In reviewing my dives for this year to wrecks such as the Maurice Tracy, Stolt Dagali, Moonstone, Oregon, Gulftrade Stern, Sam Berman, Resor, Cranford Ferry, Shurz, Pappose, Indra, Carribsea, Aeolis and lastly the Immaculata. I have to say hands down the highlight was diving in North Carolina with my daughter, Rebecca. It is so difficult to raise children these days and to keep them involved in healthy outlets. I wanted Rebecca to learn to dive earlier than she did but, I also wanted her to do it when "she" decided that she was ready and wanted to do it for herself not to please Mom. My patience paid off this year when I saw how she progressed with diving and found that she is a natural diver. After all, not many newer divers can handle diving with sharks especially when it took me 25 years to be brave enough to do it! I was sorry that the weather and timing never worked out for her to dive in NJ this summer but, there will be next year.
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| There is such beauty among all wrecks. |
I am also very proud of an artifact that I found this year that I am still trying to restore. It is a brass candlabra wall sconce and it is from an unknown wreck. Once it is fully restored I will post a picture of it. As you all know I have found a few artifacts over the years but, in recent years I have been too busy taking photos and as a result have not acquired many artifacts. I do enjoy taking photos especially when I can photograph someone else digging up an artifact and then then up on the boat photograph the diver with a big smile proudly displaying their great find. I cherish those photos and I am sure the diver will too as years pass on.
I hope all my diving friends have a nice Christmas and Happy New Year! Don't forget to support your local dive shop during the Christmas season and also throughout the year. There are so many dive things I would love to have such as a Rebreather, Housing for my Nikon camera, a new wreck reel but, most of all I just want to be able to safely enjoy wreck diving. Wreck diving has brought so much value to my life, especially through other divers that I have had the pleasure of meeting along the way.
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| The sun sets on yet another year gone by.. |
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| I took this photo of a sand dollar on the Shurz Wreck this summer! |
"The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the 'Living Infinite...'" Jules Verne
