Neat Little Tricks Are Good to Know

[fjr_wertheimber]

When a diver does that really annoying, useless and potentially damaging technique of blowing out their reg cap by turning on the air, sneak up next to them and open your own valve full force next to their ear.

Okay, so I'm not one of those who uses air to dry off the dust cap (I have a chamois cloth for things like that), but I'll tell you what, if I'm standing next to someone who does do it, and someone else walks up and intentionally opens up a valve right next to their ear, I'm either gonna knock that guy who intentionally did it flat on his ass or throw him into the water, whichever is easier for where I'm standing.

That's just stupid and dangerous to risk permanently damaging someone's hearing or eyesight (it's REALLY easy for something incredibly small like grains of sand to do a lot of damage when propelled with sufficient air pressure... ever hear of a sandblaster?).

Just my $.02. YMMV.

 

[Mike Boswell]

One thing a lot of divers do is to weight themselves in even numbers - for example, they will use two or four or six or eight pounds of lead.

This is because they think they have to have the same weight on either side of their body, in order to balance themselves.

But the fact is, you CAN use odd weights if you want to: For example, if you really need five total pounds of lead, you can put two pounds on one side and three on the other, and it will work just fine. Underwater, most divers won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[idocsteve]

That's just stupid and dangerous to risk permanently damaging someone's hearing or eyesight

That's ok, I can fix their eyes.

And you won't take out both ears at the same time, since they will be pointing in different directions at the time of the blast.

 

[asj]

But the fact is, you CAN use odd weights if you want to: For example, if you really need five total pounds of lead, you can put two pounds on one side and three on the other, and it will work just fine. Underwater, most divers won't be able to tell the difference.

I can, it makes me unstable underwater. It probably depends on your weight pocket locations, and the weights. I tried 6lbs/3lbs, no good.

 

[Mike Boswell]

I can, it makes me unstable underwater. It probably depends on your weight pocket locations, and the weights. I tried 6lbs/3lbs, no good.

a 3lb imbalance will be noticeable, but a 1lb imbalance isn't. I suggest you try 5lbs/4lbs instead of 6lbs/3lbs.

 

[Fig]

Be aware that, IIRC a few people have had strangulation problems with their inflatable horseshoe pillows when the airplane decompressed, and that as a result, some airlines ban them. Compressible foam or rectangular inflatables avoid this issue, although they tend to be bulkier and/or don't support the head as well.

Anyone else picture that scene in Tommy Boy where Chris Farley inflates the life vest?

Personally I would think if the airplane suddenly decompresses you have other issues than being strangled by a pillow.

 

[AleG]

I've seen some people get in trouble when the mouthpiece of their regulator comes off unexpectedly, they don't notice that then there's an ocean to suck on the other side of the mouthpiece instead of bottled air.
So my tip is to add a mouthpiece check during the pre dive, see that the plastic tie is secure and undamaged.

I also vouch for the J&J baby shampoo to keep the mask from fogging, it also gives me smooth and silky eyebrows.

 

[Rhumbline]

But the fact is, you CAN use odd weights if you want to: For example, if you really need five total pounds of lead, you can put two pounds on one side and three on the other, and it will work just fine. Underwater, most divers won't be able to tell the difference.

Not only can I, but I always do. Either my gear or my body is slightly heavier on the right side. I always dive with 1 lb more in the left pocket. Believe it or not that 1 lb means the difference between a nice, even trim and constantly waving my right hand to stay level on a dive.

I think it's because someone opened a tank valve in my left ear once and blew away about a pound of inner ear.

 

[AleG]

Oh, I remembered one.

I seem to have sensitive eyes, salt water stings like the dickens the first time I get it on my eyes. Even the salty air inside the mask stings on the first dive of the day. However subsequent dives are fine so I suppose I my eyes get acclimatized to the salt.
That is a problem if my mask gets flooded, since, besides stinging like hell the first time, I can hardly keep my eyes opened for a minute or two after clearing the mask which can put my in a bit of a pickle if it happens at an inconvenient moment; so to avoid that situation now I splash sea water on my eyes (ayeeeeee!) a few minutes before getting to the divesite. That way once I'm in the water my eyes already got used to the salt water and I don't get any strong reaction if the mask floods while I'm diving.

So, if you have sensitive eyes you may want to try it.

 

[eponym]

I seem to have sensitive eyes, salt water stings like the dickens the first time I get it on my eyes

Sorry to hear that. As a mostly fresh-water diver, I welcome that first feel and taste of salt water. I intentionally remove my mask and reg and breathe out into the water before beginning my descent on the first dive of a salt-water series. It triggers something in me, a sense memory maybe, probably some of the calming effects of mammalian immersion reaction, perhaps just something in my own mental state. Nevertheless, it calms and invigorates me, gives me a moment to visualize the dive to come, makes the ensuing dive that much better.

-Bryan