I went diving this weekend and had some problems with my gear.  It was borrowed equipment and it was suggested I look into buying my own.

I know I will need to try on a mask and fins and I can handle that,  but I need some help with the regulator, bc and tanks (if any).

Any suggestions?  I need to stay on a college students budget, however I am getting a few dollars back from this economic stimulus rebate.

Any help would be appreciated!

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/search/spo?query=dive&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/search/spo?query=scuba&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

As far as what brands of gear to stick to, I am not sure on that one.  I am not a person that sticks to one brand of gear or the other.  My regs are Sheerwood, My BC is Zeagle, Fins are scuba pro, mask is atomic, gloves/booties are Pinnacle.  So I am a patchwork of brands, but it does the job.

I love my Zeagle Escape BC.  It's minimal and that's what I like.  I can't stand the BC's that have a bazillion pockets and stuff crowded on there.  Stick with the back inflate BC's.  Or at least try one out to make sure you like it.  But most say they like the back inflate/wing style BC's more. 

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Jon

The used gear has served me very well, but I have started to replace some of it. With all the dives I've made over the past few years, I definitely came out better than if I'd had to rent gear all that time. I just replaced the BC (it was showing some wear and tear) with a Hollis backplate system.

Before diving any used gear find a local shop that you trust, and let them inspect the gear. If buying used gear locally, try to bring it to a shop before buying it. They can tell you if it's in good condition and safe to use.

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Captain of the toy charter boat "Tuggy"

Pathfinder 23DV-F225 yammy "Giggity x3" 

"I'm Jerry West, b*tch!"

"TEAM OUTLAW"

GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

It has worked for over 80 dives so far..and I am still here!

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UNDERWATER HELMET-CAM VIDEOS SPEARFISHING, USS ORISKANY, SHARKS, AND PICS!

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/TEAMCHUNKYLOVE

32' Marinette Dive Machine w/twin 318's   _{^{PFF FORUM MEMBER SINCE 1/2/06}}

~2009 "Unofficial PFF Spring Shark Tounament" Winners!~

_{^{~2007 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament "Beautiful Losers"~}}

^{~2007 "Unofficial PFF Fall Shark Tounament" Winners!~}

^{~13th Annual Orange Beach Spearfishing Tounament 4 Time Placers!~}

Sometimes new can be cheaper than used in the long run.  We've got a student special package with weight integrated BC and reg setup for $599.00.

Jim

MBT Divers  - 3920 Barrancas Ave  - (850) 455-7702

www.mbtdivers.com

Clay-Doh (5/14/2008)

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You just had to make the plumbers epoxy remark...huh Josh????

It has worked for over 80 dives so far..and I am still here!

Clay my friend, you are a pioneer in SCUBA gear maintenance, I dive humbly in your presence!  Time for another drink!

Sarah,

Remember what we discussed Saturday?

First it depends what you are wanting to do and how far you want to take it.

The rigs you saw James and I with are technical/cave diving rigs.  The BC is what we call a "wing".  Basically an air filled bladder sandwiched between the tank and a metal back plate.  This keeps the front of your body from clutter and the back inflation helps you keep a good position ..trim, underwater.  Face down, horizontal, legs up off the bottom.  Keeps you from stirring up the muck and makes the frog kick easier. (The weird kick you saw me doing..keeps you from silting up the bottom.)

I guess a recreational dive is currently considered less than 130 feet.  Does that mean a dive to 131 is a technical dive?  Hard to say.  These "rules" are set up by certification agencies.  Used to be 100 feet when I started diving.  Guess they figured they could add 30 feet.

Can a dive less than 130 feet be technical?  You bet it can.  Heck, I called a dive shop in Alabama about a spear fishing charter and they said they do not do "technical dives".  Didn't realize spear fishing was "technical".

I consider it technical if the dive is in an overhead environment, you plan on decompressing, or you switch gas mixes, regardless of depth.

You can dive a tech rig "recreationally" but should not dive a rec rig technically.  Bill had a "recreational diving rig". Jacket type BC, single tank, one first stage.  The jacket bc will float you horizontally on the surface and have a tendency to do that as well under water. Our tech rigs will want to roll you face down or on your back on the surface.

Here is a good link to check out the differences as well.

http://www.cavediving.com/how/compare/index.htm

I pretty much consider cave and technical the same thing, cave diving being about as technical as you can get.  There some pretty awesome underwater caves just east of here but you need the right equipment, training and mind-set to deal with it.  We will go over there sometime and you can check it out. 

The cave training I have been through has by far been the best dive training I have ever undertaken. Pretty much makes an open water dive a piece of cake.

Id look to getting a backplate/wing, decent regulator and maybe a tank or two.  Would recommend steel over aluminum tanks.  Better bouyancy characteristics.  They are, however, a bit heavier.  (Just ask Carlos and his crew at Bay Breeze!)

Sent ya a PM as well. 

 Might be a good weekend to hit it again!

Death From Above

      It was fun while it lasted.”

Hitler on WWII

"I'm Jerry West, b*tch!"

"TEAM OUTLAW"

GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

           “If it doesn't work out there will never be any doubt that the pleasure was worth all the pain.”   ...JB

I am going to do some running around looking this afternoon. 

Hopefully I will have my new stuff before this weekend to try out!

If you are interested in the tech type rigs, dive rite, oms and halcyon make good stuff. 

Bill and I are heading to Carlos' place and then off to lunch if you want to meet us there.  I believe Bay Breeze carries Dive Rite and OMS.

James and I use the Dive Rite wing and back plate.

Death From Above

      It was fun while it lasted.”

Hitler on WWII

It's a womens BC, (it comes in colors besides pink though!) and it is rear inflate. Same principle as a wing and backplate, as far as not cluttering your front or sides, or giving you the squeeze when inflated. It also is weight integrated, and stainless steel D-rings, and some really sweet fetures. My wife is now wanting one after trying it on!

__________________________________________________________________________________

UNDERWATER HELMET-CAM VIDEOS SPEARFISHING, USS ORISKANY, SHARKS, AND PICS!

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/TEAMCHUNKYLOVE

32' Marinette Dive Machine w/twin 318's   _{^{PFF FORUM MEMBER SINCE 1/2/06}}

~2009 "Unofficial PFF Spring Shark Tounament" Winners!~

_{^{~2007 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament "Beautiful Losers"~}}

^{~2007 "Unofficial PFF Fall Shark Tounament" Winners!~}

^{~13th Annual Orange Beach Spearfishing Tounament 4 Time Placers!~}

That would be the Zeagle Zena, and it has been the biggest selling ladies BC we've ever cerried.

Another option in the Tech line is "Hollis" - an offshoot of Oceanic.  Nice gear and it's priced right.  

Oops...did I say that outloud?

__________________________________________________________________________________

UNDERWATER HELMET-CAM VIDEOS SPEARFISHING, USS ORISKANY, SHARKS, AND PICS!

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/TEAMCHUNKYLOVE

32' Marinette Dive Machine w/twin 318's   _{^{PFF FORUM MEMBER SINCE 1/2/06}}

~2009 "Unofficial PFF Spring Shark Tounament" Winners!~

_{^{~2007 Outcast Mega Shark Tournament "Beautiful Losers"~}}

^{~2007 "Unofficial PFF Fall Shark Tounament" Winners!~}

^{~13th Annual Orange Beach Spearfishing Tounament 4 Time Placers!~}

That's the one I bought about a month ago... Hollis Backplate, Wing, and Harness.

So far, I'm loving it!

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Captain of the toy charter boat "Tuggy"

It's just what you need Clay.  An all pink gear package.  You'd be stylin then.  You and Linda could go out matching and all.  Although, I think you'd look better in Pink than her.  I found the set for you.

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/spo/629982788.html

Ain't it purdy.

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Jon

I consider this extemely sound advice. I'm a recreational diver (for now) and I prefer the stuff that can easily be made into tech gear. The wing and plate is the way to go in my opinion. I got a Dive Rite Rec Wing with a stainless steel plate at MBT last summer and I love it. It's not the best single tank wing in the world but it's cool. The Hollis is my next investment when I get outta here and back to the states. Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

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I do what the voices in my regulator tell me to.

Carolina Skiff 1655 DLX Yamaha F50TLR

I got the steel backplate, with the 38 lb. singles wing, and the Elite harness. I honestly don't remember what I paid, but I bought it during the grand reopening sale, so it's probably a little more now. I'll be over there later today, so I can check the prices on them and let you know.

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Captain of the toy charter boat "Tuggy"

I do what the voices in my regulator tell me to.

Carolina Skiff 1655 DLX Yamaha F50TLR

"Gravity sucks"

And yes, cave diving is extremely cool..I've seen things in caves that you would never see anywhere else.  Saw the tooth from a sabre tooth tiger once sticking out the side of the cave wall.  But you are right. It is not for everyone. 

Just because we cave dive doesn't mean we are signing our own death warrants.  It is like anything else.  It can be done safely or dangerously.  Just like open water diving.  Get some training, proper equipment and follow a set of rules that were developed by the pioneers and it can be done very safely.

Make you a better open water diver as well!

• 5: Use Three Sources of Light
• 4: Remain Within the Safest Possible Operating Limits for Your Breathing Media
• 3. Keep Two Thirds of Your Starting Gas Volume in Reserve to Exit the Cave
• 2. Maintain a Continuous Guideline to the Cave Exit
• 1. Be Trained for Cave Diving, and Remain Within the Limits of Your Training

Death From Above

      It was fun while it lasted.”

Hitler on WWII

Mike

‘‘Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.’’

The best thing about diving. My girlfriend can't yell at me underwater

Diving is life, everything else is just a surface interval

Handle every situation like a dog if you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.