Donald Grant Dives the Wrecks Of Thunderball and NSNA
Donald Grant
U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters
On the articles main page is my article regarding my tenth wedding anniversary dive on the wrecks of Thunderball and Never Say Never Again in Nassau, Bahamas:
http://jamesbond.ajb007.co.uk/diving-submerged-wrecks-thunderball/
Hope you like it!
DG
http://jamesbond.ajb007.co.uk/diving-submerged-wrecks-thunderball/
Hope you like it!
DG
So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Comments
Good gracious! Thanks Mantis, that means a lot coming from you since you are one of the resident experts on Bond attire. Glad you liked it.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
www.007jamesbond.dk
http://thedangermen.com/
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
This is an absolutely stunning read DG. Love the dedication you put into the "full experience". Congrats to your wife's acceptance also. There are a few things in life which absolutely spell "BOND". Scuba diving in the Carribbean is one of them. YOU are the MAN!
Thank you sir. That means a great deal coming from such a discriminating collector.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I've been looking forward to this article since we spoke of it. You did a great jpb in making us your "Dive Buddies" as you made us feel as if we decended into the depths right alongside you!!!!
I look forward to your next bondian adventure IF you can top this one...which I doubt!!
Now....where's my sand...LOL
GREAT JOB!!!!
Ed
TheSpyBoys.com
the spyboys Facebook page
Thanks Ed, your praise means a great deal to me. Sand is coming, just waiting for the vials to come in. I plan on labeling them too with the date of the dive. Thanks for the email too with the jpeg of my article with your artistic touch! You should have something for me soon too! I can't wait!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Its stories like yours that make these forums work. Congrats.
Wow, thank you!
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Yeah, I know. One of the dive shops owners that I dealt with on the East Coast said that at one time, the mock-up bomber had make shift seats in the remains of the cockpit so divers could pose for pictures. He claimed that various hurricanes had a lot to do with the current dilapidated state. Yeah, that and dynamite! It's really just a reef right now with an odd cage like structure and wheels. I guess that's why they call it "Thunderball Reef".
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Thank you that means a lot coming from another of our resident clothing experts. As for other photographs, well my anniversary was spent having lunch at the One and Only Ocean Club doing the CR thing. Just photos of my wife and I having lunch. I also have photographs of the new Cafe Martinique too. But you, Mantis and Darlington pretty much had both of those covered with that excellent video you did.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Good to see you are keeping up the Bondian anniversary tradition
Yes sir! A lot of fun and The One and Only Ocean Club is very exclusive.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
DG
You have inspired me to do a little writeup on the O&O.
See my seperate post
S
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Adam Carter-Jones
Bondposters.com - FREE James Bond Poster Reference site
Thanks. I needed a souvenir from the dive and I thought I'd share with some good friends. I mentioned it in the article.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
This will be the closest I'll ever get to getting close to the Vulcan bomber thanks to you, DG
Very appreciated that you've gone to all the trouble of doing this for all of us.
You "Da Man"
THANKS!!
Ed
the spyboys Facebook page
My pleasure Sir.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
Funny you mention in the article that Connery was wearing grey espadrilles - I've never noticed, but they are my standard footwear. Can you give more details as to the exact details (the main difference here in Spain is whether the sole is rope or rubber).
The James Bond Dossier | SPECTRE | Q-Branch James Bond Podcast
The soles are rope, but the exterior sole is coated in rubber if I remember correctly. They are in one of my suitcases so I'll have to dig them out to make sure. When I was in downtown Nassua on Bay Street, one of the locals complimented me on my espadrilles and asked where I purchased them. I find that a lot of the Bond clothing items are timeless, particularly items from the Connery era. It's the differnce between style and fashion. Just don't mention the Goldfinger terry cloth one-sie that Connery wears in Miami.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
I wish I had a video camera with me when I got my private tour of Goldeneye so I could have shared it with everyone. That trip came out of nowhere on one of my many trips to Jamaica and it was a religious experience...
I'll never forget getting out of the car and walking towards the house as Ramsey Dacosta appeared from around the corner and gave me a big greeting!
One of my friends who is a bartender at the boutique hotel I always stay at in the West end of Negril brought me over there. He overheard me talking about Fleming and Goldeneye one night at the bar, and when I mentioned Fleming's Bon Homme (Ramsey) he said: "Didn't I ever tell you that he's my Father-in-law? My jaw dropped when he said: "We'll take my wife with us as she hasn't seen her Dad in some time and make a day of it!"
Needless to say I felt about 10 years old that night and couldn't sleep as though it was Christmas Eve!
The guests that were there at the time were away from the main house for the day so we had full run of the place. I think my knees buckled when I walked into the master bedroom and saw THE DESK! This was just before it went on tour with that exhibit at the Imperial War Museum.
The gazebo where the desk used to be is now a bar for the guests; it was amazing to share some drinks with Ramsey and listen to all of the stories he had to tell. They do not make guys like him anymore. Periodically throughout the day he would ask me:
"Are you enjoying yourself Chris?"
I think my smile was frozen that day!
I have yet to take him up on his offer to "Come back anytime and you can stay with me at my place!" He has a neat little house in the woods on the property. His girlfriend made lunch for us there; Jamaicans are the most gracious and kind people!
My favorite story was how Fleming used to swim in the buff every morning and wasn't shy at all. Ramsey said he was usually bringing a boat in during that time of the morning from going fishing and the standard exchange was always:
Ramsey: "Good Morning Commander!"
Fleming - as he emerged from the surf naked and hit the beach: "Morning!"
The few bungalows that were there at the time were tastefully done, but I cringe at the thought of what Blackwell is now doing to the property. It's going to be overdeveloped which is a shame.
My dream house! Simple, understated elegance. I really wish they would put Bond there sometime; maybe even make it Bond's private getaway in a future film!
It's relatively cheap to shoot in Jamaica and they could get plenty of other great locations in at the same time.
A true adaption of Live and Let Die (or an original story that's lean on over-the-top action, etc.) with Craig would be awesome!
Thanks for the heads up David.
DG
"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.