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billt4sf
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I know who DRIS is but who is DSS?
Cold water diving is a PITA
- Thread starter billt4sf
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ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
Deep Sea Supply.......Tobin (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/members/cool_hardware52-28351.html) here on the board.
phishphood
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I'll add in despite my relative inexperience here.
It just sounds like you had a pretty bad day in all aspects. But having dove in HI, Aus, San Diego, and here in Monterey I much prefer Monterey for what I can see reliably. Started out getting cert'd in a 7mm FJ wetsuit, standard BC, overweighted, etc. Once I finished that I just grabbed a 1pc 7mm suit, AL80 tank and figured out my weighting. For me, I was cert'd with 28lbs. Managed to get things figured out and then dove with about 16lbs. Some of it was due to the FJ vs 1pc suit, but proper weighting and comfort in the water helped me. I'm getting everything dialed in again with a drysuit, BP/W and steel 100. But right now I'm looking at 29lbs and having way too much weight again. It's a bit frustrating like everyone says, but to me it's worth it. Especially getting the air out of a DS, definitely adds a bit more complexity to the whole situation.
If you get around to diving again on your own I'm more than happy to either a) go out with both of you and just try to help in general, especially with entry/exit. Or b) let you borrow my tanks or bp/w provided we can work out some sort of arrangement for liability. Just let me know.
It just sounds like you had a pretty bad day in all aspects. But having dove in HI, Aus, San Diego, and here in Monterey I much prefer Monterey for what I can see reliably. Started out getting cert'd in a 7mm FJ wetsuit, standard BC, overweighted, etc. Once I finished that I just grabbed a 1pc 7mm suit, AL80 tank and figured out my weighting. For me, I was cert'd with 28lbs. Managed to get things figured out and then dove with about 16lbs. Some of it was due to the FJ vs 1pc suit, but proper weighting and comfort in the water helped me. I'm getting everything dialed in again with a drysuit, BP/W and steel 100. But right now I'm looking at 29lbs and having way too much weight again. It's a bit frustrating like everyone says, but to me it's worth it. Especially getting the air out of a DS, definitely adds a bit more complexity to the whole situation.
If you get around to diving again on your own I'm more than happy to either a) go out with both of you and just try to help in general, especially with entry/exit. Or b) let you borrow my tanks or bp/w provided we can work out some sort of arrangement for liability. Just let me know.
I'm a BAUE diver (amongst other things), but I'm also a PADI DM - I am comfortable with whatever type of tea you enjoy, so long as it's consumed safely.
I think that at this point, the best thing is to head out with someone who's able to help you guys out in a holistic fashion - equipment issues, pre-dive planning, in-water, etc., and I'm happy to volunteer to do so.
Incidentally, I think you'll find most BAUE members to be far less intimidating than you might think, and similarly, very willing to help out a newer diver get comfortable with our local waters (regardless of their future diving plans). We weren't all born BAUE members, y'know.
One more thing - if you're renting from Bamboo Reef, I'm assuming you're probably renting/diving White's Fusion drysuits? Those things can require, umm, a bit of "finesse". I can offer you some tips there.
Rob Wilks
Contributor
It is such a wonderful thing to see when people offer to step up and help other people overcome challenges. I am very happy to see this. Thanks for the will to act and hope you, built4sf and your wife, keep the love of diving alive here in the Carmel/Monterey area. It truly is a wonderful area to explore. I wish you both the best, and stick with it, You wont be disappointed (My hope for you anyway)
. PM me if you come to the area. If Im available, id love to go with you as well. Happy diving!
. PM me if you come to the area. If Im available, id love to go with you as well. Happy diving!
al248005
Contributor
I can understand what you are going through Bill. I just got a drysuit at the end of last year and got 5 dives in it. Well the first dive my bouyancy sucked, didn't have enough weight, and my seals leaked. 2nd dive I got a little better at the bouyancy; still not great by at all means, dialed in my weight a little better and no leaks. By the 5th dive, I'm still trying to get the bouyancy perfected and the weight really dialed in to the pound. I do think some of my problem is using an aluminum tank. I'm thinking a steel tank will make a big difference with the bouyancy swing but I still am learning. That first dive was super frustrating to say the least especially when my new suit leaked big time. But like with everything, the more I use it the better I become with it. Don't let 1 dive deter you and your girlfriends thoughts on doing another cold water dive. Cold water diving is pretty nice due to the fact you actually got halfway decent viz atleast here. You might want to try and find someone who is used to cold water diving in a drysuit and dive with them and see if they can give you some pointers.
I'll echo what Hepcat said. I think you'd find that there are a lot of BAUE members whose only interest is in helping divers learn to enjoy diving Monterey comfortably and safely.
I wish Don Chennavasin were still diving actively -- he was a wonderful person to whom to refer folks like you. But there are still a lot of resources in the Monterey area. You just need some competent, safe divers who enjoy mentoring, no matter what kind of divers they are. The GUE community tends to attract folks who like to mentor, which is why I recommend them.
I wish Don Chennavasin were still diving actively -- he was a wonderful person to whom to refer folks like you. But there are still a lot of resources in the Monterey area. You just need some competent, safe divers who enjoy mentoring, no matter what kind of divers they are. The GUE community tends to attract folks who like to mentor, which is why I recommend them.
Jak Crow
Contributor
This is proper cold water diving:
At least, I like it
At least, I like it
jIM STEELE
Contributor
meetup group and dive club that's been around since the 1950s is having a easy dive at lovers point in monterey on the 9th check it out its free aquatutus.com is water teaching
---------- Post added March 5th, 2013 at 07:23 AM ----------
check into DR Jim Grass he teaches marine bio at sf city and has a great group of divers that will welcome you
---------- Post added March 5th, 2013 at 07:23 AM ----------
check into DR Jim Grass he teaches marine bio at sf city and has a great group of divers that will welcome you
fuggler
Contributor
Hey Bill! I'm sorry your last dive wasn't enjoyable. I understand your frustration. I've been diving locally for 4 years now and my back still hurts from doing shore dives with a steel tank, 6 pounds of lead, and sometimes a 20-pound camera rig. Like you and Emily, I work out regularly as well. The only suggestions I have: get stronger (focus on strength training, it has really helped me) and dive with these experienced people. I've met a handful of excellent divers on this board; Ben_CA for example has taught me a lot about everything: gear configuration (even though I'm too poor to change my current setup), proper trim, responses to emergency situations, etc.
I'm glad you and Emily are willing to give it another chance. When I see her at work, I'm going to sit her down in my cube and show her some recent dive pics. Hopefully I can get her excited about cold water diving again. I'm also up for diving with you guys; just let me know when.
-Elaine
I'm glad you and Emily are willing to give it another chance. When I see her at work, I'm going to sit her down in my cube and show her some recent dive pics. Hopefully I can get her excited about cold water diving again. I'm also up for diving with you guys; just let me know when.
-Elaine
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