first set of doubles for apprentice cave

[H2Andy]

You think 85's are heavy???????

oh yeah... way heavy... i can't imagine hefting 130's around and having fun
doing it

also, i broke my L1 vertebrae and right shoulder in October, so i am not up
to full speed and i don't want to make things worse

 

[mweitz]

How about O2 cleaning and VIS? Are you worried about getting your first fill since the tanks are empty or are Tech / Cave shops used to their customers putting their own tanks together?

BTW, congtrats!

Mark

 

[H2Andy]

they come with a vis already.

say, now that you mention it... how is the fact that the tanks have been
hydroed indicated? would i need to hydro new tanks?

 

[mweitz]

Some shops require a VIS on empty tanks.

For Hydro, it should be stamped on the shoulder, date of manufacture.

Are you planning on PP filling them?

I'm putting together a set of doubles from some old tanks, thus my questions

Mark

 

[chickdiver]

You should see the hydro date and facility stamp on the shoulder of the tank. All new tanks come hydro'd (so far as I have ever known) from thedistributor.


Cave shops expect people to put their own gear together. In fact- I would be leery of a tech/ cave diver who DIDN'T do this and most other maintenance themselves (we tend to be a bit pickier than the av. diver).

Andy- I've been doing this so long 104's (130's) don't feel like anything to me. I have been known to walk into the dive shop carrying them while wearing 3.5" stiletto heels. I would recommend you start a good weight training problem, expecially with your history of back injury.

 

[H2Andy]

Are you planning on PP filling them?

no, not really. i am just intro cave, so probably not for a long while to come, if
at all.

i might end up having to pay for another VIS anyway... well... that won't
break me

 

[Jason B]

I have been known to walk into the dive shop carrying them while wearing 3.5" stiletto heels.

Wow! Now that would be a sight to see.
Out of curiosity, how do most of you carry your doubles. I carry mine everywhere on my back.

Jason

 

[H2Andy]

Andy- I've been doing this so long 104's (130's) don't feel like
anything to me. I have been known to walk into the dive shop carrying them while
wearing 3.5" stiletto heels.

too cool

 

[chickdiver]

Wow! Now that would be a sight to see.
Out of curiosity, how do most of you carry your doubles. I carry mine everywhere on my back.

Jason

if there is a backplate attached I'll "wear" them. If not - like if Im throwing a bunch in the truck to take to the shop- I turn them on their sides and slip a forarm through the manifold- and cradle the other end with the other arm.

 

[Otter]

Since I already had a pair of PST HP-80s I am going to double them up as a first set. I know they are short and at 6', I am a little concerned that I will do a headplant on my first descent.

Sooner (if headplant ensues) or later I will want to go to some real tanks for a set of doubles. I am leary about the Worthingtons...not sure why. PST are hard to find and there a couple of threads here and on TDS about them being more susceptible to internal rust. Fabers seem to be a reasonable solution, but I prefer to avoid painted tanks.

Gotta decide whether I go with 100s, 120s, or 130s for boat diving. I think the only real answer is multiple sets.....