Thanks! It is amazing and beautiful! My 4 yr old grandson said he wants to do that!
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The Gulf Is Alive: My Best Video Yet?
- Thread starter mikecat adjuster
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Thank you Mike!
How far out were the octopi?
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FANTASTIC!!
Tell us, where were you exactly? Were you with a tank? I am sure you must have been. I've never seen ANYTHING like this in the gulf. Just shows you what I know ;-)
Please give us more details!
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!
G
EDIT: Read that it was FREE DIVING! Awesome! So did you use weights and fins? I just can not get over how much I love this video! You did a FIRST CLASS JOB with it!
What a great message to get as I slowly slumber from my bed. Makes my heart pump better blood.
No, as you noticed, I am free diving. Doing so this summer has improved my cardiovascular health, cut down on body fat (I was already super sexy, mind you, just not upon close visual inspection)
And yes, I never knew there was so much in the Gulf either. I don't think people realized the things I was seeing, or like with the snakes I use to tell about, that people even believed me. You can only imagine the things I've laid my eyes during my adventures.
But, now that a working camera is with me, I have you guys with me on my joureys, only no one slows me down :roll: or complains that they got salt water in their mouth, or their legs are tired, or that they are afraid. I am free to roam and still you are all there with me.
As far as details, I've thought of making a video that totally outlines where I go. What I look for. How I organize the terrain in my mind and how I approach my swim patterns. But... sometimes I think about NOT telling too much.
Part of me thinks... I am one of very, very few people I see doing this. I know divers, even dive operators that don't do this, I guess, in part, because they have much further reach and can go to 'better' places. But I explore within my limitations and am rewarded, I think, with excellence in Nature.
Anyway, to your point, I am not far away. I do go past the second sandbar, but to see great things it is not neccessary. Yesterday I actually had a couple, tourist, that I brought to a spot and they were amazed at what I showed them.
Over the summer I brought people along and would say, okay, here we're going to see this, and here this. And sure enough, that's what we saw. I felt like a fishing charter captain with 'time on the water' which is necessary to know where and what etc.
Maybe you and I can go out one day. I don't think it's me being selfish, but I wonder sometimes if I give out too much information to my exact locations, if the extra 'attention' there would diminish or even harm things.
But.... I assure you, I do not have a monopoly on anything. Really, anywhere along this paradise you can go out and see this stuff. I've thought of doing a guide service to share the marvels we have so I can actually have money coming in. You know, I love my adventures and do them out of passion, but it is exhausting. No complaints, believe me. I am in love with this. But yesterday I went snorkeling in the morning for, honestly I don't know, but maybe two hours worth of 'work'. I then went home to eat. I was so tired I thought I'd need to sleep in the afternoon.
But I went out again for another couple hours. Then, at home, I started putting together the video at maybe 8 o'clock. With technical difficulties and trying to get the music on there etc. it was around 2 am when I finished and almost 4 before I was able to wind down and fall asleep. This includes loading it on my computer, the cutting chopping and pasting and then transferring it online etc. But it's just a process.
It's a lot of work. But I love it. Just saying. Oh, and I know I ramble too much in these messages. A friend even tells me so. But it is my connection to you guys and I tend not to want to let go ;-).
Peace and harmony.
mike- wow, what an amazing video! that just made my day, honestly. this should be required viewing for everyone coming to the area. with the inclusion of the debris. one can only wish that if everyone could see the abundance of life just off the shore and under the water that the trash cans would be overflowing daily, and on my trash pickup walks, i'd come back empty handed.
ya know, i spent several hours yesterday in the water on okaloosa island, hadn't been there before...the water was so clear i could spot many fish swimming around me. i wondered what else could be out there. but being such a noob, i didn't have any way to find out. but thanks to your video, i can now visualize just what might be there! and boy could i learn a lot from an afternoon out with you!!
congrats on your video adventure!
p.s. what kind of creature was it that you said was flirting with you?!?
ya know, i spent several hours yesterday in the water on okaloosa island, hadn't been there before...the water was so clear i could spot many fish swimming around me. i wondered what else could be out there. but being such a noob, i didn't have any way to find out. but thanks to your video, i can now visualize just what might be there! and boy could i learn a lot from an afternoon out with you!!
congrats on your video adventure!
p.s. what kind of creature was it that you said was flirting with you?!?
Well, I'd love to give him a shell or two and maybe show him something out there one day. I hope his appreciation for our Natural Wonders creates within him a desire to preserve and protect our rich resources.
Thanks for sharing. That was very kind, as anytime I can connect with a child it warms my heart, being that mine are a bit away from me and tears trace down through my rib cage at that reality.
I gave some shells to a cute little 4 year old yesterday and with her parents, we looked at various little shells that she collected. Previously, this summer, I shared shells with some kids and their family and the kids gave me their findings as well. Of course, their findings weren't special in certain terms, but their little hearts felt so empowered as I graciously and enthusiastically accepted them in return for my gifts.
Connections.
You have to understand, I think EVERYTHING is flirting with me. I need to stroke my ego and darn if that jelly fish didn't have a thing for me. You have to admit, that was some mean shaking it was doing.
And yes, there is some amazing marine life out there. And anyone can see it. I'm not that special of a viewer
But, I have found some strategies work better than others and 'time on the water' is an aid in having super fly sightings.That Mackerel thing was what got me most. That was startling. You have no idea. And the size of it didn't show up on film, but realize, those were Lady Fish it swam through and at the end of when it scoops up the last one, the one you can see, well, look at the size difference.
I can honestly say that the Mackerel scared me. Its mouth was finishing off the lady fish after its initial run and it damn near looked like it would take a stab at me. And its speed was unfathomable. I'm telling you it just burst through into my reality. Dazzlingly quick. And if you'll notice how it darts at the last little shadow, the Lady Fish, and just tags it. Wow! That thing isn't just swimming out there. It is precise!!!! Scary for prey.
I am having to go on an unexpected trip this weekend so no new videos will follow, but I am open to possibilities of taking people out on tours. We'll see.
awesome!
Just an update. I went out for a brief look today, the 27th, and the conditions have regressed. It's Mother Nature and is always beautiful, but while the waves and rain can be appreciated in all their splendor, the water gets cloudy and the visibility suffers.
I still saw things and swam out past the second sandbar, but it is somewhat spooky when you can't see very well, conditions that mimic the early morning or late afternoon, a time when shark and other predator lurk, looking for prey.
But my schedule will not allow me to create any more underwater movies until next week. So I am glad to have made something that means so much to me and apparently, to some of you also. I'll just have to let it stand the test of... well, a few more days
I still saw things and swam out past the second sandbar, but it is somewhat spooky when you can't see very well, conditions that mimic the early morning or late afternoon, a time when shark and other predator lurk, looking for prey.
But my schedule will not allow me to create any more underwater movies until next week. So I am glad to have made something that means so much to me and apparently, to some of you also. I'll just have to let it stand the test of... well, a few more days
Thanks for sharing...as an older senior my scuba diving days are over and I always look forward to seeing your videos...makes "My Beach Retirement" even more special. I appreciate all the work you put into the video so that we could also share your experience...I felt that I was swimming right along side of you seeing everything. I even caught myself several times holding my breath...Thanks!