Sea Star Scuba

[Craig Baumann]

I'm Craig. I am a PADI Instrctor and TDI Technical Diver. I'm a cold water diver, almost exclusively. I learned to dive in the Pacific Northwest and recently began technical diving here also.

Sea Star Scuba is my diving instruction and production company, based out of Portland, Oregon. I work with some of the most amazing people in the entire diving world, and I'm blessed to have such a diverse group of diving friends, recreational, technical and free.

I am actively involved in ScubaBoard, DeeperBlue, RebreatherWorld and the CORAL dive forums.

Best and safe diving for everyone!

Craig

[Seth T.]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the board Craig!

[Craig Baumann]

Chimaear, or Ratfish, are the centennials of the sea. They are guardians. They are related to sharks. Recently on a very deep dive I saw one that was giving "birth" to a mermaid’s purse. It's very unusual to see this.

My favorite night dive of all time was under the Union Oil Pier in Edmonds, Washington. Hundreds of ratfish surround us by the very end of the pier, where the water was about 60 foot in deep. Our night-lights confused them and constantly they bumped into us.

While it is true they have a poisonous spine on their dorsal fin, the do not use it unless provoked.

Thank you for the warm welcome. Best to you.

[Tom Nic]

Welcome Craig!

You'll find this a great place to be... lots of great folks... lots of crazy humor... lots of good advice and no shortage of opinions.

Most of the time the conversation is civil & cordial and the flame wars that characterize some other boards are kept to a minimum.

Everyone here loves to dive. Period.

Great mix of excited newbs and very experienced divers, always ready to share and dive.

Enjoy, and welcome to the neighborhood!!

-Tom Nic

[Joshua Smith]

Hi, and welcome to our site!

I'm curious about this thing you wrote:

Chimaear, or Ratfish, are the centennials of the sea. They are guardians. They are related to sharks. Recently on a very deep dive I saw one that was giving "birth" to a mermaid’s purse. It's very unusual to see this.

A "mermaid's purse" is the egg case of a Skate, no? That's what I've always called them, anyway.

[Seth T.]

Hi, and welcome to our site!

I'm curious about this thing you wrote:

Yeah, I have no idea where that came from.

[Tom Nic]

Hi, and welcome to our site!

I'm curious about this thing you wrote:

Yeah, I have no idea where that came from.

Perhaps your ratfish hating tagline?

[airsix]

Yeah, I have no idea where that came from.

He he he. You're kidding, right?
You punctuate every post with a rat fish smear campaign. he he he

I've been wanting to ask why you have something against rat fish. That's like saying you don't like dolphins. What's up with the hate, man? :rr:

-Ben

[Tom Nic]

I think Seth is recovering from an old injury and the associated pain...

Come on man, let it go... (cue sappy music)

Ratfish Rock!

[airsix]

I think Seth is recovering from an old injury and the associated pain...

They like to get you in a compromising position
They like to get you there and smile in your face
They think they're so cute when they got you in that condition
Well I think it's a total disgrace

CHORUS:
I fight Chimaera, Chimaera always wins
I fight Chimaera, Chimaera always wins
I been doing it since I was a young kid
I come out grinnin'
I fight Chimaera, Chimaera always wins

So I call up my preacher
I say, "Give me strength for Dive #5."
He said , "You don't need no strength, you need to grow up son."
I said, "Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying
"And dying to me don't sound like all that much fun."

[CHORUS]

Oh no oh no
I fight a ratfish ratfish always wins
I fight a ratfish, ratfish always wins...

[Seth T.]

I think Seth is recovering from an old injury and the associated pain...

Come on man, let it go... (cue sappy music)

I did actually get the crap stung out of me years ago when I was a young diver. Never liked ratfish since then. Fricking ratfish

[TCWestby]

Personally I like watching them but didn't know they are poisionus. I'll be sure to be aware of that in the future.

[nwscubamom]

I think Seth is recovering from an old injury and the associated pain...

Come on man, let it go... (cue sappy music)

I did actually get the crap stung out of me years ago when I was a young diver. Never liked ratfish since then. Fricking ratfish

LOL!! I tell stories about divers who touch Ratfish in my classes! It's a great example of why NOT to touch anything you don't really know about - good thing it wasn't a cone shell. (oooh, look at the pretty shell! ZAP! AIEEEE!)

I've heard several stories of either unaware or 'bold' divers attempting to 'pet' the ratfish or grab its tail. NOT a wise move, since the spine on their dorsal fin is toxic and being made of cartilage and not bone, Ratfish are very bendy. The spine is their defensive mechanism - I'm a little surprised that it makes you angry - they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. If someone or something tries to touch them - they do what they're made to do. Inject that toxic spine into the predator.

Great lesson to everyone!

- Janna

[Seth T.]

Great lesson to everyone!

- Janna

Totally! Hands off!

He got me through my glove, right in the side of my ring finger. Ouch! It swelled up almost instantly and I became quite dizzy. Not fun. This was at Edmonds Oil Dock by the way.