Cheers! New to diving, an introduction.

[ocean chemist it]

Hi all.
My name is Angela. I'm a UCB student in the Chemistry dept. I'll be moving into Chemical Oceanography next Fall (not sure where yet.) I'm going to be diving with a group through the university this semester (I'm excited, but also very nervous about the cold!)

I've got two dives (discovery dives in Hawaii), and the diving itself was pretty nerve-wracking, but I know this will get better.

I moved here from Florida (so not used to cold water.) I am already signed up and I am trying to do what I can to set myself up to have a good time. I'm being loaned a 7mm farmer jane with a 7mm sleeved shory over it. I am still trying to find a good hood (I've got a few on order), and a pair of gloves. (I already bought a good pair of 7mm hard sole boots.)

Anyone have any tips for me? Or, just wanna say hi? Is there a thread of introductions so maybe I can get to know you all? Or, you could post here...

Also, anyone local to Berkeley or close that does good wetsuit repairs (In case I can't get a hood that fits well?)

Thanks!
Angela

 

[zen_man]

Welcome to the board Angela!

I just finished reading your BP/W thread and congrats on getting a DSS rig. You will be very happy with it.
I was hoping you would find your way over here where your neighbors hangout. Several of us dive together or meet up, usually I go to Monterey. I live in Sacramento, but there are several people from the Bay Area that are here.
If you are anything like me......welcome to your new addiction!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. There is a lot of knowledge on this board and some very helpful people, including myself.

Happy Bubbling!
Buck

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Hoods: Otter Bay Westsuits and Drysuits, Foam and Hoffman in Monterey. Cricket makes them
custom from about five head measurements. They FIT.

Gloves: Sea Soft Ti Pro EDGE. Not exactly in synch with a student budget, though. Wears like iron,
I get about two years (260 dives) out of a pair. And fit. Relax your hand. See how the fingers
are curved? That's the way a good glove should look.

Does that "sleeved shorty" have long sleeves? Sure hope so.

 

[DivingPrincessE]

Welcome to the board Angela!

 

[RoyN]

AAHhhh...Chemistry is following me again!!!!!! :11:

No! I'll never take that class again!! You can't stop me! HAHAH!!! HEHE!!! Cool!! :blinking::14:

 

[Peter_C]

Welcome to diving and living in NorCal. If you have not taken the class, I would recommend getting a good instructor, that takes the time to teach, not drive you through and pass you whether you are ready or not unlike "some" PADI outfits.

Andy from http://www.pyratescuba.com/ is often one of our dive buddies and makes sure his students will be ready for our potentially challenging dive conditions we can face here.

Feel free to poke around the website in my sig for a great group of divers.

 

[ocean chemist it]

Wow, thanks all for the warm welcome

Zen-man, I know all about addictions (I keep a reef tank, and I used to skydive very frequently.) Scary thought having a new one, but I justify it by saying i'm going to be doing work in the field

Chuck, I was loaned some Mares gloves, but I think they are 5mm. I would be better off in 7mm, no? As for custom fit stuff, i'll probably do that eventually. I ordered several hoods, the problem so far is that they have been large in the neck. I've gotten mixed reviews as to if this is ok. I am concerned about water flow. Would it be cheaper to modify one of these hoods at a wetsuit tailor, or to shop through Cricket? (Can you link me, I didn't find anything on google.?) I have two more hoods and gloves coming today from Scuba.com. Thankfully they have a 100% return policy, so i'm basically trying things on without driving to 20 shops.

Peter, My instructor is through Cal (Jim Hayward), he seems very knowledgeable and I trust him. I will check out your links, thx.

Roy, chemistry is all around you, hahahahaha!!

Looking forward to meeting you all once i'm certified!
Angela

 

[sarita75]

Hi there! I am glad Angel Princess piped up a welcome as I was wondering if I am one of the only girls in NorCal that dive! Just kidding!!!! Welcome to N. California and cold water diving. You'll get used to it although the excess gear does require a bit of acclimating to. Oh well - keep you relatively warm. I've been trying to get divers together recently and have been having some success at it - so once certified, please feel free to join us!


Cheers!

 

[Peter_C]

http://otterbaysuits.com/
Cricket is very popular with cold water divers. That is where my hood is from and I am very happy with it. They are around $75, but it is truly built for YOU!

Sarita, as you know we have a bunch of female divers that brave Monterey and the more rugged North Coast of Sonoma County. We had a few diving the Mendocino area last weekend in our group. Always nice having the ladies around.

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

Keeping your hands warm is mostly about keeping your trunk and head warm. As my old Scoutmaster
Bill Wood used to say: "If your feet are cold, put on a hat.".

7mm gloves are way to thick to do anything. I tried a pair once. I wear 3/1.5 Sea Softs (3mm on
most, 1.5 on the thumb and forefinger). Adm. Linda wears the 5/3 version.

The hood needs to fit closely (no clearance) but not tightly (uncomfortable and no better at
keeping the water out). That applies to the whole suit too.

It would probably be cheaper to modify the hoods, but it wouldn't be as good as an Otter Bay
hood. I spent the week before Labor Day in BC. 2/3 of the boat had Otter Bay hoods, and the
rest wanted them.