Sinker Sales 2012....

The Point Pleasant Scuba Rescue\Dive Team had their annual showing at the Fishermen Flea Market this year where they sold over 2,200+ lbs. of lead sinkers to raise funds for the team...

Manasquan Inlet body recovery after Hurricane Irene..

The dive team was busy this past weekend after it was reported that there was a body sighted in the Manasquan Inlet during the effects of Hurricane Irene. Eventually two bodies were recovered the next day and additional info can be found here...

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2,227 psi at the well head...

I had to go back to Scuba Diving Physics and after making a quick call to my PADI SCUBA Instructor to confirm it, Chet helped to refresh some calculations regarding water pressure at depth...

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"We know that water is much heavier than air, so it exerts higher pressures with less volume. A cubic foot of water weighs 62.5 lbs, whereas a cubic foot of air weighs 1/12 lb. Sea water is even heavier - a cubic foot of sea water weighs 64 lbs. To exert 14.7 psi (1 ATM) it takes 50 miles of air, whereas it only takes 33 feet of water to exert the same pressure."

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It is reported that the Deepwater Horizon wellhead is at a depth of about 5,000 feet saltwater.

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5,000 ft-sw divide by 33 and multiply by 1 atmosphere (14.7 lbs) is equal to

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2,215 lbs per square inch

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of pressure at the wellhead. If you were to push a single golfball out of a pipe at that depth you would need 2,215+ psi just to push it out the end of the pipe...

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Wreck diving... ~The Bluffs Wreck~ Bayhead NJ

Took a ride up to New Jersey this weekend for some offshore SCUBA diving with the members of the Point Pleasant Rescue Dive team and we did the Bluffs Wreck just off the beach in Bayhead NJ...

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Calm ocean with a soutbound cu8rrent at about 1kt.

36 degree water with about a 3 to 4 foot visibility...

Yet another Seal save for the Rescue Dive Team...

The Rescue Dive Team up in New Jersey had another Seal save on the beach while performing Ice Rescue training with the local fire department...

Ice Rescue Training ~2010~

The Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team worked on Ice Rescue procedures today up in New Jersey...

RPV Advance ~2009~ and a 7-eleven with SCUBA access!!...

Had the opportunity to attend the breakfast session today of the RPV Advance being held in Williamsburg, VA. before coming back over the mountain to find five inches of SNOW in the Shenandoah Valley...

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While driving to Williamsburg this morning I had a chance to listen to "The Speech" by Ronald Reagan that he did back in 1964...

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For those of you who know this speech you know that many parts of it applies to the situation we are in once again and understand why many say this is the speech that launched Ronald Reagan's political career...

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"They knew that governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy."...

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Another interesting aspect of this speech is how closely it resembles the conservative beliefs of the then 2009 Republican Candidates and now elected Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and Delegates that "Sweep-ed" Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley...

The voters of Virginia were obviously seeking proven conservative beliefs and principles during this past election and that is why Virginia is RED once again...

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"The Speech is available here and is well worth listening to it again...

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After the breakfast I took a ride down to Norfolk to check out the surf and found the "Ultimate 7-Eleven" along the beach with SCUBA access just 15 feet behind the building!

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Incredibly the bulkhead is just 15 feet behind the building and easy access could be made with a "Giant Stride" or "Jersey Roll" during high tide...

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Walk out to the beach found a good 20-25kt wind out of the Northeast, less than 6 inches of Vis,
3 to 4 foot breakers on the beach, and cold water temp...

Typical Jersey diving conditions...

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Hard to see in this photo but there was much apparent damage to the fishing pier on the horizon looking South...
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Times have gotten rough...

A seagull in Point pleasant Beach, NJ has developed the habit of stealing Doritos from a neighborhood convenience store.

The seagull waits until the manager isn't looking, and then walks into the store and grabs a snack-size bag of cheese Doritos.

Once outside, the bag gets ripped open and shared by other birds.

The seagull's shoplifting started early this month when he first swooped into the store in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and helped himself to a bag of Doritos. Since then, he's become a regular. He always takes the same type of chips.

The manager thinks it's great because people are coming to watch the feathered thief make the daily grab and run, and that's good for business, and especially since customers have begun paying for the seagull's stolen bags of Doritos because they think it's so funny.

However, the manager did say, 'This is New Jersey , and if that seagull starts to grab a 6-pack of 'Bud' to go along with the Doritos, I may have to put a stop to it.'

Beach Damage ~Mantaloking Beach NJ~ 2009

Photos came in today from the Rescue Scuba Dive team up in New Jersey of the damage from the recent storm that went up the coast this weekend...

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Additional photos and Team website at Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team...

Museum of New Jersey Maritime History

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Very impressive museum and look forward to getting back there soon to do some research on several of the wrecksites we have worked over the years...

Pt. Pleasant Rescue Dive Team recover Bottlenose Dolphin offshore...

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The members of the Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team assisted in the recovery of a Bottlenose Dolphin that was then taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigatine, N.J.

Additional photos and info can be found at the Dive Teams site....

Marine Mammal Stranding Center ~Easter Seals~

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I was up in New Jersey for Easter weekend training with the Rescue Dive team and responded to another Seal rescue on the beach...

Photos and info available here at the Pt. Pleasant Rescue Dive website...

"Used Sinkers" ?....

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The Point Pleasant (NJ) Rescue Dive Team had their annual “Used Fishing Sinker Sale” at the local Fisherman’s Winter Flea Market and took in over $500 for the team. I have had the opportunity to help out during these sales and the appreciation of the team by the local fishermen has always been positive and enthusiastic.

The Dive Team has always been very visible in the local waters during training exercises and community support projects. They have been involved in numerous water related rescues and first-aid assists over the years and have been in the local papers news stories.

Additional photos and text can be found at Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team…

Mote Marine Lab ~Bull Shark~ Research...

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CATCH A BULL at four... Scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory tag bull and hammerhead sharks in an effort to determine the effects these top predators have on the ocean food chain...

While living in the Florida Keys I had the opportunity to work on one of the better Sportfishing boats (SeaBoots Charters) and with one of the most knowledgeable Captains in the area. It was not just the 30+ years of fishing experiences in the Florida Keys but the marine biology knowledge that Captain Jim Sharpe brought to his charters.


Another benefit was that Mote Marine Lab had their Tropical Research Center just 100 yards down the dock from where the SeaBoots was kept. While most of the research at the Mote lab focused on coral research and growth, other Mote scientist would visit and conduct other research on other species such as the Bull shark…

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Above is a photo of me hand lining a Bull shark in the Gulf of Mexico while the Mote Marine scientist measured, tagged, and took blood samples, from the above shark. I have always enjoyed showing this photo at work to co-workers who enjoy local trout fishing and the conversations that follow...

Recently I was emailed the link to “You-Tube” footage of the shark fishing trip that produced the above catch. As the video shows there was much work and effort put into catching the bait and setting the lines for this research project and fortunately it paid off with this impressive catch. The amazing thing is what a Bull Shark of this size will allow you to do once you get them up to the side of the boat.

My first surprise was when lead Mote Marine Scientist Michael Heithaus leaned over the side of the boat and flipped this shark over onto her back where she offered very little resistance and allowed numerous tests, measurements, and tags to be attached.

Great video and great research team to work with…

Point Pleasant Dive Team assists Marine Mammal Stranding Center...

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The Point Pleasant (NJ) Scuba Rescue Dive Team assisted the Marine Mammal Stranding Center staff recover a Harbor Seal that was found on the beach this weekend.

More info and photos can be found at the Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team site...

Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest...

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The team over at the Point Pleasant (NJ) Rescue Scuba Dive Squad had their annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving contest... Several local First Aid and Fire department teams attended and additional info will appear at the Point Pleasant Rescue site...

License?...

Most places DO NOT require private boater owners have

a Captains license or extensive training...

But I thought Helicopter Pilots had to have something

worthwhile?...

The Long Lost Tank...

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The Point Pleasant (N.J.) Rescue Dive Team has a post about a SCUBA tank that was recovered by a local fishing boat and returned to the original owner...

Jenkinson's Aquarium Seal Tank Dive...

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I had the opportunity to dive with the Point Pleasant NJ First Aid Rescue Dive Team this past weekend when they did a promotion at the Jenkinson's Aquarium. It was a dive in the aquarium tank with the resident Seals to show interactions between the divers and the seals as well as examples of SCUBA skills...

Busy weekend for the Mannasquan inlet...

United States Coast Guard station Mannasquan New Jersey...

All good Tiki-bars come with appropriate decorations...

Manasquan Inlet NJ ~Dive Report~

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The Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team had a great dive in the Manasquan Inlet and reported on their find...