USS Vandenberg Wreck Dive

Mark Hendry and I spent Thanksgiving this year on the Vandenberg in Key West Fl.  Mark does a great job with the video.  My GoPro camera didn’t do so well underwater.  Too much particulate floating around causing focus issues.  At one time I noticed the GoPro floating past me while on the Deco line…good thing I had a tether =)

It had been a while since we have done a technical dive so this was a very light deco dive with max depth at 140 fsw.  The Vandenburg actually has a nice profile.  You can descend down to 130′ and spend about 10 minutes swimming through the wreck and then ascend to 100′ and spend 15 minutes along the side railing with a few rooms to explore.  There is plenty to see at the 80′ level and spending no more than 20 minutes will give you a light deco schedule of about 15 minutes.  Gas was 27/30 Trimix wich is overkill for this dive but we wanted to remember it and limit narcosis.  This is one of my favorite wreck dives now knocking off the Spiegel Grove.  It’s a bit further to travel but well worth it.

Cave Diving in Mexico

I’ve posted this on my facebook but it’s such a good video I thought I would add it here.

A few friends Mark, Tony, and Li  along with Paul Heinerth our friend and guide went to Costa Maya for some world class cave diving.  Needless to say the experience was once in a lifetime and a must for any serious cave diver.

I won’t recap the whole adventure however towards the end of the video you see us lowering our gear into a hole in the earth known as “The Pit”.

Paul originally explored and found going cave at about 200ft.

Hydrogen Sulfide Cloud, Cave Diving

What made this dive memorable was the fact that we listened to Ozzy’s dark side of the moon while driving to the site.  This song stuck in my head as we descended 200ft into a hydrogen sulfide cloud which you see at the end of the video and in the above picture (not my pic).  Given the fact we were on air and at 200ft which meant yours truly was narc’d out of his mind.  Ozzy’s words started playing in my head which made an already surreal dive totally over the top.

For those cave divers reading this if you ever get a chance to go to Mexico don’t miss “The Pit”

(The About article linked above was written by an open water certified diver which max depth is 130 for them.  This cave goes much deaper.  All pictures are taken from the about article.)

Air Conditioning: Save money this summer with helpful energy saving tips

AC Company JacksonvilleIf you have ever spent a summer in Florida, you know it gets hot and staying cool can be expensive. Keeping your home or office air conditioned in the summer can be quite expensive, but there are some things you can do to help. Here are 6 tips from a leading Jacksonville AC Company, McgowansAC.com.

  1. Keep your air filters clean. Clean air filters help your cooling system run more efficiently. You should check them every 1 – 3 months depending on your home. Homes that have animals should check and replace them more often.
  2. Don’t turn your AC on and off. It does not save you money to turn the AC off and on every time you come and go from your home. It is ok to turn the AC a few degrees every time you leave, but shutting it off and on is inefficient and will leave you uncomfortable. When an AC is left off for hours and heat is allowed to build up in the house, it will take the AC much longer and much more energy to cool the house back down.
  3. Keep your blinds and curtains shut. Keeping your blinds and curtains shut will block the sun from coming into your house and heating it up. This is also true of exterior doors and windows. Having air tight doors and windows will keep cool air from escaping, and will help to keep interior temperatures low.
  4. Keep objects clear of your outside unit. Never cover your outside unit with any kind of bag or plastic. This may cause rusting, and will prevent the unit from breathing properly. It is also important to keep the space directly above the unit clear. Failing to do so could cause warm air to circulate back into the unit creating inefficiency.
  5. Size correctly. Getting an AC unit that is recommended for a larger space than you have is not a good a idea. An oversized unit will not keep you any cooler than a properly sized unit, and it will operate less efficiently and effectively than the properly sized one. Let a professional help you select the optimal unit for your space, and maximize on efficiency.
  6. Don’t place appliances near thermostat. Keep TVs, toasters, refrigerators, and any other heat producing appliances away from your thermostat. The thermostat may sense the heat from these appliances and cause it run longer and harder than necessary.

These are just a few of the tips that could help to save you money during the cooling season. If you have any tips that have worked in your home or office, please let us know in the comment section. Visit www.McGowansAC.com for more tips and facts on how to save energy next summer.

Dangers of water damage in Jacksonville, FL

Water damage

Jacksonville is one of the most beautiful places in all of Florida, and maybe even the United States. With its abundance of natural resources and close proximity to the water, it is an ideal place to live year round. This close proximity to the water does create an increased exposure to the risk of water damage from flooding. Flooding can cause extensive damage to a home or business, and can cause problems for years if it is not handled properly.  Choosing the right water damage professional can make all the difference.

Anderson Restoration and Emergency Services has been handling water and flood damage in the Jacksonville community for decades. Their expert technicians can help to get your property back to ideal condition quickly and efficiently. Not properly addressing water damage can cost a property owner thousands of dollars down the road. Water damage not properly remediated can lead to mold and mildew growth. Many times this growth is invisible or goes unnoticed until it is too late. Mold and mildew growth can be dangerous to anyone’s health who comes in contact with it, especially if someone is living in a home with it. The EPA even stated that some forms of mold and mildew can become toxic.

While flooding may seem like your biggest threat, leaking pipes and appliances pose an even larger threat. A leaking pipe can drip water and grow mold for months or even years undetected. This leak could cause mold to grow and could damage the structure of your property. If you suspect that you may have a leak or mold growing, you should have a professional come out and do mold testing. Anderson Restoration specializes in mold testing, and uses state-of-the-art equipment to find and detect water and mold growth. This equipment can even detect potential problem areas before mold or mildew begins growing. Anywhere there is excessive moisture, mold or mildew can grow.

During a flooding situation, removing water from a property is the first priority. Once water has been removed from the property, Anderson restoration will use its industrial strength fans and dehumidifiers to dry out a property as fast as possible. The longer a property sits wet or moist, the more damage will be done. Failure to completely dry out a property could lead to tremendous costs down the road.

Another negative factor of water damage is the foul odor that can follow water damage. Professional water removal companies, like Anderson restoration, will use disinfectant and deodorizer to help minimize the effects of water damage.

Water damage can cause great harm to the structure property, but handled professionally, can be overcome. Let Anderson Restoration and Emergency Services use their years of expertise to handle your next emergency.

2006 Toyota Tundra XSP for Sale Jacksonville fl

Very nice XSP model Tundra with only a little over 86K miles. 4.7 V8 with plenty of power and Pirelli tires. I have installed a top of the line touch screen head unit that will sync up with bluetooth to your phone and has a hands free microphone near visor. You can connect an iPhone or iPod via a cable to this unit and use the touch screen to control your playlists. I us it for Pandora and love it. I also have a rearview camera installed which works about 50% of the time – usually when you don’t need it =). Leather, A/C, and Power – Locks, doors, driver seat. You can read more about the XSP premium package through the links below. Body is in good shape with only minor scratches and dings. Rear bumper is dented where a tree jumped behind me while backing up. I had to replace the tailgate as well but left the bumper as is – hardly noticeable.

I have also installed a flip up bed cover $800.00 which is 1.5 years old and works great. With the locking tailgate you can completely secure the bed which I used extensively when camping. There is nothing at all wrong with this vehicle to the best of my knowledge. I am selling because I want something smaller as I have changed jobs and am traveling a lot more. I’ve been reluctant to sell my truck as any guy can understand but that time has come. Serious enquiries only.Kelly Blue Book value

Video

Stolen car at Oak Harbor this weekend

I was heading to Oak Harbor this weekend to do a bit of Kayak fishing. Normally you see some unusual sites at boat ramps but today kind of set the bar. In fact I bet the people who own the houses that back up to Oak Harbors boat ramp can tell some stories.

It appears this car, which was found floating just off the boat ramp, had been stolen the night before and dumped.  It was a nice Pontiac GTO and looked like it didn’t have a back seat.

Search and Recover Divers were on hand to hook up the car so bubba could tow it.  Of course this took a little while.

I had a nice talk with Search and Recovery Divers in regards to the certification level of their Rescue Divers.  Apparently all you need is Advanced Open Water Certification.  The also train once a month.   I’m not sure what all they do but I would expect at least a Cavern course or Intro to Cave certification but I’m sure they get the job done regardless.

It all made for a very slow time getting into the water. I missed the window right before low tide and as a result I got skunked.  At least thats my story so I’m sticking to it =)