7/9/2007 - Training Continued
So, here it is July, the sun is finally out...and the diving is great. I had a couple of new OW students out today...and needless to say, this one gentleman was a little nervous to say the least. On a couple of occasions, I found this 300 lbs gentleman trying to climb up on my shoulders to get further out of the water. He said he felt a little nervous...and I figure that is an under statement!!! After two ocean dive attempts we had no luck...so we are headed to the pool and see how it goes there.
Great Diving, Great Training, Great Time!!
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5/6/2007 - Canada Dive College
Last month saw me complete my Professional Dive Instructors Program through Canada Dive College in Sechelt BC. Tony Holmes is the Course Director. I have to say the course was amazing...Tony provided not only everything that was need for the IE, but any thing I wanted to take in Technical Diving, either through TDI or PADI/DSAT.
If anyone is looking to get into the instructing side of diving...and happen to be any where near Sechelt in British Columbia....you should look this place up...its amazing!!
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12/20/2006 - In Search of the Sea Whip
 Canada Dive College was out doing a fun dive off Tuwanek on Friday,
after completing the first three dives of the TDI Decompression
course….and we decided to go in search of the Sea Whips of Tuwanek. The
dive plan depth was 165, though the contingences were worked out for
175, and times from 20 to 25 minutes.
It was close to 10 in the morning when we arrived, and began dressing
for the days dive. Once suited up, (twin 80’s plus a slung 80 and
another slung 40) we proceeded to the water. We made a short surface
swim out, pretty much perpendicular to the beach and descended into
about 100 feet of water. About 2 minutes of swimming we ended up at the
170 foot mark…and sure enough there they were….the Sea Whips of Tuwanek.
Once our planned 20 minute bottom time was up, the dive turned and
we proceeded back to shore…and out 20 minutes of decompression stops in
order to be safe for surfacing. Overall it was a great dive!
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9/24/2006 - Rescue Diver
Well, we have been working on our Professional Scuba Diving Training program with Canada Dive College, and here it is week 4, and we will be starting our Rescue Divers course tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting on to some new training. So far, we re did the Open, and Advanced courses not so much as students, but to see how the courses are run, and the various forms of paper work.
From what I understand the Rescue Divers course is suppose to be a lot of fun...so I am looking forward to getting right into it. So far the diving has been great...the sites amazing, and well....what an awesome way to spend the days, on a dive boat, and under water enjoying the sites. We should be starting our Dive Master course by early October...that I can hardly wait for...looking forward to more amazing dive to come!
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9/15/2006 - Week Two Down
Another excellent week on the Canada Dive College Instructor Training Course. We spent the majority of the week diving some of the most amazing cold water dive sites in the Sechelt Inlet. Thursdays dives were from the Atri Star 38 foot Motor Vessel, and the reef that was used by the IMAX crew that filmed the 3D Under Water movie that was released a few months ago.
I had the oppotunity to find an octopus hidden away in its den. To all accounts it appeared to be a larger one, though not wanting to disturb it, we left it alone in its den.
We have a plan coming up to Drift Dive the Skookumchuk Narrows, where on the flood, the tide can hit a speed of 17 knots, though for obvious reasons...we will not be in the water for that particular speed. There is room left on the charter, so anyone wanting to dive this amazing dive....be sure to drop me a line. We are looking for the next opportunity n mid November...around the 19 th or so.
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9/4/2006 - Wet and Wonderful Weekend
The last long weekend before the end of summer. The kids headed back to school, and I got a chance to bang off 4 dives. Started off on Saturday morning, with a simple beach dive. Head off to the left island in Tuwanek BC, and enjoyed a 80 to 40 foot wall dive. Nothing overally exciting to report. Headed back that night for a night dive, the first one in sometime, and what an awesome dive we had. The dive started out with a short surface swim out to the decent point, where it was very evident that there was going to be an awesome display of phosphoresces so I deceided to descend with the lights out, and see what kind of light show I could create....and I must say it was amazing. We came across a 10 foot ling cod, which truely was the high light of the dive.
Today was spent of the boat, where we had a pretty easy dive on Possie Island in Tuwanek, where we had the opportunity to find a small Wolf eel hidden amoungst the rocks...and our next dive was up to Zoonie Narrows where we enjoyed a great drift dive.
Tomorrow is Day one at Canada Dive College, so I am off on my instructor training...and certainly am looking forward to it!
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8/27/2006 - HMCS Chaudiere
Well after what seems like a life time, I finally got everything in line and made it down on the Chaud. Being a soon to retire Canadian Sailor it would seem rather strange me looking forward to diving a ship that I did a number of hours training on. But I must say I was surprised at what a great dive I had. The Chaud is in 50 - 130 feet of water on her port side. Vis: Well its summer so vis is a little thick in the first thirty feet or so....but at depth, 70 plus So, I started down the STBD after mooring line, and out of the black I happened on the aft end of the quarter deck, where it was quite evident the mortor well covers had been removed otherwise they would have been all over the sea bed. As I made my way forward, I was surprised how much difficult I had getting my bearings as much that I was use to seeing was removed. Sure enough though I finally found the 8 mess hatch, which lead down to three deck which was known as Burma Road. I happened to live in 8 mess for some three years while serving aboard this class of ship. Further forward along the weather decks, we came upon the house which held the CO's cabin, the wardroom, and Communications Control Room and the Operations Room. It was an outstanding site seeing all the marine life etc which seems to have enhabited my work spaces. If you ever have a chance to make it to Sechelt BC, hook up with Suncoast Diving, and come on out and enjoy a fantastic dive!! 
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8/21/2006 - All Settled in Sechelt
Well it seems like it took forever, but I am finally settled in the new place. Get this right above the Dive Store no less. I am diving daily, and the IDC does not start for another week or so. I can hardly wait.
Did a dive the other day on the HMCS Chaudire, which is much like the Yukon which was sunk down around San Diego. The ship is sitting on her Port side, bows down into 130 ft of water. We hit the thermal layer around 30 feet or so, but the water temp this time of year is great, surface temp is 67 or so, and at depth around 55 so it very comfortable diving.
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7/5/2006 - Sechelt, BC
This day three of our house hunting trip to Sechelt BC. I start the IDC program here at Canada Dive College in Sept, and we are making preparations now, for the rental place, purchasing new gear and the such. Its been some 5 years since I travelled to BC, and I must say I forgot what a wonderful place this province is, not just for the tourist. People here seem very friendly, and for the most part very helpful. Tony and Ruth, are the couse directors/owners, they have been simply amazing in assisting us in getting everything together, not only with the course but
financing etc.
The IDC course well be conducted in the Sechelt area of the Sunshine coast, where there is some of the best cold water diving in all the world. There are no less then 5 Cold War era Canadian Destroyers that have been sunk for Artificail Reefs, one Boeing 767 aircraft, and not to mention some of the most amazing reef dives one could possibly dream of experiencing. When we are not Diving, or learning the tools of the trade at SunCoast Dive Center there is some of the best hiking in the Canadian Rockies one could ever imagine. You could be at sea level in the morning, and by lunch, hiking through a 500 - 1000 foot mountain pass by lunch. If you were ever to want to tray some diving in Canada, the Sunshine coast is the place to come. Stop in and say hi to Tonay and Ruth as well....you certainly will not regret it.
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7/5/2006 - Latest Sig
Here is the latest Sig. This one was made for Rick(ydazla).
Don't miss out, on your custom signatures. Or if you would like a custom banner for your blog!
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6/29/2006 - Mysterious Plankton West Coast of Canada
By KennyG and reported on yahoo Canada
Scientists continue to track a mysterious bloom swirling along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Satellite images posted on NASA's web site show a blue-green cloud of phytoplankton, tiny plants at the base of the marine food chain that help sustain ocean ecosystems.
A bloom means there are a lot of nutrients present for fish, federal fisheries department scientists said. There are more than 100 species of plankton that could be causing the bloom, said David Cassis, who studies plankton at the University of British Columbia. Organisms that carry paralytic shellfish-poisoning toxin, known as red tide, don't have a shell, said Angelica Pena of the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney, B.C.
In this case, the bloom appears to consist mainly of the shelled phytoplankton coccolithophore, scientists at the institute said. The single-celled organisms are shaped like hubcaps surrounded with a microscopic plating of limestone scales. When trillions of coccolithophores are present, the water turns an opaque turquoise. Warm weather and bright sunshine are ideal conditions for the organisms. Scientists are concerned global warming could spur more blooms. Over the long term, the species helps remove carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, by locking it up in their scales. The scales then form sediment at the bottom of the ocean.
However, in the short term the organisms generate carbon dioxide that can escape into the atmosphere, according to NASA's Earth Observatory web site. The bloom is concentrated about 15 kilometres off the island's west shore. Marine biologists say the only way to be certain the phytoplankton is harmful is to test it, but provincial biologists say budget restrictions will prevent testing until the bloom comes within a kilometre of land. They're using satellite images to track the bloom's movements. Researchers believe the bloom could last up to two weeks, unless a large storm breaks it up sooner.
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6/28/2006 - New Sig for ScubaCulture
Here is the latest custom signature, if you want one...its free send me an email and let me know what you would like.
Don't miss out!! :)
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6/24/2006 - Free Custom Signatures
If anyone is interested in free custom signatures or Avatars for their blog, or website. Please feel free to email me....and I will make one up for you.
Here is a sample of my work.
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6/18/2006 - Which Camera
Ok, here is the problem....have to decide which camera I should purchase for UW Photography. I am currently using a Nikonos V with a 35mm lens, and extension tubes for close up. However I want to get into digital, so it was originally my plan to buy a Nikon D70s and then put it into a housing.
However, today I ran into an awesome deal on the Canon EOS Rebel XT, which can be used in the Iklite Housing the same as the Nikon...however the Rebel is half the price as the Nikon. I love Nikons, I currently have the Nikon FE2, F2 and F4 land cameras. I think they are the best camera's on the street, but I can be saving myself some big dollars.
Anyone have an opinon in this...please feel free to share it with me:)
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6/14/2006 - 3 Months and Counting
The time seems to be taking forever to pass until the start of my IDC cousre. I have been working out, swimming and getting ready....but the clock seems to take forever to pass. Luckly I am headed out to Sechelt in 16 days to rent my house for the course...and I think I will purchase all new equipment. Something worth looking forward to. Any suggestions for computers would be greatly appriciated.
KennyG
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6/14/2006 - Dive Template 3
Here is template number 3. It comes with a splash screen, and then the actual site. Heavy in graphics...but the site comes with all the psd files needed to full customize the template.
Click Here for the demo site.
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6/14/2006 - Dive Template 2
Here is another Web Template....I am in the process of working usable designs for Wordpress as well. Once again these templates are free for personal use. As well if anyone would like a custom template made up....feel free to contact me.
I had orginally started to cutomize this template for a Dive store I use to use when I lived back in Ontario....for their use...however they did not go for this template...so it appears customize already however it's not in current use.
Click Here for the Demo Site.
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6/14/2006 - Dive Template 1
Since I love making web sites, and have run a couple of small either Web Hosting sites, or Web Design sites...I figured this would certainly be a great opportunity to start making web site themes and templates specifically for Diving. So here is my first attempt and making a design for diving. Let me know what you think.
All Diving Templates are free for personal use...so if you like it and want a complete copy...then please feel free to send me an email.
Here is a the demo site for this template. Click Here
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5/26/2006 - Dive Instructor Program.
I lucked out, after serving for 20 years in the Navy, and now being released due to a medical problem, I have been successful in swinging full funding to take a PADI IDC course through Canada Dive College in Sechelt British Columbia. I start up the program in Sept of this year. Though I have been diving since I was 16, I am really pumped about this!!
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About Me
OWSI PADI
OWSI SDI
Tec Deep Instructor/Diver
Specialty Instructor
EFRI
Advanced NITRO
Decompression Procedures
DSAT TRIMIX
Friends
* indepth
* Gabriel
* Missy
* DiverJan
* plife
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