dutch springs is boring

[Sean326]

BTW - you do not need AOW, doubles or a pony bottle to dive jersey. You can dive jersey with a single tank and good dive buddy and there are plenty of dives to do so.

Actually the new jersey dive boat association recommends that its captains require a completely redundant air supply for their divers. Some captains are more relaxed about this than others. Two weekends from now some of us are doing a shallow dive of 70' and the boat operator said we do not need completely redundant air supply. I have also been on boats where the captain won't let you in the water without a spair tank.

Remember It's just a recommendation from the boat captains trade group not any kind of law.

 

[grouchyturtle]

I know it's not a law, but...

I guess it's because most of the dives are deeper than the one we're going on, most operators I've even seen right on their web sites that it says AOW, redundant air source, and some even list many other requirements.

 

[DEEPLOU]

I am not a Dutch fan. While the admission fee seems a lot less than a boat ride, for me its a 3 hour drive, that's 6 hrs RT. Gas ain't cheap any more, and the bridge tolls are about another $14.
I would rather drive for 20min to half hour, then sleep on the boat for the hour and a half or so to the site.
Then you get to see real marine life. Possably take something home for dinner, or maybe find something to display on your mantle.
If you can dive at Dutch, you can dive any bathtub.
If you can dive the Northeast Atlantic, (the real Wreck Valley) you can dive anywhere.

 

[Sean326]

If you can dive at Dutch, you can dive any bathtub..

Well.... I would say the Caribbean is the bathtub I've got a ton of dives at Dutch and 24 years in the Caribbean and Dutch is cold and dark, a little different than 70 deg water and 90' vis.

If you can dive the Northeast Atlantic, (the real Wreck Valley) you can dive anywhere.

I felt that my most challenging dive was Alexandria bay NY in Feb. 8 deg air 33 deg water 13" if ice and lots of equipment issues.

Way tougher than any atlantic six pack I've been on.

 

[DEEPLOU]

Well.... I would say the Caribbean is the bathtub I've got a ton of dives at Dutch and 24 years in the Caribbean and Dutch is cold and dark, a little different than 70 deg water and 90' vis. .

Not to nit pick, but I just got back from the Caribbean last week and the water was over 80 deg and vis over 150'. I also did Dutch this morning, and it was no longer dark, cold @43 deg yes but surprisingly clear.

I felt that my most challenging dive was Alexandria bay NY in Feb. 8 deg air 33 deg water 13" if ice and lots of equipment issues.
.[/QUOTE]

Although didn't do it this year the last 3 yrs I did Lake George in Feb. Last year and two yrs before we had 13 to 16" of ice. Air temps were abt 17 deg w/ wind chill in the negative double digits. Yes, I have never seen so many equipment failures, even with the cold water kits etc.
It was much warmer below the ice w/ water temp between 34 and 36 deg.

Way tougher than any atlantic six pack I've been on.[/QUOTE]

Try going out in beautiful flat seas and coming up the line to find 6 to 8 ft seas.
Just getting back on the boat is major challange.

 

[BILLB]

Please take another look at H-Valves. I use them on all my tanks. I dive with 120's and with an H-valve, I have fully redundant air! Two regulators (with seperate first stages). Each valve is independent of the other (unlike Y-valves which are not isolated).

My back will not tolerate getting on a boat in 6 foot seas with doubles, but I love to dive wrecks and dive deep. Plus,
H-valves can be used with an isolator manifold to double your tanks. I have two high pressure manifolds for that purpose (but I will probably not use them due to my physical abilities).

And, for even more safety, carry a pony tank too (like my wife does-using three regulators).

H-value are not cheap but for me they were worth the expense.

 

[gjmmotors]

Please take another look at H-Valves. I use them on all my tanks. I dive with 120's and with an H-valve, I have fully redundant air! Two regulators (with seperate first stages). Each valve is independent of the other (unlike Y-valves which are not isolated).

You do not have totally redundant air, you have a redundant valve and redundant regs. If you were to have a valve neck leak you would not be able to isolate.
Although a tank neck leak is uncommon, to say you are totally redundant is incorrect. Two tanks with seperate regs joined by a manifold is redundant, as is independent doubles or a pony.

 

[Sean326]

Although a tank neck leak is uncommon,

Not to nit pick and this is probably a different thread but did you ever really watch the valve stems / necks of old rental tanks ??? I dive a lot in the Caribbean and a few years back on a boat in Jamaica I noticed a small stream of bubbles coming out of the neck of my bros. tank...

Not a big deal at all probably 1 cuft for the whole dive. I pointed it out to the DM and he shrugged his shoulders and said they all do that. On later dives and on different islands I've made it a point to notice the other divers tanks and I've found that the Jamaican DM was right not all but easily most rental aluminum tanks leak at the neck...

I've also checked my HP 120s and they don't leak at all.
I guess thats the difference between well maintained weekend use steel and well worn daily use aluminum.

 

[VTernovski]

I guess thats the difference between well maintained weekend use steel and well worn daily use aluminum.

couldn't agree with you more! I hate those rental AL80's in Caribbean... hate to use the DIN adapter too.

I think next time I am going there, I will bring my manifold and bands and will assemble my own double AL80's... if you think of it, single AL80 is not really a good tank for any kind of diving deeper than 80ft. especially on wrecks..

 

[Sean326]

if you think of it, single AL80 is not really a good tank for any kind of diving deeper than 80ft. especially on wrecks..

Yeah your right I did a 147 ft (+ or -) wall dive in Jamaica with an underfilled 80 this year. The whole time I was thinking about my air, wishing I had my 120's and pony.