Archive for March, 2011

WHat scuba diving equipment should I buy?

Okay, so I just got my scuba diving licence and i’m really into it. I know that I will be diving a lot in the future and I would like to have my own gear. The only problem is that my parents won’t pitch in any money and all i have is $1000 dollars. If you could tell me what equipment would be best I would appreciate it. Thanks!

Really all you need is a good wetsuit or two (a shorty and a full length, depending on where you want to go diving). Shorty for the Bahamas and South American areas, long for cold waters. Those only run about $60 each, depending on where you go.
A good set of fins, snorkel and mask can run you $200, but it’s worth it.
You don’t ever need your own tanks, you can’t fly them anywhere (they’ll explode from the pressure change) so everyone just rents them. They also supply weight belts.
You can buy an octopus/BCE, so you don’t have to rent them, most places will rent everything, including wetsuits, but it can cost you another $150 for a week of diving somewhere just for equipment. The octopus is the regulator, and if you are concerned about putting "strangers" regulators in your mouth (because they are rarely all that clean) then you will want to buy your own. A BCE is just a vest with air pockets that connects to the regulator, so your tank can keep air in it. It’s what keeps you afloat on the surface. The octopus and BCE are probably the most expensive pieces of the kit. I got mine used from friends who stopped diving, so I only paid $75 for the octopus, but I understand they can be very expensive. I don’t have a BCE, I rent it when I travel. It’s just one more thing I would have to pack, and with the weight restrictions, well, you know how it is!
The airlines used to give you 1 "scuba" suitcase free, no matter what the weight, because fins, octopus, neoprene suits weigh MORE than 50 pounds.
I haven’t travelled to a dive destination since all the "pay for luggage" crap started, so you’d have to ask the airlines on that one.

Where can I sell my American Girl Dolls?

I have about $600 worth of American Girl Dolls and assorted accessories and I cannot find anywhere to sell them. They are all in perfect condition and I’ve tried, eBay, Craig’s List, even an I-Net store. Is there anywhere or better yet anyone I can sell them to? I am very flexible, but have run out of ideas. This would need to be in or around Chicago. Thanks so much, this is the exact list of what I have.

1 Limited Edition Lindsey Doll w/ outfit (shirt, cargo shorts, socks, red shoes)
1 Kit doll w/ original outfit and doll
3 sweaters
4 shirts
3 pairs of underwear
1 Winter Holiday Outfit (Sweater, velvety skirt, tights, flats)
2 skirts
1 pair of stripped tights
1 red/ blue reversible vest
1 pair of purple sneakers
2 pairs of black velvety flats
1 Recital Outfit (Shoes and tights, nice shirt and skirt)
1 winter outfit (Sweater, pants, tank top, shoes, headband)
1 Soccer outfit (Jersey, shorts, bag, ball, socks, cleats, shin guards, towel)
1 Kit’s Beach Pajamas
1 Swimming/ beach set (Suit, shorts, towel, flippers, bag, sunscreen, book, scuba diving googles, hula hoop)
1 School set (Computer, 2 discs, two notebooks + paper, pencils, backpack)
1 Coconut dog set (Coconut, travel cage/ carrier, water bowl, bed, bone, K9 treats, bath, rubber ducky, shampoo, brush, towel, leash, stickers)
1 Camping set (Teapot, 2 plates, 2 mugs, 2 sticks, 4 graham crackers, 2 marshmallows, 1 utensil + case)
1 flute + box
1 fancy hat
1 pair of crutches
1 foot cast
1 thermos
11 hangers
1 wheelchair + ‘Get Well Soon’ balloon
3 books (Lindsey, Kit Learns a Lesson, Meet Kit)
1 mummy bag

Wow, that’s a lot of stuff! I would say that it’s worth even more than $600, because a large majority of those items are retired and/or limited edition. I would suggest selling it on a doll collector forum. The most popular one is Agplaythings. You can make an account, take pictures of your items, and post them on a thread. Then people will message you saying what they want to buy, and you can arrange a price for the items.
Here is a link for you to make an account:
http://agplaythings.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=register

And here is the link to the rules of selling:
http://agplaythings.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=forsale&action=display&thread=41728

And here is the link to where you can sell your items! (You need to make a new thread for yourself)
http://agplaythings.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=forsale

It may seem like a lot to do, but in the end, you’ll have all your stuff sold and people will pay the right prices for it!

I hope this helps 🙂

What camera would be good for scuba diving?

I am looking for a camera to go scuba diving with that will take good clear pictures and videos. Any suggestions, also what criteria would i look for in a good underwater digital camera?

That depends on how picky you are. Most of the amphibians will do ok but not in a spectacular fashion. It’s a trade off. A camera that is permanently in a housing to do both above and below photography for a relatively cheap price. They have average features and their images show that. Sea & Sea, Bonica and Sea Life make these types of camera. Typically 300-800 bucks.
If you want high end and want to be fully in control of the images you take then opt for a pricey DSLR with a specific housing for it made by a company such as Ike Lite. The housing alone starts at 500 bucks, strobes start at around 300 and up…the camera…the sky’s the limit. You’ll have a camera rig though that does both underwater and above water photography as good as it gets.
If spending over 2 grand is out of your budget, you can still find a good point and shoot with many features for about 350 bucks and then add that $500 housing for a good basic rig that will outperform an amphib.
Myself? I use a Canon A720IS with an Ike Lite housing/strobe kit. Total cost was about $825. It has manual/auto white balance, macro and even an auto underwater mode besides the usual digital features.

Vacation time may be several months away, and you may be starting to think about where and what might be the perfect vacation this year – the beach, golf resort, SCUBA diving, skiing, maybe just sight seeing? And you think about places you have been – and the problems you have had. You cannot forget the time you went on vacation and discovered that the rooms that were really too small, or the room service was bad. There was also the time that the people in the next unit were loud and obnoxious, and the primary reason you had taken a vacation was to find peace and quiet. If only you could have the comforts of your home magically transported to your fantasy destination, then you could have had the perfect vacation.

Well, your dream arrangement is (almost) possible – you just have to look at vacation rental of a home, condo or cabin instead of hotels, motels and resorts. If you’ve never tried a vacation rental, there is a whole world of opportunities out there, just waiting for you to discover them.

Lots of people have vacation homes or condos that they use only part of the year. Many of these people rent out their places when they know they aren’t going to be there to use it themselves. The process is a little different than pulling up in front of a Best Western or Holiday Inn, but the principle is the same – you get to use a room or set of rooms where you are able to reside, for the length of your vacation.

Normally hotel, motel or resort rooms are relatively small. So things can get a bit tight, particularly if the kids are along, or if are there or two, three or four couples who have a routine of vacationing together. By renting a vacation home or condo you will get more space, some privacy, and you may be able to get luxury features you haven’t been able to install yet under your own roof. Another thing – you can find vacation rental units of practically all kinds, practically anywhere in the country – or, for that matter, in the world.

There are literally thousands of places available that are private homes, condos, cabins, etc., available for vacation rental. And, the facilities available in these rentals range from rustic to lavish, comfortable and spacious.

There are thousands of companies around the world acting as agents for owners. Many of these agents have listings in every state of the United States, plus Mexico and the Caribbean. They are really just booking agents, but they have information on a huge number of properties in a large number of locations. They have listings in Central America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the South Pacific. Unless you had your heart set on a vacation in Antarctica, it doesn’t seem like there can be much of anywhere that you will not be able to find vacation rentals.

Most agents found online and offline have vacation rental homes in US destinations, and many also have access to international listings. On the Internet, you will be able to find listings provided by agents – and vacation rentals by owner. At most websites that cater to the vacation rental industry, listings will contain a full inventory of what a particular property has to offer the vacationer and most of those listings contain several photographs, including interior and exterior photos.

Many vacation home rentals can be found near the center of major tourist areas, such as Disney World in Florida, or near beaches – perhaps even on the beachfront – in many coastal states. Other vacation rental homes are located out in the boondocks, such as in the wooded and mountainous regions of Arkansas, Colorado or Tennessee.

For instance, there is the 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath, lakeside, log home at Presque Isle, Wisconsin, located on the shores of Presque Isle Lake, an hours’ drive south of Lake Superior. The property is a rustic wilderness stone and log cabin on top of a ridge, with sleeping space for up to 14 people. Overlooking the 1500-acre, crystal clear waters of Presque Isle Lake in the North Woods, this log cabin receives guest’s year-around. During the summer, many families enjoy the swimming off of the cabin’s lakeside dock, and anglers enjoy an ample supply of trophy Muskie, Walleye and Bass from the dock and by boat.

Let’s say you are thinking about taking the family to Breckenridge, Colorado for a week of skiing or snowboarding fun. A short search on the Internet will give you a sizable list of resorts or hotels to choose from. They have nice rooms, food service, probably a pool, and transit service to the slopes. But what is available in a vacation rental?

There are more than two-dozen vacation homes available in Breckenridge, Colorado. You can access descriptions and photographs of many of these homes. Facilities range from units that sleep 6 to exclusive townhouses that provide sleeping quarters for up to 22 people. Rates start at $70 per day to $20,000 per week. That would seem palatial to me. I wonder if the rates are negotiable?

Finding exactly the right-sized home, with the desired amenities, for the price you are willing to pay will take some searching. You should really take the time to decide what kind of a place you really want, the amenities, and how many people will be going with you, before you start going though lists. Of course, some people go to Breckenridge in the summer, rather than during the winter for the ski season, and rentals are available, even during the off-season.

With a vacation rental you get more space and special amenities compared with a conventional hotel, motel or resort. The cost per square foot is usually less, but the amount of space is usually more. You have more privacy, but you will probably have to do your own cooking and wash your own dishes. As with everything else, you have to decide how you want to spend you time and your money – what do you value and how much is it worth to you?

Picking and booking the right vacation home may require some time, but it is also time well spent with people you love. Compared to the hotel experience, a vacation home rental is an excellent option that you should consider for your next vacation. It might create that perfect memory you have been looking to achieve for your family.

Suppose, instead of Breckenridge and skiing, you are interested in a week at the beach, a weekend in the woods, or a week following your favorite NASCAR event. On January 20th, 2008, it is estimated that four million people will be in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. Hotels were sold out weeks ago… but there are still plenty of vacation rentals in the greater D.C. metropolitan area, looking for renters. Some people are even renting their homes to visitors coming in for the inauguration and taking the opportunity to visit grandma, while someone else is renting their home.

Jeb Maxwell

Malta is an island nation located in Southern Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea, consists of seven islands. Among these islands, Gozo is one of the more popular in the archipelago because the surrounding bodies of water is considers as one of the best diving spots in the whole world. There are several diving areas in Malta and Gozo and can cater to both novice and experienced divers. Because of its location and climate, the underwater environment of the Mediterranean Sea is perfect for coral growth.

The archipelago of Malta has a climate that consists practically of two seasons: mild winters, which is more like tropical rainy season and hot and dry summers. The most recommended months to visit Malta and Gozo for scuba diving are the ones that are in between the rainy season and summer ? June or July. The last quarter of the year is also a good time to pay the Maltese archipelago a visit.

Scuba diving is one of the greatest pleasures in life, especially if you visit the various diving areas in Malta and Gozo. The crystal-clear water allows you to see nature?s beauty underwater to the fullest. The nutrient-rich waters in Malta and Gozo also give life to different species of aquatic flora and fauna; the sight of colourful coral reefs with fishes in different colours, shapes and sizes is something you would expect from a pretty postcard. These are some of the reasons why expert divers keep coming back to Malta and Gozo.

Of course, expert divers are not the only one that can enjoy the pristine waters of Malta and Gozo. Many diving areas are suitable for beginners to enjoy. As one would expect, there are many scuba diving instructors that provides tutorials and safety tips on novice divers. You may look online; there are various websites that offer scuba diving lessons and courses that can be finished for just a day or two.

The lessons can consist of classroom training and practice dives. During classroom training, students will be taught the basics of scuba diving and snorkelling through simulations in a controlled environment, like an indoor pool, and lectures. Once you have learned all you need in classroom training, you will now be sent to experience a taste of the real thing. This part of scuba training usually eats up the whole day, but it is well worth it. During the day, you will be allowed to dive at the depth of around 3 meters or so followed by a deeper dive later. The second dive will have you go underwater around eight meters deep. After you have graduated the course, you will be given a certificate: proof that you have the basic knowledge needed to go scuba diving in the waters of Malta and Gozo.

Some of the diving areas in Malta and Gozo are perfect for novice divers. These diving spots are not physically demanding and are not too deep for beginners, so you should try these out first before heading to deeper areas.

Gen Wright

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