How do you like this setup? (Single Tank-Warm water)

[Pullmyfinger]

a 30lb wing is a lot more versatile than an 18lb wing. Given the choice, I'd go with a 30. Trying to get too 'slick' can come back to bite you. Dan Volker recently wrote about how much easier diving is with a 30lb wing vs the 18 he had been using for years.

I agree on this. I dive a DSS 30 lb single wing. It's already so streamlined, I don't see any advantages to having a wing narrower or smaller in profile.
For me, that LCD 30 is perfect.

-Mitch

 

[Splitlip]

I think you would find a 5' hose a little easier to manage. Either longer hose (under your arm) will have less tendency to hook onto stuff as you swim by. I love my 18 lb wing in the tropics but you do need to watch your lift requirements in more temperate water. Not to worry - if you stay with diving there will be more gear in your future.

That UL plate is OK in the water and great in your luggage. A hard plate will be a bit more stable but either is much better than the typical BCD.

For the long hose, I've used a 7 ft, a 5 ft and a 40 inch routed directly under my arm. I'm now using a 66 inch (5 ft-6in). No can or knife or tucking. Very easy to manage and I keep it away from my necklaced reg easier than I could with a 5 ft.
If wearing a 7, the hose comes from your right hip to your left shoulder and clears everything on your chest and and right dring. With a 5' it comes from your right armpit and crosses chest and chin. I did not care for that. Somebody here suggested a 6 ft hose. I split the difference and could not be happier.

 

[LiveBait]

No matter what you start with once you start diving it you will probably want to tweak your kit. Add this try that...

Personally I would keep the 7' hose not milfex just so you don't have to change it out. I have never gotten mine hooked on anything.

I would also add a spool for your lift bag/ SMB.
I would add a good back up light. The are not that expensive and I use mine more than you might think in day light diving.

If you have your dive knife already no biggie but I like shears too.
Compass?

 

[halocline]

I agree on the 5 ft hose for open water, it routs the same way as the 7ft hose except is goes right across your chest instead of down to the missing can light. I've used both many times, and the 5ft is much more comfortable. You need the 7ft for single file air sharing exits in restrictions, so it really is not necessary in OW. The 5ft is so comfy that I'd use one even if I were diving solo and had no need to share air.

Maybe I missed something, but why are you using a drysuit in warm water? And while I understand everyone wants enough gas, why the monstro-tank? That sucker (assuming you mean the worthington 3442 PSI) weighs 43 pounds! Sure you wouldn't be happier with a few LP72s for shallow dives? (Those are 26 lbs) Personally, I prefer using smaller tanks unless I need the extra gas, especially. If you stay with the big tank I'd also consider an AL plate or a freedom plate; it'll be more stable for the humongous cylinder on your back than the UL "plate" which is really just a fabric patch with connecting points for the harness and cambands.

A drysuit and big heavy steel tank sounds more like a cold water set up to me....but I guess everyone's idea of 'warm' and 'cold' is different! Are you talking about 70F and warmer? Or is 'warm' to you high 50s?

 

[eelnoraa]

I will also suggest use rubber 7 ft long hose instead of miflex. For routing, just stuff the long hose under waist strap. For wing lift capacity, it is actually more a function of your exposure suit. For drysuit diving, I kind of think 18lb is small. Oxychq 30lb or even 40lb wing is quite streamline, they are however very stiff, hard to pack for travel

As for diving double AL80, I don't think you should use the same wing for double and single

 

[SirBubbleHead]

Ah true. I've had 4 wings in the 30 range, and 1 at 18. Now I have an oxy mv5 in 30 and one in 18. 18 is my summer rig. Given that op is in DC, 30 would seem more appropriate for a first and all around wing. The mv 30 will not trap gas. One of my buddies dives a 40 mv here in the summer. no worries.

Thxs, i think i will just get the 30#, it wont goto waste, i can use it on a future double's rig.
I will be diving in FL, as i'm relocating there (again) in a couple weeks. Ft. Laud.

---------- Post added ----------

No matter what you start with once you start diving it you will probably want to tweak your kit. Add this try that...

Personally I would keep the 7' hose not milfex just so you don't have to change it out. I have never gotten mine hooked on anything.

I would also add a spool for your lift bag/ SMB.
I would add a good back up light. The are not that expensive and I use mine more than you might think in day light diving.

If you have your dive knife already no biggie but I like shears too.
Compass?

Thxs will add too the list!

---------- Post added ----------

I agree on the 5 ft hose for open water, it routs the same way as the 7ft hose except is goes right across your chest instead of down to the missing can light. I've used both many times, and the 5ft is much more comfortable. You need the 7ft for single file air sharing exits in restrictions, so it really is not necessary in OW. The 5ft is so comfy that I'd use one even if I were diving solo and had no need to share air.

Maybe I missed something, but why are you using a drysuit in warm water? And while I understand everyone wants enough gas, why the monstro-tank? That sucker (assuming you mean the worthington 3442 PSI) weighs 43 pounds! Sure you wouldn't be happier with a few LP72s for shallow dives? (Those are 26 lbs) Personally, I prefer using smaller tanks unless I need the extra gas, especially. If you stay with the big tank I'd also consider an AL plate or a freedom plate; it'll be more stable for the humongous cylinder on your back than the UL "plate" which is really just a fabric patch with connecting points for the harness and cambands.

A drysuit and big heavy steel tank sounds more like a cold water set up to me....but I guess everyone's idea of 'warm' and 'cold' is different! Are you talking about 70F and warmer? Or is 'warm' to you high 50s?

I want bottom time for bug/trop hunting. I will be diving allot, so i figured instead of a 5mm, just get the warm weather dry.

Thxs for the suggestions

 

[redacted]

Thxs, i think i will just get the 30#, it wont goto waste, i can use it on a future double's rig.
I will be diving in FL, as i'm relocating there (again) in a couple weeks. Ft. Laud.

-

I doubt if a Mach5 30 (or any 30), will work with doubles. They are all fairly narrow as you would want for a single tank. But a 30 will work fine for almost all single tank diving.

 

[SirBubbleHead]

I will also suggest use rubber 7 ft long hose instead of miflex. For routing, just stuff the long hose under waist strap. For wing lift capacity, it is actually more a function of your exposure suit. For drysuit diving, I kind of think 18lb is small. Oxychq 30lb or even 40lb wing is quite streamline, they are however very stiff, hard to pack for travel

As for diving double AL80, I don't think you should use the same wing for double and single

Wouldn't i need less buoyancy if i have a dry suit on?


Here was my thinking,

Large tank, heavy. So instead of adding more drag (bigger wing) i went with a 18# and added a tropical dry suit (more buoyancy)
If i decide to shore dive in 30' the dry suit is overkill for sure but, if i want to go offshore and wreck dive deeper or in winter this one dry suit covers me with just a change of under garments.
I would need 2 wetsuits+ to cover all this......and everyone says diving dry is nicer anyhoo....
So shallow summer diving, deep summer diving, and shallow winter diving, deep winter diving...all birds killed with one stone, DUI 30-30
example: (could be wrong for sure! [

3mm wet suit.......Will that be warm enough @ 120+ ft in the winter? Not for me diving every day! So for this, i need the 2nd wet suit for sure....

So i figured just get the dry and use it year around. works out to be about the same price (for two wetsuits, close... DUI a bit more) and i get the comfort of diving dry, and i get the added buoyancy too boot. If its too dam warm in the shallows, i'll just get a cheapo skin to use, instead of a 3mm wet, that wont work in winter deep for my skinny bones!

That's kinda my thinking up to this point! hehe

 

[PfcAJ]

Doesn't the 3030 have ankle seals? That's probably less than ideal when you're really counting on the suit. Seals are notoriously problematic, and cold/deep is not where I want any additional problematic items.

 

[SirBubbleHead]

Doesn't the 3030 have ankle seals? That's probably less than ideal when you're really counting on the suit. Seals are notoriously problematic, and cold/deep is not where I want any additional problematic items.

I'm not a expert on dry suits. I did notice you can order them with rock boots. Would that solve that concern?