First dive this season!

[fisherdvm]

Got my reg just serviced, and we're going to dive in Cancun in just 4 days. I am too lazy to go to the pool to test it tonight. So, we had about 2 inches of warm rain, and that melted the 10 inches of ice on our lake just yesterday..... Hmmm, lets try out that sherwood and see if it is really cold ready.

Took forever to don the 7mm suit, then the 7 mm corewarmer, then the 5 mm boots, then the 3 mm gloves, then the 7 mm hood... Oops, forgot to tuck it in. Amazing how difficult it is to get things set up with gloves on. Then my wife gave me, the "last kiss". I promised I will not go out far, and will stay shallow. Afterall, I had only about 1200 psi in my son's 63 tank. Took 24 lbs of weight, just in case that new hood needed more ballast.

Then donning the gear, and readjusting for the thicker suit. It is alot harder with gloves on. Checked everything, and put my face in. Wow! Ice water cold! It stings for at least 5 minutes. Then I swam out. I had a tense headache getting use to the cold water. You can feel the water seeping in, as it stings.... Then the little minnows started to come and visit. They seem more friendly now than in the summer time. Must be that the predators are more sluggish. Then I started to warm up. Hey, it is really not that bad, once you get the circulation going.

Then the anxiety hit. What's that loud bubbling noise? Is my octo free flowing? Is there a loose connection? The octo was fine. I got to anxious, checked my spg, and surface. Told my wife I wasn't going to do anything risky. Got in the shallow, and the bubbling noise is still there. I held my breath for a while, and it disappeared. Well, I guess I am not used to the amplification of the sound when you have a full hood on. I usually just wear a beanie....

I wished I had a full tank, I would've spent an hour out there. But... It is solo diving. And my wife would've killed me. Hey, but I got the first dive of the season....

 

[dave4868]

Ice water is right! In a wetsuit yet....

You're definitely a motivated diver!

Enjoy your trip, lucky dog!

Dave C

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

But... It is solo diving. And my wife would've killed me.

LOL ... I guess that falls under the heading "If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will" ...

Congrats on your first dive of the season ... hopefully your second dive of the season will be much longer, warmer, and more enjoyable ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[gcbryan]

My head hurts just reading about your dive. I think Cancun will be better!

The bubbling if it was very small could have been the Sherwood first stage. They're designed to let a small amoung of air bubble out. I believe it's their version of an environmentally sealed unit (small among of air equalizing things internally). I have a Sherwood as well (don't hold me to correctness in my explanation of exactly why it's designed that way)!

 

[scubacoots3]

bbbbuuuuuurrrrrr

 

[MarkUK]

Heh mate, I am supposed to be coming out to Michigan in June/July time to do an article for the magazine on diving in the Great Lakes, hope it has warmed up a lot more by then!!! Still bringing my drysuit, though!

Enjoy Cancun – I'm off to the Bahamas on Saturday! Hurrah!

Mark

 

[Busdiver]

Which lake are you diving? We are diving the St. Clair river every weekend. I dive dry but a buddy dives in his 7mm with 7mm core and has no issues. It's a shame you gear for cold water diving living in Michigan. Then you don't have to worry about a "first dive of the season."

Have fun in Cancun. Think of your fellow Michiganders while you drop down into 78 degree water.

 

[Busdiver]

Mark UK,

Which lakes are you planning on diving? What part of Michigan will you be spending your time? It is a big state with lots of coastline. June waters are still chilly, July waters are getting better.

 

[Jimmer]

MarkUK, good choice bringing the drysuit, even in the middle of summer, the bottom of the great lakes isn't that much warmer than it would be right now.

 

[MarkUK]

Don't know which areas I will be diving yet, still working on the details with some tourist board or other.

I figured June might still be a bit on the chilly side, relatively speaking, but the guys I have been dealing with said that is a great time for diving in terms of vis, etc.

I'll be bringing my compressed neoprene Outer Edge drysuit and Weezle Extreme undersuit, so I should be nice and toasty. I was doing hour-long dives in Scapa Flow in 9°C with no issues.

Mark