Dive Gear, Review, Puppy Weight

If you have been diving, or thought about diving, you will presumably at least have thought about dive equipment.  At first, it can seem a bit daunting to think about investing getting ALL your own equipment.  But after all is said and done, the PADI videos don't lie (remember your Open Water Course), you really are more likely to dive more if you have your own equipment.

Most people might not choose to get "everything" at once. Maybe a mask (it's not much fun if your mask doesn't fit properly) to start with, perhaps a pair of fins - maybe even a dive computer (easy to travel with).  There certainly are a lot of options out there, which could also seem confusing at times, and there are a lot of different things to think about when deciding exactly what equipment to get.  Magazines, reviews, online forums, local dive shop, online dive retailers, dive instructors and of course actually trying the equipment for yourself are all different sources that can help you find what you need-slash-want on every budget.  The big question is, how can you trust the reliability of some of those sources?  Have they actually tested the equipment beyond taking it out in the pool for a few laps?

Our sister blog, Dive Gear Review, is dedicated to providing such advice.  We are reviewing equipment that we use on a daily and regular basis, and giving honest feedback based on literally thousands of hours in the water.  The 700+ dives and confined water dives that we do in a year put our equipment through some serious use, so we are always looking for something that will last the distance.  Being on a remote tropical island with limited on-site retail options is also a factor; we also want equipment that can be serviced easily and at a reasonable cost.  So if you're thinking about it, check out Dive Gear Review.  And lastly, don't let anyone talk you into buying something that isn't right for YOU.

In other news: in addition to the standard lead blocks (lbs or kg) we provide you with for your weight belt/integrated BCD system, we now also offer weights in "puppy" increments (changes week to week).      

Chucky's new friend Boomer (currently interviewing for Rescue Victim)

In the many things that were brought around the birthday party, captains Carl and Fred are now sporting these awesome Captain's hats - thank you to Daniel Magine from Chicago.

CAPTAINS Carl and Fred

Half Moon Bay Weather Report:

Hot and bright.  Add more heat.

Recent Sightings:

Lettuce Sea Slugs @ The Bite

Free-Swimming Green Moray Eels @ Overheat Reef

Hawksbill Turtle with a hunchback@ Sea Quest

Hot In Half Moon Bay

In the aftermath of the dive shop anniversary, it can happen that things slow down a bit in the shop….Not this year!  Every morning this week has seen our two boats - Potlicker and Wish U Were Here - go out for two tank dives.  Potlicker has been filled with about 60 to 80% return customers.  Wish U Were Here is operating on a separate schedule to accommodate a group of 9 ski patrollers and kayak guides from Colorado, on their "spring escape".

Some of the return customers, Kevin and Frances Bugbee, a couple from Boston who come to Coconut Tree on a yearly basis brought an interesting display item for the shop.  It turns out that we were featured in a "things to do in Boston" publication called The Improper Bostonian…Not that we are in Boston or the North East, but we are definitely a "thing to do".  If you saw us featured, leave a comment!

Things to do (but not in Boston)

On another note, Coconut Tree and the Roatan Tec Team welcome a group of Tec divers and Instructors from Utila Dive Center, who have planned an epic Tec dive to 400ft scheduled for tomorrow afternoon - check our Coconut Tree Divers and Go Pro Caribbean Facebook Page for photos and details to follow.

Half Moon Bay Weather Report:

More.  Sweat.

Recent Sightings:

Octopus @ Hole In The Wall

Pipehorse @ Blue Channel

Many many Juvenile Spotted Drum @ all over the Northern Marine Park

The Adventures of Chucky

Those of you who have done a Rescue Diver course with us in the last few years will be familiar with "Chucky".  For those of you who haven't taken that step (yet) Chucky, originally from Kazakhstan, washed up on the beach at Half Moon Bay during Hurricane Wilma in 2005.  Lost and alone, he was rescued by the Coconut Tree Divers crew.  Far away from home (and broke), PJ took pity on him and gave him a job as an assistant on the Rescue Diver course.  He isn't actually very good at it i.e. gets lost repeatedly, only to be found again somewhere on the reef by a succession of different rescue students.  Given all this, some people are surprised that PJ actually still lets him dive with us...

After 4 years, he has settled in quite well (he even started getting some of his own equipment - mask and weight belt).  These days, after work, he can be found enjoying his favourite drink at The Bar at Coconut Tree Restaurant with the rest of the crew.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Half Moon Bay Weather Report: when are we getting A/C on the dock?

Recent Sightings: 

Seahorse @ Jolly Roger

Freeswimming Green Moray Eel @ Overheat Reef

Black Spotted Nudibranch @ Pillar Coral

10th Birthday Party

As every year, April 20th saw the return of "The Birthday Party" (4/20).  This year, as always, was a huge success.  It was especially special as it was the 10th anniversary...one whole decade of Coconut Tree Divers.

Our boats have been quite full  with many divers and courses for the last two weeks.  With all the visitors being enthusiastic divers, we had both boats going out most mornings, and some afternoons as well.  After the party we hit a spell of bad weather, which forced us to the South Side for a few days (a rarity in April), but we are now back on our usual schedule - two boats again this afternoon!

We would like to thank everyone who came to the party and made it the occasion that it was, especially to those of you that came from various far-flung corners of the world.  The combination of a bright sunny day, calm seas, a mountain of floaty toys, 20 gallons of punch, 700 cans of beer, 70 pounds of shrimp, steak and chicken cooking all afternoon, two pinatas, beer frisbee really made for quite some party!

Particular thanks to Ron and Alex from Baltimore for bringing the CTD 10th Anniversary custom t-shirts and sunglasses, Daniel and Gina from Chicago for the wristbands, Keith Woods and Gay for preparing all the delicious food (steak and shrimp!), Lou and Tina for setting up the sound system, and Marco and the beer kitty for the addition of the birthday banner.  Last and most of all, thank you from all of us to PJ, Gay (and Mr Vincent Bush of the Coconut Tree complex) for making all this possible.

For those of you that were not able to make it (this year) - here are some highlights!

Time Flies When You're Having Rum

4/20 Merchandise on display!

Can you find your floaty?

Happy Birthday

The people who made it all happen

How many times can YOU count to 10?

Sunset

We're Back!

After a hiatus on the blog (vacation!)…The Coconut Tree Telegraph is back up and running.

Rainy season has been fairly kind to us this year, with a steady stream of divers and students in the shop.  Weather disruptions have come and gone, and we have now moved into "Semana Santa Weather" (read: hot, no wind).''

Over the last few years we have had a number of improvements and expansions to the dive shop.  Some of you will already be familiar with some of these, others have been quite recent.

In 2009, we expanded the deck, and moved the equipment rinse tanks and outside storage area.  The compressor also came out of the back room (Tree's office), and moved into its own shed, which has space available for a second compressor.  The tanks and the fill station are next to the compressor shed, in their own little cage.

We have recently acquired some new Cressi BCDs to add to our equipment selection.  There is a comprehensive review of those BCDs and other equipment we use at Dive Gear Review.  If you're looking to buy some equipment, definitely watch that space for more reviews to come.

Some time ago, we replaced the white "beer cooler" with a proper Salva Vida sponsored refrigerator.  We're still keeping them cold for you…

In that same area, we also added a flatscreen TV, where we're displaying photo slideshows, video clips and feedback videos from training courses (check out Monty's helmet cam when you see him!)  We also bought a Canon Powershot camera and housing, which is available for rent for USD20 per dive or USD35 for the day.  Whether you have your own camera or if you rent one of ours, consider taking the Digital Underwater Photography Specialty to get the most out of your vacation photos!

And on a closing note, as it is April after all….

T-11 days (and counting) until the corporate event of the year, the Coconut Tree 10th Anniversary Extravaganza (4/20).

Half Moon Bay Weather report:  feelin' hot hot hot, light breeze, clear skies

Recent Sightings:

Spotted Eagle Ray @ Lighthouse

Spotted Sea Hare @ Half Moon Bay (confined water)

Seahorse @ Blue Channel

DMTs, Eagle Rays and Sidemount

As we have wrapped up the first month of 2012, we welcome three more new DMTs: Bill from Texas, Len from New York, and Dave from Maine.  More coming soon...

Bill from Texas, as the tattoo indeed confirms

Dave and Len

All three have dived with us on previous occasions here at Coconut Tree.  If you're looking for an excuse to quit your job, "go on sabbatical" or even just "losing your passport", the Divemaster Internship might just be the thing for you...

In the "more coming soon" category, we also welcome Toby and Victoria from Alabama, starting their Advanced Open Water course, and going on through to Divemaster

Victoria and Toby: Happy Superbowl Sunday - we sold all the squares, mostly to Marco

It seems that of late we have been spotting (!) a fair number of Spotted Eagle rays, both out on the reef, and jumping out of the water in Half Moon Bay.  As with all marine life, there is some level of seasonal variation in "what we can expect to see".  I enlisted the help of our friend Google to try to find out if there was any particular information on breeding seasons for the eagle ray, but according to Beautiful Oceans: "Unfortunately, little is known about the seasonal timing of reproduction in this species".  Check out some eagle ray photos on our Facebook page.  

In other news, Monty has just finished a Sidemount course with Constantin and Margarita, and will shortly be starting the Tec courses with Darryl.

SideMonty!

Sidemount diving, a very versatile style of diving, could very well become more mainstream in open water diving (if you dive with us, you will definitely get the chance to see someone diving sidemount).  Monty has spent the last few years diving sidemount in a variety of different situations, always fine tuning and tweaking things along the way, in order to know as much about it as possible and perfect all the techniques.  If you are interested in trying Sidemount diving or completing the Sidemount course, contact us!

Recent Sightings

More Spotted Eagle Rays @ various different dive sites, almost daily

7 Southern Stingrays @ Tabyana

School of Atlantic Spadefish @ SeaQuest

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Sunny and hot with ephemeral rain showers, humid, with some mud drainage required outside the shop.  Flat Calm seas.

In Other News Around The Shop…

We now have the new Roatan Marine Park bracelets for 2012 (red), and also the new Marine Park calendar.

Beer O'Clock (after the last boat comes in):  for the past few months we have been buying cans of Salva Vida from the supermarkets, as they were undercutting the bottle delivery service by quite a substantial amount.  Now that the offer has expired, we are back on bottles (hurray for the Port Royal drinkers out there!)

The extensive West End road works are, for the most part, no longer directly in front of the shop.  I did say, for the most part…

Also, the hand-painted island map (art by Brett Kroos) is being retouched and revarnished….Watch this space…

The tank path is clear...

The DMT board is also looking quite full again - Katy is leading dives and becoming a highly competent Divemaster, Ty and Bob are on their fourth day of training.  If Marco's wishes come true, this board should soon be an interactive touch screen!

Think "Minority Report"...

The deconstruction of the double-decker dock. (didn't there used to be something between us and Sundowners?)

Open Water swim test: swim to the freestanding posts and back, twice.

PJ, Sammy and Matt Howell are back on the rock from their trans-Central American road trip!

Recent Sightings:

Green Moray Eel feeding on a Lionfish @ Blue Channel

Ocean Triggerfish (doing their flappy dance) @ Lighthouse (in the blue, off the wall)

Spotted Eagle Rays @ Hole In The Wall

Half Moon Bay Weather Report:

Very calm, partly cloudy....It could rain.  Maybe aye, maybe no.