Physical condition.

I hope all had a safe and great Fourth of July holiday this last week. It’s been two weeks since I had my bad fall on the dive boat. I will tell you it has been a painful recovery. The MRI showed that I had several tears on a couple of muscles and tendons from the fall and thankfully they are not bad enough for surgery but it will take a while for them to heal.
If I was 35 years younger it would not take as long but being almost 70 years old that’s another thing. I don’t like being hurt but when you are married to a loving retired RN for 47 years it makes it more bearable.
Now that we are starting July, the dive season is really ramped up and firing on all cylinders. I’m hoping that over the next few weeks I will be strong enough and completely pain free to go on another dive or two. The only pain I have now is when I get out of bed and strain that particular set of muscles that are hurt.
The diving conditions are getting better every day and the water temperature is a solid 86-87 degrees. I have heard reports that when you go out about 10-15 miles the water is close to 90 degrees, as we say in Florida: “That’s hurricane fuel.”
The last two dives I took I saw a lot of different species of fish as well as bottom crustaceans moving around. It was absolutely wonderful to see so much life in the ocean.
The advanced students where amazed at what they saw: There was a medium size octopus, a medium size sea turtle, and so many amberjacks that you had to wave them off. The baitfish where so many that they would block the sunlight from above you.
I haven’t really heard from some of my spearfishing friends yet so I can’t really say how they are doing. I do know that over in Panama City Beach that the dive shop charters are being filled pretty quick so you need to plan your dive trip well in advance of your actual dive to get a spot on the boat.
I wish I could tell you my favorite boat to book on but it would be advertising and I don’t think I’m allowed to do that in this article.
Well, I hope to be back diving soon and maybe I will see you out under the water in the next few weeks.
Keep making bubbles.

Russell Miller #59999