Search found 214 matches

by jmartel
Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:21 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Viz Reports Thread
Replies: 3235
Views: 637946

Re: Viz Reports Thread

Three Tree this morning was about 15'.
by jmartel
Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:19 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Three Tree update
Replies: 14
Views: 4457

Re: Three Tree update

I dove Three Tree early this morning (7am). Perhaps first divers on the site since it reopened? Some things of note: There's only 1 parking spot currently. There's room for a second, but there's a giant pile of dirt there. But there's space just south of the "don't park south of here" sign...
by jmartel
Thu Mar 23, 2017 7:09 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Wet suits for the sound
Replies: 8
Views: 7656

Re: Wet suits for the sound

I still dive in a wetsuit. I use a 7mm farmer john 2 piece with a 7mm hood and 3mm gloves (can't operate a camera with thicker gloves). It gets cold, but it's not terrible. I can still do multiple dives in a day here, but it does get cold. I think my longest dive in the sound has been about 77 min.
by jmartel
Mon Mar 13, 2017 7:50 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Viz Reports Thread
Replies: 3235
Views: 637946

Re: Viz Reports Thread

Visibility at Edmonds yesterday was probably 25ish feet. Maybe 30 at the most. Pretty decent day.
by jmartel
Sat Mar 04, 2017 8:19 pm
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Scuba fins
Replies: 19
Views: 5096

Re: Scuba fins

I use the standard Scubapro Jet fins with spring straps. Stiff, heavy, indestructible, and best of all, cheap and available everywhere used. I think my pair was like $40 with spring straps.
by jmartel
Mon Jan 30, 2017 7:39 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 23
Views: 3153

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

I'd recommend practicing shooting jellies (or other small flittery critters like winged slugs) at night in the water column. That, plus a good focus light (with more flood, less spot) should help get you ready for the black water dive. Nice shot of the Cockerells Dorid! Yeah, I've shot jellies and ...
by jmartel
Sun Jan 29, 2017 9:16 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 23
Views: 3153

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

Will do. Need to dive a few more times in the next couple weeks so I can prepare for the blackwater dive in Kona. Macro+Lighting game needs to be strong for that dive.
by jmartel
Sun Jan 29, 2017 7:40 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 23
Views: 3153

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

Here's some of my shots. First dives with the macro lens, so they are nothing special. Still need to work on strobe positioning to deal with backscatter. Really need to get a drysuit after those 2 dives... https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/522/31737592454_a90eabc050_b.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/6...
by jmartel
Fri Jan 27, 2017 8:38 pm
Forum: Dive Planning
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 30
Views: 6240

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

I'll probably be on the 11am ferry from Port Townsend over, so arriving around 11:30. Is there anywhere near there that would make a good backup site?
by jmartel
Wed Jan 25, 2017 5:52 pm
Forum: Dive Planning
Topic: ThThTh 1/26
Replies: 12
Views: 2744

Re: ThThTh 1/26

I sent them off some email to see when this is going to complete(3T project) . Last I heard was Feb, but if its still all opened up, may be delayed even longer I spoke with one of the construction workers 2 weeks ago when I dropped by. It will be closed until March at the earliest. He said plan on ...
by jmartel
Tue Jan 24, 2017 8:35 pm
Forum: Dive Planning
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 30
Views: 6240

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

For those who haven't been there before, note that there is a $10/day cash parking pass if you don't have a Discover Pass. Found that out the hard way first time I went there.
by jmartel
Tue Jan 24, 2017 8:27 am
Forum: Dive Planning
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 30
Views: 6240

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

Ok, I now have confirmed that I will have the car. So I'll be there for it with the camera rig in tow.
by jmartel
Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:00 am
Forum: Dive Planning
Topic: Keystone Sat 1/28
Replies: 30
Views: 6240

Re: Keystone Sat 1/28

Not sure if I'll have a car available, but if I do I'm down to do it. 2 tanks? On that same note, I don't suppose anyone is coming up from Kitsap county that I could bribe to take me over? dphershman, if I can make it I'll be a slow photographer as well, so that will work out fine for me. Got a new ...
by jmartel
Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:34 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: I went to Pickles Deli this week!
Replies: 8
Views: 1228

Re: I went to Pickles Deli this week!

Nice shots and +1 on the Lighting. I'm still struggling with that myself, even with pulling the strobes out wide and keeping them behind the lens port.
by jmartel
Wed Dec 14, 2016 5:40 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: A good fill in the Seattle area?
Replies: 32
Views: 8049

Re: A good fill in the Seattle area?

Probably not an option, but I've had good service at Exotic Acquatics on Bainbridge. I had one fill that was low at 2600 (tank is 3000 psi), brought it to their attention after, and the next fill was free.
by jmartel
Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:00 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Redondo 12/10 - Sixgill Sighting
Replies: 11
Views: 3672

Redondo 12/10 - Sixgill Sighting

Went down to Redondo today for a cold dive hoping I would see more than I did last time I was there (Anything is better than the almost 0 life we saw last time I went). Visibility was decent, 20-25ft. 50 degree water, 40 degree air temps. Working our way down the line away from the aquarium, we pass...
by jmartel
Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:34 pm
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Weights Minimum
Replies: 8
Views: 3949

Re: Weights Minimum

I would avoid Aluminum tanks if you can help it. They are about 4 lbs positive with 500psi left. That's 4 extra pounds you'll have to carry in your BC or on your belt to make up for it. Different tanks have different buoyancy characteristics. I was able to drop 6 lbs when I bought my tank because it...
by jmartel
Mon Nov 21, 2016 8:03 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Norrander's Reef 11/20
Replies: 5
Views: 2937

Norrander's Reef 11/20

I did 2 dives at Norrander's Reef (also known as Rockaway Beach) this weekend. Hadn't done this site before, but I think it quickly became one of my favorites. Unfortunately we only saw one octo on the second dive, and no Wolfies, but there were tons of Nudibranchs all over the reef. Some of them I ...
by jmartel
Fri Nov 18, 2016 10:10 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Bubbles and Suds take Alki
Replies: 8
Views: 3379

Re: Bubbles and Suds take Alki

Bummed I never saw that squid. I couldn't get a good photo of the seal at all. This was the only one that sort of turned out. Lots of backscatter and it was pretty dark.

Image
by jmartel
Thu Nov 10, 2016 1:17 pm
Forum: Buy/Sell/Trade Dive Gear
Topic: Lots of gear for sale
Replies: 24
Views: 8526

Re: Lots of gear for sale

Sent you a PM
by jmartel
Mon Nov 07, 2016 5:51 pm
Forum: Find a Buddy
Topic: Looking for semi-regular dive buddy on Bainbridge
Replies: 9
Views: 2806

Re: Looking for semi-regular dive buddy on Bainbridge

I'm good with a drift dive on Agate. I'd like to do Deception pass at some point, but my wife and other usual buddy want none of it.

Not sure how long of a surface swim Metridium is. On the order of high tide at Edmonds trying to get out to the drydock? Or further?
by jmartel
Mon Nov 07, 2016 2:26 pm
Forum: Find a Buddy
Topic: Looking for semi-regular dive buddy on Bainbridge
Replies: 9
Views: 2806

Re: Looking for semi-regular dive buddy on Bainbridge

Haven't done anything on the island yet. I moved over, then had a 2 week vacation diving in the Galapagos, and then just a couple weeks back. I dive occasionally with the Bubbles & Suds crew at Mukilteo/Edmonds. Was doing Three Tree a lot this summer before I moved, but that's under construction...
by jmartel
Sun Nov 06, 2016 2:19 pm
Forum: Find a Buddy
Topic: Looking for semi-regular dive buddy on Bainbridge
Replies: 9
Views: 2806

Looking for semi-regular dive buddy on Bainbridge

Just moved over to Bainbridge about a month and a half ago. Typically I dive with my wife, but she isn't going to be diving much over the winter (both of us dive wet). I'd like to find someone over on this side I can dive with so I don't have to keep crossing back over to Seattle. I'm AOW Nitrox so ...
by jmartel
Sun Nov 06, 2016 2:14 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Great night dive at Redondo
Replies: 9
Views: 2867

Re: Great night dive at Redondo

Apparently I need to go back to Redondo at night. I did it yesterday during the day just before noon, and there wasn't a whole lot going on. Big california sea lion came by to check us out after we surfaced, but that was about it. Couple nudis, but nothing special.
by jmartel
Wed Nov 02, 2016 10:01 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Galapagos!
Replies: 12
Views: 4170

Re: Galapagos!

Wow! I was never able to get that close to a hammerhead. We were there September 19-26th. We had a sighting of a whale shark (mostly the same one) on every dive at Darwin. She just kept making circles along the shore, just off in the deep water. In Puget Sound we tend to drift dive in current. At W...