Beginning of my Tech Diver adventure

[georoc01]

George,

I was thinking about bringing down a set of doubles also. But, I won't have time to do a trial run in the pool before we leave. I don't think I'll make the first time with my doubles wing, double tanks and double regs w/ isolation manifold without a pool shakedown. I'll have plenty of time to use them, and I can rent them here. I have 5 Al80 all in hydro and visual right now, and have two almost new ones I have considered doubling up, but I'm not sure how often I'll use them. It's kind of a double edge sword....I don't need doubles (I have a 19cf pony I use) most of my dives. Rarely do I go that deep, and seldom have an oppertunity to go into an overhead obstruction, so I'm reluctant to have to carry the extra weight. But I also realize that I need to practice and keep up on the doubles. I have decided that I want to practice with doubles a bit before the actual Tech class. I don't want to be tied up learning basic double stuff (S and valve drills, etc.) when I can be learning more advanced things in the class.

From all I hear this instructor is top notch. And I again repeat that I'm not complaining about the costs, or the fact he may require/recommend more than minimally required. This post was started because I never realized how much more and different equipment was needed, and that some of the stuff we buy for Rec diving may not transfer over to Tech diving (i.e., console with compasses, depth and computers mounted in them, stab jacket bc, etc).

I also think we have to decide why we want to go the tec route if that is what we are going to do. For me its a specific trip and meeting the needs of my trip is the goal, as some of these dives are going to be deeper than rec limits, and wanting more than 20 minutes of bottom time.

Aside from that trip and maybe a trip to the Big 'O', which the deck is now at 140' and sinking, I don't see myself doing much penetration dives or cave diving. Maybe new challenges will come along where I will (reopening of the bikini islands, perhaps), but at this point its not on the list.

How much investment you want to make in the gear depends on how much of this type of diving you plan on making. However, finding places to rent it is more of a challenge than typical rec gear too.

 

[amascuba]

My first dives in doubles were with Kevin at the Blue Hole. I think as long as you are already comfortable with your back plate then you should be fine for your first dive in doubles at the Blue Hole. I spent a little bit of time goofing off at the platform getting used to the feel of everything and then did a normal dive circling the hole.

 

[georoc01]

George,

I was thinking about bringing down a set of doubles also. But, I won't have time to do a trial run in the pool before we leave. I don't think I'll make the first time with my doubles wing, double tanks and double regs w/ isolation manifold without a pool shakedown. I'll have plenty of time to use them, and I can rent them here. I have 5 Al80 all in hydro and visual right now, and have two almost new ones I have considered doubling up, but I'm not sure how often I'll use them. It's kind of a double edge sword....I don't need doubles (I have a 19cf pony I use) most of my dives. Rarely do I go that deep, and seldom have an oppertunity to go into an overhead obstruction, so I'm reluctant to have to carry the extra weight. But I also realize that I need to practice and keep up on the doubles. I have decided that I want to practice with doubles a bit before the actual Tech class. I don't want to be tied up learning basic double stuff (S and valve drills, etc.) when I can be learning more advanced things in the class.

From all I hear this instructor is top notch. And I again repeat that I'm not complaining about the costs, or the fact he may require/recommend more than minimally required. This post was started because I never realized how much more and different equipment was needed, and that some of the stuff we buy for Rec diving may not transfer over to Tech diving (i.e., console with compasses, depth and computers mounted in them, stab jacket bc, etc).

Unfortunately I didn't make it this weekend and I dropped off the doubles for their annual VIP. I did meet with Flat Iron Scuba, and they appear to be pretty strict on the GUE/DIR path. They require GUE Fundies as the first class before any further tech instruction and after reading Jablonski's book, 'Doing it Right, Fundamentals of Better Diving', I would agree on the crossover issue. The way it reads, it appears that the different certification agencies are not under agreement on equipment. This may be a better topic in another forum, but as long as this is the case, shops will recommend and sell equipment that doesn't allow the transition as easy as it could be.

 

[amascuba]

Unfortunately I didn't make it this weekend and I dropped off the doubles for their annual VIP. I did meet with Flat Iron Scuba, and they appear to be pretty strict on the GUE/DIR path. They require GUE Fundies as the first class before any further tech instruction and after reading Jablonski's book, 'Doing it Right, Fundamentals of Better Diving', I would agree on the crossover issue. The way it reads, it appears that the different certification agencies are not under agreement on equipment. This may be a better topic in another forum, but as long as this is the case, shops will recommend and sell equipment that doesn't allow the transition as easy as it could be.

Rob Calkins (NAUI Tec/GUE Fundamentals Instructor) w/ FlatIrons Scuba is one of the best technical instructors in the region (TX, NM, CO), of the instructors that I've taken classes with, dove with, and/or observed teach classes. The fundamentals class is fast paced, but is a very good class to get a feel for where the bar is set for technical diving. I've observed and talked to a technical instructor from Fort Collins named Robin a couple times. He seems to be very good too. He's affiliated with TDI. I was down at the Blue Hole diving on a Friday one weekend and was talking to him. He said that his tentative schedule was to do some check out dives with his students in the Blue Hole on Friday and then finish up in Rock Lake on Saturday/Sunday. Robin apparently wasn't satisfied with their performance and said that he was going to keep them at the Blue Hole all weekend to help them with their skill work and come down another weekend to do their dives at Rock Lake. I almost felt sorry for the guys.

As far as gear goes. It's about a configuration more than a brand. It's about your team mates being intimately familiar with your gear and you theirs. Having a standard configuration between all team mates (again, not necessarily brand name) can make it easier to repair/replace faulty gear in the field and it can provide better reaction times in the event of some sort of emergancy. Beyond that, nobody is making your stick with specific configurations.

No matter who you decide to take your technical classes from, I'd still recommend the Fundamentals class with Rob @ FlatIrons. It's a good introductory class and it will give you all the little intricities of the why GUE does things the way they do. You'll find out that it's all based on experience and a compromise to find a standard that works in most situations.

 

[charlieo]

Rick,
As you gather equipment for this adventure you may want to buy snaps here
Nix Dog Collars
I found the price, service and quality to be very good.
Frank

 

[Waterskier1]

Rick,
As you gather equipment for this adventure you may want to buy snaps here
Nix Dog Collars
I found the price, service and quality to be very good.
Frank

Thanks Frank. I know I'll be needing some more snaps. I saw this site in another post somewhere, and the poster recommended the 1-1/8" Snaps. Those seem quite large to me :shocked2: I was looking more at the 3/4" Snaps.

What do you (or any of you other tech divers) recommend? Is a 1-1/8" snap necessary or even desirable? I would think most would be snapped onto a D-Ring, and a 3/8" or 1/2" opening would be sufficient. Too bad they don't have any Stainless Double Enders.

 

[charlieo]

They do have double enders. They also have a "diver's package". It has an assortment of snaps that will allow you to try them all. All the snaps in the package are useful but you will have preferences. I like the large snaps. The ones with the large ring I use for my backup lights. I put my little finger in the ring before I unsnap the light from the D ring. Helps to avoid dropping the light.

 

[Waterskier1]

They do have double enders. They also have a "diver's package". It has an assortment of snaps that will allow you to try them all. All the snaps in the package are useful but you will have preferences. I like the large snaps. The ones with the large ring I use for my backup lights. I put my little finger in the ring before I unsnap the light from the D ring. Helps to avoid dropping the light.

You are right!

There is a big blank space on the web site after the first 4 items, and I didn't scroll down futher to see if there was more after that space. I don't think his dimensions on his drawings are correct, specifically for the first one (the slide opening can't be the same size as the ring inside diameter), but I think the dive package is a great price. I didn't even see it.

Regarding your B/U lights, other than the snap with a large bolt snap, what do you have attached, if anything? That is, after you unsnap it from your D-Ring, do you have any leash or anything as a safety should you drop it? :shocked2:

I have a wrist strap on mine now, but wonder if that is a potential for entanglement when stowed on the D-Ring and held with an inner tube ring around the light itself?

 

[charlieo]

You are right!

I have a wrist strap on mine now, but wonder if that is a potential for entanglement when stowed on the D-Ring and held with an inner tube ring around the light itself?

I'd get rid of the wrist strap. The BU's are secure when attached to your harness. When deployed you have them in your hand. The big snap ring offers protection from a slip if you have a finger through the ring. Most would agree the wrist strap is an entanglement problem.

 

[texdiveguy]

Too bad they don't have any Stainless Double Enders.

They do make SS double enders......example only:TSTC 4 5/8" SS Double Ender Technical Scuba Training Center