Whose belly is whose?

Whose belly is whose?
Originally uploaded by valerioti.

No I didn't use photoshop on either side! This was just a symphathy photo for my wife so she wouldn't feel so bad!

Shore Dive Lauderdale by the Sea

daturamonsterpano2
Originally uploaded by tiswango.

When ever I read someone had a bad dive at Lauderdale by the Sea it breaks my heart. This Star coral is over 500 years old and is absoultly gourgous. You just have to know where to find it!

DIR Haircuts

DIR Haircuts
Originally uploaded by tiswango.

You know you have a good team when all three of you have the same "DIR Haircut". Brian, I think you need a bit of a trim?

Sunday Rodeo 25 Dive

P1211097
Originally uploaded by tiswango.

1/21/07 Brian Patrick, Ritchard from CA, Vince, Matt, Ricky and I dove off Avid Diver on Rodeo 25 and Sunkist 3rd Reef.

1 knot current was not fun, but the clear blue water made it all worth while!

Today has been declared the most depressing day of the year.

By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness

The superstitious have long worried about courting bad luck on Friday the 13th and stayed “beware the Ides of March.” But for the past couple of years there has been another day to mark in black on the calendar: The most depressing day of the year.
In 2005, a psychologist named Cliff Arnall (who was, at the time, a part-time lecturer at the University of Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning in Wales), declared that he had devised a formula to calculate the worst day. That year, it was Monday, Jan. 24; last year, Monday, Jan. 23. So watch out, because today may well be 2007’s most miserable day.
Or maybe not.
Arnall’s so-called formula looks like this: [W + (D-d)] x TQM x NA.

All of the letters and symbols apparently represent a sort of mathematical code to track the following:
W: How bad the weather is at this time of year.
D: Amount of debt accumulated over the holidays minus how much is paid off.
T: The time since the holidays.
Q: Amount of time passed since New Year’s resolutions have gone south.
M: Our general motivation levels.NA: The need to take action.

Click here for the rest of the artcle:

http://health.msn.com/centers/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100153568&GT1=8973

Begin with the end in mind...

This is phrase I attribute to Steven Covey. In his 7 Habits series he advocates writing what others would say about you at your funeral. Its a very interesting way to look at yourself thru the eyes of others.

Emails, notes, and cards are still pouring in from people who just found out about Wayne's Passing.

It is filled with Cargill jargon, but it is a full testement to leadership and building people up.

======= From John Hasenpflug ======================================

Cynthia,
You may not remember me, I am John Hasenpflug, I worked with Wayne as a Territory manager from 1987 to 2001 with lots of assignments as TM in Texas and Branch Manager in LA after Ray moved to MSP, then back to TX as a TM with ACCO until 2001. I left Cargill in 2001, but still kept in touch with Wayne through the years – I have always wanted to go back to Cargill – if something opens up back here in Texas but who knows, I am thinking a lot about what is important and what really matters in the past few days.

Cindy, I met you a couple of times at the old office center, when I was at GO for training or some other function I got involved in. I was one of Wayne’s farmstore’ite and show feed people with both Nutrena and ACCO – Wayne always managed to take time to have lunch, occasionally dinner and sometimes a drink with me when I was in MSP – and we were constantly on the phone through the years. I now work for a company based in WI but I get to live near home in Wharton, TX and travel the country calling on major accounts. My wife Debra and I have 3 boys, 7,5&4. I usually kept up to date with Wayne a couple of times a year, however I had not talked to Wayne since last spring and did not learn of his difficult journey to a better life until last Friday.

http://www.caringbridge.com/visit/waynehoelscher

This morning I spent 2 hours reading your entire journal and trying to come close to imagining how you managed. In truth, I cannot Imagine how… but I know God finds a way. In testament to Wayne, to try to say goodbye to Wayne and let you know what he meant to my personal growth through those years, I wrote the following.
===========================================================================================

“What finer tribute to a man, that could be said so well

Than the thoughts, prayers, remembrances spoken and written so fondly

Always with a bright smile, a twinkle in his eyes, a slap on the back and a big hello

Of not just the name -

but the man loved by all and so giving to others in return...

Wayne”.

==================================================================

The spoken name 'Wayne' immediately brings to mind only one person, Wayne Hoelscher himself. Sometimes larger than life, an enigma of sorts, seemingly destined to live and do what he loved forever, Constantly pitching ideas, optimism, support, reassurance. Confidence, talking football and golf. Getting knocked down and bouncing right back up again with another idea or spin. “Making It Happen”.

Tom Fritz always told me, “John - Only 3 things matter – Keep them in order and you won’t have any problems…God, Family, Company”… I believe Wayne lived that life.

He always managed to bring up his family in discussions. He lived a moral life filled with action and recreation. He worked hard - and he “made things happen”.

'Make It Happen' was the first Cargill Acronym I learned when I joined Cargill in August 1987, working in Texas with John Windwehen. That same month I attended my first Nutrena National Sales Meeting - and enjoyed one of Wayne's favorite spectacle's the event of the year! National Sales Meeting and Presidents Club. With fanfare, camaraderie, Skits, Speakers, awards and more awards. The first time, I reveled at those that earned the acclaimed Cargill Presidents Club, and I know Wayne was an integral part of “Making That Happen”. I too wanted to “Make Things Happen”, and Wayne showed me the way.

I was one of Wayne's original Farmstore People - having a territory in the highly populated Houston area, Farmstore was my mainstay. Wayne and I had many conversations about packaging, customer expectations, and the marketing we needed to be #1. I quickly became a champion of Wayne's efforts and ideas to move Nutrena to become the leader in the market. In return, Wayne was my mentor, and my friend. He helped me grow and understand how to “Make It Happen”, Never quit, fight the good battle, from your journal I can see he did that in death as well, with dignity, his own way, not concerned about the details.

Through the Nutrena World of the first zipper re-closable premium pet food, to the stripped pink Milk Plus bag, new Vitality and Triumph bags, Dealer Merchandising Training Videos, private label national accounts and on to ACCO and Showmaster. I still believe that Wayne was at least a part of the "Call Me I'm Dave Larson" campaign centered around our Decentralized Management theme in the late 80’s and early 90’s that led to Nutrena's success against the checkerboard square.

His leadership in "New Distribution" rewarded territory managers in the field with what we wanted most - recognition and money. Trips, trucks, cars, VW Bugs, Harley’s, TV's and cash awards, Wayne had the pulse of the salespeople in the field - and gave us what we needed to “Make It Happen”.

My last work directly with Wayne was working to Revamp the ACCO Showmaster program. We developed a website, coined the phrase “ask Dr. Huck” and put real winners on our bags and showed off those winners on our website. Wayne once again led the charge and ACCO, Sportsman's Choice and Showmaster reign nationwide as leaders in the industry – Once again Wayne “Made It Happen”.

I remember being nominated for Presidents Club several times, and not making it… Wayne was always there with “Make it Happen” next year. I finally reached Presidents Club - twice – and Wayne was there both times with heartfelt smile, tears and congratulations. I could not have earned this award if it had not been for Wayne “Making Things Happen”, lending his ear, advice and support. Something I am still just as proud of today, when I don’t even work for Cargill anymore.

With a swelling of pride in my eyes I read how Cargill honored Wayne with the Presidents Award, and I know just how deserving he was of this recognition. It was an acknowledgement that Wayne could “Make it Happen” and he did it for all of us. I know how Wayne felt that day – to be honored among his peers, to be recognized for years of work. For “Making It Happen” for all of us. It’s a feeling that chokes you up, swells you with pride and makes you humble at the same time.

I only learned of Wayne's sickness and journey to a better place this past week. Still I am in shock. It always seemed that Wayne would never quit - or retire, and with his passing, he showed us once again what is important in life… God, Family, Work….that we need take time, to look at the mountains, to play golf, to spend time with family, to do a good job.
To Make Things Happen…

I will miss you Wayne…. Keep an eye on all of us down here that are still trying to “Make It Happen”

To you Cynthia, my deepest sympathies to you, the, kids & grandkids. Enjoy the house that Wayne built and know he and God are always there with you.

John Hasenpflug

Wharton Texas

GUE, DIR and diving Safety

Written by Joel Svendson with a post copied from Jarod Jablonski

Part One

For what it’s worth, I look at it this way.Your average recreational scuba diver has a pretty good safety record, butdue to the large number of participants, there are quite a few accidents peryear. If you were thinking in terms of an accident _rate_, though, it wouldlook pretty good. The early years of technical diving had a terrible record….lots of accidentsdespite a small number of participants. In other words the accident _rate_was just horrendous. Electronic rebreathers remain in this category tothis day.I think that a properly trained, GUE certified diver who is making a sincereeffort to do things correctly can probably able to reduce the risk on a Tech1 level dive to something similar to that of an average recreational diveron an average recreational dive. I think that a Tech 2 level dive takes ona great deal of additional and unavoidable risk. That is not to say that itis “unsafe” but it moves you closer to the “motorcycle” level of risk thanthe “car” level of risk if that makes sense to you.You can’t help but notice that many important tenets of DIR, particularly interms of gas selection, have greatly infiltrated the technical diving world.In other words, even the hard core stroke is diving vastly more safely thanhe was in the past. Yes, his team skills might be poor, and his equipmentconfiguration might be messy, but odds his 200ft dive is made on a Heliummix rather than air, for example. As a result, the safety record of even non-DIR technical diving has improvedenormously so long as you exclude the rebreather divers. We should alwaysstrive for maximum safety, and I would encourage everyone to go the DIRroute, but I would not think someone had a death wish if they choose theTDI/IANTD route to a Tri-mix certification.

Part Two

I don't believe there has (so far) been a fatal accident involving a GUEcertified diver. The story below, however, is probably still worth a read.Like Jan says, the card alone will not protect you—you have to make a sincere effort to follow the rules laid out in your course. In this case,the prohibition on solo diving was violated by a highly skilled andexperienced diver on what should have been a routine dive:

From Jarrod Jablonski regarding the death of Steve Berman:

I have gotten a rather consistent string of mails soliciting my opinion andbeen forwarded several mails from those with odd motivations. I was in nohurry to debate this issue for two primary reasons. First, Steve was a friend and a great person and secondly his tragic death seemed all toofamiliar. I preferred working through the personal issue of his passing to asemantics debate that I knew would be beat upon by other agendas. I expect, understand and appreciate desires to discuss this fatality. That is howpeople learn. I just decided to let others discuss this particular issue.Simply put I felt that I had little to add to what seemed pretty obvious and I prefer to mourn in private. As tragic as Steve's death remains the cause is relatively obvious. Steveran out of gas as a result of any or several essentially irrelevant issues.He may have been distracted by the survey, by a new tunnel, by his focus to finish a map he had been working on for 15 years or any of several otherissues. Alternatively he may have been delayed by a silt out, temporarilygetting turned around, a line break . . . One may argue the details of such a delay ad infinitum but essentially the delay or error led to insufficientgas which led to his death. I am essentially certain that with a qualifieddive buddy none of these things would have mattered. Reaching within 100feet of one's stage bottle indicates that all but the worst of buddies could havemade the difference. My belief is that even without assistance the presenceof a second person to monitor time and gas would have prevented any air related issue in the first place. Solo diving adds another layer of risk that can be difficult to manage inmany situations. I am very familiar with managing risks and choosing whichrisks seem worth the reward. For me solo diving is not a risk worth the "reward". I think that Steve's extreme talent in the water and his manyyears of diving experience lend credence to thedifficulty in managing solo diving and point to the issue of untenable riskfor most individuals. The issues seem so clear as to make debate largelyrhetorical. I have no real interest in such a debate but am happy to letothers engage in what they find interesting or educational. Steve had nothing to do with the WKPP or with GUE. This is not spiteful, mean, or elusive. It is simply the case. I am lost as to why people findthis such an interesting point. He had a liberal interpretation thatseparated him from our efforts and convictions. I always disagreed with him on this point but recognized and respected his right to make these choicesas I do for all of you. To me this point and those that try to argue we aresomehow hypocritical is spiteful, meaningless and barely worth these few words.We all make mistakes. Unfortunately a very good person made a mistake thatwas monumental with respect to his life, his friends, and the family he leftbehind. I will never forget him for the person that he was and I will always regret this loss. If anything this shores up my beliefs and convictions.There is little I would not do to erase the loss of such a good soul. As for my personal feeling for Steve as a human being I have attached the piece that I read at his funeral.Feel free to forward this mail anywhere confusion about this issue exists.
Sincerely,

JJ

Remembrance of Steve

Steve Berman was one of the very first people that I met when coming to college here in 1987. Over the years our relationship varied fromcommiserating students and neighbors to dive buddies and friends. For fiveyears I lived only 50? from Steve and for many reasons this period will be remembered as one of the most enjoyable of my life. I owe Steve for some ofthe joy, perspective, passion, and fun that has forever become part of myperson. There were many aspects to Steve that were special but one of the most remarkable things was his ability to see what was important to people and toconnect with them on this level. Literally hundreds of people around theworld felt this powerful relation. This was just Steve?s nature and part of an innate kindness that was inseparable from him.Over the years both as neighbors and from a distance I watched Steve feeddozens of stray animals and repair hundreds of various items for anextremely diverse group of people. I watched him take hundreds of new divers on some of their first real cave dives, myself included. I watched himregularly and consistently sacrifice his personal time to help others and tobring a little more joy into their lives.And then there was the prankster in Steve, the joyful child hidden not so carefully beneath the surface. I have hundreds of funny stories that I havetold frequently over the years. It is amazing to me how many of theseinvolve Steve. From the shooting of pesky home appliances to the array of pranks and jokes that were so natural to him I have many remembrances of hisparticular wit.I had so many memorable times with Steve that trying to discuss one seemsalmost empty but I will leave you with one of the more memorable. One day a gentleman that had rented a canoe for a trip on the river was rather late inreturning. I remember him as a somewhat gruff military man with a quite wifeand family. Prior to their departure we mentioned that they should be sure to travel upstream against the current and then enjoy the easier trip backto the launching. Just as we were closing the store I noticed some commotion out front. Wewent to investigate. The man was out front with his family and the police. He came over to me and started yelling about how irresponsible it was not tohave informed him that THIS river did NOT travel in a circle. He was afterall, as he informed me, a navigator in Desert Storm. He could tell this river should travel in a circle. He was insistent that the police do something. After some discussion withthe police, a local officer came over and asked what we should do with thislunatic. Steve replied, "Lets give him an apology and a t-shirt." I have never seen such an unreasonable person be so easily pleased. That was one of the many things that Steve brought to this world. He wasintroverted and quite but playful and kind. He touched so many people around the world that I continue to get deeply saddened e-mails from peopleeverywhere trying to cope with his absence.After such a tragic loss it is common for people to gather together and lookfor meaning. Many people will take this time to reevaluate their lives and their diving and I hope this will be a positive experience. Some of you maystop diving, others will alter their diving, and many others will try toenjoy each moment of life with even greater attention to its small pleasures. On several occasions I have been forced to think very hard about theseissues due to the diving deaths of very good friends. However, I realizedone very obvious thing. I knew these people, as I did Steve, BECAUSE of diving. In fact, most of the really good friends in my life, the people Icare for the most, were made while diving. Despite the pain of these eventsI cannot separate these things. Were I not diving I would never have even known Steve or many of the other close friends I now have. In truth, nearly all of you knew Steve because of diving. If he were here hewould ask why you were wasting so much time when you could be out diving or having fun. He would make some gruff and witty remark and go about hisbusiness. Steve would be very uncomfortable here. In fact, he likely would not haveeven shown up for such an event and at the very least he would have brought a book to distract him from the emotional stuff. I would say to you that to properly honor the person that you knew as Steveyou should tip your head skyward and say Godspeed to you my friend. I willmiss you dearly and do well by your memory but right now I am going diving.

Jarrod JablonskiPresident- Global Underwater Explorers CEO Halcyon Manufacturing/Extreme Exposure

GUE (http://www.gue.com/) is a non-profit educational, research, and exploratoryorganization with hundreds of dedicated members around the world. Halcyon manufacturing (www.halcyon.net) and Extreme Exposure(www.extreme-exposure.com) produce some of the scuba industry's most noveland robust diving equipment designed by many of diving's most active explorers.

How to Make a Tank Valve Tool






I had a buddy who had a leaking tank valve. He send his doubles to my favorite (sarcasm) dive shop and received a $55 bill for the replacement o-ring and fill.

The first step in doing it right by yourself is to make a tank valve tool to easily pull the valve handles on and off the valve stem.

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and purchase a "tack puller" in the tools department next to the screw drivers.

Internet/Catalog #100034526
Store In-Stock SKU # 693232

When you get home, you need a good hammer and a strong surface. I used the flat mental section on the back of my vice. Wait until the middle of the day when no one is sleeping and start hammering away at the curved tack pulling edge until it is flat. Near flat is good enough. I also put mine in the vice grip to flatten it out.

While making one as a going away present for Charlie Gamba, I broke one of the ends off. Don't worry, it has a life time warranty. Just go into the store with a look like you were wrestling the biggest tack of your life and they'll give you a replacement.

Cost $6

From the Home Depot Website:




Husky tack pullers are guaranteed forever. Used for the removal of tacks and small nails. Alloy steel blades are heat treated for superior strength and durability and plated for corrosive resistance. Handles are designed for strength and chemical resistance.
•
Guaranteed Forever
•
Tough Butyrate Handle for Strength, Durability, and Solvent and Chemical Resistance
•
Nickel-Plated Blade for Superior Protection Against Corrosion
•
For Pulling Tacks and Small Nails

Internet/Catalog #100034526 Store SKU # 693232

Yes, having a set of tanks per mix is very handy. I have three sets of double 80s with 32, 21/35, and 18/45. It makes it handy to always be ready for what the weekend brings. Eventually you'll get blown out of a tech dive and want to do rec instead or have 32% in your tanks have an open spot for a Hydro Atlantic dive.

If you want to be cheap and laden with gear. You can leave the 21/35 in your doubles all the time and keep an AL80 stage of 32% ready to go. For a rec dive, that means bringing 4 tanks on the boat which won't make you popular, but it gets the job done cost effectively. You could also dive the 1500 of 21/35 on a 100f wreck, leave the "rock bottom of 500-700 psi in there and dive a stage AL80 of 32% on the 2nd dive.

That being said, don't ever, ever, bleed or waste helium! Double 80's 1500 psi of 21/35 topped with 40% at Fill Express gives you "Matthew Mix" of 30/15 which is a great recreation mix. It makes a 100ft wreck seem like a 50ft reef dive. I often dive this for fish counting deeper than 80ft.

Just DON'T top 21/35 with 32% as you will get 27% which is just a mess. I have done that more times than I care to admit out of habit of always and only going for the 32% knob at Fill Express http://www.fillexpress.com. :)

Either way 27% - 32% I dive a Nitrox 32% profile without issue.

Philisophy of DIR

I use these three criteria when reading about DIR on the internet:

1. Follow the teaching, not the teacher
2. Seek an understanding of the meaning, not the words used to express it
3. Trust in the knowledge of deep experience over those who are knowledgeable

Why is there so much Debate in DIR?

In all the standard dive training, one message is very clear. Do not dive with a goal or mission orientation as it will cloud your judgement. This is a basic protection against photographers sucking their tanks try trying to get the last perfect shot, lobster hunts wrestling out the last bug or the spear fisherman getting in the last shot.
But what is you do want to accomplish a goal underwater and you are not a commercial or military diver?

An individual can only do so much with technology. Eventually they need to help of another individual. As people and equipment are added, so in the complexity. Therefore it becomes simpler, easier and more efficient to streamline training, equipment, and responses to accomplish the goal.
If you have no team and no goal, then you have no basis to be DIR. Individuals debating D ring placement outside of the context of a team with a mission, is time wasting folly.
GUE is simply the most consistent training organization. But even their instructors (I've had 4 so far and are Friends with others) have various in how and what they teach. Their background or team will set the context for the difference.
An diver or dive team has to decide which is more in context for him or her and the team they dive with.
GUE Tech 1 is taught with the small Halcyon Surface marker as an acceptable lift bag and surface marker. This is DIR.
I dive with a team off South Florida that bombs wrecks and shoots a lift bag upon drifting off. The small Halcyon marker is not big enough to been seen at distance in rough seas. Our team has decided that the Halcyon Semi-closed 60lb lift bag is the preferred choice for a surface marker. Every team needs one. The small Halcyon marker is not allowed on the boat.
This is DIR to us in the context of our team and our mission of exploring wrecks.
To another team (I'm making this up to prove a point) say, surveying fish off the shores of Bonair, the small surface marker may be just fine and there is not need for a larger lift bag to accomplish their missing. Hence it is DIR to their team and purpose.
The debate is always about the "small" details. The big picture is that a well trained DIR diver can take their equipment and go from South Florida to the Great Lakes or Truk Lagoon and dive with other DIR divers with very little time spent getting up to speed on those smaller differences. Team in those regions will have already figured out the best way to dive those areas.

1/7/07 Blue Fire Miami Project

P1070849
Originally uploaded by tiswango.

The 4-6 ft sloppy seas made a long wet, rough journey out to the Blue Fire. The 1 knot North current ment a fun fast hot drop. But the 100ft of Bahama Clear Blue water made it all worth while.

With a 200ft drop we were over the wreck by 50ft. The Gavins at half pitch kept us in place as we hovered down onto the wreck. My camera settings were a bit dark, but it makes the wreck look more mysterious, laying there in 115ft of water.

How to Pack a Ford Escape DIR Style

How to Pack a Ford Escape DIR Style
Originally uploaded by tiswango.

The back seat has a set of Double 80s on each side. On the left side, I have 14 gal rubbermaid bucket with two AL 40 deco bottles.

On the right side I have a short body Gavin nose down strapped into the doubles harness and my dry bag to back it tight. Fins on the right side. In the middle I have two AL 80 stages.

This baby holds ALOT of dive gear!

2001 Ford Escape XLS 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl ) $6,499

DSCN2267
Originally uploaded by tiswango.

Click this photo to see the rest of the photos on the interior on Flickr.

www.edmunds.com

2001 Ford Escape XLS 2WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl )

Color: Red
Mileage: 98,500
Condition: Clean

ASKING PRICE
$ 6,499


Edmunds TMV® Private Party Pricing:
Base Price $7,206

Optional Equipment $663
Color Adjustment $57
Regional Adjustment $80
Mileage Adjustment $-1,349
Condition Adjustment $0

Total: $6,657

TMV® pricing represents estimated
market transaction values. Prices as of:
1/07

Contact Information:

Matt Hoelscher
954.558.8976


Standard Equipment:

Power Windows and Locks
Plastic Bed Liner


Optional Equipment:
• 3.0L V6 DOHC 24V FI Engine • 4-Speed Automatic Transmission
• Front Side Airbags • AM/FM/Cassette/CD Audio System
• Cruise Control • Running Boards

www.kbb.com

2001 Ford Escape XLS Sport Utility 4D

Condition Value

Excellent
$7,510

Good
(Selected) $6,905

Fair
$6,105
Vehicle Details
Mileage: 98,500
Engine: V6 3.0 Liter
Transmission: Automatic
Drivetrain: 2WD
Selected Vechile
Standard
Air Conditioning Power Door Locks Single Compact Disc
Power Steering Tilt Wheel Dual Front Air Bags
Power Windows AM/FM Stereo Roof Rack
Optional
Cruise Control Cassette Running Boards
Blue Book Private Party Value
Private Party Value is what a buyer can expect to pay when buying a used car from a private party. The Private Party Value assumes the vehicle is sold "As Is" and carries no warranty (other than the continuing factory warranty). The final sale price may vary depending on the vehicle's actual condition and local market conditions. This value may also be used to derive Fair Market Value for insurance and vehicle donation purposes.

Vehicle Condition Ratings Excellent
$7,510
"Excellent" condition means that the vehicle looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. This vehicle has never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. The vehicle has a clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection. The engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects. The vehicle also has complete and verifiable service records. Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.

Good (Selected)
$6,905
"Good" condition means that the vehicle is free of any major defects. This vehicle has a clean title history, the paint, body and interior have only minor (if any) blemishes, and there are no major mechanical problems. There should be little or no rust on this vehicle. The tires match and have substantial tread wear left. A "good" vehicle will need some reconditioning to be sold at retail. Most consumer owned vehicles fall into this category.

Fair
$6,105
"Fair" condition means that the vehicle has some mechanical or cosmetic defects and needs servicing but is still in reasonable running condition. This vehicle has a clean title history, the paint, body and/or interior need work performed by a professional. The tires may need to be replaced. There may be some repairable rust damage.

* Florida 1/8/2007

The ultimate Dive Gear box!

Roughneck Storage Box - 14 gal

Rugged storage boxes are shatter resistant
Sturdy, built-in handles allow for easy carrying.
Snap-on, stay-tight lids help keep contents dry and dust-free.
All units are stack able for saving valuable storage space.

Why is this the best for diving?

1. It fits under the seat of 85% of the dive boats including Newtons, Catamarans, and Island Hoppers.


2. Empty boxes can be stacked inside each other to conserve space on private boats.


3. Easy to pack at home and visually verify all gear is inside.


4. Big handles make it easy to carry on and off the boat. 3 boxes can be stacked on a cart.


5. The snap on lid keeps contents dry. Most of the time you sit you dripping dive rig over your dive gear.


6. Easy to find items inside.


7. Gear can wash out during rough seas or stern ties to down lines.


8. Easy to toss items back in box when breaking down gear after a dive.


9. Box holds salt water in and keeps it out of your trunk.


10. Fill box with water to rinse gear after the dive.


11. Box dries quickly and can be used for storage after the dive. Lid keeps bugs and ants out.


12. Box makes a perfect billboard for all your "Been there, dove that" stickers instead of putting them on a scuba tank.


13. One box is less than $6 at Target or Walmart and will out live three $30-$150 dive bags!

Bonus: Garage Storage

Workforce24 In. 5-Shelf Storage Organizer

Two 14 Gallon Roughnecks fit perfectly on this plastic storage rack.

On top, I keep two 18 Gallon Roughnecks for storage and items I plan to EBay at a later date.

Top shelf has two buckets on the for old gear that I don't use as much. The second one has booties, hoods, gloves, odds and ins.

The next shelf has one bucket for doubles gear and one bucket for my single tank rig.

The next shelf has two buckets for my wife's gear.

The bottom shelf has fins and weights.

Available at Home Depot for $50.