Poll: Scuba Diving / Snorkeling

dbl · Feb 28, 2018

Seems like a natural fit - scuba diving and snorkeling to our saltwater reef addictions. We are curious how many members dive and/or snorkel on a regular basis. One of our RS members, @saltyhog, has started a thread here on the topic. So, do you dive or just enjoy sea creatures in your living room?

sfin52 · Feb 28, 2018

Just got back from costa Maya it was amazing. It was a sea fan forest with the biggest ones being 4 ft tall 3 ft wide maybe bigger. Stingrays and an eel and not to mention all the fish it was outstanding.

My middle son is hooked now. Took some convincing about half an hour of begging and he went. He will go every time now.

g5flier · Feb 28, 2018

Been reefing for 33 years (off and on, now on!) and diving for 31 years. Just returned from a week on Roatan Honduras, 14 fantastic dives, 3 at night, just over 500 dives all time. Seeing reefs in all their glory is just amazing. Its so funny when you hear the issues on R2R about "I have algae in my tank" when the live rock on a reef is covered in either corals or macro algae of some sort. Or "my X fish just ate my Y fish" when on a reef that's pretty much the norm. I'd encourage any one in this hobby health permitting to consider taking up diving.

cracker · Feb 28, 2018

I'm certified & have all the equipment but haven't dove or snorkeled in a long time.

DancingShark · Feb 28, 2018

Was just talking about bucket list at work yesterday. This was one.
I said I wanted to swim in a coral reef before I die and just stop and said or before they die. It's all just really sad.

mckinleyw · Feb 28, 2018

I WISH!! As of now im not certified to dive. I have always wanted to though. I have snorkeled a bit. Life is just too busy right now for me to delve into these. I sit in front of my tank and pretend does that count?

stylaster · Feb 28, 2018

Ive been lucky enough to dive in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Mexico, Caracao, Aruba, Jamaica, Bali, St Thomas, and a few other places. Here are some links i posted a while back of various trips
Tonga
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-tonga-trip.272187/
Fiji
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fiji-trip.11009/

miPapareef · Feb 28, 2018

Been diving ~28 years, reefing 1. Been on an 8 year diving hideous, but I just booked a trip to Belize, can't wait.

Daniel@R2R · Feb 28, 2018

Went snorkeling in the Philippines near Coron. It was one of the most amazing experiences! I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Paul B · Feb 28, 2018

Ben diving since 1972. I have a boat and just gave away all my equipment to a member a few months ago. I dove for lobsters every week for quite a few years.

Brew12 · Feb 28, 2018

I'm a certified diver but only went snorkeling when I was at the Grand Cayman's last week since the wife isn't. I have to say, what I saw made me sad. I have never seen so much brown algae on a reef before. I spent 45 minutes in the water at the first stop and never saw a single invert. Tangs were in short supply. I'm hoping that isn't indicative of the way the rest of the reefs in the area are deteriorating.

Sea MunnKey · Feb 28, 2018

Paul B said:
Ben diving since 1972. I have a boat and just gave away all my equipment to a member a few months ago. I dove for lobsters every week for quite a few years.

Dang the lobsters we have back home in Borneo are whole lot different as they're spiny lobsters (Panulirus Ornatus) with lots more fleshy & sweeter meat. For that reason ... I would love to dive

.

Crabs McJones · Feb 28, 2018

I would absolutely love to go snorkeling on a reef. It's on my bucket list, but it's a ways away

DangerDave · Feb 28, 2018

My answer would be...Yes, but it's been a long time.

Paul B · Feb 28, 2018

Sea MunnKey said:
Dang the lobsters we have back home in Borneo are whole lot different as they're spiny lobsters (Panulirus Ornatus) with lots more fleshy & sweeter meat. For that reason ... I would love to dive .

We get these. I was allowed to take 6 a day with my license.

saltyhog · Feb 28, 2018

miPapareef said:
Been diving ~28 years, reefing 1. Been on an 8 year diving hideous, but I just booked a trip to Belize, can't wait.

If you get a chance to take the trip out to Lighthouse reef(it's an all day excursion) do it! It's a very healthy reef with abundant life on it. This is the trip that goes to The Blue Hole first which is an ok, bucket list dive to 130+ feet. The other two dives on that trip are spectacular.

This is a video from that trip. Forgive the poor quality it was one of my first attempts at filming a dive.

GoVols · Feb 28, 2018

(lol)
Too ;Oldman

But... Skydiving is still on the bucket list

sfin52 · Feb 28, 2018

crabs_mcjones said:
I would absolutely love to go snorkeling on a reef. It's on my bucket list, but it's a ways away

Go on a cruise it’s closer than you think

sp1187 · Feb 28, 2018

instructor/retired.
haven't been wet since '91.
Cayman Brac
been all over the Bahamas (sailboat live aboard)
British BVI (live aboard) <----- disappointing
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Florida (gulf stream drifting off Tequesta, wrecks off Lauderdale, reefs and Coast Guard cutter wrecks in the Keys, snorkeling with manatees at Crystal River, Ginnie Springs cavern dives
Great Lakes wreck diving
Hawaii, dive guide had a WW2 tank in 65' in open water, nothing else around it. covered with marine life. lava tube dives.

sfin52 · Feb 28, 2018

Brew12 said:
I'm a certified diver but only went snorkeling when I was at the Grand Cayman's last week since the wife isn't. I have to say, what I saw made me sad. I have never seen so much brown algae on a reef before. I spent 45 minutes in the water at the first stop and never saw a single invert. Tangs were in short supply. I'm hoping that isn't indicative of the way the rest of the reefs in the area are deteriorating.

Costa maya had a fantastic reef. Oh saw a few stars. a large hermit, serpent star tentacle and fish every were