AA Dive Services

Ancient scuba gear! This 3,000-year-old Assyrian carving shows a diver using an inflatable goatskin bag - the oldest record of diving ever found! Pretty innovative for their time!

I had the amazing opportunity to represent the Anne Arundel county COOP of reputable divers at the Annapolis Marine Industry Spring Open House hosted by David Walters Yachts
Many industry professionals were there, many I work with.
☆ Aaron Seligson, Chessie Diving
☆ Ann Miller, AM Marine Custom Boats
☆ John Albertine and Mike Largesse Passport Yachts and Wagner Stevens Yachts

I'll be there!

No town in America, more so than Annapolis, has boating so engrained in its culture. It is a part of our community and central to what makes our town so special. To celebrate the start of the boating season on the Chesapeake, the boating industry of Annapolis welcomes you to a community-wide open house of boating businesses on Saturday, May 11th, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

➡️ https://hubs.la/Q02vyz5_0

Participating Boat Dealers:
David Walters Yachts
East Coast Yacht Sales
Intrinsic Yacht & Ship
North Point Yacht Sales
Port Annapolis Marina
Seattle Yachts Annapolis
Crusader Yacht Sales
S&J Yachts
Tri-State Marine
Walczak Yacht Brokerage Service, LLC
Yacht Brokers of Annapolis

Participating Boating Businesses:
AA Dive Services
AM Marine Custom Boats
Chronic Sailing
North Sails
Quantum Sails Atlantic

Instruction manual for applying XSR to race boats.
Thank 😊 you Pettit Marine Paint!

Burnishing a racing bottom on a boat involves smoothing and polishing the hull to reduce drag and increase speed. Here's how you can do it:

Apply the Paint:
Apply Trinidad XSR to the bottom of the vessel via roller or spray (3 coats).
If rolling, use short nap 3/16" or less rollers and add 10% 120 Brushing Thinner to minimize roller stipple.
If spraying, apply consistent, even coats. Add 10-15% 121 Spraying Thinner.

Prepare the Hull:
Clean the hull thoroughly to remove any dirt, grime, or marine growth.
If there are any rough patches or imperfections, sand them down to create a smooth surface.

Choose the Right Tools:
Select a high-quality burnishing tool or buffer designed specifically for boat hulls.
Use fine-grit sandpaper (around 600 to 800 grit) or a burnishing pad.

Apply Lubrication:
Apply a thin layer of water or soapy water to the area you'll be burnishing. This helps reduce friction and prevents overheating.

Burnishing Technique:
Hold the burnishing tool firmly and move it back and forth in small, overlapping strokes.
Apply gentle pressure to ensure even smoothing without damaging the hull.
Work systematically, focusing on one section of the hull at a time.
Keep the tool moving to prevent overheating and avoid concentrating on one spot for too long.

Inspect Frequently:
Periodically stop and inspect the hull to check the progress of the burnishing.
Look for areas that need more attention and areas that are already sufficiently smoothed.

Polishing:
Once the hull is uniformly smooth, you can further enhance its shine and reduce drag by polishing it.
Use a marine-grade polish and a soft cloth or polishing pad.
Apply the polish in circular motions, working in small sections at a time.
Buff the polished areas with a clean, dry cloth to achieve a glossy finish.

Final Inspection:
After burnishing and polishing, inspect the entire hull to ensure it's smooth and shiny.
Touch up any areas that may need further attention.

Maintenance:
Regularly inspect and maintain the burnished and polished hull to keep it in optimal condition.
Clean the hull regularly to remove any dirt, grime, or marine growth that could affect performance.

By following these steps and using the right tools and techniques, you can effectively burnish a racing bottom on your boat, helping to maximize speed and performance on the water.

Curious about sacrifical anodes? Watch this video!

Martyr Anodes Martyr is the only manufacturer that offers all three alloys that protect your boat from corrosion that can occur in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater.

Spring commissioning is around the corner. Have you replaced your anodes?

Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta Winter Series 2 is sporting a seriously hazardous marine creature found in both Shake-A-Leg and Coral Reef Yacht Club this morning.
Portuguese Man O War (PMOW) stings are seriously painful and usually result in a trip to the hospital and in some people can cause anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
USE EXTREME CAUTION when in-water cleaning your boat and on the water sailing.
• Perform a safety sweep 2 boats in each direction before entering the water to clean your boat.
• Make sure all lines and sheets are secured in the boat and not draped in the water.

Each of these pretty, blue bubbles are 4" long with tentacles 4' long. These and many tiny ones are usually found floating in the sea grasses trapped between boats.

Mark your calendar for Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Regatta (SPLC)
July 19-21, 2024.
I'm putting my reservation in for Keith Jacob's boat!

Screwpile 2024 is set for July 19th-21st. Headquarters and awards parties at Safe Harbor Zahniser's Marina again.
Notice of Race is under review and will be posted soon, and the Screwpile Yacht Scoring site will be activated with a published NoR. So, mark your calendar!
BTW... The Solomons Inn Resort (formerly known as the Holiday Inn) is scheduled to be back in business as a full service HOTEL this summer with 75 discount rooms set set aside for Screwpile racers! (Plan to convert into an assisted living facility was nixed due to zoning restrictions.)

Annapolis availability:
Oct 1-7 & Oct 18-23

If water temp is >60° when I get back from J/70 Worlds, Nov 8, I'll open my schedule.

Hi everyone! It's Annapolis Boat Show season! There's 8 reputable divers in the greater Naptown area. We're normally booked 2 weeks out. Pls be patient with our scheduling.

If I ever feel down or need a "boost" all I need to do is read a couple of my customer reviews.

If you're one of my "World's Greatest Customers" and I have served you well, please consider providing a Customer Review on my Google Business Listing.
Comments about knowledge, regatta concierge, quality of experience, boat logistics, ease of use...

https://g.co/kgs/W7kN4M

It's Labor Day! Cue the crabpots and stray dock lines!
Yes, emergency fee applies!

ALGAE BLOOM 101 - Science as it relates to Annapolis

Video: https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/videos/bay-101-algae-blooms

Algae blooms need nutrients, oxygen and UV (solar energy) to thrive. There's a complex interaction of several natural and man-made factors, including temperature, nutrient pollution, water flows, and the shape of the Bay's bottom.

☆NUTRIENTS:
•300,000 gallons of sewage was spilled 7 days ago upstream Spa Creek.
•Salinity: Shipwright (near Spa Creek Bridge) 8/27 10.63 Parts Per Thousand
Compare concentration of salt in seawater (its salinity) is about 35 PPT
Increasing salinity level influence water acidity (pH).

☆OXYGEN: Shipwright 8/27 5.1 mg L
Underwater grasses release oxygen during photosynthesis.

☆HEAT: Water Temps have been >75° since mid June; 83° most of August
Temperature limits the amount of oxygen that can dissolve in water: Scientists generally agree that the Bay’s critters need dissolved oxygen concentrations of 5.0 mg/L or more to live and thrive.

RESOUCES:
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:7f56c441-bd39-45c9-91e6-da1d5ee2e52a

http://origin-east-drupal-ncbo.woc.noaa.gov/locations/annapolis

https://eyesonthebay.dnr.maryland.gov/eyesonthebay/index.cfm

Thanks for the heads up, Diver Aaron Seligson
Thought Spa Creek was a little extra chewy this morning.

Crews Respond to Sewage Spill off Heritage Court | Anne Arundel County Health Department City of Annapolis, Anne Arundel Department of Health, and Maryland Department of Environment Work to Mitigate Impacts to Spa Creek

I am honored to serve these incredibly talented athletes.
Congratulations to the J/70 teams who competed last weekend in the Chicago Verve Cup Inshore Regatta.

Devil tucked in at Sail22 until North Americans. She's making friends. Ed & Becky Furry, thanks for babysitting.

Yikes! People are already pinging me for cleaning at J/70 North Americanand World Championships!
This is a waitlist event; I cannot guarantee I can add you on site.
Are you on my schedule?
Text me 443-949-4476

NAs hosted by Chicago Yacht Club
All your friends and new friends are sponsoring this event:
ME! AA Dive Services
Ed Furry at Sail22
North Sails
Quantum Sails
Crowley's Yacht Yard Lakeside
Boater's Closet
Noble Oak
Samuel Adams
Twisted Tea
Azul

Yacht Scoring: https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=15805

Wednesday is a no dive day!

Separating the 2nd, 3rd & 4th place J/111 North American Championship finishers were 3 tiny, hard fought points:

Bravo USA 60909: Skipper Andrew Ward, Bill Hardesty, Phoenix Bliss, Meghan Corrigan, Joshua Kapell, Mathew Kapell, Kelly McKeown, River Paquin, and Ed Bahen

Fireball USA 16: Skipper William Baxter, Mike Buckley, Craig Appleman, Claire Baxter , William Curtiss, Oliver Parsons, Alden Reid, Scott Stone, and Max Hutter

Shamrock USA 136: Skipper Jeffrey Davis, Travis K Odenbach, Stuart Johnstone, Meagan Megs Bryant, Robert Knestrick, Daniel Corrigan, Michael Lis, Andrew Lockhart, Kevin Meier

Chicago Verve Cup Offshore

Proud to be serving the J/111 class at the 2023 North American Championship this weekend, hosted by Chicago Yacht Club.
7 teams
4 days of racing
Good luck to all teams!

Yes AND....
Brilliant!

The most POWERFUL conversation technique This is the power of saying YES AND. Most people say YES BUT in a conversation which doesn't build on their response, it actually negates it.If you want to k...

Lots of angry weather heading our way. Batten down the hash l hatches! Saturday 5:05pm

They're HEEEEEERE! FBMs are on the Magothy!
If you notice the creeks are getting clearer, thank a False Brown Mussle!

Public Service Announcement
The mussels we're seeing in the upper Chesapeake (Baltimore and points south to Harring Bay) are NOT ZEBRA mussels, they a False Brown Mussels and they are native to the Chesapeake bay.

From Maryland Department of Natural Resources this pdf is how you identify the differences.https://dnr.maryland.gov/Invasives/Documents/ZebraMussel-ID.pdf

Stolen from Mary Hunt

Never charge for your time!

Charging tips and paving tricks 🤓

Most of my day is spent under water.
I reply to texts between customers.
I reply to voicemails and emails in the evening or early morning.
If you call and I'm not available, you'll more than likely get an autotext (see pic) asking for a text or if new customer to fill out a service request.
•This service request gives me important information so I can have an efficient, informed conversation with the customer about their needs.
•I copy and paste this info into my calendar appointment along with other specific stuff, like phone notes or text messages.
This is called EFFICIENCY! This is me utilizing my Masters Degree in Business and the SIX SIGMA CERTIFICATION in my business. PLEASE HELP ME BE EFFICIENT!

Working for my home club Eastport Yacht Club.
Photo Credit: Bruce Irvin

What's In Your Sunscreen?

In this study conducted in a clinical pharmacology unit and examining sunscreen application among healthy participants, all 6 of the tested active ingredients (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate) administered in 4 different sunscreen formulations were SYSTEMICALLY ABSORBED and had plasma concentrations that SURPASSED THE FDA THRESHOLD for potentially waiving some of the additional safety studies for sunscreens. These findings do not indicate that individuals should refrain from the use of sunscreen.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2759002

(This is one of the many reasons why I Harken Derm!)