Watch Me Dive With Whale Sharks!

[PhiSig1071]

Yep, that's right. It's was my Christmas Gift from my family. I am going to the Georgia Aquarium and diving in the Ocean Voyager Exhibit. They have a manta ray, a hammerhead shark and four whale sharks, ranging in size from 25 feet to 40 feet long. They have a webcam mounted in the main tank, so I'm hoping you guys can watch me dive (if you want to). I am diving tomorrow, Friday Feb 6th, at around 3:30. The address for the webcam is:

http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/exploreTheAquarium/webcam-ocean-voyager.aspx

Check it out!

(And no, I wont be spearfishing! :lol )

[buzzcutt2]

Very cool. :dthumb:

[smileyman]

Have fun! It really was cool knowing you. If the hammerhead hasn't eaten first i hope you season yourself well before you enter!

[Particle Man]

oh you lucky bastard :lol:

[AquaPython]

awesome!
i dove the aquarium at Epcot center (fo free!)

a dream of mine is to do 12 day whale shark expedition cruise off Belize ( i think ). diving with them in the wild. soooo cool.
they are occasionally seen down here in FL, but i have never seen one in person.

[rogue]

That's pretty fuckin' awesome! :dthumb:

If I'm awake, I'll be sure to watch it. :)

[PhiSig1071]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it! Should be cool, but it's going to be weird diving without a speargun! I haven't done that in a while. (No need to worry about the hammerhead if they'd let me bring that!)

I have actually dove the epcot center too, and Marineland. :lol: I need an "Aquarium Diver" specialty.

Rogue, it's 3:30 in the afternoon, on a friday. If you're still asleep then, I am driving to Louisana and partying with you next thursday!

[rogue]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it! Should be cool, but it's going to be weird diving without a speargun! I haven't done that in a while. (No need to worry about the hammerhead if they'd let me bring that!)

I have actually dove the epcot center too, and Marineland. :lol: I need an "Aquarium Diver" specialty.

Rogue, it's 3:30 in the afternoon, on a friday. If you're still asleep then, I am driving to Louisana and partying with you next thursday!

I work overnights so I don't normally get to sleep until around 7am. :lol:

However, the padawans' kitteh is usually evil enough to have me awake by 2....the very reason I'm awake now. :lol:

[xx CURVE xx]

you wanna impress me swim with great white sharks :p

[AquaPython]

there are sand tigers in there now...

[the chi]

Thats pretty darn nifty! Ive seen the exhibit a few times, those whale sharks are definitely incredible creatures!! I'll try and hop on and watch ya tomorrow!

[PhiSig1071]

you wanna impress me swim with great white sharks :p

Well, does spearfishing with them count?

http://www.digitalfathom.com/2008/12/great-white-shark-spotted-off.html

So....

Who's coming diving with me? :rockout:

[Rsv1000R]

awesome!
they are occasionally seen down here in FL, but i have never seen one in person.

My understanding is, that pictures of the ocean from the air, show sharks are everywhere.

[the chi]

My understanding is, that pictures of the ocean from the air, show sharks are everywhere.

True, but not WHALE sharks. :lol:

[xx CURVE xx]

Well, does spearfishing with them count?

http://www.digitalfathom.com/2008/12/great-white-shark-spotted-off.html

So....

Who's coming diving with me? :rockout:

no...but spearfishing THEM would :D :lol:

[PhiSig1071]

I work overnights so I don't normally get to sleep until around 7am. :lol:

However, the padawans' kitteh is usually evil enough to have me awake by 2....the very reason I'm awake now. :lol:

Gotcha! :dthumb: Well, if you're awake, hopefully you'll catch it!

My understanding is, that pictures of the ocean from the air, show sharks are everywhere.

There are thousands of sharks out there, many more than people know. I have seen them on almost every dive I have done off of Jacksonville. However whale sharks are significantly more rare, and so are great whites. I haven't personally seen either one, but I have been out and heard reports of both.

[ericr]

They have a manta ray

Uh...yeah, watch the pointy end by kracky :whistle:

Have fun dude, I'll try to check it out if I'm slow at work. Be glad it's not outside, we've been cooold the last few days!


eta: Don't forget your dive board and write :twfix: on it and hold it up to the web cam :dthumb: :D

[Curb]

My understanding is, that pictures of the ocean from the air, show sharks are everywhere.during certain times of the year, that is correct

[PhiSig1071]

My friends have decided that in order to be able to tell it's me I have to toss the shocker at the camera!

:lol

If I could bring my slate with me I would! The only personal gear I am allowed to bring is my perscription dive mask.

[Curb]

i was just watching it and saw like 4 people in there and one of the whale sharks swam across the screen...prety cool. if i remember tomorrow i'll be watching at 3:30. how long does the dive last?

[PhiSig1071]

Thats pretty darn nifty! Ive seen the exhibit a few times, those whale sharks are definitely incredible creatures!! I'll try and hop on and watch ya tomorrow!

:twfix:

The dive lasts 30 minutes.

We are supposed to be there by 2:30, and done by 5. I'm figuring an hour for briefing and equipment issue, then the 30 minute dive, then an hour to debrief, return gear, shower etc. When I did it at Epcot it was the most pampered diving I've ever done! Nice showers, lockers, tile floors, etc. So I'm assuming this will be similar.

[fnfalman]

I'll try to watch it tomorrow.

I've been tempted on doing a cage dive with the Great White shark. I haven't seen a man eater type in the ocean yet. Kinda hard to find them in SoCal. But the only times a diver should worry are feeding them and cause a feeding frenzy or swimming on the surface looking like a seal or sea lion.

[PhiSig1071]

I'll try to watch it tomorrow.

I've been tempted on doing a cage dive with the Great White shark. I haven't seen a man eater type in the ocean yet. Kinda hard to find them in SoCal. But the only times a diver should worry are feeding them and cause a feeding frenzy or swimming on the surface looking like a seal or sea lion.

I think it would be cool to try a cage dive. I have seen a couple big sharks, including a big bull, but nothing like a great white. Yeah, they're really not that scary, if you pay attention to them you can tell when they're getting aggressive. A good poke on the nose with the tip of the speargun and they get the idea. (Just try not to poke them hard enough to toggle the flopper or wings! :lol:)

[Rsv1000R]

However whale sharks are significantly more rare, and so are great whites.

Ah, Seeing whale sharks, cool, I'll skip seeing the great whites from in the water, well maybe if I was in a cage, but not swimming with one.

[azoomm]

Aww man, I'm going to miss it [pout]. I have a meeting at 3:00 here...

Have a fantastic time. I love it when people get gifts that completely suit them. Absolutely wonderful. Enjoy every minute. :dthumb:

[rogue]

Aww man, I'm going to miss it [pout]. I have a meeting at 3:00 here...

Have a fantastic time. I love it when people get gifts that completely suit them. Absolutely wonderful. Enjoy every minute. :dthumb:

He should be an hour ahead of us... ;)

[azoomm]

He should be an hour ahead of us... ;)

Right, 2:30 my time - I'll be on my way to my meeting. :(

[askmrjesus]

WHALE SHARKS!

Never around when you need one. :lol:

I was the boat manager for ScubaCat and then later for Genesis 1 in Thailand.

Genesis used to run "Whale Shark Expeditions" where we would go out and search for whale sharks for the touri. Could never find the fuckers when we wanted to. We even hired a guy with a flying dinghy to help search, (picture an inflatable with an ultralight stuck to it).

They usually popped up when you least expected it, the cheeky bastards.

Here's a link to my old boat, just in case you ever want to go to Thailand:

http://www.aquatours.com/thailand/genesis1.htm

Have fun on your dive tomorrow!

JC

[the chi]

He should be an hour ahead of us... ;)

Crap, thanks for the heads up!! Im in Central, Id have missed it!

[was92v]

Thats kickin! and I don't even like water all that much.

[PhiSig1071]

It was pretty damn cool! One of the guys diving with us was a paraplegic, which was pretty amazing.

The whale sharks were BIG but very graceful (like me! :lol:) and were a real pleasure to dive with. Got up close to a couple sand tigers and REAL close to a hammerhead, which was absolutely amazing. I'll get some pictures up when I get a chance.

AMJ: I used to be a DM on a liveaboard in the Keys, it was the best job I've ever had. I'll be filling in for a week in April this year, I'll post some pics.

So, did anybody see it? I was the second buddy pair, third or fourth guy back.

[the chi]

It was pretty damn cool! One of the guys diving with us was a paraplegic, which was pretty amazing.

The whale sharks were BIG but very graceful (like me! :lol:) and were a real pleasure to dive with. Got up close to a couple sand tigers and REAL close to a hammerhead, which was absolutely amazing. I'll get some pictures up when I get a chance.

AMJ: I used to be a DM on a liveaboard in the Keys, it was the best job I've ever had. I'll be filling in for a week in April this year, I'll post some pics.

So, did anybody see it? I was the second buddy pair, third or fourth guy back.

No i friggin missed it dammit, did they let you get a recording or anything??

[fnfalman]

So, did anybody see it? I was the second buddy pair, third or fourth guy back.

I saw it, but I couldn't tell who's who.

[Smittie61984]

Rock on man!!!

I dove with the whale sharks once. I wasn't suppose to but 10 shots of Tequila and some Jagerbombs I ended up planning on riding him on a magical rainbow to Mexico. Unfortunately I mistaked a Whale Shark for an Electric Eel.

[PhiSig1071]

No i friggin missed it dammit, did they let you get a recording or anything??

Yep, a nice DVD, if I can figure out how to upload parts to youtube I'll do it.

I saw it, but I couldn't tell who's who.

Yeah, I figured the camera quality wouldn't be the best. Thanks for checking it out anyway!

[the chi]

Yep, a nice DVD, if I can figure out how to upload parts to youtube I'll do it.



Yeah, I figured the camera quality wouldn't be the best. Thanks for checking it out anyway!

Hell yeah! DO IT!!! Cant wait to see!

[rogue]

Yep, a nice DVD, if I can figure out how to upload parts to youtube I'll do it.




Awesome! I'd love to see it since I slept right through it.

[PhiSig1071]

Here's a cropped vid screencap from the dive:

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2325/231/13/2024269/n2024269_54378071_3939.jpg