Equipment suggest. for career diving?

[GetNarc'd]

I tried to sum up my question in that thread title. I'm new to diving, with only my PADI OW. My majority of diving will be done in a marina where I work. I'll be cleaning sailboat bottoms from time to time and recovering belongings that people accidentally drop in the drink. This will leave me in almost zero visibility water (Hudson River) scrubbing the bottoms of customers sailboats, with only a brush. I assume I'll be in a somewhat vertical position underwater, or possibly belly up horizontal while doing this. In addition, I'll need to do item recovery at the river floor in a more familiar horizontal diving position.

My question is what would generally provide me with the most versatility for prolonged diving in these positions? BC, Back inflate BC, or BP/Wing? I dove in a standard jacket BC for my cert. and nothing since.

By the way, excellent board you all have here. I'm flooded with info

 

[GetNarc'd]

Nothing?

 

[Blackwood]

My guess will be that you'll want equipment similar to that of UW Photographers.

Most of them wear jackets because they offer pretty good stability in a variety of attitudes.

*prepares to get flamed for not recommending BPW*

 

[GetNarc'd]

I have to laugh at your last comment, because the real reason I started contemplating whether or not I should get a standard jacket BC was all the good responses i've been reading in regards to a backplate and wing. My main concern was if it would take longer to put on and adjust and take off than a jacket bc. Also, the worn out assumptions that everyone (including myself) make about a rear inflate bc or wind wanting to force you belly down, in the water.

 

[nauidiver2004]

I don't know what would work best for a BCD but I would suggest an environmentaly sealed regulator. You will be creating a debris field around you and want to keep that out of the reg.

 

[GetNarc'd]

Yes, I believe that's what one of my instructors recommended.. A diaphragm style closed reg. The Hudson is full of debris, at best.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

There are some very good threads here on the board about the dangers of what you are proposing to do. You might do some searching and see what you're getting yourself into before you let your employer throw a new diver into that kind of environment.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

It sounds like you're gonna be alone while doing your work. Given your level of experience, this could be quite dangerous.

___

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Here are a couple of threads dealing with working in marinas:

Gary D. has great insight see this thread.
Click here for more information about electrocution from Gary D.
Another thread with some good posts.

As a new diver there are so many things about scuba you still have to learn, this is a great place to start finding out how much you don't know. I still continue to be amazed at how much I have to learn about this sport.
Happy reading!
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[oly5050user]

It sounds like you're gonna be alone while doing your work. Given your level of experience, this could be quite dangerous.

___

totally agree with BWS..We are located on City Island Bx NY(captain mikes diving) and are very familiar with Hudson..We perform work you described and more(raise sunk boats/barges , inspections ,repairs) Highly suggest wearing a dry suit and preferrably a AGA mask for working in Hudson under these conditions..Experience being here ,owner of facility former NYPD scuba team detective.BCD should be something that you can take off in water fairly easily for this is what you will have to do to get out of water and onto dock..Given your stated experience level you should really think about if this is what you want to do..Where are you going to do this work?? At 79 st marina? Have insurance to do this?