been there dun that...

yes i spent 2 weeks on the oddessey... the bottom line is that at the
present time it is one of the best liveaboard bases for technical or
"regular" diving. let me make quite clear this is not a discussion about
deep air.. trying to bracket f stops on the san franciso stops that
conversation real quick... just about logistics and how we might better end
up doing the diving that we want to do.

lenny and cara the captains are NOT anti helium the only comment that i
heard about this was it is a logistical problem. they are very pro mixed
gases that is why he has a membrane system on board for routine 30 and o2
for deco

my group essentially charted the boat and we were catered to all week
mooring the boat on the deep wrecks with drop tanks and staged deco out not
being a problem once you had demonstrated some competence and common sense.

i had no problem getting my 30 filled w straight O2 instead of topped off to
80/20. i will not pretend to be totally dir but i am trying to get there. an
out of air during the week suddenly made clear why you breath the long hose.
conversations about why i wanted the sleeved manifolds instead of the oms
ones rationalized that approach. the ability to hang upside down with wings
instead of a bc to flip you over, why i was glad to see the al80 instead of
steel tanks. all this takes time to sink in and be accepted. like why i tied
my clips on instead of using the brass rings. how simple the ee spools were.

there have been comments about using welding gas but cannot sell it... this
might explain why there are some reservations about making this stuff easily
available on the other side of the world where one person put a computer
into 3 1/2 hours of deco on a single 80 w nitrox 30 in it!!

lenny is a concerned an caring individual. he researched the location before
the boat was refitted and taken there. became certified as a chamber tech so
he could help anyone who got in trouble... when the boat got there the
locals had let the chamber go!!!! that is why you need to bank on a trip to
guam.

this boat and location have the potential to be an incredible training and
development ground for spreading the word about gue and dir!! if they are
approached with an smd attitude it is unlikely to get anyone very far. those
of you taking your own he there are likely to diving with blue lagoon...
these are the same guys that put groups of rec divers on the frisco w single
80s of air.... you really want to support them... they will let anyone do
anything just gimme the buck!!

now you are going to love this one... gilliam was on the boat one week..
didnt know he was going to be there.... funny did not say a bad thing about
george or dir all week even when i tweaked him a bit.... for a fat slob even
dived the entire week on a single tank!!

remember the comment about diving w steve and janet... yes they talk about
that as well that is why they now have a real mixed gas outlet up here. you
make contact, show people they listen and change... much better than
hassling a booking agent on the phone!!

we have charted the boat again in 2002 and i would love to have some he
around. if some of you guys can progressively break the ground we might all
be able to enjoy an ecologically and politically fragile environment. george
has repeatedly emphasised the problems with access to caves.... this is no
different if we show the owners what can be done they will respect it.
respect is something we need to earn not demand then everyone  benefits.

by the way there was plenty of diet cola on the boat it runs on the stuff
and i am sure that the sushi and seared tuna would be totally wasted on you
steak house types. did i mention the topless italians on the sundeck???

david

by the way if this does not make it to the list i have several different
wide band access points and it gets bounced from some of them you are
welcome to post it if it does not go thru. thanks incidentally for all the
info you guys put thru it is of great value despite all the rhetoric and bs.

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