Searaider 2009 (Part V)

[TKite]

You guys go to Cayman every year? Why not Bahamas.... The Bahamas have a lot of cool wrecks to dive. At some point I am going to the Bahamas.

[subkrawler]

You guys go to Cayman every year? Why not Bahamas.... The Bahamas have a lot of cool wrecks to dive. At some point I am going to the Bahamas.

We started in Cayman because DOXA's first AD was there, and being able to handle Subs in the steel (and purchase a few as well) just added that extra bit of something. Now going into our 4th year, we've gotten to know the dive resort crew and the AD's crew pretty well, so it's like going back to see friends. The Bahamas would be great, but Cayman will always be home.

[TKite]

I understand all that, but reefs aren't enough for me. I want wrecks to explore as well.

[MTJO]

You can't compare Cayman to Bahamas. Nothing like the Cayman's wall dive.
Besides that hopefully will have a nice wreck in Grand Cayman this year. Looks like the Kittyhawk will go down as an artificial reef sometimes this year.
I hope that it will happen this year cause it was suppose to happen last year but...
Michael

[TKite]

You can't compare Cayman to Bahamas. Nothing like the Cayman's wall dive.
Besides that hopefully will have a nice wreck in Grand Cayman this year. Looks like the Kittyhawk will go down as an artificial reef sometimes this year.
I hope that it will happen this year cause it was suppose to happen last year but...
Michael

Some people like wall dives and fish.... others like shipwrecks

[TMahaun]

Personally, I want to see a Searaider's Maldives. Especially since I'll be right there.

Got the news last week, looks like Caymans are out for me for at least two years and possibly up to 5, and Colombo, Sri Lanka is in; I'll be sending pics of my Doxa's underwater all over the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

[MTJO]

Todd, You're now my best friend!! Can I come and visit? Can I? Can I?
Maybe you can join me at Truk Lagoon! The best wreck dive in the world!!
But I don't know if you're going to have time!
Congrats man on your new posting! But we'll miss you!
Michael

[T Bone]

Sounds like someone got a new job assignment . Todd, where are you going to be stationed?

The Maldives is a costly and lengthy trip for US based divers. But it is spectacular! I caught a presentation on diving the Maldives this year at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival by Tony Gramer, a local diver I've had the pleasure of viewing presentations by many times over the years.

Manta Rays by the dozen (on their check out dive!). He actually said it felt funny, but he almost got tired of seeing them there were so many on so many dives. But there was lots more. Sea Turtles. Whale Sharks. Even some Blue Whales breaching when en route to one of the dive sites (he was on a livaboard, an older 80 foot yacht with a 50 foot dive tender).

Me, if the Searaiders were to change locations, I'd like to see the trip made more available to more WUS folk. Something less expensive would probably garner a lot of attention (Cozumel anyone?). But the Searaiders is Ty's baby. And he's pretty happy with the East End of GC. And Why not! It's a fantastic trip, one I doubt I'd tire of if I went a dozen more times!

[subkrawler]

Personally, I want to see a Searaider's Maldives. Especially since I'll be right there.

Got the news last week, looks like Caymans are out for me for at least two years and possibly up to 5, and Colombo, Sri Lanka is in; I'll be sending pics of my Doxa's underwater all over the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Man, don't know how I missed this from 6 days ago...but huge congratulations on the new assignment.

Saying you'll be missed this year in GC is an understatement, but who wouldn't want to go to work in the Maldives. So when is the big departure?

[TMahaun]

Man, don't know how I missed this from 6 days ago...but huge congratulations on the new assignment.

Saying you'll be missed this year in GC is an understatement, but who wouldn't want to go to work in the Maldives. So when is the big departure?

I've just finished getting my Dept of State Med Clearance, and I start the various training classes in April. By the time all is said and done, and by the time I spend some time w/ my family prior to deploying, I should be looking at a late June, early July start date.

I've done a ton of research, and am pleasantly surprised by the tremendous amount of diving I can do in the local area. Sri Lanka has a lot of dive spots, along with some really neat natural attractions above water. The maldives are an hour flight, Thailand and Bangkok are less than 4 hours away. For the next couple of years I plan to hit all of them at least once.