MARS Scuba Dive Collecting Trip

[pbetito]

I am aware that there are several divers in the club and thought it might be cool to have an unofficial MARS scuba diving trip to either Florida or Hawaii. We would need a lot of planning but it would be a once in a lifetime trip. I have certain things I got in Florida that are BY FAR my favorite things to watch in my tank.... (especially my french angel) If this was set up WAY in advance who might be interested? I am going in a few weeks with Mike, Pete, and Airin and look forward to watching them chase fish they will only learn to catch their last day there. The trip could be a blast IMO and we could probably get some outrageous deals if there was enough interest. Anyone want to try and see the largest reef tank on the planet???

[Reefugee]

I might be interested depending on cost.

[kevin95695]

Darnit! Wish I could! Darnit!

[pbetito]

Originally posted by kevin95695
Darnit! Wish I could! Darnit!

Why can't you? I say tell your wife.... " Paul said it was o.k."
WORKS EVERY TIME

[Auntbeez]

This would be an AWESOME trip.
I would say count us in, but it depends on the date, and how long we would be gone.
Work isn't quite like a wife, they might not understand... "Paul said it was o.k."

[airinhere]

I'm down for a yearly trip.

I am so looking forward to this. Working at a scuba shop is driving me crazy right now. All I can do is think about going to Florida.

[D&KSac]

Depending on cost i might be down wit it. lol

[Mike16]

Depending on cost date and how lon

i may be interested

[Brian Prestwood]

Scuba diving, that's no fun

I've never dove Florida. I'd consider it.

[kdblove_99]

Sounds pretty cool

[WarrenG]

Just so we're clear, the trip to collect some stuff isn't intended to be an inexpensive way to acquire stuff, right?

[pbetito]

Originally posted by WarrenG
Just so we're clear, the trip to collect some stuff isn't intended to be an inexpensive way to acquire stuff, right?

Anyway you slice it add up airfare, hotel, boats and food..... Any other questions?

[miracles38]

I would be interested!

[MrMikeB]

Inexpensive? These sailfin gobies have to the priciest fish I have in my system after adding up all the airfare, accommodations, boat fees, tank rentals, etc.

Last time I went with a couple MARS members, it was more for the experience. No matter how much Discovery channel you watch, you cannot even begin to describe how beautiful one the world's last true wonders is really like. Count me in!

[WarrenG]

Kona is much easier than Florida and has more fish. Collecting isn't too easy, but there are ways to get a personal permit. Most of the live rock in my tank came from there about 15 years ago.

[philter4]

As far as Hawaii, I collect there 1-1.5 month a year (I have relatives who live in HI so for me it is a "cheap" vacation) collecting in HI is very different from FL, while I think HI is a more beautiful reef and has more stoney corals (which are off limits to us aquariusts) as for more fish I have to dissagree. IMO if you like tangs and wrasse it does have more, but FL has 6 sp of lg angels, and 2 ( imperator and maculosus) that are introduced and common, I've collected imperators off the beach in Pampano, (HI has only 1), 1 sp of pygmy angel, (HI does have 3, but fishers are deep and flame are rare in the main chain) about the same amount of aquarium butterflies ( HI has many more species of B/F's but only 7 or 8 that are not coral eaters and can be kept in tanks FL only has 7 but all can be kept in tanks) as well as 3 common sp of seahorse (HI has 1 rare sp) they both have lions, though the FL one is introduced it is common, it has the queen trigger and a few less known ones including black durgons and sargassum (which is either a color variety of blue jaw or a very close relative depending on which book you read) and there are 3 native sp of tangs but another three that are introduced including red sea purple tang and common sailfin (I've seen both sp frequently). That doesn't count all the soft coral and octocorals(which only 1 or 2 from safe scuba depth in HI) plus the corallamorphs and then there are the motile inverts that are just as many sp as in HI. I could go on and on, just pointing out that the states are different, but IMO FL has just as many collectable aquarium animals as HI.

[WarrenG]

A fish like a Queen Trigger or Grey, Queen, and French Angels normally reach more than a foot in length and live in acres of terrain. I don't think they should be in a tank under 1000 gallons or more.

Here's a pic of my wife enjoying some Queen Angels in the Caymans. They picked at a huge piece of sponge for about 20 minutes....
[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...een-Angels.jpg[/IMG]

[pbetito]

Originally posted by WarrenG
A fish like a Queen Trigger or Grey, Queen, and French Angels normally reach more than a foot in length and live in acres of terrain. I don't think they should be in a tank under 1000 gallons or more.

Here's a pic of my wife enjoying some Queen Angels in the Caymans. They picked at a huge piece of sponge for about 20 minutes....
[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...een-Angels.jpg[/IMG]

Let's try to focus on who might be interested and we will debate which fish, where is better, what's moral ect on another post or at another time I am just looking to see how much interest there is as logistics and location are further down the road.