"We could be enjoying this together..."
Since I built this page on August 1st, 1996, alot of guys have visited here and some have been kind enough to write me--most of you to wonder why it has taken so long to do an update! Thanks to all of you who did. Help me improve the quality here by dropping some e-mail. Let me know if you share this point of view, because obviously some of you do!
THE FROGMAN'S PAGE IS ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION!...but it's a lot like watching the hands of a clock move. Since I last modified these pages on August 20th, 2002--yeah, I know, it's been a LONG time--there have been enormous changes in my life. What remains constant, however, is my commitment to FROGMEN everywhere. Write me if you share this passion and let's explore together.
Diving is a total sensory experience. You feel the tightness of your full suit, the straps of your tank and weight belt. Taste the mouthpiece and smell the pungent mix of rubber and sweat building up between you and your second rubber skin; hear the mechanical surge of air on its way to your lungs. Look at your buddy and know that he's looking right back at you. Become one with him and the gear. OK; so you've geared up and got wet before. I just hope now that the next time you do, these pages of mine will heighten the experience.
Some of us mourn the disappearance of black. Viking "international orange" and Aquala green are hot, no doubt about it; but whoever thought the new candy-ass "fruit salad" colors were a good idea had his head someplace warm and dark. Some folks have already hinted that I'm being puritanical, but in my view no self-respecting diver would be seen in a lime green suit, hot pink tank and tangerine mask. Go ahead, call me old fashioned. Demand your gear in basic black (though my friend in the yellow Dręger outfit on the Diver Pix Page makes me think otherwise). Whatever gear turns you on, wear it with pride and the conviction that divers really do it deeper.
Not every guy wants to be a FROG. All of us cross the line one time or another into similar scenes--like hazmat gear, asbestos removal suits, or firemen's turn out gear. The people I meet through the web convince me that variety is important. So I've started a HazMat and Firemen's Page for some new friends who are expanding my horizons. Thanks, guys.
Then there are suits, wet or dry, nylon, neoprene or vulcanized, not to mention canvas for you guys in hard hats. If you haven't already noticed, I'm a fan of the drysuit (and the divers who wear them!): Viking, Nokia, DUI, Aquala, just so long as it's black and has attached hood and boots. I've been seeing some pretty hot photos of guys in various suits. Tell me about yours and why you'd never give it up.
What about breathing gear--hoses, tubes, valves, clamps, straps, mouthpieces, oral/nasal cups...? Scuba or surface supplied. Single or twin tanks. One- or two-hose regulators. Full face masks are more affordable now, with the AGA and EXO models. (An EXO and Widolf show up on my own photo page.) Right now, I'd almost give my left nut to dive a rebreather. Anybody out there got one you'd be willing to let me try? Eventually, I'd like to set up a page of gear types where we can explore this fascination with the imagery of divers.
In the meantime, here are some links you may not already have to other sites on the Web:
Rubber Lovers Contact List"In the beginning..." all was black, wet and rubbery.
Gear Fetish covers a lot of bases. Check it our for great pix and links.
The Frugal Fetishist is a new neighbor but an old friend.
RubberDude another new neighbor and old friend.
NCAPSUL8 has joined the ranks of on-line divers.
Men in Rubber for great visual stimulation.
MrHazard is the Mercedes Benz of web pages!
Divers & Dungeons has G and X rated pages.
AqualaFrogman is a new diving friend from the Netherlands.
HazMat
Historical Diving Society (Gulf Coast)
Vintage Scuba Gear offers a source for gear from the era of "Sea Hunt" and Mike Nelson.
Decadiving for all your hardhat needs.
Scuba Equipment Mart your one-stop shopping mart
Now it's up to you. Suit up, strap on that tank, breathe deep through your full-face mask, anddrop me a line. I've already met some interesting guys from MN, WI, IL, ME, MI, MS, NY, NJ, PA, GA, CA, TX, WA, BC, ON, Bermuda, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Malaysia, and Hong Kong; I'd like to make your acquaintance too.
© 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 The Frogman