This was close to the surface, so more snorkeling than diving, but we got some face time with the NZ fur-seals. My wife's Instagram:
I called dibs on processing and posting together the dolphin footage, which I'll do at home. We went with a boatful of snorkelers out into the ocean, to look for anchovy bait balls and try to swim with the dolphins that feed on them. I managed some good footage out of it, mostly because my free dive gear let me absolutely haul ass when we sighted them. The feeling from cruising like superman leaving the snorkelers in the dust to realizing the dolphins can swim circles around me was humbling.
Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving
Last edited by Troy on Fri Feb 24, 2017 4:44 am, edited 4 times in total.
Scuba Diving
Those Eels are no joke. Especially the Morray. They are definitely not to be fucked around with - there is a particular video of a guy feeding an eel that "accidentally" bites his fucking finger off - dive glove and all - on YouTube.
And those Blacktips are notoriously aggressive.
It sounds awesome though! The eels I'd feel comfortable being around, even if they are creepy. Just don't make your fingers look enticing. I'd feel apprehensive getting in the Blacktip tank without a decent knife strapped to me. Do they let you wear chain gloves for the feeding?
And those Blacktips are notoriously aggressive.
It sounds awesome though! The eels I'd feel comfortable being around, even if they are creepy. Just don't make your fingers look enticing. I'd feel apprehensive getting in the Blacktip tank without a decent knife strapped to me. Do they let you wear chain gloves for the feeding?
Last edited by Troy on Fri Feb 24, 2017 4:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
Scuba Diving
It occurs to me that Blacktips likely treat guys in scuba rigs very differently than spearos. Bet it's nothing to worry about.
Scuba Diving
I was going to say jokingly that I would actually welcome combat with a blacktip shark, but I wouldn't want someone from the zoo to read that and think I was going to be a fuckup and try to fight them. 
Because I absolutely would not do that.
But nah, I aint skeered of them.... they get fed regularly, and by now they know they can just wait for the dead fish to get put in front of their face, they don't need to tussle with the big 200 pound weird thing that blows bubbles and tastes like foam rubber.
Because I absolutely would not do that.But nah, I aint skeered of them.... they get fed regularly, and by now they know they can just wait for the dead fish to get put in front of their face, they don't need to tussle with the big 200 pound weird thing that blows bubbles and tastes like foam rubber.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
They have xenomorph jaws. Seriously.
Blacktips are not terribly aggressive unless they think you're food. They also tend to leave alone human-sized things which are fully submerged.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Scuba Diving
Ok, just had an idea.... get a small piece of chewed-up wetsuit, clandestinely release it while i am giving a shark feeding demonstration, see if anyone notices.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
If you're doing that, go full-blown severed hand.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Scuba Diving
"Oh, THAT'S where yesterday's feeder went."
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
Hay I'm at the zoo getting CPR certified.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
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It's not me, it's someone else.
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Obviously.
The instructor mentioned "It's actually difficult to find and fill a tub with ice in order to treat a heat stress victim..." so I suggested the penguin enclosure.
I mean, obviously, right? Think outside the box, people.
It was actually general emergency training, not just cpr.
But yeah I'm totally a first responder now, no big deal.
The instructor mentioned "It's actually difficult to find and fill a tub with ice in order to treat a heat stress victim..." so I suggested the penguin enclosure.
I mean, obviously, right? Think outside the box, people.
It was actually general emergency training, not just cpr.
But yeah I'm totally a first responder now, no big deal.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
Got my emails this morning (these maniacs seem to work 7 days a week), I was the first in the group to get all my shit together, so I am now on the schedule for Dive Tender Training. Because of my upcoming dive trip I prolly won't get in the water as an official zoo diver until April.... but the way the scheduling process looks I will have plenty of advance warning so I will be able to put the word out, in case anyone wanted to attend this summer.
Also here is a link they sent me, this is what it looks like above the big tank where I will be.
I don't BELIEVE this video is marked as "Private" or anything.... if any of you notice that it is, please inform me and I will remove it. As far as I can tell, it is public.
Also here is a link they sent me, this is what it looks like above the big tank where I will be.
I don't BELIEVE this video is marked as "Private" or anything.... if any of you notice that it is, please inform me and I will remove it. As far as I can tell, it is public.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
Here's the shark attack rescue training they put up.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
Florida trip is in a week, I pulled out the dive computers today to make sure the batteries were still good.... and it is just difficult enough to change them that I would want to take them to the dive shop and have them do it. They are, they read 75% charge, great.
But then I saw the time was an hour off.... fuck.... I never changed them in the fall when the clock moved back an hour, now I have to find the documentation to figure out how to change it.
But then I realized, shit, tonight when the clocks change the time will be correct, again.
The scuba gods smile upon me.
But then I saw the time was an hour off.... fuck.... I never changed them in the fall when the clock moved back an hour, now I have to find the documentation to figure out how to change it.
But then I realized, shit, tonight when the clocks change the time will be correct, again.
The scuba gods smile upon me.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
Oh, also, I do my first official "dive tender" at the zoo, tomorrow. Good times.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
I'm going to tap on the glass.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
Scuba Diving
Since you're talking about G, I'm going to assume you meant "Tap that ass."
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Scuba Diving
Apparently the ladies were already throwing it at G during his gym visits. Now that he's a shark diver who works for the zoo, it'll require literally beating them away with sticks.
Scuba Diving
Hot woman comes up to me: "I've never said this to anyone but I find you to be incredibly attractive and I want you to be the first man to make love to me."
Me: ummm.. thanks. It's really fun feeding the sharks.
Me: ummm.. thanks. It's really fun feeding the sharks.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Scuba Diving
"any questions OTHER than what I'm wearing under my wetsuit? thanks."