Lots of annoying jellyfish

Boy, was this weekend full of bites, stings & scrapes! Guess that's a lesson in wearing some protection. I think the fire coral was the worst - at least the worst looking! My entire forearms were covered the next day, with a red oozing rash...ugh. We did catch enough lobster to ease the pain though!

Lobster Fun

We did fairly well this mini-season - didn't limit out, but we had a lot of fun and caught some nice sized lobsters! Not as many divers in our area as last year, so it was very enjoyable and a lot less hectic. Will post pics soon - just getting back and unpacking!

License & Permit

Just a reminder, check your fishing license and make sure you get crawfish tags (permit). Just noticed that my saltwater fishing license expired almost a month ago. We get 5-year licences, so it's easier to overlook than if you get your license yearly. Every lobster diver must possess a valid saltwater license & crawfish permit and you should store them in a safe/dry place on the boat, just in case you are stopped by the Marine Patrol, or other authority. We usually get checked at least once during the 2 day sport season!

Getting Ready

Lobster mini-season is just a few weeks away, so we started to dig out our diving equipment, just to make sure everything checks out o.k. - you don't want any 'suprises' when it comes to your dive gear. We're usually pretty good at rinsing, drying and storing our equipment in containers when done, but yuck, those masks and snorkels looked so grimy! Since I wasn't sure what was safe to use for cleansers, I did some checking and found that something as simple as toothpaste works great! A non abrasive cleanser, like SoftScrub would work too, but we used toothpaste, an old toothbrush and warm water. We scrubbed the grime off the silicone masks, seals, and snorkels and rinsed them in cold water. It was unbelievable! They look like new!

Fins are another heavily used part that can show wear and tear quickly. A few of ours need to have the straps replaced, so we'll pick up some parts, along with some gloves (to replace the worn-out ones) and some other assorted worn out parts, when we go to the dive shop this weekend. We always have guests during lobster season, so we keep quite a bit of extra equipment, which all needs to be checked and maintained. A good rainy day (like today) project.

On to the regulators, valves, etc....

2006 Florida Spiny Lobster Mini Season

This year's lobster mini-season is July 26th and 27th! Time to start getting ready....if you use diving equipment such as tanks, or third lung. This is the time to check everything out to make sure it's in proper working order. Replace any connections, hoses and make repairs before the rush begins. Also take the time to order your lobster tags and make sure your fishing license is current. Brusing up on the rules wouldn't hurt! More to come...

Never Dive Alone......Always Take a Buddy

Never Dive Alone is rule #1, learned by every diver. Yet, every year there are stories of diving accidents, or disappearances of solo divers. No matter how experienced the diver, no one should ever dive alone. It’s just irresponsible and stupid! Equipment may, ok, equipment will fail at some point, and having a diving buddy with you will make the difference between life and death.

You should know your buddy’s diving capabilities and you should be familiar with each other’s equipment. Go over your dive plan and emergency procedures, before entering the water. You and your buddy should always be aware of each other’s location. Coordinating the use of underwater hand signals is great safety measure and something that is quick and easy to learn. Just the basics: Thumb up, to “go up” ; thumb down, to “go down”; throat cut gesture, “air trouble” ; O.K. sign, “I’m ok” or “you ok?” ; clenching and unclenching fist, “I have a cramp” ; moving flat hand side-to-side, “stay at this depth” ; arms crossed over chest, “I’m cold” ‘ hand up, “stop” or “wait”.

Find a dependable and responsible buddy (and be one yourself!). Remember the simple, but important rules…..don’t drink and dive, make sure you drink plenty of water, take care of your equipment, don’t dive beyond your capabilities, know the signs of hypothermia and basic diving first aid, know the weather and water conditions, and when in doubt, don’t go out!

Education is the key

Taking boating safety courses, diving lessons and continuing education along the way, keeps you safe, updated on the latest rules etc. and generally a safer boater and diver. Don't attempt to do things you are not qualified for....it's an accident waiting to happen! If you want to go SCUBA diving....get the proper training from a qualified professional and get certified. If you are already certified, then you should know to never to dive alone. Always dive with a buddy! Check your equipment carefully and check your equipment often. If you rent equipment, make sure you know how to use it properly before you get in the water, and of course, make sure it works. Do you know CPR, or how to administer first aid in a diving situation? Check into taking a diver's first aid course or become CPR certified - you just may save someone's life.