable things I learned in MOD3 - A KISS Classic fits PERFECTLY inside a carry on roller bag - Note it is IN the bag in this picture:

Funny TSA Story - I get up there with my backpack and rollerbag. I pull my laptop out of the backpack, and warn the screener that there is "life support equipment" in the bag. No problem. The laptop, my shoes, and rollerbag all zing through the machine... BUT, not my backpack. They proceeded (very nicely I might add) to ask me to step aside so they can inspect my backpack. Evidently, my HID can light was not a big hit with them

They swab it, checked it, x-ray'd it on it's own, and eventually let me through when I told them it was an underwater light. But the rebreather with all the stainless, funny hoses, scrubber etc went through without a second glance.

silentscuba · 14th July 2008, 18:06

Great to have you in class Brock !!!! and you did a great job.

Now that wasn't as hard as you thought it was going to be getting through TSA

. All is good for now until they start weighing our carry one bags

.

I did get some pictures of you with Owen's camera, send him an email.

Hope to see you again soon.

Curt

Tyler S. · 14th July 2008, 18:27

Man what an awesome hat mel is wearing in picture #2!!!

brockbr · 14th July 2008, 19:07

Quote: (Originally Posted by silentscuba)

Great to have you in class Brock !!!! and you did a great job.

Now that wasn't as hard as you thought it was going to be getting through TSA

. All is good for now until they start weighing our carry one bags

.

I did get some pictures of you with Owen's camera, send him an email.

Hope to see you again soon.

Curt

I don't have his email address - Can you PM it to me?

brockbr · 14th July 2008, 19:10

Hey - I heard a rumor that called "The Brandon"'s "orientation" into question *in writing* on a Wreck in San Diego. Can any of the SD guys confirm

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 14th July 2008, 19:11

Quote: (Originally Posted by brockbr)

Evidently, my HID can light was not a big hit with them

They swab it, checked it, x-ray'd it on it's own, and eventually let me through when I told them it was an underwater light. But the rebreather with all the stainless, funny hoses, scrubber etc went through without a second glance.

Batteries in a cylindrical shaped container are the issue.

Tyler S. · 14th July 2008, 20:26

Quote: (Originally Posted by brockbr)

Hey - I heard a rumor that called "The Brandon"'s "orientation" into question *in writing* on a Wreck in San Diego. Can any of the SD guys confirm

brock what are you talking about???

brockbr · 14th July 2008, 20:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by Tyler S.)

brock what are you talking about???

Nicely done - bravo - I laughed out loud when I saw that!

I owe you a beer my friend - Well played.

14th July 2008, 02:06	#1 (permalink)
brockbr Train Wrecked ;) Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabaster, AL Posts: 261	MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version I'm sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my flight home and reflecting on the last week on MOD3 with Mel. At first, I thought I landed at the wrong airport - The sun shone for the entire week I was here. I lived in Seattle for a short time, and back then, it rained every damn day. Not this week - We had perfect weather. We started with the normal "lets make sure you're not going to kill your buddy nor your instructor" dives. We did these at Alki, across the bay from downtown Seattle. These dives were drill heavy but we had a good time. The next couple of days we spent in Lake Washington, diving the "Hunk of Junk" and the Bomber. The bomber is in 150ft of water with viz of about 5' and dark as night. Passing through 60ft and it gets VERY dark. The bomber itself is very well intact, and you can read more about it here: Bomber. We got a chance to see a good amount of the wreck and it was nice being that deep with no narcosis. We also dove the "Hunk of Junk", which is a little deeper at 200'. This is the remnants of either a barge or floating roadway - We're not sure. One of the drills done on this particular wreck was our OC bailout from depth which went of without a hitch. After making sure we covered all of the required skills and drills, we moved on the Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea which is in puget sound: (Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea Info). This wreck is deeper (220+ft) and much larger, and was more more of a challenge. We had a lot of fun, and learned a ton from a very energetic, driven, funny, smart instructor. The arrangements included staying at her home with her husband Curt (also an extremely accomplished CCR diver) making meals, and being the boat captain. I was lucky to be buddied with a good guy from Canada named Owen who was an excellent diver, and whom made the course more pleasurable to take since I only had to worry about myself - Owen was completely worked out and is a VERY strong Meg diver. ...ok, well I guess that's it b __________________ iDeco - iPhone Decompression Planning - FREE!!! iPhoneDeco.com Last edited by brockbr : 14th July 2008 at 05:23.
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14th July 2008, 04:28	#2 (permalink)
camerone New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 72	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Quote: (Originally Posted by brockbr) I'm sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for my flight home and reflecting on the last week on MOD3 with Mel. Good to meet you today at Mel's house! I would have gone out diving with you two this morning, but having to run up to Mill Creek to mix gas (since I'm out of He at the moment) at 5:30 AM would've required toxic amounts of caffeine in my system. Hopefully, if you're back up here sometime, with your unit, I'll get a chance to splash around with ya!
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14th July 2008, 16:13	#3 (permalink)
brockbr Train Wrecked ;) Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabaster, AL Posts: 261	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Here are some pics of the adventure... I don't have any of me since I was the one taking the pictures below... Here's Alki on day 1: Owen and Mel with Altech: Lake Washington on the first dives on the Bomber: Mel filling O2 for one of our trips: And here is what my KISS Classic looks like now Owen about to splash in on Al-Ind-Esk-A-Sea Erik about to splash in behind Owen: And here is one of the valuable things I learned in MOD3 - A KISS Classic fits PERFECTLY inside a carry on roller bag - Note it is IN the bag in this picture: Funny TSA Story - I get up there with my backpack and rollerbag. I pull my laptop out of the backpack, and warn the screener that there is "life support equipment" in the bag. No problem. The laptop, my shoes, and rollerbag all zing through the machine... BUT, not my backpack. They proceeded (very nicely I might add) to ask me to step aside so they can inspect my backpack. Evidently, my HID can light was not a big hit with them They swab it, checked it, x-ray'd it on it's own, and eventually let me through when I told them it was an underwater light. But the rebreather with all the stainless, funny hoses, scrubber etc went through without a second glance. __________________ iDeco - iPhone Decompression Planning - FREE!!! iPhoneDeco.com
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14th July 2008, 18:06	#4 (permalink)
silentscuba rEvo CCR Driver Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic rEvo Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mill Creek, WA USA Posts: 590	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Great to have you in class Brock !!!! and you did a great job. Now that wasn't as hard as you thought it was going to be getting through TSA. All is good for now until they start weighing our carry one bags. I did get some pictures of you with Owen's camera, send him an email. Hope to see you again soon. Curt __________________ Curt McNamee rEvo CCR Diver KISS CCR Diver www.silentscuba.com
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14th July 2008, 18:27	#5 (permalink)
Tyler S. rEject Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 230	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Man what an awesome hat mel is wearing in picture #2!!!
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14th July 2008, 19:07	#6 (permalink)
brockbr Train Wrecked ;) Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabaster, AL Posts: 261	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Quote: (Originally Posted by silentscuba) Great to have you in class Brock !!!! and you did a great job. Now that wasn't as hard as you thought it was going to be getting through TSA. All is good for now until they start weighing our carry one bags. I did get some pictures of you with Owen's camera, send him an email. Hope to see you again soon. Curt I don't have his email address - Can you PM it to me? __________________ iDeco - iPhone Decompression Planning - FREE!!! iPhoneDeco.com
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14th July 2008, 19:10	#7 (permalink)
brockbr Train Wrecked ;) Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabaster, AL Posts: 261	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Hey - I heard a rumor that called "The Brandon"'s "orientation" into question in writing on a Wreck in San Diego. Can any of the SD guys confirm __________________ iDeco - iPhone Decompression Planning - FREE!!! iPhoneDeco.com
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14th July 2008, 19:11	#8 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,138	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Quote: (Originally Posted by brockbr) Evidently, my HID can light was not a big hit with them They swab it, checked it, x-ray'd it on it's own, and eventually let me through when I told them it was an underwater light. But the rebreather with all the stainless, funny hoses, scrubber etc went through without a second glance. Batteries in a cylindrical shaped container are the issue. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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14th July 2008, 20:26	#9 (permalink)
Tyler S. rEject Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 230	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Quote: (Originally Posted by brockbr) Hey - I heard a rumor that called "The Brandon"'s "orientation" into question in writing on a Wreck in San Diego. Can any of the SD guys confirm brock what are you talking about???
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14th July 2008, 20:46	#10 (permalink)
brockbr Train Wrecked ;) Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabaster, AL Posts: 261	Re: MOD3 with Mel Clark - The simple version Quote: (Originally Posted by Tyler S.) brock what are you talking about??? Nicely done - bravo - I laughed out loud when I saw that! I owe you a beer my friend - Well played. __________________ iDeco - iPhone Decompression Planning - FREE!!! iPhoneDeco.com
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