AfterDark
Contributor
My latest entry in my diving log:
8-20-16 No diving: spent 4 hours today at Beach Pond, a nearby pond learning how to use a FutureBeach Angler160 a 13’ 4" sit-on-top kayak as a diving platform. It was a very rewarding, successful but exhausting afternoon. First I tipped over the yak in shallow water with only a paddle without any gear. I got it righted easily but didn’t make it back in until the 2nd attempt. I did that a few more times until I got it down where I could do it almost without effort. The more flat in the water I got before starting to push down on the gunwale the easier it got. Having that skill learned, I spend about an hour in the 90+F heat with 80+% humidity to get my gear loaded and secured (?) on the yak. I took it in shallow water tipped it over and found my kit floating on its tether, it had not been as secured as I would have liked. After getting it re-configured with line instead of the yak bungees it was off to deeper water (10FFW) to overturn, righted and re-enter with my FarmerJohn bottoms on no fins. No problem did it 2x’s. I purposely flooded the forward compartment almost sunk it with all my gear on board but was able to keep it high enough in the water to pump it out enough to swim it back to shore after donning my mask, snorkel and fins.
Then after a short break I went back out anchored, deployed the dive flag, donned my top and hood as well as my fins and mask/snorkel. Then got the kit deployed and slid into the water. I was able to don my BP/W harness even though I had my HP hose and console between my back and BP. The 2nd try was the gold and I was ready to dive. That however was not the plan. After removing my kit I re-entered and with a lot of trouble got my kit back in the well falling off the yak in the process but the kit was in the well! This worked out because rigging it was easier in the water with fins on. Re-entered, retrieved the flag and anchor and paddled back.
I'm working on a way to get the kit back into the well while still in the water. Thinking of using my paddle and rope to make a sling I can use to step up with the kit and dump it into the well. Maybe this Tuesday I'll try something too tired this weekend!
8-20-16 No diving: spent 4 hours today at Beach Pond, a nearby pond learning how to use a FutureBeach Angler160 a 13’ 4" sit-on-top kayak as a diving platform. It was a very rewarding, successful but exhausting afternoon. First I tipped over the yak in shallow water with only a paddle without any gear. I got it righted easily but didn’t make it back in until the 2nd attempt. I did that a few more times until I got it down where I could do it almost without effort. The more flat in the water I got before starting to push down on the gunwale the easier it got. Having that skill learned, I spend about an hour in the 90+F heat with 80+% humidity to get my gear loaded and secured (?) on the yak. I took it in shallow water tipped it over and found my kit floating on its tether, it had not been as secured as I would have liked. After getting it re-configured with line instead of the yak bungees it was off to deeper water (10FFW) to overturn, righted and re-enter with my FarmerJohn bottoms on no fins. No problem did it 2x’s. I purposely flooded the forward compartment almost sunk it with all my gear on board but was able to keep it high enough in the water to pump it out enough to swim it back to shore after donning my mask, snorkel and fins.
Then after a short break I went back out anchored, deployed the dive flag, donned my top and hood as well as my fins and mask/snorkel. Then got the kit deployed and slid into the water. I was able to don my BP/W harness even though I had my HP hose and console between my back and BP. The 2nd try was the gold and I was ready to dive. That however was not the plan. After removing my kit I re-entered and with a lot of trouble got my kit back in the well falling off the yak in the process but the kit was in the well! This worked out because rigging it was easier in the water with fins on. Re-entered, retrieved the flag and anchor and paddled back.
I'm working on a way to get the kit back into the well while still in the water. Thinking of using my paddle and rope to make a sling I can use to step up with the kit and dump it into the well. Maybe this Tuesday I'll try something too tired this weekend!
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