6.22.08 - AQUANAUTS Open Water Class

Hello everyone.

Once again the Video Dude is teamed up with AQUANAUTS SCUBA ACADEMY to video tape an Open Water Class for six students. Instructor Worth O'Brien has us booked aboard the "American Dream II" and we're heading out to "Hog Heaven" (wreck) and "The Caves" Reef. Another absolutely beautiful day weather-wise, and sea conditions were practically flat as Captain Dave heads us out of Port Everglades towards our first dive site.

Upon arriving at our wreck site, "Hog Heaven", Divemasters Merlin and Tina get us all tied off to the wreck and Worth gets all the students geared up for the dive. After hearing the condition report and getting a site briefing, we head down the line. Worth has all the students together on the line, and I am waiting about halfway down with my camera to shoot the excitement as they come down the line. Upon arriving at depth and getting the students to perform their skills, we take a brief tour of the wreck and the nearby Pacific Reef Lighthouse tower structure. Lots of Grunts, Snappers and Porkfish, and an occasional Hogfish. After the tour is over it's time to head up to our safety stops and then to the surface.

Back onboard, the students were electric in their discussions of what they saw and they were buzzing to get back in for our second dive on "The Caves" Reef. We drifted along with the current, stopping occasionally for students to perform their required skills and toured the reef. We saw a couple of Yellow Stingrays, Sand Divers, Lobster and Hogfish. Now, it's time to head up for a safety stop and then get back on the boat. It's really great to be involved in the beginning of a diver's certification and see their excitement.

Another reason I dive in Paradise!

The Video Dude