SCUBA in FL

I've been in Michigan visiting family for the past two weeks but in the middle of my visit I took a trip with my dad and brother to Florida.  We went to see an old friend of my dad and his son, and the five of us went to the Florida Keys for some scuba diving and michiganians lobster hunting.  

The floridians did all the lobster hunting while the michiganders snorkeled around and watched.  I guess lobsters live in holes and when you hunt you drive around in the boat looking for these holes.  When you find one, you dive down with a tickle stick and use it to flush them out.  Once they come out you grab them with your hands and swim to the surface.  Because of regulations you have to measure them and if it is too small, you have to throw it back.  I can't stand bugs and I consider lobsters to be basically giant bugs so I wasn't too happy to have them crawling all over the boat.  I did manage to pick one up and throw it in a container before it snapped at me too much though ...

We went scuba diving near Sombrero Key Lighthouse.  I'd never been scuba diving before so I had a crash course on the first day.  It took me a while to get used to being under the water.  My ears had a hard time adjusting to the pressure.  Even though we only went down to about 25 feet, my head felt like it was ready to explode and I had a bloody nose when I got to the surface.  I also tried to swim the way I do on the surface which meant that I used my hands too much, flailed about, and used too much of my air.  The second day was much better.  The seas were rougher but the pressure didn't bother me so much and I managed to relax and use less of my air.  Otherwise it was really amazing.  It's like being inside an aquarium; the fish come right up to you and swim right in front of your face!

Anyway, now that I'm back in Providence and need to get back down to work there are sure to be more blog posts ...