Can you have too much gear ?

[ams511]

I've never met a snorkel that I like so I'm always willing to give a new one a try.

Here you go, a DIR snorkel.



---------- Post Merged at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:53 PM ----------

You made the right choice, wife's come and go dive gear can last forever.

Your correct. I picked up a used DA Aquamaster on eBay a few weeks back. The regulator is in much better condition than most women of the same vintage.

 

[tdtaylor]

Please don't take this personally, but I have had some issues with photographers, their gear, and airline weight restrictions.

I was on a trip to the Galapagos, and the trip included the owner of the shop for which I worked, the course director for the shop for which I worked, and a couple of other similarly well connected people. We had been given pretty severe weight restrictions for the trip, and pretty much all of us complied with those restrictions, severe as they were. The exceptions were the people mentioned above, all of whom were significant photographers, and all of whom considered their gear essential. Before our gear was weighed, each of them said that they were bringing more in photography equipment alone than they were allowed in total baggage, but they had decided to just say screw it all. That was their choice.

So at the airport they put all our gear in a big pile and weighed it. They then divided the total weight by the total number of people in our group and decided that we were far overweight and had to pay a fine. The shop owner, whose massive photography equipment was the most significant factor in our being overweight, then decided that since our group was overweight, we would all split the overweight charges. That meant that the 8 people in our group of 12 who had sacrificed to stay within limits had to pay for the 4 people who decided the limits didn't matter. I was a gutless employee, so I did little more than agree to it.

I no longer work for that shop, but I assure you that memory is well burned in my mind when I think back o those days.

I would be very hacked off too. I work very hard to be under the weight restrictions - period. If you want to really put me in a bad mood to start a trip, tell me I have to pay baggage charges. You're example is far more egregious. Next week I will be under the weight restriction. To date, I have never had to pay overweight charges, but then, I have invested in quite a bit of diving and photographic equipment that is very light, and figure out what do I really need.

To fight the ever tightening weight restrictions, I recently went from a FX UW system (40# +/-) to a m4/3s system (15# +/-). All my dive gear, photo gear, clothes, etc. will be in a backpack and one rolling duffle bag. And I can assure you my back will feel better for it!

When I helped with the photo trips, we were bringing a lot of gear for the class to try out- new lenses, cameras, etc. from Nikon. My gear that I got on the plane with was always within restrictions- that's why we overnighted the remainder of the extra equipment to the hotel. While it cost a few bucks, it was an expense for the trip budget which was factored in.

 

[nimoh]

Here you go, a DIR snorkel.

View attachment 137948

needs a shut off valve on each side below the cross over in order to turn off the 'second stage'

 

[Paulmal]

I would be very hacked off too. I work very hard to be under the weight restrictions - period. If you want to really put me in a bad mood to start a trip, tell me I have to pay baggage charges. You're example is far more egregious. Next week I will be under the weight restriction. To date, I have never had to pay overweight charges, but then, I have invested in quite a bit of diving and photographic equipment that is very light, and figure out what do I really need.

To fight the ever tightening weight restrictions, I recently went from a FX UW system (40# +/-) to a m4/3s system (15# +/-). All my dive gear, photo gear, clothes, etc. will be in a backpack and one rolling duffle bag. And I can assure you my back will feel better for it!

When I helped with the photo trips, we were bringing a lot of gear for the class to try out- new lenses, cameras, etc. from Nikon. My gear that I got on the plane with was always within restrictions- that's why we overnighted the remainder of the extra equipment to the hotel. While it cost a few bucks, it was an expense for the trip budget which was factored in.

I agree I would be peeved. But then again I would have been sure to check in separately because My bags would be overweight, the fee is really small when compared to paying for the whole trip. I have done a bit of flying for dive travel and am always overweight, but my thinking is who cares about a $75-150 fee when I spent several thousand to get here. I would not expect others to pay for my overweight gear and I sure as hell would not be willing to pay for someone else's especially if I was in my limits.

 

[ams511]

needs a shut off valve on each side below the cross over in order to turn off the 'second stage'

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

 

[AfterDark]

I feel so inadaquate! Eight tanks, 1 pony bottle, 5 regs, 3 wet suits, 1 shorty, 1 hooded vest, 2 pairs of gloves 2 cold water hoods, 3 depth gauges, 3 spgs, 1 pdc, 1 watch, 1 smb w/reel, 1 lift bag, 2 slates, one wreck reel, 2 knives, 1 bp/w, 1 jacket bcd, 5 pairs of fins, 2 masks, 2 snorkels, 2 cheap scooters 1 works the other flooded and is now a parts source, and a few gadgets.

Of course I don't travel much, never by air anymore (until the TSA is abolished that is) so no travel gear. No access to a pool so no pool gear. I still dive old school air only deco so no O2 tanks. Pretty sad after 40 years of diving. But then it's not the gear that makes the diver.

 

[CindyMac]

I used to think ANY scuba gear was too much. Well, that was before I certified this year. I have gotten the basics (good quality, but pricey), but the more I look the more I find we just gotta have. Have no problem with whatever he wants to spend because I usually get my choices, as well. I am eagerly awaiting my underwater photography stuff!!!

Then there is my addiction to purses (Coach, namely). In defense of that - I only go to the outlet stores. Then there is my other motto "she who dies with the most fabric wins!"

In talking with other divers at the LDSs, I find this is a very common problem.

 

[Superlyte27]

You know, it's funny. Early last year I was talking to my friend who used to be into tech diving. I had surpassed both his training and amount of gear a while back, but I made the comment that all I needed was a new drysuit and I would finally be done buying gear except to replace things that were worn out. He, being an older gentleman, burst into laughter. At that point I had:

1 Drysuit
19 Bottles of Various Sizes
5 Regulators
2 Computers
2 Wings
2 Backplates
2 Wetsuits
2 Boats
5 or 6 Sets of Fins
3 or 4 Masks
O2 Analyzers
Man, my head is swimming just thinking about it.

I thought the guy was nuts. Then a friend introduced me to a rebreather. CRAP! Add more regs, more bottles, more computers, tri-mix analyzer. I'm wondering how I can come up with a booster. etc etc etc.

Today, I could easily spend another 10k without batting an eye just to support my rebreather habit. And yes, all this gear gets used a lot. Fortunately, I'm finally at a point where I can make money off of this stuff.

 

[Diver0001]

Somehow this thread reminds me of something I have never actually seen but have heard it in the proverbial sense: young men comparing parts of their anatomies.

open door..... must .... resist ........

LOL

I didn't find the OP's list very shocking to be honest.

That said, I only have two full sets of gear around and some odds and ends that I'm sentimentally attached too. I've had many more bits of gear than that in the past but I tend to recycle them. I keep my stuff up to date by putting bits that I haven't used for a while on ebay and then using that money to partly finance some new thing that I want... which will be on ebay in a few years as well.... etc. etc.

R..

---------- Post Merged at 08:52 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:47 PM ----------

I no longer work for that shop, but I assure you that memory is well burned in my mind when I think back o those days.

What an unbelievable turd. There is no way on earth I would have agreed to that. I would have been like, "ok, since I'm paying, let's see what we aren't taking with us...."

I can hardly believe you went along with that... and that you would admit to it in public!

R..

 

[Scubysarah]

always good to have spare equipment! but I never take too much down with me to save anything dragging along the sea bed