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TUFF-E-NUFF Update on Placement

Saturday, the TISIRI team arrive at 10:30AM to find TUFF-E-NUFF moored along the end of the dock at Harborview Marina. Moored behind he was the Dawn Star, the Tug that towed TUFF-E-NUFF from St. Mary’s GA. to it’s present location. The day started off cool, but in a matter of minutes, we were all pulling off our warmer clothing and down to the T-shirts we went. The day was beautiful, sunny and warm. Sunday should be even better as far a weather goes. Now, this was the part that tugged at the heart. Friday January 14 friends and family of Kyle boarded TUFF-E-NUFF and written all long the port side and various locations in the tug are the fairwells,  the notes and messages written to Kyle. Please see the pictures from ALL the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Reefs, Report, Wrecks

TUFF-E-NUFF to be placed this Monday January 17, 2011

The original post on the placement date for TUFF-E-NUFF read TUFF-E-NUFF to be placed this Sunday January 16, 2011. The date has changed at the request of a group asking for more time. TISIRI has been able to extend the stay an additional day. Unfortunately, the request comes at a penalty. The sea conditions for Monday are: SUNDAY  NORTHEAST WINDS 5 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. SMOOTH ON  THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. MONDAY  EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. A LIGHT  CHOP ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS. TUESDAY  SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. CHANCE OF  SHOWERS. There is a loss of resources, such as personnel and equipment yet I feel the documentary will come out ok. Stay tuned, come watch, and take picture of TUFF-E-NUFFs last days ‘on’ the water. She … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Wrecks

TUFF-E-NUFF to be placed this Sunday January 16, 2011

SUNDAY NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. Right now it looks like an early morning departure, perhaps 4-5am EST from Harbor Branch Sunday January 16, 2011. The local and time are not official at the time of this post, just what has been discussed to date. If you or someone you know has a boat and would like to watch and film this event, feel free to contact me for up to date information at CONTACT LARRY. You can get location and time of departure. Sea conditions as of Thursday Jan 13, 2011 18:40pm EST SATURDAY  NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. A  LIGHT CHOP ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS.  SATURDAY NIGHT  NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO  4 FEET. MOSTLY SMOOTH ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS.  SUNDAY  NORTHEAST WINDS 5 … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Video, Wrecks

Tugboat to be used as Kyle Conrad Reef en route to Treasure Coast

MARTIN COUNTY — A steel tugboat built over a century ago and originally powered by a steam engine soon will begin a new chapter in its history of service. The tugboat Tuff-E-Nuff has begun its 200-plus-mile tow from just north of Jacksonville to where it will eventually find its final resting place, on the sea floor about 10 miles northeast of St. Lucie Inlet. John Burke, founder of the MCAC Reef Fund, said if all goes as planned, the unique vessel will be sunk next week and take on its new name, the Kyle Conrad Memorial Artificial Reef. More than 100 friends and family of Kyle Conrad, the 21-year-old former soccer star from Jensen Beach High School and Lynn University, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Report, Wrecks

Divers Direct Sponsors Multi-Location Reef and Beach Cleanup

DANIA BEACH, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Divers Direct, the world’s largest retailer of scuba diving equipment, is proud to host its first annual “Scrub & Grub” reef and beach cleanup to benefit multiple locations throughout the state of Florida on Saturday, January 29, 2011. Each of the 5 Divers Direct Florida Dive Shops in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Key Largo and Key West will spearhead its own cleanup of a local beach, coral reef, or both. The cleanup will be followed by a celebration at each location with food and … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report

TUFF-E-NUFF no longer in the St. Marys River, GA.

Today Saturday January 8, 2011, I, Larry Davis, Joe Kistel, and Ed Kalakauskis boarded TUFF-E-NUFF at 08:12 EST. While Joe and Ed prepared the pumps to remove any residual water, I took picutres and video. At 09:20 we are informed by David with the Marinia that he see’s Dawn Star, the Tug coming to tow TUFF-E-NUFF towards St. Lucie, FL.  and Dawn Star ia about 20 minutes away. Well guess what, Ed and Joe jump on our boat and hustle to shore to get the something like 300lb anchor and bring it back before the tug arrives. Guess what? I pop out of the galley on the starboard side and look forward to see this red and white tug staring at me. WOW! kewl!!. I move aft where my camera is … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Videography, Wrecks

TUFF-E-NUFF is on her way south

If you are interested in witnessing the placement of a century old tug as an artificial reef, we will be moving her south this Saturday along the eastern seaboard of Florida. The 19th century tug, TUFF-E-NUFF was scheduled to be moved and placed last year around the December time frame as the last artificial reef placed off the coast of Florida for 2010. Instead, she may be the first placement for the 2011 year. For more information regarding TUF-E-NUFF, you may contact me for more details, check back here at Divetalking.com and tisiri.org. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Reefs, Report, Videography, Wrecks

Shark and Awe in the U.S. Senate

By Edward Dorson The U.S. Shark Conservation Act of 2009, a bill that offered a critical lifeline for sharks, has recently been blocked by a dysfunctional U.S. Senate. Sharks are being decimated primarily to supply shark fin soup as an expensive status symbol delicacy to the burgeoning middle class of Asia, mainly in China. If not rapidly passed, the Act will have no purpose once sharks hit their impending point of no return. Resurrecting this legislation is urgently needed for both the preservation of sharks and our nation’s fading conservation ethos. The threat to sharks from finning and to a planet that requires their continued existence isn’t half-baked ideology — it’s empirical fact. Studies are consistently revealing that sharks, as apex predators, are essential to regulate species abundance and distribution to maintain healthy … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Divemaster, Diver, Events, Fish, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Stories

Cozumel Mexico – August 13 – 20, 2011

Cozumel Mexico – August 13 – 20, 2011 This trip has been moved to September 3-10, 2011. This is a call to divers. I may not have met you and you me but I am sending out this invitation asking if you would like to join a team of divers from Open water to Master Instructors on a trip to Cozumel Mexico, on any number of days between  August 13 – August 20, 2011. The goal, dive and have fun. Meet new people and make new connections. I am producing a documentary on Lionfish and perhaps you could be one of the lucky divers to be filmed capturing and eating your catch for dinner that very night. Because of the location of the lionfish, expert diving skills will be required. There will be more than … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Cavern, Divemaster, Diver, Events, Instructor, Master Diver, Open Water, Photography, Reefs, Rescue Diver, Specialties, Training, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Divetalking.com … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Cavern, Divemaster, Diver, Events, Fish, Instructor, Manatee, Master Diver, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Report, Rescue Diver, Specialties, Stories, Training, Travel, Videography, Wrecks

Merry Christmas from Scuba Extreme

[singlepic id=83 w=420 h=340 float=] … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Boats, Cavern, Diver, Events, Fish, Manatee, Master Diver, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Rescue Diver, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography, Wrecks

Making It Count – December 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, please remember REEF in your year-end giving. For those members who have already contributed during our Fall Fundraising Campaign, a big thank you! If you haven’t yet, donate today using our secure online form, call REEF HQ at 305-852-0030, or mail in your donation to REEF, PO Box 246, Key Largo, FL 33037. Members who donate $250 or more will receive a limited, signed, and numbered print from REEF co-founder and renowned underwater photographer, Paul Humann. This year’s print is of a beautiful coral grouper. Happy holidays and a peaceful new year to you all.       Putting It to Work: Who’s Using REEF Data, December 2010 By Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Director of Science Every month, scientists, government agencies, and other groups request raw data from REEF’s Fish Survey Project database. Here is … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Diver, Events, Fish, Manatee, Photography, Reefs, Report, Specialties, Stories, Training, Videography, Wrecks

Cozumel – August 13 – 20, 2011

  Cozumel Mexico – August 13 – 20, 2011 This is a call to divers. I may not have met you and you me but I am sending out this invitation asking if you would like to join a team of divers from Open water to Master Instructors on a trip to Cozumel Mexico, on any number of days between  August 13 – August 20, 2011. The goal, dive and have fun. Meet new people and make new connections. I am producing a documentary on Lionfish and perhaps you could be one of the lucky divers to be filmed capturing and eating your catch for dinner that very night. Because of the location of the lionfish, expert diving skills will be required. There will be more than just filming lionfish, there are wonderful drift dives … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Boats, Cavern, Divemaster, Diver, Events, Fish, Instructor, Master Diver, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Specialties, Training, Travel, Trip Invitations, Videography

TUFF-E-NUFF U.S. Coast Guard Scheduled Inspection Update

Today, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010 Joe Kistel with TISIRI is making a personal visit to the U.S. Coast Guard in Mayport Florida to assure the inspection promised Monday will occur. Here is the link to the Monday Dec. 6, 2010 US Coast Guard Inspection. Tim, our Tug Captain from the placement of Spike and Culverts off Jacksonville, Florida coast line last year is our Captain for this adventure. He is on 24 standby, waiting for our call today after today’s inspection, if all goes well to prepare his tug to tow TUFF-E-NUFF to Port St. Lucie, Florida. Check back later today for an update to this post as to how the day went and what comes next. —– UPDATE as of 11:15AM EST I just got off the phone with Joe Kistel with TISIRI. The … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Reefs, Report

Fractured – Update

I was thinking that it has been awhile since I posted any update on the condition of my fractured vertebrae. To update you, back at the end of August, 2010 I was heading off shore with some fellow adventurers, Joe Kistel and Ed Kalakauskis, along with our captain Steve Shaw to film the state of Spike, a vessel we placed a year earlier. On the way out, we hit a pot-hole, for lack of a better picture and fell in and against this hole. Twice I was bounced from my seat and within seconds I was on all fours in agony and nauseous. Upon arrival at the ER and a CAT, it was found I fractured my T12 vertebrae and have a number of discs popped out of alignment.  August 26, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Emergency/FirstAid, Report

TUFF-E-NUFF

The saga continues and TUFF-E-NUFF is proving to be TUFF but not E-NUFF for Joe Kistel, Ed Kalakauskis and I, Larry Davis. The three of us made TUFF-E-NUFF our home this past weekend. What a cleaning she got. Cutting more wires than we cared to, we cut and cut, pulled, snipped, sawed, unbolted, tugged, snipped and a few choice words. Here are some of the pictures from this past weekends, 12/4-5/2010 efforts. The slideshow [slideshow id=8] The images. Click on an image to enlarge the image. Click on the enlarged image to enlarge the enlarged image . [nggallery id=8] Individual pictures I thought I would elaborate to give you the sense of the reasons why the pictures exist. This first picture is the view the three of us had as we disembark TUFF-E-NUFF. The joke was unless we get back to shore … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats

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