Tim Ingersoll
Contributor
Well said although I truly believe that a dive operation is not the place to engage in bargain hunting. The axiom of "you get what you pay for" might be disasterous when applied to rec diving. I'll stick to Aldora.
dive costs?
- Thread starter munkispank
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Well said although I truly believe that a dive operation is not the place to engage in bargain hunting. The axiom of "you get what you pay for" might be disasterous when applied to rec diving. I'll stick to Aldora.
The steel 120's that Aldora, Living Underwater and Liquid Blue use are great if you want long bottom times. The above operators cater to more advanced divers....long bottom times.....decompression diving.
If you are a newbie air hog and think wow 120cu tank let's go with Aldora, LU or LB, you may run into a few angry boatmates. You would be better served by going with an op like Papa Hogs and asking them for a bigger tank.
If you are a newbie air hog and think wow 120cu tank let's go with Aldora, LU or LB, you may run into a few angry boatmates. You would be better served by going with an op like Papa Hogs and asking them for a bigger tank.
OP
munkispank
Contributor
The tanks size thing is interesting-Firstly I had not even seen Aldora advertised anywhere- I'll search for their website.
Secondly-I'm usually fine with air-I normally use a 65, even on deeper dives, but my buddy is less air efficient. Maybe he would find the 120 useful with me on an 80.
How do you usually adjust weight for larger tanks? I have never even seen a 120 so don't know what the score is. Do you have to consider additional negative bouyancy for empty tanks at the end of the dive.
thanks for the advice, from all that I have read, I will try to avoid the other operators- I don't usually mind the busier boats as long as it's under 12, as you can usually get away from the crowd- but I'm guessing that it becomes more problematic if you have dive guide in the water-Do the DM's usually allow newer divers to surface first if they are out of air- or is it a group thing- when one is out, all are out?
Secondly-I'm usually fine with air-I normally use a 65, even on deeper dives, but my buddy is less air efficient. Maybe he would find the 120 useful with me on an 80.
How do you usually adjust weight for larger tanks? I have never even seen a 120 so don't know what the score is. Do you have to consider additional negative bouyancy for empty tanks at the end of the dive.
thanks for the advice, from all that I have read, I will try to avoid the other operators- I don't usually mind the busier boats as long as it's under 12, as you can usually get away from the crowd- but I'm guessing that it becomes more problematic if you have dive guide in the water-Do the DM's usually allow newer divers to surface first if they are out of air- or is it a group thing- when one is out, all are out?
OP
munkispank
Contributor
OK- I have just found the answers to some of my questions- for anybodyelse who is interested- heres the Aldora site.
http://www.aldora.com/driftdivingcozumel.htm
if anybody can answer my other questions, that would be great.
http://www.aldora.com/driftdivingcozumel.htm
if anybody can answer my other questions, that would be great.
With steel 120's I use 6-8 lbs less weight than with an aluminum 80. A good dive operator will help you with the weighting if it's your 1st time with a steel 120.
As far as group/non group ascents, it depends on the operator and the divers. I have had Cozumel ops allow solo ascents once they are comfortable with the diver. Some DM's will ascend with a new diver and return to the group. Some DM's will let new divers breathe off the DM's octo when they are low on air.
As far as group/non group ascents, it depends on the operator and the divers. I have had Cozumel ops allow solo ascents once they are comfortable with the diver. Some DM's will ascend with a new diver and return to the group. Some DM's will let new divers breathe off the DM's octo when they are low on air.
ronrosa is right. 6lbs. additional weight with the steel 120's.
All Aldora's DM carry 8' octo's for those who need air. Octo is used until everyone else reaches about 700 lbs then you do your safety stop. DM's are all excellent. Been diving with all of them over the last 2 years. Omar, Memo, Bill, Hortia and one other that I can not recall right now. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. They do very well with neophite divers as well since they will group you together with divers of equal training and skill.
However, ronrosa mentioned in an earlier post that these large tank operators do decompression diving. NOT TRUE. They will never plan for a deco dive. They will however let you get into the yellow on your computer but don't want anyone entering deco.
We were there this past May. Did 13 dives and had over 15 hours of BT so we had some great long dives and never entered deco.
All Aldora's DM carry 8' octo's for those who need air. Octo is used until everyone else reaches about 700 lbs then you do your safety stop. DM's are all excellent. Been diving with all of them over the last 2 years. Omar, Memo, Bill, Hortia and one other that I can not recall right now. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. They do very well with neophite divers as well since they will group you together with divers of equal training and skill.
However, ronrosa mentioned in an earlier post that these large tank operators do decompression diving. NOT TRUE. They will never plan for a deco dive. They will however let you get into the yellow on your computer but don't want anyone entering deco.
We were there this past May. Did 13 dives and had over 15 hours of BT so we had some great long dives and never entered deco.
These are my experiences only. Diving with Living Underwater, I went into deco several times. My Cobra is a very conservative computer though.
I have read reports from experienced divers doing deco dives in Coz.
My trip this past July, I dove with Paul's Dive Service, we went deco on Punta Sur using aluminum 80's, my 6'4" brother inlaw got a larger tank just for this dive.
With LU and Pauls, after the DM saw me dive for a few days, decompression was discussed prior to the dive. My Cobra was acknowledged as a conservative computer prior to the dive. DM did not have an issue.
I have read reports from experienced divers doing deco dives in Coz.
My trip this past July, I dove with Paul's Dive Service, we went deco on Punta Sur using aluminum 80's, my 6'4" brother inlaw got a larger tank just for this dive.
With LU and Pauls, after the DM saw me dive for a few days, decompression was discussed prior to the dive. My Cobra was acknowledged as a conservative computer prior to the dive. DM did not have an issue.
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