Anyone hardly ever experienced the ocean?

Subnautica · Jul 16, 2020

I feel like the only person in the hobby who never experienced the sea. I grew up in a landlocked town in Asia and moved to the US (Arizona) when I was 21. Can't remember the last time I saw the beach, probably when I was a kiddo. The more I'm into the hobby the more I want to experience the ocean. I always dream about being on a boat and exploring the ocean floor. I love diving but man I gotta learn how to swim first (big LOL). When I get my college degree and save up enough I'll try to achieve what I dream of.

Sorry if my post is in a wrong board. Don't know where to post, lol.

RobB'z Reef · Jul 16, 2020

You just gotta make it a priority man.

4tanks · Jul 16, 2020

I cannot imagine not being able to get to the sea luckily I build boats so see it everyday

Mark Bradley · Jul 16, 2020

I think it’s important to try and have no regrets - learn to swim ASAP so that you can get into the ocean depths - as a new world will open up before your eyes. Time flies and “manana” should be avoided if possible!

Udest · Jul 16, 2020

Did I'm in the same boat landlocked in the AZ but fear not the beach is literally only 3 to 6 hrs away depending on where you want to go!

Subnautica · Jul 16, 2020

Udest said:
Did I'm in the same boat landlocked in the AZ but fear not the beach is literally only 3 to 6 hrs away depending on where you want to go!

How often do you visit the beach? I'm planning to go to CA maybe next year.

Udest · Jul 16, 2020

I haven't been since I was young but I know it's there and not too far away , I'd like to go to the warmer waters of the gulf though next time. But if you're in AZ closes beaches that are good right now should be Puerto penasco.

Zionas · Jul 16, 2020

I am originally from a city in southwestern China in the mountains. Chongqing. Also took me a while to see the ocean xD.

Vinny84 · Jul 16, 2020

I moved from the city in U.K. to sea side only problem is the the tides the seas hardly ever in a when it is it **** water anyway

fish farmer · Jul 16, 2020

Udest said:
I haven't been since I was young but I know it's there and not too far away , I'd like to go to the warmer waters of the gulf though next time. But if you're in AZ closes beaches that are good right now should be Puerto penasco.

Yep..that's the closest. Went there for a trip when I lived in Phoenix, we walked around the tide pools at low tide and saw all sorts of critters, even an octopus. Also did some fishing for trigger fish.

Zionas · Jul 16, 2020

I currently live 2-3 hours away from the coast of the South China Sea (well, my “normal” home) and where I am, I have seen / seen local hobbyists collect:

-Longfin Bannerfish

-Sergeant Major Damselfish

-Some kind of red Cardinalfish and Large Cardinalfish with black stripes. The red one is not the Atlantic Flame Cardinal.

-Porcupine Puffer

-Corallivore Butterflies (apparently some people think they can keep them alive.....)

-Other Puffers and some Filefish (I think Pygmy and Radial)

-Two Barred Soapfish

-Australian Stripeys (Microcanthus Strigaster)

-Lyretail Demoiselles (Neopomacentrus Azysron)

-Breams and Snappers

-Koran Angelfish (would love one but I don’t have a large enough tank)

-Japanese Pinecone Fish (had considered before but then heard they’re not suitable for community tanks)

-Link’s Goby

-Some other gobies and Blennies

-Rabbitfish (Spinefoots, not any species of Foxface)

-Yellow Hawkfish

-Blue Streak Cleaner Wrasse

To name a few.

I literally live close to some of the richest seas on earth (just outside the Coral Triangle) but I don’t feel confident enough to collect my own fish, yet.

This is Guangdong / HK.

Once you get down to Hainan / northern ‘Nam:

-All species of Clownfish

-Chromis

-Auriga Butterfly

-Pacific Raccoon Butterfly

-Larger groupers

-Pajama Cardinalfish

All the fish native to my hometown are from the Yangtze and end up on the food table.

LadyMac · Jul 16, 2020

I live in the upstate of SC, the beach is only a few hours away. I went to Myrtle when I was a teenager with my uncle and again with my dad, but both times we didn’t really go to the ocean. Dads motel had a view of it. Then when I got married, my husband, daughter and I went to Folley, but it’s hard on hubbs back so we have been twice and no more since. I really want to be able to collect shells or just explore. Sadly, it’s not something we really get to do.

Zionas · Jul 16, 2020

When I was a kid and I went diving off the coast of Hainan, the first fish I saw in shallow water were Dascyllus spp. damselfish. Domino, Four Stripe, Two Stripe etc.

Not on my priority list yet as I am much more focused in building my own reef than diving, but in the future I would love to go diving in:

-Ryukyu Islands

-Ogasawara Islands

-Mariana Islands

-Indonesia / Malaysia / PNG

-Australia (LHI and GBR)

-Central and South Pacific Islands

-East coast of Africa

-Caribbean

-Brazil

-Red Sea (but region is too dangerous)

I am also a WW2 shipwreck enthusiast and naval enthusiast.

If I ever get to dive again in tropical seas it would be very interesting as an aquarist and not just someone who’s casual. If I ever get to dive deeper or go on a submersible, I will pay attention to the transition in corals from abundant SPS in shallow waters to mostly / exclusively softies and NPS below maybe 150-200 feet.

LadyTang2 · Jul 16, 2020

Plan a snorkeling trip to Hawaii!

Zionas · Jul 16, 2020

xD! Someday! How could I forget Hawai’i lol. If only the dang virus would end sooner. And afterwards I gotta maintain my own reef first lol.

I lived for 10 years in Canada. Vancouver to be precise.

Spoiler: No tropical reefs in Canada.

I’ll also add Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Indytraveler83 · Jul 16, 2020

I'm in landlocked Indiana, and while the Lake Michigan beaches are less than an hour away, it's definitely not the same.

I've tried to at least visit the ocean once a year. Every winter I plan an escape trip, whether it be a cheap cruise or a long weekend in Mexico, and I try to be sure I can snorkel at least a few of the days I'm there.

This winter was a real treat, as we stayed in a resort with a reef just offshore. Snorkeled every day I was there!

alton · Jul 16, 2020

Well do not come to Texas, they closed the beaches down again. You can go to a restaurant, but not the beach. I should tell the correct story you can walk from a public road to the beach, you just cant set up a canopy and chairs with your family and drink your favorite brew and relax.

Phil D. · Jul 16, 2020

I spent 20 years in the Navy so saw the ocean a lot! In fact, i got certified and put 300 dives under my belt..Guam, Saipan, Truk Lagoon and the Philippines. Beautiful waters. We dove wearing T-shirts, shorts and deck shoes. Miss it!
I live in AZ too.

diverjm · Jul 16, 2020

I too have been fascinated by the ocean since I was a kid. I had a scuba Steve toy that I used to play with in the bathtub and I would dream of diving. I finally at the age of 33 got scuba certified and was able to go diving in Monterey a handful of times. It was such a profound thing for me that I planned a trip to Maui two years ago and went on two dives a day for a week. I got to dive the back side of the Molokini crater multiple times which was pretty cool and was able to get my advanced certification while there. Again such a huge experience for me that I planed a trip to the big island of Hawaii last year. I went on 4 dives a day for a week! I got to dive with manta rays multiple times and got to go on a black water night dive multiple times. They take you out pretty far into the sea and you are tethered to the boat. You get to experience all of the creatures from the deep that come up to feed at night. One of the best experiences of my life! I highly encourage you to pursue your dream!