CaptainJack
28-02-2011, 02:11 AM
This isn't a true explore but I thought some would be interested particulalry since the dive camera I used was the same one I dropped into an adult beverage and had issues driving it out.
Scuba trip to the Bahamas 2-13-2011
This was an interesting trip. I blew out my budget on the last winter trip and needed to go cheap. Fortunately we had enough thank you points on our credit card to get the plane fare at no cost. The dive trip was entirely on a 65 foot sailboat with 24 people aboard. Picture 24 people in a mobile home and you get some idea.
Still it was excellent with a great crew and good companionship. All food and booze was included and they even had a beer tap on deck.
First night we stayed in a funky old downtown Nassau hotel
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPL02.jpg
This Parrott “Max” ran the lobby
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPL04.jpg
Our dive boat, the Pirate Lady and the one and only time we went on land for the entire trip
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/JB2.jpg
Underwater the shapes of the coral and sponges look like something from a psychedelic cartoon about gnomes. Unfortunately the weather was a little gray for most of the trip which makes the photos underwater come out several shades more muted than the would be with good light.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd35.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd34.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd31.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd24.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd23.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd25.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPD17.jpg
We where encouraged to use the boats fishing gear and do free diving with a spear to get fish and lobsters. Its illegal to take fish/lobsters with Scuba but you can as a free diver.
How to use a spear for free diving
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPL17.jpg
One of the other divers got a lobster free diving. Caribbean lobsters don’t have the big claws
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd21.jpg
Unfortunately the area we where in had no wrecks but we did see this plane that is believed to have been used by smugglers
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd03.jpg
The highlight of the whole trip was the shark dive. We where anchored in the same area as that plane. Early in the morning the crew started throwing heavy chum into the water to attract the sharks. Later the tied a bait ball to a float underwater and we all went down to wait.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd26.jpg
Then they started coming first just 1 then lots more
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd27.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPD15.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd13.jpg
They circled us and the bait and each circle they got closer and closer. I had to hit this one on the nose with my camera because it came so close.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd14.jpg
Just when the weather started to get really nice warm and tropical the trip was over
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPD07.jpg
Scuba trip to the Bahamas 2-13-2011
This was an interesting trip. I blew out my budget on the last winter trip and needed to go cheap. Fortunately we had enough thank you points on our credit card to get the plane fare at no cost. The dive trip was entirely on a 65 foot sailboat with 24 people aboard. Picture 24 people in a mobile home and you get some idea.
Still it was excellent with a great crew and good companionship. All food and booze was included and they even had a beer tap on deck.
First night we stayed in a funky old downtown Nassau hotel
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPL02.jpg
This Parrott “Max” ran the lobby
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPL04.jpg
Our dive boat, the Pirate Lady and the one and only time we went on land for the entire trip
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/JB2.jpg
Underwater the shapes of the coral and sponges look like something from a psychedelic cartoon about gnomes. Unfortunately the weather was a little gray for most of the trip which makes the photos underwater come out several shades more muted than the would be with good light.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd35.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd34.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd31.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd24.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd23.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd25.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPD17.jpg
We where encouraged to use the boats fishing gear and do free diving with a spear to get fish and lobsters. Its illegal to take fish/lobsters with Scuba but you can as a free diver.
How to use a spear for free diving
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPL17.jpg
One of the other divers got a lobster free diving. Caribbean lobsters don’t have the big claws
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd21.jpg
Unfortunately the area we where in had no wrecks but we did see this plane that is believed to have been used by smugglers
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd03.jpg
The highlight of the whole trip was the shark dive. We where anchored in the same area as that plane. Early in the morning the crew started throwing heavy chum into the water to attract the sharks. Later the tied a bait ball to a float underwater and we all went down to wait.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd26.jpg
Then they started coming first just 1 then lots more
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd27.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPD15.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd13.jpg
They circled us and the bait and each circle they got closer and closer. I had to hit this one on the nose with my camera because it came so close.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/bpd14.jpg
Just when the weather started to get really nice warm and tropical the trip was over
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/CaptainJack_2006/Diving%20in%20the%20Bahamas%20Feb%202011/BPD07.jpg