Have you been to a wild reef?

[mark78]

Yup, been diving in Bimini and Roatan...Roatan and surrounding Islands are amazing.

 

[RacinRabit]

Here is another vote for "Yes" to having visited a live reef. I wasn't sure how to formally Vote on this poll.

I have been fortunate to have enjoyed visiting reefs in FL, HI, Cozumel, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands and, the most impressive, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. My favorites? Definitely the Great Barrier Reef (I have been to a dozen or so different sites - all of which take your breath away). I have noticed a decline even at the GBR though over the past 12 years. Still - I was hooked enough to set up a 225 gallon saltwater tank and a 55 gal saltwater tank. Second favorite? A couple of isolated spots off the coast in Maui and the Big Island. Won't tell you exactly where - we'd like to keep them isolated! :lol:

 

[ratherbediving]

I'd love to do the Great Barrier Reef. Hoping to go to Australia next year. Too bad the wife isn't into diving but she already has said I can go on a few dives.

Only reefs I have dove have been off the Bay Islands in Honduras, and a dive in Oahu.

 

[Anonymous]

Not yet, when the cash is available I will.

 

[melas]

Yes ~

off Kuai. Got the s@#t scared out of me by a huge male monk seal! Impressive. . . most impressive.

Great Barrier Reef. . . the winter BEFORE i started reefkeeping. . . enough said.

 

[Anonymous]

No I would love to though...Of course if you want to comp for a trip Len, I would be more than willing to go :wink:

 

[Ricordia]

Let's see... I was stationed on Key West, FL for five years, took a trip to the northern Bahamas for a week, and visited Grand Cayman while on a cruise. I didn't start reef keeping until after the trip to Grand Cayman (and left the service).

Ricordia

 

[Anonymous]

Cayman Islands are my retirement spot!

 

[jussmeac]

Yes, if you ever get the chance to visit Wakatobi I would highly recommend it. It is about 2 hours east of Bali in Indonesia. Its a Swiss ran dive island with a house reef right off of your bungalow. The fields of corals is amazing and some of the macro life that the dive masters pointed out to us was unbelievable. Not the cheapest of dive trips but worth every penny of it.

Check out www.wakatobi.com for more info.

 

[esmithiii]

I have snorkeled in the bahamas, Puerto Rico and in the keys. Still haven't talked the wife into fiji yet.

Ernie

 

[cjsrch]

i do it every few weeks. go out on the boat in the morning eatlunch go out again in the afternoon ^^
been to the keys and ft lauderdale area. thats it
reefin in ft lauderdale are sad so i prefer the artifical ones ( kenvital (tracy) mercadeese and well what ever the cap takes up to. i wanna go to teneco towers but its always to crowded so we skip it..)
as for the keys i dove the most common reef. the jesus statue dude. lotsa dead coral when i went tho... was SUPPOSE TO GO TO THE SPIEGAL GROVE THIS WEEKEND BUT WILMA MESSED THAT UP FOR ME!

 

[MandarinFish]

I got PADI certified by diving in Molokini Crater near Maui.

65m deep on our first dives, but *very* closely monitored by divemasters.

I petted a shark within my first 20 min of diving.

I managed to touch an octopus and snorkel with dolphins too.

It's kinda like hitting the jackpot on the first few tries. Amazing. I was very, very lucky.

I know every exerience is different.

One of the coolest things I noticed diving was the sounds. Listening to the whales and dolphins while staring at reefs was profound and life-changing.

Melas - seeing a monk seal is awesome. I didn't catch any when snorkeling of Kauai, but a female was on a beach with her pup and we were allowed to watch her beyond the fence with binoculars.

 

[garagebrian]

I answered yes. I've only been to Hawaii for reefs.

My wife and I went on an intro scuba dive at Molokini crater. We ended up going down to 63 feet...pretty cool. Molokini crater looked to have about 10-20% damage, but still lots of fish and we saw sharks and turtles.

I also went snorkeling here...if you like convenience....go here:

http://www.epinions.com/content_184752443012

We snorkeled every morning before going someplace else. The shallow section has about 70% damage from overuse, but if you go at high tide the outer portion is practically pristine. LOTS of friendly fish

I can't wait to see south pacific someday though.

Brian

 

[Anonymous]

Yes for me too, but the first time was 10 years ago in Belize, getting my open water diver certificate, and the second time only a few weeks ago on a short accompanied dive in Okinawa (Iriomote island). My fiancee is not overly enthusiastic, but I'm thinking I might be able to manage a dive every 2 or 3 years.