SCUBA DIVING
Many years ago, I was encouraged to try diving into the deep blue. That didn't sound natural, but I was assured there was nothing more peaceful and amazing than exploring the waters of the ocean. And it's true. Scuba diving has become my foremost hobby, and whenever I get the chance, I'm in the water. The colors and ecosystems you'll find at even 15 feet will take your breath away. The animal life can be as bizarre as it is beautiful. Here are a few pictures I've taken while diving that I'd like to share with the hope that you too will give a go at exploring deep waters.
RMS Rhone Wreck Dive
If you only have time for one dive trip in the Caribbean, the RMS Rhone in Tortola is it. This spectacular wreck has numerous artifacts deposited on October 29, 1867 and are still visible today. It's the site where the 1977 film classic, The Deep, was shot. I swam through the amazingly intact bow section as well as under the stern near the large 15 ft propeller. You really get a feel for the size of the RMS Rhone when you swim down the length of the massive driveshaft towards the engine box and gears. No matter how many times I dive the Rhone, I always find something new. Unfortunately, my last visit was limited by the changes wrought on by hurricane season. It is no longer possible to swim through the wreck, as several sections have fallen and make it unsafe. The picture below was taken during the time I was able to swim through. This will give you an idea of the experience.
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Below is a common map used for dives which shows the different sections and the depths at which they can be found. I believe my deepest dive here was 90 feet .
The aft mast faced from the south.
Some flooring in a checkerboard pattern.
One of the original swim-throughs. You can see how a bit of it collapsed from the storms.
A part of the gear box....
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Take a look at some of the wildlife that have made a home out of the Rhone. Three out of seven extremely large lobsters peaking out from under the ship. Incidentally, this is a national park, and it's illegal to hunt them. Forget lunch.
Say hello to our little friend.
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Sea Ray
A puffer fish
Sea life from other dives - do you see the animal in the picture that follows? He's pretty well camouflaged.
Looks like a brain, doesn't it!
This guy wasn't exactly shy for a tortoise. If you ever dive, know that you shouldn't touch the turtles. They're an endangered species, unfortunately, and it's illegal to touch, harm, ride, chase, or otherwise bother them. They're rather large, though, and if one were to snap at you, it would probably hurt! So just watch and enjoy these quiet creatures.
Below is a picture of a furry sea cucumber. The picture was taken by @Brian Mayer but I wanted to illustrate what I saw during a shallow dive. The batteries in my camera died while I was filming, so I lost the shot. However, I would wager that his shot was far better than mine would've been - visibility, even at 8 feet, was pretty bad. I will say that it is disconcerting to think that these guys are edible and are considered a delicacy in Korea!
These fish like dog biscuits!
If you ever get disoriented and start to panic, remember that bubbles go up!
Hi!
Hi!
My husband and I enjoying rum punch post dives.
