duzibatz » sea

Fall Scuba 2011: Pictures

chelsea — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:19:41 +0000

The much anticipated scuba pictures are here!

First of all, I’d like commend my sister for doing her first wreck dive and night dive in 1 trip and congratulate her on her Advanced Certification! Way to go!!!

On the opposite side of things, I’d also like to apologize for roping her into an awesome sport that makes her violently sea sick! Sorry!!!

We went to Islamorada, FL for a long weekend and went out on the Giant Stride with Key Dives. I love diving out there, and the guides and boat crew are so friendly. They really do a great job of making everyone feel comfortable – especially beginners. Since I am doing my NAUI Instructor Course I went out with 3 students, 4 other instructors/future instructors, and my sister. I led the 1st dive and didn’t get lost! (my navigation skills could use some improvement)

My favorite pictures are:

smile for the camera iguana

big nurse shark

Sea Turtle on the Night Dive

always happy parrot fish

interesting looking coral

black & white sea urchin

Eagle Wreck

wreck dive to 80 ft.

And here’s what else we saw on our trip:

These pictures were taken with a Nikon Coolpix S6000 using the Ikelite compatible underwater housing. During the day dives I also used a red color filter.

Hope they were worth the wait. What do you think?

P.S. – my sister has tried Bonine, Dramamine, and a prescription pill for sea sickness. Can anyone recommend anything else? What about those behind the ear patches? She is super sensitive and I want her to enjoy the experience more next time! Any feedback would help. Thanks!

December Update

chelsea — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:00:55 +0000

I’m sorry I’ve been missing! But I can explain…

1. I had a blast scuba diving in Florida! Those pictures will be up by the end of the weekend! My poor sister was sea sick the whole time though.

2. The detour to Miami – South Beach & Ft. Lauderdale to visit my sorority sister Brittany was totally fun and much needed.

3. Thanksgiving! YUM! Best one in a while & I’m hoping for more to come.

4. I didn’t get into NYU - It seems that they didn’t recognize my potential. So I have been a stressed out crazy person trying to apply to Seton Hall’s grad program. Bleed blue – Go Pirates!

5. It’s holiday season! I’m going insane! …and broke! Definitely going to post a Christmas list of really neat finds sometime soon!

So that’s why I’ve been gone so long. Depression from rejection – followed by ~~Rum~~ Sun and Sea Therapy in Florida – and home for the holidays.

But I’m back and with a new look! Do you like it?

Spring Scuba 2011: Pictures

chelsea — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:34:16 +0000

I never had an interest in scuba diving. I actually thought you’d have to be insane to do what seemed so unnatural and life threatening. Then my senior year in college I took a scuba course as what I had intended to be nothing more than an easy A. But, each semester the professor takes a trip to Florida with students interested in getting open water certified. I figured since I had taken the whole course I might as well get the actual certification. I wasn’t prepared to fall in love with the sport.

That was 3 years ago. Today I am a NAUI Master Diver and on an Instructor Track Course. Scuba diving has changed my whole life. It motivated me to start getting back in shape - since it’s pretty hard to look good in a wetsuit! It challenges me to face my fears and enlighten other people to the wonderful underwater world. It’s also a real self-esteem boost. I can do underwater skills that I’d previously never dream about doing and have knowledge of science and formulas that boost my intellectual confidence. Plus, the Earth’s surface is over 70% water – who would I be if I didn’t explore some of it?! I live for adventure!

Now that I have enough experience diving, I’ve began taking my camera down. I got Ikelite housing for my Nikon Coolpix S6000, which I love. I took some pretty decent pictures but I still need to buy a red filter in order to bring back some of the amazing colors. Everything down there is so bright and beautiful. The colors are amazing! You really need to experience it yourself in order to understand.

I leave for my 6th Florida trip early tomorrow morning – I am going to look really attractive with all of my Tough Mudder bruises…

Since I encouraged my sister to get Open Water Certified last semester, she is able to get her Advanced Certification this time around! I am so excited to have a permanent dive buddy! I’ll be gone until Tuesday so I am leaving you with pictures I took from my last trip to Islamorada and hope to bring you more when I return!

Spotted Moray

One of my favorites

Rock Beauty Angelfish

Rock Beauty Angelfish Take 2

Parrotfish

Students on Certification Dive

Skate

Captured & Killed Lionfish to protect the environment

Nurse Shark relaxing under the reef

same Nurse Shark

Swaying School of Fish

Moray Eel

Where's Eeldo?

Life is the Bubbles

Under the Sea

Spiny Lobster

Another one

Sea Urchin

Black Angelfish

Sea Anemone

...and the sea cucumber turns to the mollusk and says, "With fronds like these, who needs anemones? (Finding Nemo)

Purple Sea Plant

Sponge

Doesn't look real

Diver's Bubbles

Sea Spider

saw my first sea turtle!

! so excited !

Sea turtles? I met one, and he was a hundred and fifty years old! (Finding Nemo)

You so totally rock, Squirt! So gimme some fin. --- Dude! (Finding Nemo)

Me beneath the sea!

Stay tuned for more underwater pictures!