Vintage Double Hose

Vintage Double Hose SAND DOG 2.0
Florida Springs Dives
April 9th-13th, 2025


1. Quite a few of the Vintage Double Hose Divers Group are attempting to put together another Vintage Dive Gathering SAND DOG 2.0 that were called Sand Dogs. The month of April from the 9th -13th, 2025 has been chosen for the get together. The weather will be warming up and changing for the better and those that live in the cold north can schedule ahead.
2. Roger VF and Allan Klauda are the primary coordinators of this event but certainly we will need help getting the word out. WE are attempting to coordinate where the overnights will take place and the a-la-cart diving locations for the 4-day event. We will have costs and group rates for the motel that is the nicest and close to Ocala.
3. Allan Klauda will help with the actual on-site overnight accommodations in Florida this month in the next few days. He will be looking at a location that will comp out a meeting room for evening gatherings, and local eateries, etc., along with best pricing for a group rate. RVF will help with making phone calls in advance of Allan’s contacting the motels directly. We will put this info out as soon as possible. Plan ahead and block the dates.
4. Dates in April have been determined so mark them on your calendar. Planning on 4 days of diving and locations and pricing for you to make plans will be placed in an email to you very soon. Travel time is not scheduled into the dive days. So plan on traveling on your nickel and arrive on the day before diving begins.
5. No money to exchange hands. We will do a group booking and each diver or couple will call and schedule their rooms. Hopefully we will get better than normal pricing.
6. Air fills will be supplied by RVF and any other compressor that is brought to Florida. Allan has offered his humble abode to gather at the end of the diving day to fill. I will have a four- six bottle cascade in a trailer and for those that travel a distance I am pretty confident we can have at least a few extra tanks available for those flying in to dive. These will be steel 71.2’s.
7. Possible locations: Alexander Springs, Ginnie Springs , Blue Grotto, Devils Den, Rainbow River drift dive, Blue Springs State park and any others you can think of adding to the list of potentials. If Rainbow is drifted then a boat rental and Allan has offered to be the operator, is best to drop off group(s). This will require funds and deposits. No other funding will be requested. If donations for air fills are given that will help with fuel costs to get the compressor there from Ohio.
8. Fun and games. Each evening could bring some Sea Hunt Forever and Sea Hunt Historic Films the original series. Should have some type of give-a-way prizes for those in attendance. Food coupons? A possible give away of a rebuilt double hose. Everyone gets a ticket. I might be able to help with this one. I will check in with Jerry and Todd and Rob to see if they want to participate once we have established dates.
9. Airfare is scheduled by the individual divers.
10. Plan on your car rentals for the 5 days. We will not be able to pick divers up at the airports.
11. Ocala is the central location we looking to use as the home base. I have begun the process of getting pricing to the dive sites.
12. Invites to the event will be sent via email and put on different websites. I will need email addresses from you or others to get them sent out in a reasonable time frame so people can plan ahead. I will begin to work on a list of names.
13. List of names:
a. Roger VF
b. Allan Klauda and Anne
c. Rob Studnicka and Barb
d. Jim Bach
e. Todd Conner
f. Jerrie Struble
g. Pete McCadden and son
h. Karl Gehring
i. Jeffrey Vaughn
j. Alec Pierce
k. Terry( forgot last name) from Traverse City
l. Luis Heros and Christine?
m. Ron Bentz
n. Ron Benson
o. Tom Madere
p. Herman Mowery
q. Mark Spencer Scuba Lawyer
r. Surf Lung Eben Brown
s. Voit Lung Greg Barlow
t. Gregs buddy Mark
u. Ron Sivonda .
v. Gary Reece
w. Captain Tom Madere
x. Herman’s North Carolina Buddy?
y. Dan Benedict
z. George Fees and Lilly
aa.

Allan Add names and any emails past or present please to this email.

Please send me an email with your interest / commitment . No money wanted just a solid head count. [email protected]
Please forward to those that have a vintage interest.

I will be there!

I will donate a Snark III Double Hose Regulator for a door prize!

Jill and I will be driving over from Corpus Christi TX.... Leaving our vacation rental on the 7th and taking a scenic drive along the coast of the Gulf of America ... To arrive at Sand Dog 2.0 by the 9th or 10th (I don't know how long a drive it is).

Vintage Double Hose
SAND DOG 2.0
Florida Springs Dives
April 9
th
-13th
, 2025

1. Quite a few of the Vintage Double Hose Divers Group are attempting to put
together another Vintage Dive Gathering SAND DOG 2.0 that were called
Sand Dogs in the years past. The month of April from the 9
th
-13th
, 2025 has
been chosen for the get together. The weather will be warming up and
changing for the better and those that live in the cold north can schedule
ahead.
2. Roger VF and Allan Klauda are the primary coordinators of this event but
certainly we will need help getting the word out. WE are attempting to
coordinate where the overnights will take place and the a-la-cart diving
locations for the 4-day event. We will have costs and group rates for the
motel that is the nicest and close to Ocala. The Best Western Motel has been
chosen for the motel as the rate is reasonable and they have comped us a
meeting room in the evenings until 10 pm so we can all gather, tell lies,
stories, talk about the old days, swap out equipment. The rooms are $140 a
night plus 11.5% tax per night for double occupancy. Here’s the caveat, we
need to call and give them your Credit card to hold the room under the
SAND DOG 2.0 before March 9th

. Please let me know if you are coming via
my email [email protected] so I can keep track. I have 15 rooms
reserved for the group. I am not collecting c/c numbers or money. Plan
ahead and block the dates. The motel is the Best Western Ocala Park
Centre, 3701 SW 38 Ave, Ocala, Fl34474. Phone number is 352-237-4848.
3. Dates in April have been determined so mark them on your calendar.
Planning on 4 days of diving and locations and pricing for you to make
plans will be placed in an email to you soon. Travel time is not scheduled
into the dive days. So plan on traveling on your nickel and arrive on the day
before diving begins. You do not have to stay with the group if you have
other perks at other motel chains you want to use. This is there and I know
it’s not a 5 star but its available.
4. No money to exchange hands. We will do a group booking and each diver or
couple will call and schedule their rooms. Hopefully we will get better than
normal pricing. WE received better than normal rates.
5. Air fills will be supplied by RVF and any other compressor that is brought
to Florida. Allan has offered his humble abode to gather at the end of the
diving day to fill. I will be glad to put some tanks in my trailer and fill them.
Probably can fill before the day is out. I will have a four to a six bottle
cascade in a trailer and for those that travel a distance I am pretty confident

we can have at least a few extra tanks available for those flying in to dive.
These will be steel 71.2’s.
6. Flying in would be Gainesville Airport which is probably as close to Ocala
as you can get. But again, these accommodations for flights are the diver’s
responsibility.
7. Possible dive locations: Alexander Springs, Ginnie Springs , Blue Grotto,
Devils Den, Rainbow River drift dive, Blue Springs State park and any
others you can think of adding to the list of potentials. If Rainbow is drifted
then a boat rental and “Captain” Allan Klauda has offered to be the
operator, is best to drop off group(s). This will require some funds and
deposits. I will set this up. No other funding will be requested. If donations
for air fills are given that will help with fuel costs to get the compressor
there from Ohio.
8. Fun and games. Each evening could bring some Sea Hunt Forever and Sea

Hunt Historic Films the original series. Should have some type of give-a-
ways prizes for those in attendance. Food coupons? A possible give away of

a rebuilt double hose. Everyone gets a ticket. I might be able to help with
this one. I will check in with Jerry and Todd and Rob to see if they want to
participate now that we have established dates.
9. Once again airfare is scheduled by the individual divers.
10. Plan on your car rentals for the 5 or 6 days. We will not be able to pick divers
up at the airports.
11. Ocala is the central location we looking to use as the home base. I have
begun the process of getting pricing to the dive sites. I will forward prices
for the dive sites as they answer our requests. My suggestion is to not advise
we are diving double hoses. It just confuses the issues locally.
12. Invites to the event can be spread by word of mouth or forward this email. I
will need email addresses from you or others to get them sent out in a
reasonable time frame so people can plan ahead.

DISTANCE AND TRAVEL TIMES TO DIVING VENUES
Base Motel: Best Western Ocala Park Centre

3701 SW 38 Ave. 532-237-4848

ALEXANDER SPRING (352-669-3522)
49525 Cty Rd 445 Altoona, FL 32702. 49 mi, 1 hr 9 min. ($13.91)

ALLAN’S. (585-733-6193)
10041 SW 97 th CT, Ocala, FL 34481 [In Pine Run] 8.7 mi, 18 min

GINNIE SPRING (386-454-7188)
7300 NE Ginnie Springs Rd High Springs, FL 32643. 65 mi 1 hr 5 min
($36)
RAINBOW RIVER KP HOLE PARK (352-489-3055)
9435 SW 190 th Ave Rd Dunnellon, FL 23 mi 31 min $20?

BLUE SPRING (386-775-3663)
2100 W French Ave Orange City, Fl, 75 mi 1 hr 44 min ?$

BLUE GROTTO (352-528-5770)
3852 NE 172 CT Williston, FL 32696 29 mi 39 min $57

DEVILS DEN (352-528-3344)
5390 NE180th Ave Williston, FL 32696 29 mi 38 min $48

AQUATIC CENTER OF OCALA (352-245-9162)
8769 US-441 Ocala, FL [Craig]

Thanks Ivan for posting for us. Some how I can’t move a file from my iPad to the forum. (Most likely my it skills are not sufficient). The info for Sand Dog 2.0 is the latest. Hopefully vintage style divers will partake. Send your email commitment to Robohips and be sure to make your reservation at the Best Western by the cutoff date of March 9.

Sorry will not be attending this event.
A head up Blue Grotto is charging $57.00 admissionj a day and will give you a military discount as Ginny Springs and Vortex will also!

Well a month has gone by and only about a half dozen rooms at the Best western have been reserved!!! We have 15 rooms set aside for the Sand Dog 2.0 event April 9-13. Email me at rvanfrank @gmail.com to ask questions but let me know you are coming. We have about three weeks left to reserve the rooms. Remember to ask for the Sand Dog 2.0 rate. See the previous post for more info. This event is open to vintage equipment divers. All for now. Van Frankooo

Made My Reservation! Yeah!

Best Western Ocala Park Florida
Direct 352-237-4848 and choose front desk (not reservations)
Tell them you're with Sand Dog Group
Reserve April 9, 10, 11, 12 - 4 nights

I had a little trouble finding this information from within all of the other info so I pulled it out to post by itself. The main hotel all of the Sand Dog folks are staying at is this Best Western in Ocala Park Florida. They have a block of rooms set aside at a special rate. Don't call the Best Western 800 number, it's nationwide reservations. Call the direct 352-237-4848 number and choose "Front Desk" from the menu. That's the actual hotel and they know about the Sand Dog group.

Thanks for adding that info Eben!

ATTENTION SAND DOG 2.0 PARTICIPANTS
A reminder that we will ALL meet Wednesday, 9 April at 5:00 PM in the breakfast room at
BEST WESTERN OCALA PARK CENTRE, 3701 SW 38th Ave

This will be a MEET & GREET for everyone to discuss dive locations, meeting times, etc. Handouts with detailed information will be given.

Weather for the week looks to be cool (for FL standards) upper 70s but mostly sunshine. (A week away, so changes are probable).

Looking forward to a renewed SAND DOG

Roger and Allan





Photos by DAVID HAAS

T - 2 days

Let’s PARTY!!!

Starting to pack up the Jeep.... hoping to get a decent start on the road tomorrow!

Looking forward to meeting people in person that I've "known" online for a while, lol.

Please post lots of photos for those of us stuck at home with a bad back and currently unable to travel or dive.

ScubaLawyer wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 08, 2025 1:40 pm

Please post lots of photos for those of us stuck at home with a bad back and currently unable to travel or dive.

I'll second that!