FTV Fort Lauderdale Attractions Keep Cadets Busy

Guest Blogger 4/C Kevin Depersia; Marshfield, MA

The pipes rang out “Liberty has been granted to all fourth class cadets in divisions one and three”. This phrase was equivalent to the gates dropping at a horse race. A sense of freedom instantly illuminated on my face. I had done some research on the layout of the city, so I knew there were some attractions that would peak my interest.

My friend Hunter and I broke off from the rest of the freshman and got a taxi straight to the Bass Pro Shop. After walking around the store and admiring the massive selection of offshore fishing tackle, we decided it was time for lunch. We ordered the best sushi I had ever eaten at the Islamorada Fish Company. Once we were finished eating we walked next door to Divers Direct. This store had a huge selection of everything for scuba and spearfishing. And they have diving courses for every diving level.

After the dive shop we found ourselves at the IGFA fishing world record museum. IGFA meaning the International Game Fish Association, which is located in Dania Beach, FL. Because we both have a love for fishing we both found this museum very interesting. Take a virtual tour.

                                          

Site of the world's largest fishing library 

At this point we only had a few more hours of free time so we decided to take a walk through the museum's plus 4 acres of alligator wetlands preserve, where we saw some alligators, I had never been so close to alligators in my life.

To end our day in Fort Lauderdale we caught a taxi to Five Guys burger restaurant and walked back to the T.S. Kennedy to catch some sleep before watch early the next morning.

Today’s technologies allow us to explore the ocean in increasingly systematic, scientific, and noninvasive ways. With continuing scientific and technological advances, our ability to observe the ocean environment and its resident creatures is beginning to catch up with our imaginations, expanding our understanding and appreciation of this still largely unexplored realm.

Even with recent advances in technology there are still severe restrictions on the depth and length of time that divers can spend underwater. Technical diving often involves the use of special gas mixtures (rather than compressed air) for breathing. The type of gas mixture used is determined either by the maximum depth planned for the dive or by the length of time that the diver intends to spend underwater. While the recommended maximum depth for conventional scuba diving is 130 feet, technical divers may work in the range of 170 feet to 350 feet, sometimes even deeper. This video will teach you more.

Scuba diving is more than a sport. It's a science that operationally integrates physics, chemistry, physiology, and oceanography. It's also pretty cool. Learn more.

Construct a Buoyant Scuba Diver

Take a Deep Breath 

Dive the Cartesian Way

Follow the diffusion of a “gas” from a scuba tank into a divers blood stream at different depths.