So, what's it like where you live?

[SoCalDiveGirl]

Conditions: http://streams.camzone.com/scrippspi...hp?cmd=goflash

Local critters, wrecks, and dive sites: http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/SoCalDiveGirl/ (channel islands, wrecks, p38, dive pics-- just dig around, it's all local stuff)

Leaving for Cozumel in about 6 hours..... Supposed to have wifi in the hotel-- we'll see!

[Finless]

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/SoCalDiveGirl/

Wow - pinkness!!

[Zero]

Even down to the toenails Way better than plain old black anyday but and much better to photograph.

Matt

[PinayDiver]

I understand Finless was initially asking about U.S. diving (oh wait, not even about diving per se) but, seeing that the others "represented," I thought, er, okay, might as well put it out there too...
I live and work in Manila (the capital of the Philippines). Most of us carpool from here to Anilao in Batangas when Saturday rolls around. Our usual style is two-dives out, you know: launch off in a banca (outrigger boat) to one dive site (easy does it at first), gas off on some island over snacks while the bangkeros change our tanks (I know, I know, we’re a bit spoiled), then head off on the second plunge (most likely a drift dive this time) before motoring back to the resort for laaate lunch.
At this point, it’s usually the non-diver companions’ turn to make a shore entry, escorted by the resident dive master for an intro-dive right there along the house reef (circling jacks there, a lone turtle, flutter of cuttlefish).
If we’re staying overnight, we squeeze in a night dive, otherwise we hit the road back to Manila (making sure we talk the diver-driver’s ear off to keep her energized).
These are our confidence-building dives. Later, we venture out farther—say, in Verde and Puerto Galera’s waters (still in Luzon) where we get a taste of bigger-and-brighter (critters and viz-wise)—and farther still in the Visayas (a favorite is Malapascua’s manta rays and thresher sharks). We fly out to Palawan for the Coron wrecks one summer, to Puerto Princesa the next (for a pre-booked live-aboard to Tubbataha Reefs).
The funny thing is, the biggest creature I ever saw, a whaleshark, was because of snorkeling (the Donsol tourism office doesn’t allow scuba).

[Finless]

I understand Finless was initially asking about U.S. diving but, seeing that the others "represented," I thought, er, okay, might as well put it out there too...

I probably didn't word my opening post too well ......... I just assumed most forum members would be from the US. I'm just being curious as to what it looks like where you lot live and dive. Lots of places have web cameras these days.

OK, I admit it, I was being nosey!

I live and work in Manila (the capital of the Philippines). Most of us carpool from here to Anilao in Batangas when Saturday rolls around. Our usual style is two-dives out, you know: launch off in a banca (outrigger boat) to one dive site (easy does it at first), gas off on some island over snacks while the bangkeros change our tanks (I know, I know, we’re a bit spoiled), then head off on the second plunge (most likely a drift dive this time) before motoring back to the resort for laaate lunch.
At this point, it’s usually the non-diving companions’ turn to make a shore entry, escorted by the resident dive master for an intro-dive in the house reef (circling jacks there, a lone turtle, flutter of cuttlefish).
If we’re staying overnight, we squeeze in a night dive, otherwise we hit the road back to Manila (making sure we talk the diver-driver’s ear off to keep her energized).
These are our confidence-building dives.
Later, we venture out farther—say, in Verde and Puerto Galera’s waters (still in Luzon) where we get a taste of bigger-and-brighter (critters and viz-wise)—and farther still in the Visayas (a favorite is Malapascua’s manta rays and thresher sharks). We fly out to Palawan for the Coron wrecks one summer, to Puerto Princesa the next (for a pre-booked live-aboard to Tubbataha Reefs).
The funny thing is, the biggest creature I ever saw, a whaleshark, was because of snorkeling (the Donsol tourism office doesn’t allow scuba).

Sounds like fun.

[PinayDiver]

And there I went editing myself (belatedly realizing that your initial post didn’t pointedly ask about diving at all)…Funny, this thread is actually under the forum “Discussions Not Dive Related.” Just goes to show, we can’t help ourselves. Yey, I’m in good company

[Sarah]

Finless, we have members from Australia, New Zealand, Isreal, Singapore, Tasmania, the UK, Austria, and a whole bunch of Pinoys and Pinays from the Philippines.

The area from Thailand to the Philippines to Indonesia is known as the Coral Triangle and is the marine biodiversity epicenter of the world, and PinayDiver is smack dab right in the middle of it!

[Narked]

Hey Finless!!
Well I am familiar with your plight bro!!
Originally from Sunderland as you probably are well aware is on the North Sea, I joined the Royal Navy at the end of 1996 and moved down to Plymouth. I now however live in south Florida in a town called Delray Beach where the diving is fantastic. It's one of Florida's best kept secrets.....OOOps
Check out this website of a friend of mine's boat. It has quite a few webcams of the stretch of coastline where I now live.
www.uwexplorer.com
Take care in that channel bro

[amtrosie]

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/SoCalDiveGirl/ (channel islands, QUOTE]

Wow! God forbid that some one is color blind. All that pink and no pink fins? I detect a note of inconsistancy. That must be a heretic at work!

[SoCalDiveGirl]

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c283/SoCalDiveGirl/ (channel islands, QUOTE]

Wow! God forbid that some one is color blind. All that pink and no pink fins? I detect a note of inconsistancy. That must be a heretic at work!

uh I do have pink fins too.. but thanks for your "input"...