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Good going Sandy!
I will see you there on Sunday 11/17 with Divers Supply for there Dive Rally. I did not know they were doing improvements for the handicapped. That sounds awesome! I have thought about looking into helping the handicapped and would like to learn more about volunteering to help them.
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Doug, I asked Kurt what was booked for Sun., and there didn’t appear to be any reservations, so Blue Grotto may not even know yet that there is supposed be a Rally that’s planning on diving there on Sun.
Yes, I too would like to help those unable to dive by themselves, to appreciate the underwater world as well. When you come on Sunday, do ask to speak to Kurt, and give him your contact information. Tell him about your desire to assist in the new ventures. They have cabins now too, so maybe if an overnight stay is needed, you’d be able to do it. Maybe they’ll allow camping too. I’ll ask. I’ll find out about "hook ups" as well.
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That’s great! I’m diving Blue Grotto on my way to DEMA next Tuesday.
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Hi Ty. Have fun. Check out my ongoing photos of Blue Grotto as she develops. I just uploaded a tiny video onto my Sandy Koster Facebook page, that is public and viewable by all, friend or not. Be sure to take some turtle food in a plastic container down with you (not a plastic bag that looks yummy), and get some shots of Virgil. I just love her.
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Good advice! I’ll have one of my students with me, so that little bit of "inside information" will make me look good! Hehe. What would be acceptable "turtle food"?
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Oh, and Ty, I’d love if you told Kurt that you saw this link of mine on DiveBuddy. Please mention my name, Sandy Koster.
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How’s something like this:
"Hi Kurt, nice to meet you. I was on DiveBuddy.com recently and heard wonderful things about your establishment. I met a very nice person named Sandy Koster. Sandy was very friendly, very informative, and very enthusiastic about diving. She made me feel like an old friend and made me feel very welcome to visit Blue Grotto. I decided to reschedule my driving plans on the way to DEMA so I could be sure to get a dive in here. Tell Sandy I said Hello and Thank You!"
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eee, Ty, what a great composition! Yeahhhh! I love it. Make sure you type it word for word, into your cellphone "notes" so you can rehearse it before you get there!!! Oh, and as for the food, Kurt sells little plastic bags full of specially formulated Turtle food for $1.00, there at the shop.
What I have done, is I found an old Mentos, plastic mint container, and the pop top, with it’s vacuum seal, combined with the size, is great to put the turtle food in, and slip the plastic container into your pocket, or up the sleeve of your wetsuit. Then, you can turn it upside down when down under, and then open it so it doesn’t flood too quickly, and tap out a few pieces when she comes near.
Never panic with her, as she is very friendly, and will get right up into your business. We never hold her down either, as she needs air. Remember, for your student, if either of you wear white faced gloves (as I do), plastic bags and the tip of your finger can look like food to a side viewing animal. If she grabs a hold of your glove, just pet her head, remain still, and she will let go. She’s just a silly girl! ;-)
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Oh, and if you have some of those silicone bands, that everybody wears nowadays for all kinds of "causes", they are great to stash or affix stuff on your body too. I use one for a backup light, and the the new Halcyon EOS Mini, that I’m about to go buy, I’ll hook its snap onto a band as well, as backup safety, lest I ever drop it.
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Good to know. I’ll buy some mentos on the way from Pensacola. I shall bring my GoPro as well so I can advertise my fantastic experience at the Grotto. Looking forward to it!!
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I am planning to go to blue grotto tomorrow. I unfortunately do not have anyone to dive with. I am comfortable in the water but have not been beyond 30 ft so need someone who wont mind taking it a little so. It’s a couple hour drive for me so I want to make sure someone will be there for me to dive with. Do you think this will be an issue?
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Hi Dan, Kurt, the owner could dive with you as a personal dive buddy and give you a tour but his dive fee is $30.
There will be a ton of people there tomorrow, so you may or may not have a problem getting somebody to agree to allow you to be with them. Aside from that, there is a single diver that came in today, who will be driving with Kurt around 9 or 10 o’clock in the morning. If you join the two of them, that would be perfect
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Hey Dan
If you make it to blue Grotto tomorrow Divers Suppy will have a good number of divers and you would likely find a diver to buddy with!
I would dive with you but I am trying to get as much learning as I can from the clinics that Divers Supply is doing tomorrow and cannot commit to buddying up tomorrow.
I live in Lutz not too far from you. Maybe we could plan a dive somtime?
Doug
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