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  1. Rilelen

    Prep for Cavern/Intro

    I would second the advice on just focusing on being a solid diver in your chosen gear configuration (buoyancy/trim etc rock solid). If your diving is solid, adding the line and cave skills isn't that hard. If it isn't, well... I entertain myself on OW dives watching folks conducting...
  2. Rilelen

    Need a buddy to dive Devil's Den on Saturday!

    There is an Easter Egg hunt at DD this Saturday night hosted by one of the local dive shops - you could sign up, and they will help you find a buddy. I suspect quite a few people will be arriving early for the event too, to get in some daytime dives before the night dive/hunt. You also might...
  3. Rilelen

    Question Panama Diving Recommendations?

    We flew to Bocas both times we went, little local plane.
  4. Rilelen

    Does diving while on period attract sharks?

    I wish it did! It does not. There’s no data to support it, as others have said, and my personal experience backs that up. Sharks are interested in fish blood (not mammal blood), especially fresh flowing blood.
  5. Rilelen

    North Florida - Jacksonville or Panama City Worth It?

    If you’re gonna be in the middle between the panhandle and Jax, come dive the springs! Where will you be ant, exactly? Orange Grove is OW-friendly, as are Royal and Troy if they aren’t browned out. And there’s always Ginnie. If you’re cavern certified, you could also check out Madison Blue and...
  6. Rilelen

    Coldwater PNW Diver Moving To The Gulf

    I'm in Florida, but not very familiar with panhandle ocean diving (most of my diving is in the springs/caves). One thing that's different in our area is the popularity of low pressure steel tanks. Because everyone cave fills around here, you see a lot more LP85s than you do HP100s. I've used...
  7. Rilelen

    Regulator Necklace Setup

    I have a bungee necklace but prefer (and often “steal”) my buddy’s silicone one.
  8. Rilelen

    New to Scuba Board

    Welcome, I'm up in Gainesville! There are quite a few dive clubs in the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area. If you're interested in springs/freshwater diving, the Florida Springs Dive Club has a monthly meeting and rotates to a different spring each month for a club dive. We have quite a few cavern...
  9. Rilelen

    Question Diving with Manatee Suggestions

    If you’re in Orlando, closest freshwater options will be Alexander (shallow), Blue Springs in Orange City (closed to water activities right now I think), and Paradise (AOW required). If you’re willing to drive a little further, Blue Grotto, Devil’s Den, and Ginnie are all privately owned...
  10. Rilelen

    Question Diving with Manatee Suggestions

    All the companies require the noodles; it’s not for your safety, it’s to protect the manatees from folks (illegally) diving down on them or harassing them. Same reason they don’t generally allow fins. The camera shouldn’t be an issue. Bird’s Underwater is my go-to recommendation, specifically...
  11. Rilelen

    hi from central fl/cocoa area

    Hey there! I’m in Gainesville, we have several ladies that dive together here frequently. If you haven’t yet, check out the Florida Springs Dive Club - there’s a monthly meeting and club dive, and it’s very women-friendly. Lots of ladies in the club/on the dives! It’s based out of Williston...
  12. Rilelen

    Question Dedicated reg set for doubles?

    I have a dedicated set for each, and think most of my dive buddies do too; reconfiguring every few days would get old very quickly.
  13. Rilelen

    P1 open yet?

    Yes, I stopped by Troy on Wednesday - it is still browned out, with “no swimming” signs posted. Water is over the deck and a little ways up the ramp… It would relieve a lot of pressure on OG if Troy and Royal would reopen. (Royal has cleared but steps are closed for repairs, so no real dive...
  14. Rilelen

    P1 open yet?

    It’s not open, as of Wednesday. Last I heard from Nick Brown was that they are getting close but just don’t know when it will be done - it depends on the contractors’ availability and on FEMA, they’re having to document everything and it’s slow-going. Head’s up, though, dive Orange Grove while...
  15. Rilelen

    New fins question - Quattro vs Superchannel vs RK3 vs Lightjet

    I have the Superchannels and Avanti Quattros, and love them both. I almost never flutter kick. Frog-kicking is equally easy in both fins. The Quattros are stiffer, and have more power. I like the way the Superchannels kick better, and prefer them overall except in areas with high current or...
  16. Rilelen

    Halcyon Evolve 60 wing + double 12L tanks - overkill?

    Depends on what kind of diving you see yourself doing in the future. I routinely use a 60-pound wing with double HP100s and LP85s, and find it very comfortable/no issues. I also dive that same 60-pound wing with double LP50s recreationally (too lazy to change out the wing), and that is a...
  17. Rilelen

    Ever dove with a UV light?

    I've done night dives (and cavern dives) with several buddies who have UV lights; it's a fun source of entertainment to switch things up a bit, but I usually let them swim around with it, then wave me over when they find something fun to look at. Unfortunately, that often seems to be my...
  18. Rilelen

    Equipment A Dive to Remember: Overcoming Technical Hurdles with Teamwork

    I think (not entirely sure) the issue was that the free flow occurred while inflating the SMB, which added too much air to the DSMB, which in turn pulled the OP up towards the surface in what would have resulted in a rapidly accelerating ascent had his instructors not stopped him.
  19. Rilelen

    How do you load and unload your twinset of your car

    I leave the backplate on, and carry them on my back, like a backpack. (I try to never set them all the way down on the floor if I can help it) For fills - I'm fortunate to live in an area with dive shops that use long whips to fill your tanks in the back of your vehicle. No need to move them.
  20. Rilelen

    Can I use my 11 year old wetsuit?

    I’ve been borrowing a friend’s old 7mm the last couple weeks; she used it when she got certified then switched to a dry suit, and now only dives skins/3mm. She was certified 24 years (!) ago. Wetsuit works fine :)
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