July 16, 2009 Dear DocV, My father was a US Navy diver/Submarine Service from the late 40’s to the early 70’s. His duties included escape training tank instructor and saturation diving as a member of the original Deep Submergence Group. He is currently 77 years old and previously diagnosed with Alzheimers. Recently, that diagnosis was … Read more
In July I was fortunate enough to yet again venture along the Great Barrier Reef north of Cairns and out into the Coral Sea. I’ve made this cruise several times on various boats including Mike Ball’s Spoilsport, the private Super Yacht Bullish, the now sadly missed Nimrod and Underwater Explorer, and this time on Taka. … Read more
There are certain people that you instinctively know are in control of situations. Some may be natural born pilots who could land a washing machine on a trash can lid. The ship captain who could bring in a cargo when the rest of the fleet hid in port from the storm. Maybe the engine mechanic … Read more
I must admit that Indonesia has managed to get a pretty good grip on me in recent years as more and more routes have opened unique diving opportunities up with the expansion of quality liveaboards in the region. The diving is varied, exciting, and frequently spectacular. And I remain firmly convinced that some of the … Read more
Be forewarned. There are no traces of my trademark dry humor to be found in this story and there’s no happy ending. It’s probably as close as I’ve come to my trip to Valhalla. In October of 1972 it happened like this: Rod Temple and Robbie McIlvaine were waiting for me when I drove up … Read more
