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Post by 1969ivan1 on Jan 4, 2005 1:29:48 GMT -8
Make sure u guys take lots of digital pics and share them with all of us! I wish I could tag along. I have a few tanks I could get u to fill for me there Broxton Chuck...By the way how did u come by that nickname?
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Post by BROXTON CHUCK on Jan 13, 2005 14:57:46 GMT -8
Hi Everybody! Had a great time with "Frogman Jack" We dove Alexander springs, and Blue Spring a couple of tanks. Dove my 1956 DA NAVY twice to 121 feet! My wrist was on the bottom of the spring. Jack dove his Voit 50 Fathom, and his mint condition mistral and set of twin 38 doubles! I have pictures, but the camera isnt near right now. Ill get em on soon. I checked TROY SPRING and the rangers office said it was still closed. Thats almost 6 months. A bummer.
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Frogman Jack or Jack Wilhelm
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Post by Frogman Jack or Jack Wilhelm on Jan 14, 2005 14:09:26 GMT -8
Hi all, Chucko and I had a great time at Alexander and Blue Spring. Both springs are flowing some really serious water right now. The outflow is incredible. Both my regs as Chuck said worked beautifully. Wearing a set of double 38s that Chucko lent me led to me purchasing them. Very cool "Mike Nelson" style doubles. I can't wait for the springtime Florida get-together. Hope a lot of double-hosers can make it. Chucko is an exceptional individual, hope everyone at one time or another gets to meet him. Take care all and have a great weekend, Jack :-)
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Post by Bryan on Jan 20, 2005 18:08:38 GMT -8
Jack, Sam, Joe, Rob ......Do you have an outline on the order of visiting the springs? I want to start looking at airfare and motels as early as possible so we can get the best deals...... Let us all know how we can help.
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Post by JES on Jan 20, 2005 19:49:16 GMT -8
Bryan,
Do you plan to arrive in Orlando on the 30th or 31st?
Also understand that you need to be back to Orlando to fly out late on the 3rd.
With this information, I will send Jack an email and work with him on locations & directions.
Regards,
Joe
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Post by Bryan on Jan 20, 2005 20:30:17 GMT -8
I'd like to arrive on the 31st and be ready to dive Friday morning....Head back to Orlando Sunday afternoon.
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Post by JES on Jan 21, 2005 4:29:59 GMT -8
Roger that! Email has been sent to "Frogman Jack". We'll put our heads together and come up with a game plan.
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Post by Bryan on Jan 21, 2005 6:23:30 GMT -8
Sounds great! We all appreciate your help on this. I know that Tom will be driving over from LA and Chuck and Rob from OH/TN. Hopefully we have some of the other divers from the board joining us as well. Ryan and Dan are still looking to come in as far as I know. If you guys think it would be better to fly in to another airport and start our journey from a different spot we can do that as well.
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Jack Wilhelm Frogman Jack
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Post by Jack Wilhelm Frogman Jack on Jan 22, 2005 14:10:34 GMT -8
Hi everybody, I've responded to Joe Strickland with proposed dive sites and descriptions for our spring dive. In general, Friday, April 1 could be spent at Troy and Royal springs, Saturdday at The Blue Grotto and Catfish Hotel springs, and Sunday morning at either Blue Spring or Alexander. If these dives sound ok to Joe and most others, I can provide maps, directions, and info for all sites. I'm standing by, Jack.
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Post by Broxton Chuck on Jan 22, 2005 16:50:12 GMT -8
You guys and girls who are flying in, remember that most of these springs are way out there, with the exception of BLUE and ALEXANDER. Orlando is the most desireable place to arrive, due to the location. Troy spring has been closed the last 4 times I either went, or called there. We should NOT depend on it. I think I went to ROYAL a couple years ago, BUT they asked us to leave because wernt cave rated divers. I never heard of such foolishness. If you fly into florida, you can go to tampa, Jacksonville, or orlando, but either way you choose, it will be a hell of a long drive, more so, if you dont know the territory. We need to be absoloutly sure which springs are open, and get it right. It would be a big let down to arrive in Orlando, drive 125 miles to troy, then find its CLOSED again. Orlando is likely best, as since you guys mention doing BLUE and ALEXANDER LAST, it wont be such a big drive back to the airport. From BLUE, its only an hour so no biggie. Frogman Jack is an expert in the location department. Remember though, those of you ARRIVING, thursday, or friday morning, that its a LONG drive to troy, or Catfish hotel or whatever. So be prepared for some driving. You go right past "LENAS" so its not so bad come to think of it. Chucko
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Post by JES on Jan 22, 2005 20:24:21 GMT -8
To all,
I think that Jack has suggested a great itinerary. It does involve some driving but covers some great diving! He and I will discuss these plans further tomorrow.
We'll check into Troy Spring's availability and also find another spring should it remain closed.
Thanks again to Frogman Jack for the map/leg work and to Broxton Chuck for the insight.
Plane ticket to Orlando $200.00, Hotel $50.00 per night, Rental car $35.00 per day, 3 days of Vintage Diving with other members of this Board - Priceless![/b] ;D
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Post by Frogman Jack on Jan 23, 2005 8:47:12 GMT -8
Hi all, I do understand Chucko's concerns and what's involved with having to travel to the dive sites I've proposed. It's not the quality of the sites we'd be going to, they're all great for what we do. The issue is the distance and whether or not any particular site is open the day we want to dive it. Chuck's mention that someone ask him to leave because he's not cave certified is not clear to me. I've dove there many times with open water gear and I was lucky if anyone even said hello. There are caves there but you'd be lucky to be able to even find the entrances unless you know where to look. Joe and I can talk about the issues that Chuck mentioned and I can certainly check out anything that we need to. I can also keep an eye on whether or not the dive sites are going to be open when getting near our time for the event. Everything is far from set in stone. A plan B with alternate dive sites should be included in our plans. We'll get there, stay tuned, Jack.
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Post by Bryan on Jan 23, 2005 9:08:05 GMT -8
Plane ticket to Orlando $200.00, Hotel $50.00 per night, Rental car $35.00 per day, 3 days of Vintage Diving with other members of this Board - Priceless! I could not have said it better Joe! Sounds like you guys have it well under control. I know we are in good hands. I hope some of our new members to the board are making plans to attend? We are running out of stories to tell each other.
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Post by Captain on Jan 23, 2005 10:59:34 GMT -8
I haven't dived there in 25 years but what about Crystal River. Would it be possible to rent a pontoon boat to get to the spring. Last time I was there the Port Paradise was open but I think it no longer is. You could swim to the spring from there.
Tom
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Post by Broxton Chuck on Jan 24, 2005 14:16:23 GMT -8
Hey Jack, I think the place was PEACOCK SPRINGS where they wouldnt let us dive. And they did say I had to be cave rated, or in the care of an instructor, so they wouldnt let us dive. Shucks didnt want to anyhow after the letdown. Ill be talking to Bottom Bob, Deep Dennis,and J Valve John, and get their input. J valve John says Hospital hole is a hell of a great dive. Thats one we might check out. The one at crystal river, I rented a boat and dove there 30 years ago. There are several springs in the middle of a lake as I remember. That would be neat too. Chucko
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