New guy from Northern California

[zky]

Hi,
My name's Eric, I'm up here in Norcal. I just got into vintage diving about a year ago and I am a vintagaholic!
I started with a Healthways DH that a friend of mine (Dale Swift) sent me, and later I got my hands on a 1960 DA Aquamaster that I've been using.

I dive mostly in Sonoma County and up in Mendocino County. I freedive for abalone (that's how I started) and later got into scuba. Regular scuba diving started to get... well, I wouldn't say boring, but it seemed I wasn't getting the same thrill out of it as I did when I first got certified. I got into tech diving figuring maybe that would be new and exciting but all I got out of it was a deeper reading on my depth gauge, decos and not much to see deeper. I didn't see too much fun about it, so I just went back to shallower reef diving and spearfishing.

Then I discovered vintage diving/gear and I feel reborn almost, like a complete newbie once again! Just the coolness of the gear and the techniques are a thrill in itself.
Now I've become much more scuba diving obsessed than at any other time in my life.
I still really enjoy skin diving, that love will never go away. But now I can look cooler doing it with my vintage style rubber skirted oval mask and my new (1959 pattern) beaver tail old school suit with stainless twist locks.

I just wish there were more vintage divers in my area. I seem to be the only one. At least my dive club is tolerant of my antics.

[Linda]

I was born in Mendocino county... woo hoooo!!

Welcome aboard. There are a few guys here that aren't too far from you. Terry and Robert, and a couple others...

I head down that way on a regular basis, but I don't dive - I'm just the tech around here. I like to snorkel some, though! ;D

Welcome!
Linda

[duckbill]

Hey, Eric. Welcome to the forum!
At least your dive club tolerates you. lol! If I can make it out to Ft. Bragg one of these days, maybe we could do a dive or two. Monterey is a great place to meet for some diving too Then there is always the local Feather River and its salmon later in the summer if you wind up in my neck of the woods. You are not alone ;D

[JES]

Welcome Eric!

A friend of Dale Swift is a friend of ours. ;D

We're glad you decided to join our ranks. You'll find the members helpful and friendly.

Again, welcome aboard!

JES

[Dale]

Good to see you here, Eric. I moved away from just down the street from Eric about 5 years ago, and of all the people I used to dive with up there, I miss Eric the most. We did some pretty cool dives together over the years. Its great to see you getting into vintage diving. We gotta get together for some dives this year.

[zky]

Mar 11, 2010 3:42:53 GMT -8 Dale said:

Good to see you here, Eric. I moved away from just down the street from Eric about 5 years ago, and of all the people I used to dive with up there, I miss Eric the most. We did some pretty cool dives together over the years. Its great to see you getting into vintage diving. We gotta get together for some dives this year.

Hey Dale,
Yes we do need to do some diving. It's been a long time.
Here are a couple of dates I can throw at you:

April 16,17,18 at Albion River Campground - North Coast Divers annual abalone opener and cookoff.

August 5,6,7,8 at Albion River Campground. My big annual dive campout in conjunction with North Coast Divers. Four days of diving, eating and drinking.

Link:
www.albionrivercampground.com

Then there's always Monterey which can be fun with all the PADI instructors and DIR types giving us the stink eye.

Maybe if I can get down to San Diego we can meet up there.

See ya

E

[Dale]

I would really love to dive Colby Reef again. Maybe I can make it in August. You should come to SanDiego too, there is some good diving out here. Today I visited the Missile Tower at 165 ft and had 60 ft vis! I've only done one vintage dive in SD and would love to do more.