Wiz is coming to the states.

wizbang

Hi All,
I am looking for some help, advice and maybe a guide.
I am traveling to Panama City Florida and then to Santa Ana Orange County next week (1st of September).
I have three days (9-11 Sept) to myself in Florida and seven days (15-21 Sept) spare in California.
My keenest interest is in diving the caves in Florida but the Oriskany Air Craft Carrier would be a bonus.
(I was thinking, maybe the Oriskany on Sunday and caving Monday Tuesday)
I am keen to visit Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon but once again diving is foremost of interest.

My questions are:
Is anybody interested and available to play tour guide for an Aussie Yobbo ?
I would like to hire a rebreather in both locations. (Inspo, Evo, Classic Kiss)
I would like dive site recommendations, keeping in mind reducing distances
traveled to maximise diving, but traveling is no problem if required.(I drive while sleeping and get there refreshed ;-)
I would also like dive centre recommendations to help with gear, fills advice etc.
I also need to find out if my cave diving certification, CDAA Level II "Cave", is sufficient for diving in florida caves.
There will be a heap more questions but those will come when the above ones have been answered.

All help, advice and recommendations appreciated.
Mark

bendomatic

Wiz i would have to say that you are one of the least "yobbo"-ish men i have met. so for all of you floridians and californians don't let that description he gave himself above put you off. wiz is one of the best gentlemen you could ever have the pleasure of meeting.
rachel
sorry for the hijack back to the program...

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hchoat

Wiz,

I don't know of anywhere in the NW Florida area that you can hire a rebreather. You might try contacting Gregg Stanton at Wakulla Dive Center- he's a bit far east of Panama City, but I think he would be your best bet.

Wakulla Diving Center

Brian and I would be happy to help you out with sorb and gas if you decide to dive the Oriskany, we are in Pensacola. We currently have something on the calendar for Sunday the 9th, but one (or maybe both) of us could probably skive out of work on Monday to dive as well. I can also put you in touch with a couple of charters in the area that are good. If nothing else, perhaps we could get together for dinner and a pint while you are in the area- we know lots of good food (and not crappy American beer) in the area.

PM or email me and we'll work something out.

Heather

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caveseeker7

Wiz, for the SoCal part of your trip get in touch with Rusty Berry, voodoogas here at RBW. Best Rebreather support in SoCal I know, dealer for both AP and Jetsam, he might well have a unit you can hire.

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Cheers
Stefan



"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority,
and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"

RAL

Wiz as Heather stated Gregg Stanton would be your best bet for finding a rig to rent. If you are diving the caves of Merrits mill pond,about 50 miles ne of PCB, you will be a couple miles from Patrick & Dwane at Oxycheq. They have 8-12 sodasorb on hand. Cave adventureres is on the pond & Edd can handle your gas needs. If I am home Twin cave,Hole in the wall & Jackson blue are in my back yard be glad to dive them with you.

Regards
Ral

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The sea does not care about you.

sadave

Heya Wiz,

drop Ag a pm or email (give me a call if you need her addy), she's just finished a couple of weeks diving the caves in Florida, she can probably help you with the CDAA-US cave crossover stuff, although she is a Cat4 (pen) diver...

enjoy the trip mate (bastard!)

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wizbang

ooooooorrhhh Rach' you have ruind my street cred', but thanks. (Cheque is in the mail)

Hi Heather, I have contacted Greg and asked many many questions, I await his reply.

I thought charters might be hard to come by for a mid-week dive on the Oriskany, therefore Sunday might be my only option.
I don't really mind diving new caves all three days.

At the very least Dinner and a pint would still be awesome.
I will drop you an email with contact details and some firmer plans.

Thanks Stephan, I have dropped Rusty an email as well to see what is available and what are the highlights to visit.

Hi Ral, that starts to firm up a plan. The names you mention sound familar. I will drop you an email with contact details to hash out the finer details.

Hi CD, I have also dropped Ag an email asking to catch up so I can pick her brains. BTW the Cat's have changed for CDAA. With Cavern and Sink Hole being combined to form Deep Cavern, I go from Cat III to Cat II. Such is life. ( I am hoping the caves in florida are a little bigger and clearer than Gouldens more like Kilsby's but even bigger)

Thanks all, keep the advice coming.
Wiz

Mike

According to some of the folks who have gone on florida trips the CDAA cave cert is considered the equivalent of full cave, so you should have no problems. If there are any questions contact Warrick as he has sorted a few issues out in the past.

Adding to the above support for Wiz, he's a good bloke (for a teetotaler) and a very good diver. One of the few guys in Oz doing 400ft wreck dives plus playing in the caves - great guy to dive with.

(See wiz - no silt jokes at all )

Mike

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scubanimal

Wiz,
When in So Cal, a few shops, as caveseeker said SSA (aka voodoogas) is one, xtremescuba in Ventura is another. If you go to Catalina, then ScubaLuv (has classic inspos for rent), not sure if Bob is renting his Kiss unit.

If you are looking for dive sites, and a boat trip is in the budget then http://www.psaltyadventures.com/ is very Rebreather friendly, as is the boat next to it the Second Stage Ocean Sports .Out of San Pedro. If you decide to do one of the boats on the weekend (15/16) then let me know and I'll join you.

There plenty of Rebreather divers in the LA area (I'm in San Diego) and several nice dive sites.

Where about are you going to be in LA - its a big area?

Dave & Sandy

Speak of the Devil, I just posted on Dive OZ on the thread about you being MIA.

Have fun in Florida dude. Catch up when your back over East and ready to start the coastal pilgrimage up to Bermagui. Those drives don't get any easier no matter how often you do them

God, how much did you pay Mike.

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Cheers,

Dave & Sandy

Atvar shows Dave & Sandy testing their new habitat 101 and home build RBMK69's