Johnylongblades Open Key West fl. (1st annual)

[Shooter]

  This past weekend, my lovely wife and I attended the first annual JohnyLongblades open in Key West, Florida.  They are raising money to get kids involved in diving spearing and fishing, who otherwise would not have the financial means to try it. There were a lot of youngsters that competed in the junior division, it was very exciting to see their level of excitement and enthusiasm fot this sport.

  We had excellent weather and visibility,  Unfortunately, not a lot of fish. I was somewhat hampered in my hunting ability after losing the tip of my left pinky above the second knuckle in an archery accident  Four days before we left.  I had my sons at the archery range in practice for opening deer hunting.  Nathanael was struggling pulling my bow back and the arrow fell off the rest.  I reached over to put it back on and didn't get my hand out of way soon enough.  The stringat full draw sheared my pinky of like a meat Cleaver. Went to the doctor on Tuesday for a follow-up to ask the doctor, if I could still dive. He said you can't get it wet.  It needs to stay dry.  Fortunately I have been diving with my buddy Art enough to be able to jerry rig a dry glove apparatus.  I took my zip in dry glove, turned a zip wrist seal inside out and attached it to the dry glove. ;D getting may tenderhand in the glove was the most difficult part.  On deeper dives to 150, I would pre-inflate the glove.  It only leaked once when I was wrestling with a lobster. :o felt like somebody was pouring salt in my open wound. :'(

I left my gun at home, ???  Not sure if I would be able to fish. Won't ever do that again.  I used one of captain Bens spare line guns, managed to shoot it and reload it without a problem.  Wasn't as confident and didn't take the shots, I would've with my gun.  Fortunately my lovely wife managed to put dinner on the table :-[.

    more info on the tournament

[jasondbaker]

Man shooter, you are hardcore.    Sorry to hear about the pinky. Don't those tips grow back?

[Shooter]

I took off, over half of an inch, so I don't think so.  It's amazing how many things you use your left hand for,  when you're diving :o

[tullibee]

OUCH! That's gonna leave a mark!  (or maybe that's gonna leave a space where a mark should be...?)

Sounds like you still managed to have fun at the open!  (nice pic of the happy couple under the banner!)

Good thinking on the seal and glove trick!  (just more proof that you'll pretty much do anything to dive!)

Hope you heal up fast so it doesn't interfere too bad with hunting season!

Jon