An easy lesson learned the hard way

[AfterDark]

Try diving New England waters without gloves or not touching anything. That may work fine in warm clear still waters not here in the NE. I use fingerless saling gloves. Good rugged gloves and the use of my fingers.

 

[chillyinCanada]

On the rare occasion I have been in a situation that required me to hold fast to a rope gloveless, I merely used my circled arm as a guide and tight holds squeezed into my elbow with the force of my massive guns. Ok well, bat wings, but either way worked fine. Probably not a good plan for a diver in a shortie.

 

[Wingy]

Many places I dive 'discourage' or ban gloves. I always wear a glove on my left hand at least. I wish places would just tell people no touching corals or creatures and teach good bouyancy or require it. I have too many times had to hold onto an anchor line or uncleaned rope. It's about safety. There are many situations where having hand protection underwater is needed -at least on one hand. (IMO)

Another one gloved diver here glad to hear im not the only one. I also wear one glove on my left hand for the aforementioned reasons and I have a ring which wont come off and I prefer not to have shiny things on my fingers when diving.

 

[doctormike]

I wear gloves if not strictly forbidden by the local scuba police, even when not needed for warmth.

For photography, especially macro, no matter how dialed in your buoyancy is, you occasionally need to stabilize on something dead (rock, dead coral, wreck part).

For wreck diving, especially penetration, the pull and glide technique is often very advantageous, especially in tight silty spaces where you don't want to kick. For energy (and gas) conservation, the pull and glide technique is also a good option on many types of non-living structures.

For the Thousand Islands - I once got a cut on my hand from one of the billions of zebra mussels on the river bed. One of the more painful injuries I have ever had, took weeks to heal. However, I do try to avoid touching those very old wooden wrecks - they aren't steel and corroding in the ocean, so we need to be a bit more careful about preserving them.

For heavy current on an anchor line, especially when hauling a large DSLR with strobes and floodlights - you need all the stability you can get. A Jon line is useful, but not for the descent or ascent. Also, you use a lot less energy pulling yourself up or down an anchor line with your hands than you would by finning, and I don't see the advantage of blowing through extra back gas just to avoid touching the anchor line.

 

[Adventure-Ocean]

Gloves are great protection whether it's cold or warm waters. My problem was having to work underwater. On one hand the gloves help keep me warm after an hour down but on the other it was difficult and sometimes impossible to do the work with gloves on, like trying to tie a knot in string or hammer a nail or stud. My long term answer was to buy quality gloves that fit snug and take them off only when the work demanded it. Adventure-Ocean

 

[bowlofpetunias]

I always wear gloves. Matter of fact I cover every bit of skin I can. I tend to react quite badly to stings. I have had some that required multiple Doctor appointments, prescriptions and still took weeks to clear up. Ironically the worst ones were mid water stings from bits floating by. If a dive operation will not accept my Doctor's letter to allow me to wear gloves I will go somewhere else.

I am not a great photographer but taking pics is one of the things I enjoy while diving. The last thing I want is to arrive at a dive destination and wind up with a sting that ruins my diving making handling the camera impossible. I am happy to abide by the no touch rule especially since I personally believe we should not interfere with the critters or damage anything while we dive anyway!

I have used Reef sticks as required in some sites but find that concept interesting. Don't touch anything but it is OK to jam a metal rod into the bottom or on a rock, coral etc I personally think steadying yourself with a well placed finger is less invasive.

 

[Steve_C]

It does not have to be a deep dive. You do not necessarily know ahead of time when gloves will be needed. Reef dives in the Keys are usually gentle. I have dove the Benwood (shallow Keys dive) several times. Usually a cupcake dive. But once the current was strong. Viz was 20 ft. Swam into the current to get to the wreck. Had to hug the bottom to get out of the flow in order to make any progress. Coming back we could not see the boat. Grabbed the first buoy line we saw, I went up and verified it was our boat, then went back down and did a "flag flying" safety stop. Gloves very appreciated.

I also agree with wanting as much of my skin covered as possible for sting reasons.

 

[Glenn08]

I use a weight belt, instead of the weight pockets of my BC. Why are split fins dangerous ?

 

[doctormike]

Why are split fins dangerous ?

Dunno, but this post explains it pretty well...

 

[themagni]

The one time I really wished I had been wearing gloves is the day I adjusted my weightbelt and the clasp snapped shut and cut 1/2 of the fingertip of my right hand ring finger clean off.

R..

Once time I cut a hole in a dry glove doing the same thing (but with my wing). I'll stop complaining about that now.