Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I just finished rebuilding my 1964 DA Aquamaster a few days ago with all new silicone upgraded parts and a complete rebuild kit.
I was itching to give it a try so I decided to go up to Stillwater and try it out.
I would have gone to Gerstle but I wasn't crazy on paying the $8.00 just for a quick experimental tank dive.
I was the only scuba diver there. I ran into several ab divers and even a few I knew.
The ocean was glass flat and vis was around 20 feet.
My rig was almost completely vintage. A steel 72 with a J valve and pull rod, double hose regulator, backpack with no BC, a set of turtle fins, an old school beavertail cut wetsuit with s/s twist locks, and that's it. I had a few weird looks from a few ab divers that also probably scuba divers. The only thing I was missing was an oval mask (picked one up at the pinnacles on the way home).
Getting used to the DH reg was something that took a while. I was a little apprehensive at first because I didn't know what to expect, with a fresh rebuild and all. I knew I did a good thorough job but still, until I actually got it underwater and breathed off it for a few minutes without incident would I be able to relax. I was pulling hard for air at first on the heads down decent, but then remembered that with DH regs you have to get the mouthpiece around the same level as the can or it will be like sucking through a straw. I remebered the protocol andgot the mouthpiece around the same level as the can and it smoothed out perfectly.
After I relaxed I managed to get in a really nice cruising dive all around the structure, up and over the rocks, out across the sand channels. I hit around 40 feet, reg still breathing great, I noticed I was a tad heavy at 40 so I figured I could probably shed a few pounds off my belt. I neutraled out at first at around 10 feet and on that type of dive I'd like it around 15 to 20 feet to start. Diving without any form of BC is incredibly liberating but it's also weighting critical.
I kept an eye on my watch and knew that the J valve was going to start singing to me any minute. Sure enough the reg started to pull hard so I reached back and pulled the J rod down and the breathing freed right up. Diving without any SPG really makes you pay attention to depth and time (and starting pressure).
I made my way up because I had never tested this particular J valve before to see at what pressure the spring was set for, so I actually had no idea how much air I had left.. It turned out when I checked it that there was around 400 psi left, so now I know.
One thing about using a double hose and aproaching fish. I noticed that I could literally slowly cruise right up to all sorts of criters without spooking them. I'm assuming that is because the exhaust bubbles exit behind your head and not in front of your face, or in their faces. Using a double hose and photography would be a very nice combination.
For my second dive a used a steel LP 95, my regular reg, spg, oxycheq wing, etc, fully modern.
I did an almost pure vintage dive juxtaposed by a fully modern dive. Very interesting day for me.
I wish I had known everybody was going to Gerstle, It would have been neat to put a few faces to names.
Maybe next time.
I was itching to give it a try so I decided to go up to Stillwater and try it out.
I would have gone to Gerstle but I wasn't crazy on paying the $8.00 just for a quick experimental tank dive.
I was the only scuba diver there. I ran into several ab divers and even a few I knew.
The ocean was glass flat and vis was around 20 feet.
My rig was almost completely vintage. A steel 72 with a J valve and pull rod, double hose regulator, backpack with no BC, a set of turtle fins, an old school beavertail cut wetsuit with s/s twist locks, and that's it. I had a few weird looks from a few ab divers that also probably scuba divers. The only thing I was missing was an oval mask (picked one up at the pinnacles on the way home).
Getting used to the DH reg was something that took a while. I was a little apprehensive at first because I didn't know what to expect, with a fresh rebuild and all. I knew I did a good thorough job but still, until I actually got it underwater and breathed off it for a few minutes without incident would I be able to relax. I was pulling hard for air at first on the heads down decent, but then remembered that with DH regs you have to get the mouthpiece around the same level as the can or it will be like sucking through a straw. I remebered the protocol andgot the mouthpiece around the same level as the can and it smoothed out perfectly.
After I relaxed I managed to get in a really nice cruising dive all around the structure, up and over the rocks, out across the sand channels. I hit around 40 feet, reg still breathing great, I noticed I was a tad heavy at 40 so I figured I could probably shed a few pounds off my belt. I neutraled out at first at around 10 feet and on that type of dive I'd like it around 15 to 20 feet to start. Diving without any form of BC is incredibly liberating but it's also weighting critical.
I kept an eye on my watch and knew that the J valve was going to start singing to me any minute. Sure enough the reg started to pull hard so I reached back and pulled the J rod down and the breathing freed right up. Diving without any SPG really makes you pay attention to depth and time (and starting pressure).
I made my way up because I had never tested this particular J valve before to see at what pressure the spring was set for, so I actually had no idea how much air I had left.. It turned out when I checked it that there was around 400 psi left, so now I know.
One thing about using a double hose and aproaching fish. I noticed that I could literally slowly cruise right up to all sorts of criters without spooking them. I'm assuming that is because the exhaust bubbles exit behind your head and not in front of your face, or in their faces. Using a double hose and photography would be a very nice combination.
For my second dive a used a steel LP 95, my regular reg, spg, oxycheq wing, etc, fully modern.
I did an almost pure vintage dive juxtaposed by a fully modern dive. Very interesting day for me.
I wish I had known everybody was going to Gerstle, It would have been neat to put a few faces to names.
Maybe next time.
