Gear recommendations for Gilboa at the M&G?

[wolfen42]

My wife and I are trying to come down to the M&G but it looks like we will be arriving late on Friday if we make it.

Currently we only have our own wetsuits,hoods,gloves,masks and flippers.

We will probably end up renting everything else... but if we don't.

Do y'all have any recommendations for regulators for someone who is planning on diving Gilboa every weekend they possibly can? Should I be worrying about sealed regulators and all that or could I go with a Mares Rebel MK12? I can get a Aeris Atmos Pro for $289... help?

 

[gtxl1200]

My wife and I are trying to come down to the M&G but it looks like we will be arriving late on Friday if we make it.

Currently we only have our own wetsuits,hoods,gloves,masks and flippers.

We will probably end up renting everything else... but if we don't.

Do y'all have any recommendations for regulators for someone who is planning on diving Gilboa every weekend they possibly can? Should I be worrying about sealed regulators and all that or could I go with a Mares Rebel MK12? I can get a Aeris Atmos Pro for $289... help?

First off; let me start off by saying dont base on what gear you buy on diving Gilboa. Gilboa is a quarry. It has some advantages but you will get bored with it and fighting the crowds on weekends just isnt worth it. All the time for exclusive only diving. base your gear buying on what type of diving you are more likely to be doing. If it is wreck diving in the great lakes you like then look into cold water gear. If you decided heck with all of the gear you have to wear in cold water and decide your only going to dive in warm weather climates only than base your gear on that. I dive both each has its own unique intrest for me. I have cold water regs. So I can use them in both. I own a drysuit. but I never use it outside of michigan. I dont own a wetsuit for when I'm in warm water it is shorts and a tshirt I dive in. I always try and reccomend people to make several dives in bothe types of climate. Before throwing a lot of money into gear. before they decide on what they like. Your wife my not like the cold water at all so she ends up only diving in warm water so now you have wasted a lot of money for gear she will never use. A lot of people try and save money and spend the money on a 3 mil wetsuit. Then try cold water diving love it. Than have to spend more money on a drysuit because a 3 mil isnt enough. So you need to dive get used to it. Try all different types of diving. and Also when you rent ask your dive shop to let you try different stuff before you go so you can get a feel for different stuff.

This is my opionion and mine alone. your may vary.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

If you think you may ever go below 60 feet at Gilboa I would get a cold-water regulator. The risk of an accident is there and you want gear and training that's suitable for the environment. It's money, you can make more of that but you only get one life.

I have a Dive Rite RG2500Ice that I really like. I hear they have a new model out that's taking it's place so you might be able to get a deal on one.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[bladephotog]

I'd second the recommendations for a cold water reg. You can use that anywhere. Buy the best regulators you can afford. They are just about the most important thing you'll own. I like Poseidon but the Dive Rite regs are nice also. So are a host of others. My SO has Aqua Lung Titan LX's and they breathe great and are inexpensive. All we dive is cold water and she's never had a problem with them. Frankly I can't see a big difference in the breathing performance between hers and mine. I'd give them a look.

 

[Notso_Ken]

My wife and I are trying to come down to the M&G but it looks like we will be arriving late on Friday if we make it.

Currently we only have our own wetsuits,hoods,gloves,masks and flippers.

We will probably end up renting everything else... but if we don't.

Do y'all have any recommendations for regulators for someone who is planning on diving Gilboa every weekend they possibly can? Should I be worrying about sealed regulators and all that or could I go with a Mares Rebel MK12? I can get a Aeris Atmos Pro for $289... help?

Having experienced a free flow on my non-environmentally sealed reg at Gilboa, but never on my cold water reg, I would recommend, whatever else you are doing, buy a good quality, environmentally sealed, reg if you are going to dive periodically at Gilboa, let alone anything north of Lake Erie.

My non-sealed reg is a Mares Proton.

Ken

PS, if you dive the deep side at Gilboa, a Pony bottle or slung Al80 is a very good idea . . . , let alone a requirement to comply with Mike's rules for diving the deep side.

 

[JEScholz]

Living in this area you can 't go wrong with an environmentally sealed cold water reg. unless you only plan to dive in warm watter or above the thermocline in late summer. I have older Sherwood Magnum Blizzards and Poseidon Legends.

 

[Dean810]

My reg is a Mares Abyss. I have dove it in 34 degree water without a free flow. It is not environmentally sealed. Knock on wood!

 

[diver_paula]

As newer divers that will be using wetsuits bring as much warm clothes as you can. It will be just as if not more important to be warm before and after diving no matter what the weather. You'll want to keep your core body temperature as warm as possible in a camping situation.

Off the top of my head...
As many bathing suits as you own - put a fresh one on before each dive
towels
Hat, gloves, warm coat, scarves.
Thick soled shoes
Extra neoprene gloves if you have 'em. If not there will be extras around.
As many dives skins as you own - same theory as the swim suit.
Can always wear wool socks under your booties.
A bucket to put warm water in to warm up booties, hood, gloves.

Most of the items are typical but you'll want to do everything possible to make the diving enjoyable. What you may not know is that Gilboa is spring fed and there are areas that don't warm up all season long.

Paula

 

[Divers Incorporated]

I am with the guys and gals on cold water regs. There are advantages in Warm Water too.

The other thing to think about is the super awesome stuff that there is to see in Gilboa above 50ft. There is a lot of diving you can do there without going deep.

First dives of the season should be a shake down so you can get back into shape. No need to go deep. Above 60 ft almost every regulator made will work fine in Gilboa.

Wish I could be there.. I will be at Scubafest.

Have fun!

Rich

 

[Notso_Ken]

I am with the guys and gals on cold water regs.

Above 60 ft almost every regulator made will work fine in Gilboa.

Have fun!

Rich

That's very true. My reg didn't free flow till 100'.


Ken