New To CHUM

Yankee Diver

Nurse Shark
First Name
Jeff
Welcome to the board everyone. aqualang sounds like you could be a person to come to for dive trip suggestions. Hope to meet you at a CHUM event soon.
 

aqualang

Nurse Shark
First Name
Kris
I'll try to make it to a meeting soon. I do have extensive travel experience, and know people with more info all over, working the good places. I quit being a pro about 5 years ago, and am just fun diving now. Right now I am thinking of getting into some TX dive fun.....
 

breaux

Nurse Shark
Aarrr! and Ahoy! from the newest newbie...

Well, since I was invited to share a little about myself, I thought I'd follow the link and do just that, so here goes:

First and foremost, I am a complete aquanut, aquamaniac, and aquaaddict! I have a standing offer of a few of my less vital organs in trade for workable gills, so if you know anyone who needs a kidney, a lung, or part of a very abused liver and they have the technology, well, let me know :p

On a more serious note, I am a returning diver who originally certified PADI Basic back in '85 (at age 13), I completed the classroom training for PADI Advanced, but never got to do the checkout dives. I recertified back in August of last year, this time with NAUI, and am now trying to get some dives logged to get me further on my way to hopefully one day being an instructor.

As for my dive experience, I did my 1st checkout at The Reef, 2nd at Twin Lakes (with a visit to Lost Lakes, as well), and have been lucky enough to make it out to the Flower Gardens on the Fling during the perfect weather last October, and have dove in St. Croix USVI. All said and done, I only have ~20 dives under my (weight) belt, so I'm rearing to go build up my log book.

As a dedicated cheapskate, not to mention Craigslist and eBay addict, I managed to get a great deal on some regs, a bc, and a tank, all of which just past inspection over at Houston Scuba Academy, so I'm all geared up and ready to go. I'm still in the market for a computer, but haven't found a deal that I just can't pass up.

On a more personal note, I am a new Dad, so be very careful about provoking me, I'll whip out pics in the blink of an eye! I work in the food and beverage industry, mainly as a bartender, but I have also spent time as a chef and a manager, just whatever pays the bills. Back to that love of water thing, in my much younger days (like high school, says the ancient 34 year old) I was a varsity swimmer, water polo player, and springboard diver. In addition to SCUBA, I also enjoy snorkeling and skindiving (they fit in my budget a lot better until recently) and have done so in Tahiti, Hawaii, Key West, St. Croix, and New Braunfels, basically anywhere I went with clear water.

I joined the forum to get a feel for the club and from what I've seen already, I plan to join ASAP. I am here to learn more about diving in general, local opportunities, and of course, to meet new dive buddies. I hope to catch up with everyone soon out at Twin Lakes, or any other local spots. I probably won't be able to make too many of the Stag's Heads meetings, despite living about 5 miles away, because of my work schedule. That being said, I have a pretty flexible schedule, so if you ever want to go dive during the week, just let me know.

As for my avatar, believe it or not, that was not a posed picture! I am sitting on the dock at Fredricksted Pier down of St. Croix and was in the process of wrestling out of my gear when my mom caught my attention for a candid snapshot, which later became known as my "pirating in the caribbean" look:cool:

BP
 

Cave Diver

Nurse Shark
First Name
Carl
Welcome! Hope to see you at one of the meetings, functions, or dive sites.
 
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ReefHound

The Last Poobah
DAM CHUMmer
First Name
Todd
Welcome breaux, you've found the right place if you are looking to thicken the logbook, wear out dive gear, and make lots of dive buddies and friends. We have a lot of diversity in the club when it comes to our events and dive outings, ranging from weekends at the local ponds to exotic trips around the world. And everything in between. One thing this club does that I really like is we make extended weekend trips to explore new dive sites. We've dived in hot water springs and cold water springs, an abandoned nuclear missile silo, an underground copper mine, a muddy river, a scientific research site, and more.
 

AVID

Nurse Shark
First Name
Shannon
Welcome to the club Breaux. Congratulations on your new baby, your recertification, and finding CHUM. Hope to see you in the water soon.
 

tripntx

Nurse Shark
Just a little about myself. Been diving since the early 90's, took a break while my kids were little, but they each received lessons as a 13th b'day present from Hydrosports Scuba in Clute/Lake Jackson.

Live in Angleton, work for 147FW at Ellington, and have been taking summer vacations to Florida for the past 5 years (1st three at Destin, last 2 at Key Largo) and will be taking the family to Key Largo this summer for a week in July. It's been fun diving with my kids but they aren't interested in the TX coast yet (daughter never, son just turned 14 so he may start going offshore in another year or two) and nothing fresh water interests them. Believe that is about to change once Mammoth Lake opens up.

Primary interest is UW Photo, but I'm interested in learning about spearfishing in the future. Plan to start making some rig dives this summer, haven't been on any rigs in approximately 10 yrs.

Have been diving in the following places:
Flower Gardens, Stetson Bank, TX rigs, VA Fogg, Twin Lakes, Lake Travis, Canyon Lake, Porta Bella Panama Central America, Destin Fl, Key Largo, Key West, and Cozumel.

Besides scuba, I enjoy: sport bikes and spending time at the gun range.

Later,
tripntx
 

Squid

Nurse Shark
First Name
Charles
Another Newbie here - They call me Squid because I was 9 years in the Navy (91 - 99).

I am in the middle of my PADI OW (National Geographic) and do the final quals this weekend at Twin Lakes.

The following weekend I head right back out to Lake Travis to do the Advance Portion.

I am building up to an August trip to Tahiti with the Gigglin Marlin folks. I am also booked for Cozumel for Labor Day weekend.

My training goals are to start the Master Diver course in June with 2 or 3 specialties, then in July do Rescue Diver and then when in August finish up my 5 specialties in the Tahitian waters.

If I am off my rocker please tell me so.

I live on the east side of Houston in Channelview. I am also a Harley guy if any of you folks are riders.

I am late getting into this at 43, but I am in excellent shape for it because I do Spinning Classes 3 or 4 times a week. Now I am going to add pool time to my workout schedule.

I am like a sponge right now soaking up Dive Info so if you can suggest references please do.

Squid (Charles)
 

aqualang

Nurse Shark
First Name
Kris
Welcome Squid - and let me start by giving you a hard time (from one military guy to another...)
You'll have a hard time diving: the only Navy guys I kow don't swim to well - the Navy actually likes to hire non-swimmers. The tend to stick with the sinking ship just a little longer.:D

Just kidding. Welcome aboard, I am just a newbie on the board myself. Keep reading these guy's post, believe half of it, and you will learn a lot.

Regarding taking all the courses - hats off to you, I am sure you can get it done. But besides doing all the training, don't forget to smell the roses and just enjoy a Hollywood dive once in a while. Nothing to learn, no skills - just have a bunch of fun.

ENJOY!!!!!!

Kris
 

Squid

Nurse Shark
First Name
Charles
Thanks fort he greetings. Yeah, I am excited.

I already bought all my equipment too!! :D

BCD: Mares Vector/Epic
Reg: Scuba Pro MK11/S555
Oct: Mares Metal Proton
Computer: Aeris Atmos AI

Plus, all the other essentials.
 

Squid

Nurse Shark
First Name
Charles
It was great meeting some of you last night at the meeting.

I will wear my new T-shirt with pride and honor and some food sauce I am sure.

The speaker was awesome.

I'll be on one of the dives soon.
 

Cave Diver

Nurse Shark
First Name
Carl
Squid,

It was good to see and talk with you at the meeting. I agree with you; it was a great presentation by Dr. Guilliod.
 

cjdiver

Nurse Shark
First Name
Ce
Quick Intro

Quick Intro

Native Houstonion (Galveston Bay area) currently in Lake Jackson TX.
Oil Patch Brat. Married with 2 sons.

A few years ago, around the age of 40, I started a list of things I had to do before check out time.
(1) Get certified to scuba dive and spend some time underwater.
(2) Learn a little about the martial arts (not marital, martial as in kung fu)
(3) Visit archaeological cites - Mayan, Aztec, .....
(4) Learn to ride a horse
(5) Learn to play a guitar
(6) Do meaningful work for my employer and myself
(7) Be a good husband and dad - I still got some time to figure this one out.

Got a good start on 1, 2, 3 haven't started 4 or 5, Not sure if I'll ever succeed with 6 or 7.

Got certified 3 years ago with oldest son. Checkout was at Blue Lagoon. Did Divequest at Epcot, Ambergris Cay, Lots and lots of pool time. Younger son getting interested - can scuba based vacations be very far off?

Have own equipment, everything a non-techie needs except tanks.

Lurked around scubaboard for about 2 years. Kept seeing lots of CHUM references in Texas Swamp Divers posts.

Not getting enough diving. Need more diving.
 

ReefHound

The Last Poobah
DAM CHUMmer
First Name
Todd
Welcome to the club. Remember, you need no invitation to jump into any thread or throw your name in the hat for any trip, local or distant. I find you get out of the club what you put into it. Get involved, come to the meetings and social events, join some of the trips. I promise by the end of the year you'll feel like a long time member.
 

UofTOrange

Nurse Shark
First Name
Lee
I'm a newbie!

Hey everyone, my name is Lee and I live in Pearland, TX. I work in Business Development at Reliant. I'm getting my OW PADI certification in July and can't be happier to finally do it. I've been diving in beginner classes in Cozumel, Cancun and Grand Cayman Island over 5 years or so but just haven't found the time. The opening of Mammoth Lake got me thinking again and my wife told me to go for it. I have seen a lot of great information here, and appreciate it!
 
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