Mona Isl again

1st trip is back on Nekton.

2nd trip is this week.

We are the 3rd trip.

Anyone here just did the 1st trip?

Whats the scoop?

Pat

--
I Call you My Friend, because You are My Friend.

pmcduffee@aol.com (Pmcduffee) wrote in
news:20031229202730.16046.00000977@mb-m21.aol.com:

> 1st trip is back on Nekton.
>
> 2nd trip is this week.
>
> We are the 3rd trip.
>
> Anyone here just did the 1st trip?
>
> Whats the scoop?
>
> Pat
>

I was on the first trip, partly for pleasure, and partly for 'work' (our
group was conducting REEF surveys for the region and documenting unusual
or scientifically undescribed fish species).

The basic schedule was: Visit Isla Desecheo for a couple of days first,
then motor to Isla Mona. Spend a day there, then the next morning was at
Isla Monita. The rest of the trip was back at Mona except the last day,
which had diving just off the SW corner of PR, followed by dinner on
shore in Boqueron (Roberto's, by the bridge, highly recommended!).

The diving was certainly interesting:

Dives around Monita and some around Mona are drifts (or "live boat"), up
against massive cliff faces. Currents were sometimes very strong, and
the dive procedures evolved significantly as the crew and guests got
used to the nature of the diving. Carrying a safety sausage is highly
advisable. Getting onboard the boat after these dives was sometimes
difficult. Even though the weather was calm, there were decent swells,
and most guests came home with cuts, bruises, and scrapes from being
pummeled by the ladders as the boat maneouvered to pick people up
quickly without smashing into the cliff. The diving itself was pretty
impressive. The underwater landscape consists of enormous boulders,
surf-battered walls, and a few small caves and swim-throughs. Lots of
turtles, a big school of tarpon, and the possibility of sharks (although
we saw only a couple of nurse sharks).

Many guests remarked that the terrain reminded them of pictures of Cocos
Is. or the Galapagos. Not your typical Caribbean fare.

The non-drift dives were far tamer and more conventional. There were
still stiff currents at times, but the entries and exits were much more
pleasant. Typical bottom is hard coral and rock...very little sand.
Bottom typically at 40-50', which is deeper than I like (I prefer doing
1 1/2 - 2 hr dives puttering in the shallows limited by air rather than
45-60 min dives dominated by nitrogen).

To be honest, I was disappointed by the relative lack of overall fish
life on most dives. Our final species count was only around 160 or so
(elsewhere we have counted up to 300+). There are very few grunts,
snappers, groupers, hamlets, eels, and many other typically "common"
fishes. However there WERE some very unusual and interesting sightings.
Abundant sargassum triggerfish, for instance!! If you feel adventurous,
explore the shallows, right up in the surf zone (be ready for a rough
ride!). You will be rewarded with many cool sightings that those diving
the reef will never see such as: twinhorn blennies, pearl blennies,
goldline blennies, red clingfish, punk blennies...

I will be posting a gallery of some of our underwater and topside photos
to the web shortly. I will make the link available here when it is
ready.

One way or another, you will find the trip to be a memorable one...have
fun, and dive safely! It will be interesting to see how the Mona
itinerary evolves with divers' input...

Kris Wilk
ReefNet Inc.
www.reefnet.ca

Kris Wilk <wilk@reefnet.ca> wrote in message news:<Xns9464887E07C7Awilkreefnetonca@216.196.97.1 31>...
> pmcduffee@aol.com (Pmcduffee) wrote in
> news:20031229202730.16046.00000977@mb-m21.aol.com:
>
> > 1st trip is back on Nekton.
>
> I was on the first trip, partly for pleasure, and partly for 'work' (our
> group was conducting REEF surveys for the region and documenting unusual
> or scientifically undescribed fish species).

< very informative report snipped >

> Kris Wilk
> ReefNet Inc.
> www.reefnet.ca

Happy New Year, Pat and Kris! And almost everyone else.

I knew Kris and his dad Les in a now-defunct scuba LIST*

*(scuba-L, because the self-appointed dictator who inherited the
list-ownership made himself a CENSOR of anything he doesn't like!,
such as barring me from it because I used the term "clueless newbie"
on someone who WAS a clueless newbie, in ONE SINGLE POST. There
are a TOTAL of 7 posts in that list since 12/1/2003 -- and three
of those 7 were Guidelines to Posting (some of which was written
by ME! ) But I degress.


At any rate, Les and Kris had their CLUBBING over the head, by
yours truly, when the occasion was appropriate, as I have bestowed
on ALMOST EVERYONE, at one time of another, when the occasion
called for.

Pat is one of the rare EXCEPTIONS. A true gentleman who contributes
what he knows, makes no noises, and I always considered him a
respected friend.

I am giving this PREFACE because in reading any list or newsgroup,
you need to KNOW the posters, their strengths and credibility. Most
of the current crop of readers in rec.scuba.locations would not
know Kris, and many would not know Pat.


I am not here to talk about Nekton.

I want to give ReefNet a well-deserved PLUG, not only because of
its work related to marine environment, but for the data recording
gadget they make and sell:

Sensus PRO

which you can read in http://www.reefnet.ca


For years, I have been meticulous about keep detailed records of my
dive profiles. In 1994, I used Cochran's Nemesis PRO which has the
feature of plotting (and downloading RAW data) as part of the dive
computer features.

When Cochran's Nemesis PRO made algorithm BLUNDERS, the battle
between Mike Cochran and me in rec.scuba is well-known to the old
timers. Cochran could NOT deliver any of his promises and slipped
away quietly.

I made the statement more than once, that I would be willing to
pay $600 for THAT Nemesis (defective as a dive computer but
excellent as a data recorder -- in fact the data nailed Cochran
himself. ) if he would DISABLE the computer function, which
would keep it from dying (its gauge mode) and I would be willing
to pay $600 for just its data recorder function.

However, I would not pay $5 for Carl Heinzl's product of drilling
the Cochran computer with holes and fill with lead to use as a
weightbelt.


Thus, in 1994, I purchase my first Citizen HyperAqualand WATCH,
the very first one sold in Grand Cayman. It cost about $495
then, but can remember about the detailed profiles of about 6
of the most recent dives, and a quick summary of the latest
30 divies.

I purchased the second HyperAqualand shortly thereafter for my
wife (using myself as guinea pig to make sure the product is
worth keeping). Shortly after THAT, I purchased a third one for
my daughter. We still actively use our two.

But the SIX detailed dive log has the limitation that on a
liveboard trip I would always have to have my PC for downloading.
That's not much an inconvenience since I almost always bring my
laptop on my trips anyway, but an unnecessary restriction
nevertheless.


In May 2003, when I went to the Underwater Exhibition in Chicago
for the one day trip, Kris remembered my name (probably not the
bumps on his head from my clubbing) when he was me inquiring about
the Sensus PRO gadget at his exhibition booth, and promptly sold
me one.

I was so impressed by his little gizmo, which has the capability
of holding 100 or more dives (I think, depending on length and
whether the record is every 1 sec, 5 sec, or 10 sec) that I
shortly bought another one (via phone and his webpage) for my
wife.



We now BOTH dive with the HyperAqualand AND the Sensus PRO, but we
prefer to use the logbook page of the Sensus PRO than that of the
HyperAqualand. Among other nice features, it has one of resetting
the TIME ZONE of the dive site to adjust the correct TIME as
oppose to the HyperAqualand which has to be reset to the correct
time (since its a WATCH).


Nemesis PRO (data) $600

Citizen's HyperAqualand $300 - $495

Reefnet's Sensus PRO $120


DISREGARDING the cost, I recommend the Sensus PRO as a superior
product for dive-data recording and download than the other two.


Disclaimer: Except for the one I purchased at the Expo at the
Convention discount of about $5 , Kris did not even give me
any discount on my wife's subsequent purchase of a second one!
So, you KNOW that this is not a paid advertisement on his part.

-- Bob Tell-it-like-it-is Reef Fish

P.S. A newsgroup is an Open Forum for everyone, and self-regulated.
I serve my duty of being a Clubber of Mouth Dancers and Bull Shitters
(you know who THEY are <G>) and Give Credit where Credit is Due.

Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
for you it is not becoming.

The info about the Sensus PRO is good but overwhlemed by pomposity.

Ron Lee



Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com (Reef Fish) wrote:

>Kris Wilk <wilk@reefnet.ca> wrote in message news:<Xns9464887E07C7Awilkreefnetonca@216.196.97.1 31>...
>> pmcduffee@aol.com (Pmcduffee) wrote in
>> news:20031229202730.16046.00000977@mb-m21.aol.com:
>>
>> > 1st trip is back on Nekton.
>>
>> I was on the first trip, partly for pleasure, and partly for 'work' (our
>> group was conducting REEF surveys for the region and documenting unusual
>> or scientifically undescribed fish species).
>
>< very informative report snipped >
>
>> Kris Wilk
>> ReefNet Inc.
>> www.reefnet.ca
>
>Happy New Year, Pat and Kris! And almost everyone else.
>
>I knew Kris and his dad Les in a now-defunct scuba LIST*
>
>*(scuba-L, because the self-appointed dictator who inherited the
>list-ownership made himself a CENSOR of anything he doesn't like!,
>such as barring me from it because I used the term "clueless newbie"
>on someone who WAS a clueless newbie, in ONE SINGLE POST. There
>are a TOTAL of 7 posts in that list since 12/1/2003 -- and three
>of those 7 were Guidelines to Posting (some of which was written
>by ME! ) But I degress.
>
>
>At any rate, Les and Kris had their CLUBBING over the head, by
>yours truly, when the occasion was appropriate, as I have bestowed
>on ALMOST EVERYONE, at one time of another, when the occasion
>called for.
>
>Pat is one of the rare EXCEPTIONS. A true gentleman who contributes
>what he knows, makes no noises, and I always considered him a
>respected friend.
>
>I am giving this PREFACE because in reading any list or newsgroup,
>you need to KNOW the posters, their strengths and credibility. Most
>of the current crop of readers in rec.scuba.locations would not
>know Kris, and many would not know Pat.
>
>
>I am not here to talk about Nekton.
>
>I want to give ReefNet a well-deserved PLUG, not only because of
>its work related to marine environment, but for the data recording
>gadget they make and sell:
>
> Sensus PRO
>
>which you can read in http://www.reefnet.ca
>
>
>For years, I have been meticulous about keep detailed records of my
>dive profiles. In 1994, I used Cochran's Nemesis PRO which has the
>feature of plotting (and downloading RAW data) as part of the dive
>computer features.
>
>When Cochran's Nemesis PRO made algorithm BLUNDERS, the battle
>between Mike Cochran and me in rec.scuba is well-known to the old
>timers. Cochran could NOT deliver any of his promises and slipped
>away quietly.
>
>I made the statement more than once, that I would be willing to
>pay $600 for THAT Nemesis (defective as a dive computer but
>excellent as a data recorder -- in fact the data nailed Cochran
>himself. ) if he would DISABLE the computer function, which
>would keep it from dying (its gauge mode) and I would be willing
>to pay $600 for just its data recorder function.
>
>However, I would not pay $5 for Carl Heinzl's product of drilling
>the Cochran computer with holes and fill with lead to use as a
>weightbelt.
>
>
>Thus, in 1994, I purchase my first Citizen HyperAqualand WATCH,
>the very first one sold in Grand Cayman. It cost about $495
>then, but can remember about the detailed profiles of about 6
>of the most recent dives, and a quick summary of the latest
>30 divies.
>
>I purchased the second HyperAqualand shortly thereafter for my
>wife (using myself as guinea pig to make sure the product is
>worth keeping). Shortly after THAT, I purchased a third one for
>my daughter. We still actively use our two.
>
>But the SIX detailed dive log has the limitation that on a
>liveboard trip I would always have to have my PC for downloading.
>That's not much an inconvenience since I almost always bring my
>laptop on my trips anyway, but an unnecessary restriction
>nevertheless.
>
>
>In May 2003, when I went to the Underwater Exhibition in Chicago
>for the one day trip, Kris remembered my name (probably not the
>bumps on his head from my clubbing) when he was me inquiring about
>the Sensus PRO gadget at his exhibition booth, and promptly sold
>me one.
>
>I was so impressed by his little gizmo, which has the capability
>of holding 100 or more dives (I think, depending on length and
>whether the record is every 1 sec, 5 sec, or 10 sec) that I
>shortly bought another one (via phone and his webpage) for my
>wife.
>
>
>
>We now BOTH dive with the HyperAqualand AND the Sensus PRO, but we
>prefer to use the logbook page of the Sensus PRO than that of the
>HyperAqualand. Among other nice features, it has one of resetting
>the TIME ZONE of the dive site to adjust the correct TIME as
>oppose to the HyperAqualand which has to be reset to the correct
>time (since its a WATCH).
>
>
> Nemesis PRO (data) $600
>
> Citizen's HyperAqualand $300 - $495
>
> Reefnet's Sensus PRO $120
>
>
>DISREGARDING the cost, I recommend the Sensus PRO as a superior
>product for dive-data recording and download than the other two.
>
>
>Disclaimer: Except for the one I purchased at the Expo at the
>Convention discount of about $5 , Kris did not even give me
>any discount on my wife's subsequent purchase of a second one!
>So, you KNOW that this is not a paid advertisement on his part.
>
>-- Bob Tell-it-like-it-is Reef Fish
>
>P.S. A newsgroup is an Open Forum for everyone, and self-regulated.
>I serve my duty of being a Clubber of Mouth Dancers and Bull Shitters
>(you know who THEY are <G>) and Give Credit where Credit is Due.

ronleenospam@pcisys.net (Ron Lee) wrote in message news:<3ff70541.12044155@news.pcisys.net>...
> Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
> for you it is not becoming.
>
> The info about the Sensus PRO is good but overwhlemed by pomposity.
>
> Ron Lee


Ron, you've lost your credibility in the rec.scuba newsgroups LONG
AGO, and you obviously have not overcome your idiocy.
>
>
>
> Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com (Reef Fish) wrote:
>
> >Happy New Year, Pat and Kris! And almost everyone else.
> >
> >I knew Kris and his dad Les in a now-defunct scuba LIST*

Is that what made it nauseating to you Ron, because I complimented
BOTH of these rare posters in rec.scuba.locations what good nettizens
they are?

> >I am giving this PREFACE because in reading any list or newsgroup,
> >you need to KNOW the posters, their strengths and credibility. Most
> >of the current crop of readers in rec.scuba.locations would not
> >know Kris, and many would not know Pat.



> >P.S. A newsgroup is an Open Forum for everyone, and self-regulated.
> >I serve my duty of being a Clubber of Mouth Dancers and Bull Shitters
> >(you know who THEY are <G>) and Give Credit where Credit is Due.


Is that what you called "self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating"
and that my 'good information' was "overwhlemed by pomposity."
because you identified yourself as one of the Mouth Dancers and
Bull Shitters?

Get a life, Ron!

-- Bob.

Dearest Bob,

You know what was wrong with your post (or maybe you are unable to
grasp such concepts). You come across as a newsgroup bully who brags
about being a "Clubber of Mouth Dancers" and as usual resorting to
name-calling.

I have a life.

The problem with you is that you need to grow up.

As for credibility, you are a laughing stock within the newsgroup
community. And who believes that the ocean floor is 400' at Las
Palmas? Not me

Ron Lee



Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com (Reef Fish) wrote:

>ronleenospam@pcisys.net (Ron Lee) wrote in message news:<3ff70541.12044155@news.pcisys.net>...
>> Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
>> for you it is not becoming.
>>
>> The info about the Sensus PRO is good but overwhlemed by pomposity.
>>
>> Ron Lee
>
>
>Ron, you've lost your credibility in the rec.scuba newsgroups LONG
>AGO, and you obviously have not overcome your idiocy.
>>
>>
>>
>> Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com (Reef Fish) wrote:
>>
>> >Happy New Year, Pat and Kris! And almost everyone else.
>> >
>> >I knew Kris and his dad Les in a now-defunct scuba LIST*
>
>Is that what made it nauseating to you Ron, because I complimented
>BOTH of these rare posters in rec.scuba.locations what good nettizens
>they are?
>
>> >I am giving this PREFACE because in reading any list or newsgroup,
>> >you need to KNOW the posters, their strengths and credibility. Most
>> >of the current crop of readers in rec.scuba.locations would not
>> >know Kris, and many would not know Pat.
>
>
>
>> >P.S. A newsgroup is an Open Forum for everyone, and self-regulated.
>> >I serve my duty of being a Clubber of Mouth Dancers and Bull Shitters
>> >(you know who THEY are <G>) and Give Credit where Credit is Due.
>
>
>Is that what you called "self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating"
>and that my 'good information' was "overwhlemed by pomposity."
>because you identified yourself as one of the Mouth Dancers and
>Bull Shitters?
>
>Get a life, Ron!
>
>-- Bob.

ronleenospam@pcisys.net (Ron Lee) wrote in message news:<3ff82f62.414775@news.pcisys.net>...
> Dearest Bob,
>
> I have a life.
>
> Ron Lee

NOT as far as anyone can tell from your postings.
>
>
>
> Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com (Reef Fish) wrote:
>
> >ronleenospam@pcisys.net (Ron Lee) wrote in message news:<3ff70541.12044155@news.pcisys.net>...
> >> Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
> >> for you it is not becoming.
> >>
> >> The info about the Sensus PRO is good but overwhlemed by pomposity.
> >>
> >> Ron Lee


> >> Large_Nassau_Grouper@Yahoo.com (Reef Fish) wrote:
> >>
> >> >Happy New Year, Pat and Kris! And almost everyone else.
> >> >
> >> >I knew Kris and his dad Les in a now-defunct scuba LIST*
> >
> >Is that what made it nauseating to you Ron, because I complimented
> >BOTH of these rare posters in rec.scuba.locations what good nettizens
> >they are?


> >> >P.S. A newsgroup is an Open Forum for everyone, and self-regulated.
> >> >I serve my duty of being a Clubber of Mouth Dancers and Bull Shitters
> >> >(you know who THEY are <G>) and Give Credit where Credit is Due.
> >
> >
> >Is that what you called "self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating"
> >and that my 'good information' was "overwhlemed by pomposity."
> >because you identified yourself as one of the Mouth Dancers and
> >Bull Shitters?
> >
> >Get a life, Ron!
> >
> >-- Bob.

Ron Lee <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote:
>Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
>for you it is not becoming.

And yet you responded to the obvious bait, Ron. That's all he wanted.

Don't feed the trolls.
--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

Jason, that is not bait. That is Bob, pure and simple.

Ron Lee


jor@soda.csua.berkeley.edu (Jason O'Rourke) wrote:

>Ron Lee <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote:
>>Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
>>for you it is not becoming.
>
>And yet you responded to the obvious bait, Ron. That's all he wanted.
>
>Don't feed the trolls.
>--
>Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

"Ron Lee" <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote in message
news:3ff8a79a.1571914@news.pcisys.net...
> Jason, that is not bait. That is Bob, pure and simple.
>
> Ron Lee
>

Sure, Bob is Bob, pure and "simple". So everyonce in a while, it's fun to
light him up and see him rant and rave. It amuses me. When I'm not in the
mood to be amused by Bob, I overlook his posts. You will always be able to
tell when I'm in the mood to amuse myself with Bob . . .

Particularly when he says he deals with each post and poster on the merit of
their last post. And then immediatey launches into a historical tirade.
LOL Makes me laugh out loud every time. He is so the epitomy of what he
accuses other of being.

>
> jor@soda.csua.berkeley.edu (Jason O'Rourke) wrote:
>
> >Ron Lee <ronleenospam@pcisys.net> wrote:
> >>Bob, this posting is so self-aggrandizing as to be nauseating. Even
> >>for you it is not becoming.
> >
> >And yet you responded to the obvious bait, Ron. That's all he wanted.
> >
> >Don't feed the trolls.
> >--
> >Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com
>