At 10:11 AM 9/30/02 -0400, Sr.  Feeeesh wrote:

>Aha! Here's the upper-bound:
>
>DS> Water temperatures reach a high of about 24º C. in summer,
>DS> (February/March)
>
>75.2F -- that's COLDER than the COLDEST all year round where I've
>dived in the Caribbean.  < Brrrrrr ... teeth chattering ... :)  >

         Despite the wetsuit recommendation at 55F. in of one of Strike's 
old dive manuals, I start thinking wetsuit at 24 C.  I share Bob's 
sensibilities, and although it sounds funny 75 F. really does feel cold in 
a lycra skin after the first dive of the day.  Goodness, at 55 F. it's no 
embarrassment to put on the Mickey Mouse neoprene gloves.  When we do the 
Oz NEDfest, let me vote for the tepid waters of February/March and not the 
brisk dives of September.  Heck, except for the fish, invertebrates, food, 
wine, cultural pleasures, topless ladies on the beach, viz., great company 
and camaraderie, and opportunities to learn, I can find similar diving in 
Illinois (well not actually as warm as 75 F.) at the end of August (well, I 
guess it's probably more like PNG muck diving without anything being in the 
muck (not counting fishing plugs and catfish treble hooks) except the muck 
is silty and viz. descriptions go from inches to thickness depending on 
depth).  On reflection, there is no comparison between IL and Oz except 
temperature, and I'm beginning to  understand why Illinois miniNEDfests 
with Bob and Sue never involve any diving.

         Anyway the coldest water I've ever travelled to  get into was in 
Curacao on March 4, 2000 at the wreck of the <Superior Producer> where I 
got 75 F. on my Cobra (it must have been close to hibernation).  The DM 
said it was the Orinoco, I said it was shocking, especially considering how 
relatively close Curacao is to the equator.  It's even colder than the 
north-of-the-Caribbean dive areas of Florida and the Bahamas at the same 
time of year.  So, once again, put me down for February/March for any Oz 
NEDfest.  Deco, gas, and camera battery considerations are acceptable 
reasons for bringing a dive to a close, but cold water isn't, and I don't 
want to test the functionality of my wings south of Illinois' chilly silt.


DPTNST,


John