Getting into tech

[c6six]

I'm starting w/ dry suit class, and single, probably steel 130. But I figure that once I get some time w/ the dry suit I will learn the doubles. I would Imagine that then I will be in the doubles most the time up here in NY, then I would be taking the single wing on trips mostly. (FL and such) I just hear that the 40's are a bit more unstable and don't perform as well if you don't need the lift. is that a crock?? It's probably not a good idea to go and learn to dive doubles and dry at the same time is it??

also when I go and get these tanks, does valve brand matter much?? Get them so you can screw that little adapter in to go to yoke?? What options should I be looking for??

 

[Colliam7]

I was thinking 40# single, should I go w/ a 30#??

I don't think there is a lot of difference in 'stability'. If you can dive them both before buying, try to do so. I had a regular diving buddy who started with a 30 and felt it was slightly weak on lift in fresh water. N of 1 so it may not be relevant. You may start with a HP 130. You may use a AL40 as a pony with your singles rig. Start with 40#.

So I think I'm going to get xsscuba x-series 130 (worthington x8-130) < same thing right?, They swing from -11.7 to -2lbs is salt water.

Good tanks. I can climb a rocking boat ladder with double 120s, and dive with others who do so with 130s. Easy? Not particularly. Doable? Absolutely. If you 'go tech' you will end up with several sets of doubles, anyway, so whether you start with 130s, 120s or 100s is not altogether critical. Buying new, go with the 130s.

Should I consider an argon bottle right away?

No. You can use your backgas for drysuit inflation until you start trimix.

and what is a GOOD dry suit, my dealer is trying to get me into a "BARE XCD2 Tech Dry". It has been used for a dry suit coarse and the the guy decided it wasn't for him so I can get allot cheaper than new.

A GOOD drysuit is one that fits YOU well. The BARE XCD2 is a good suit in itself, but makes certain it fits. Too small is worse than too big, but neither is desirable. The selling price should be no more than 50% of retail.

It's probably not a good idea to go and learn to dive doubles and dry at the same time is it??

If you can learn to dive dry first before adding the complexity of doubles, by all means do so. But, more than a few people learn both at the same time - when they start a tech course - so it is not out of the question. Get the BP/W, get the drysuit, get a single steel tank, and start there.

 

[c6six]

It's settled then.


I'll get the 40# wing since I had a chance to dive that and it felt great to me.
the xsscuba 130, just one for now,
Dry suit
and an AL 40 for deco

The other thing I would really like to get is a canister light, but that will have to wait a bit. Talk about expensive.

 

[texdiveguy]

The other thing I would really like to get is a canister light, but that will have to wait a bit. Talk about expensive.

..............................it's just begun!!!

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

..............................it's just begun!!!

Aint that the truth.. Some weekends I have to decide whether I should put my discretionary income towards some piece of equipment I need or to dive! I always dive

 

[silverfish88]

I would not worry about argon until you get into trimix diving. There is very little (if any noticeable) difference between air/nitrox and argon in the suit.

Putting helium into your suit however does suck.

Mat.

Stupid question, but what happens if you put helium into your suit? I know helium is less dense than air and rises, but what happens to it underwater? Little insulating? Anything worse? BTW-I am looking forward to my SSI tech class starting Monday.

 

[texdiveguy]

Stupid question, but what happens if you put helium into your suit? I know helium is less dense than air and rises, but what happens to it underwater? Little insulating? Anything worse? BTW-I am looking forward to my SSI tech class starting Monday.

No one is going to pump pure He into a dry suit.....in the case of trimix were He is an active component....this mix is just a poor insulator as a result of He properties. You can either use air or argon from your inflation system when breathing trimix.....trimix would be an expensive gas to go waste in a ds....it again is a poor insulator/crummy thermo properties, and there is a slight risk factor to increased chances of skin ICD. I find persl. little difference in air vs. argon when diving trimix---but that's just me.

 

[c6six]

More Questions,

I have now read that it is a good idea to keep all your regs the same. Deco's and backgass. Right now I have 2 xtx 100's so they go up to 40% oxygen, so how is this possible if you have a deco/mix of more than 40%?? Do you have all regs capable of going to 100% and then less than 40% is ok too?? If you had a problem, had to take a 2nd stage off and put it on a dif bottle what if one was under 40% and one over??

Also an apeks tx 50, and tx 40, the 50 has a swivelling turret and it is mentioned that is a nice feature, couple less inches of hose needed, and ease of breathing compared to something w/o a swivelling turret. However isn't the swivelling turret itself another point for failure from a DIR prospective?? I mean this info is coming from the same page that just got done telling me that I should have all the same regs!! That way if one breaths funny at all then I would notice compared to the others. I think that is a great idea!!

anyways here is the link..

Stages & Deco

which I got off "DIR: God's gift to diving or Hell spawn?" Is that page outdated in some way, how good are the 50 and 40 apeks are they outdated??

Hopefully someone can make some sense of all this for me.

What is a helios canister light w/ 10w hid worth?? any ideas?? Is it a good light or should I steer clear. Has never been in the water.

I know that I am probably getting way ahead of myself at this point, but I can't stop reading and getting more info, and that raises questions!! I want to learn as much as I can so as I plan on spending all of this money that I am going to spend I have a really good plan of attack for what equipment to aquire next, and why. I don't want any regrets (like that junk probe lx I bought)

 

[texdiveguy]

More Questions,


I know that I am probably getting way ahead of myself at this point,

......YEP!

 

[pacchill]

The Apeks are nice. I have a DS4/XTX40 and 50 for singles rig. Got 2 DS4 but I get lazy swapping hoses for doubles rig. So I just use my Salvo for doubles.

Deco Gas can go up to 100%, that is when you want you reg, and bottle O2 clean... you will see pics of bottles with OXYGEN on the side,this means there is 100% O2 inside. You can only breath pure O2 to a certain depth. Don't worry you will learn all about PPO2, and MOD, fun stuff. Also you don't need all your regs to be O2 clean, back gas is fine for 40%. Most regs are gtg up to 40%. Steer clear of Titanium regs too..