Kayak Dive to The USS New Hampshire 10-14-12

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Your post was intriguing. Were you able to go and how did things work out? Although I have a SOT kayak, I've never tried diving from it. Where do you usually launch from? How does the gearing up process work?
Thanks,
Jim
 
Your post was intriguing. Were you able to go and how did things work out? Although I have a SOT kayak, I've never tried diving from it. Where do you usually launch from? How does the gearing up process work?
Thanks,
Jim

Hi Jim,

I didn't get out to the NH on the 14th as planned, the weather was not cooperative. I did dive it from a kayak in the spring and it was good diving, enough to make me want to dive it again. It's about a half mile paddle from Whites Beach. Of course the best time to park there is the off season, just like the rest of cape ann. There's not a lot of places in season to park, but I can usually find a place to park sort of near where I want to dive (I don't mind long walks if I get to dive my chosen areas). Lately I've been parking at West Beach in Beverly and paddling to Misery Island.

The gearing up process gets easy after the first couple dives. I was using a drysuit at first but had to switch to wet due to the heat and lack of a relief zipper. Basically everything gets lashed down and is on leashes. When it comes time to get in the water just toss the bcd in the water, put it on, unclip and go down. At first I was anchoring the kayak, but was uneasy about becoming sepperated from it, now I just tow it along with me. It's reasuring knowing it's always right above me. The trickey part is trying to switch tanks for a second dive, still working on a safe procedure for that. Another downside is it's completely exhausting, but it is worth it.

If your interested in trying it, shoot me a PM. Kayak diving is always better with someone else.
 
Kayak diving is always better with someone else.

I've got a kayak buddy. But he spends most of the time trying to 'dive' into the water. Just funnin'.

Ruminate.jpg


X - Part Time Cape Ann Guy
 
Your post was intriguing. Were you able to go and how did things work out? Although I have a SOT kayak, I've never tried diving from it. Where do you usually launch from? How does the gearing up process work?
Thanks,
Jim

Depends how big your kayak is. My cousin tried diving from a 9 ft venus ocean kayak this sprung and managed to sink it 3ft off the beach with himself and his gear. (Funny as hell to watch)

Gearing up requires some coordination - I am a fan of clips. I clip my BC with tank #1 in the tank well in the back. Bungie tank #2 in the front. Basically once I paddle to the dive site, I inflate my bc, then throw it in the water - still clipped to the kayak. Get my boots, fins,gloves,mask on. Jump in the water, put the BC on in the water. Unclip the BC. Then clip my wreck reel to my kayak. And finally - down you go! It take some practice, but becomes second nature.

Greg
 
I use a Malibu Two Ocean Kayak, not made for diving exactly but will support 450 lbs, more then enough to carry me and all my gear. For shallow dives I leave the tank in the kayak and dive surface supplied. If I am going to drag the kayak behind me I let it do some of the work and changing to a second tank can be done without having to get out of the water.
 
Do you use some kind of a long supply line to your regulator like a hookah rig?
Jim

Yes I use 50' of hose spliced between the 1st and 2nd stages with a life line added so I am towing the kayak by the line not the hose. Then I attach the umbilical to a quick release snap shackle on a commercial diving harness that can also be fitted with a bail out bottle.

IMG_0545.jpgIMG_0545.jpgIMG_1250.jpgIMG_1505.jpg
 
Looks like a good setup. What do you do with regard to adding air to your BC or drysuit? Reminds me of the old days of manual inflation before power inflators came along. My horse-shoe BC even had a CO2 cartridge for emergency inflation.
Jim
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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