Hey, what do you mean GOT around? Is that a slantwise reference to my cranky knees? I resemble that remark!!! Vance
Hi, Jon,
As long as my fingers are already in the typing position, may as
well give you my impression of the Atlantis dive at Wailkiki. Dennis Hurd
and his guys did a great job setting up that franchise - talk about a
choice tourist spot. The outer reef offshore the Honolulu strip is actually
pretty good diving - lots of bottom life, etc. You transport out to the sub
from the hotel dock in a vessel that holds about fifty plus people. The sub
surfaces at a transfer station, tripped people swarm off one end, you walk
into the sub at the other end. The dive takes you on a fairly long run down
to a 100 feet or so, where you look at artificial fish habitat and a large
aircraft sunk specially for your viewing pleasure. A SCUBA diver feeds
about a swillion fishies, you take pics out of your viewport. Sub runs back
to the transfer point, surfaces, you get out the opposite end from where
you entered, motor back to the swub gift shop, pick up the 8X10 pic of you
and your fellow submariners, buy a tape or DVD of the dive, head over to
the Ala Moana for a Mai Tai.
The Kona dive experience is the same but no aircraft and no Ala
Moana. I haven't been on the Big Island dive for a long time - presume the
sub dive's still operating. His Nemo-ness would know. You out there, Pat?
Anyhow, very pro, very interesting dive - particularly from a biz
standpoint. Atlantis carried their 6 millionth passenger a couple of years
ago - should be creepin' up on 7 mil soon. Is that success story or what?
For those who tuned in recently, Atlantis started the full franchise
tourist sub biz - and Dennis Hurd, the founder, came directly out of HYCO
(International Hydrodynamics Ltd.,) builders of the 'Pisces' class subs -
up to 2 thousand meters! This all happened a couple of blocks from our
shop! Their operating arm, HYCO-SUB carried out very succesful operations
in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico for a number of years. P-subs own
Vance Bradley was one of the top pilots for these guys. Hmmmm . . wonder if
Vance is qualified in a K-250? Probably so. He got around, I hear!
Regards
Phil
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