Rough Seas Break Freighter in two

[Blue Heaven]

Not to take away from the thread, but on the what-if note in hindsight I too wish I had served either in the Army or the Marines. After being around quite a few people at work I often admire their personal qualities and believe that their time in service helped develop, or at least polish, those traits which help them be outstanding employees.

I had such a high score on the ASVAB in high school that I had recruiters blowing my parent’s phone up. I took some calls and we even hosted an Army and Marine recruiter. Supposedly they wanted me for a map maker/reader. Good thing I passed on the offer. I wasn’t military material then as I was a MAJOR stoner.

[Blue Heaven]

I come from a military family on both sides. At one time I thought it was my calling. It wasn’t as far as I know. I’m not sure I’ve found my calling yet.

[Dwight Schrute]

If I had it to do over again, I probably would have joined the Navy out of high school. Three of us spoke with a recruiter at school. I decided that if I didn't get a local part time job within 3 weeks of graduation so I could go to vocational-technical school, I would enlist.

I've a close friend who sails and we keep talking about him teaching me, but our schedules never really mesh. If I can retire within 5 years, I want to pursue a pilot's license.

My father-in-law was a Navy Seabee in Vietnam. He went to UK right out of high school, found he wasn't mature enough for college, and joined the Seabees to avoid being drafted on the front line. He only spent a year in Vietnam and spent the rest of his time in San Diego and Adak, Alaska back when we had a Naval Air Base up there during the Cold War. The stories he tells and the places he's been will make you envious.

I think being a Naval Airman would be something too.

[Dwight Schrute]

I enjoy snorkeling. I'm not worried if the water is relatively shallow when snorkeling. I can snorkel in 10-15 feet of water okay, but if I'm near a shelf on the bottom where beyond that it gets a really dark blue, I sort of get creeped out.

You'd love the Keys then.

What struck me about it too was how shallow it stays. In my paddle board story when we were so far out, the water was never more than 8-10 feet deep. Everywhere else I've been if I went out that far I'd be in at least 100 feet of water.

[Dwight Schrute]

Not to take away from the thread, but on the what-if note in hindsight I too wish I had served either in the Army or the Marines. After being around quite a few people at work I often admire their personal qualities and believe that their time in service helped develop, or at least polish, those traits which help them be outstanding employees.

As do I. I think my college experience would've been different in a good way had I gone into the Military after high school and served 4 years. I'm not sure if that would've worked out because it woulda been the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but it would've been a good plan.

[surveyor]

You'd love the Keys then.

What struck me about it too was how shallow it stays. In my paddle board story when we were so far out, the water was never more than 8-10 feet deep. Everywhere else I've been if I went out that far I'd be in at least 100 feet of water.

We did the wave runner tour around Key West years ago and I was struck by how shallow and clear much of the area on the northeast side of the island was. We were at one point in an area that was about 12-15
ft deep, but clear down to the bottom.

I've snorkeled in the Destin area and underwater visibility was clear down to about 15 ft. Snorkeling in the Gulf Shores area was terrible. We were in an area east of Mobile Bay on the west side of Gulf Shores and the river that empties into the bay churns up the water so that even in the Gulf it's murky. It was nearly like snorkeling in Nolin or Rough River lake.

[Spiritof96]

On our honeymoon in Belize, we stayed on an island with a barrier reef and did quite a bit of snorkeling... Once you crossed the reef into the open water it got about 30 feet deep and you could feel the wind and current more strongly, it was pretty intimidating. Lots of rays and blue sharks. It's amazing how effortlessly fast blue sharks are.

Our best snorkeling experience was in the BVI lots of the shallow aquarium experience but also some reefs that drop off to scuba depth. Snorkeling over the top of a reef that drops away like that is like flying over a mountain range. It's a nice place to remember in the middle of the iceapocalypse.

[Dwight Schrute]

On our honeymoon in Belize, we stayed on an island with a barrier reef and did quite a bit of snorkeling... Once you crossed the reef into the open water it got about 30 feet deep and you could feel the wind and current more strongly, it was pretty intimidating. Lots of rays and blue sharks. It's amazing how effortlessly fast blue sharks are.

Our best snorkeling experience was in the BVI lots of the shallow aquarium experience but also some reefs that drop off to scuba depth. Snorkeling over the top of a reef that drops away like that is like flying over a mountain range. It's a nice place to remember in the middle of the iceapocalypse.

That sounds incredible.

Once you see these kinds of fish up close it's really impressive. We saw a 4 foot shark of some variety and a barracuda sitting under the boat. Some people on the boat and the guide mentioned seeing a Giant Grouper, but I never saw it.

On that same trip we rented a sea kayak at a marina and went through a mangrove where we saw a huge Manatee. My wife loves manatees so that was very cool.

[Spiritof96]

That sounds incredible.

Once you see these kinds of fish up close it's really impressive. We saw a 4 foot shark of some variety and a barracuda sitting under the boat. Some people on the boat and the guide mentioned seeing a Giant Grouper, but I never saw it.

On that same trip we rented a sea kayak at a marina and went through a mangrove where we saw a huge Manatee. My wife loves manatees so that was very cool.

I would really like to get to the Keys one day. It sounds amazing. Marine mammals are awesome too. Every manatee I have ever seen was so chill... living their best life.

[Dwight Schrute]

I would really like to get to the Keys one day. It sounds amazing. Marine mammals are awesome too. Every manatee I have ever seen was so chill... living their best life.

Key West wasn't my scene (though it was very good to see), but the rest of it is amazing. We flew into Miami and drove out Highway 1 all the way down. It's a drive, but it's worth it. I will say the beaches aren't what you'd expect to see - they're very tiny. Where we stayed had a man made beach, but don't go expecting to see a beach that you'd see elsewhere in Florida.

Manatees are great, this one almost seemed happy to see us. It would go down and come up every few minutes as if to say hi.