glad we checked our gear early

[donnad]

i'm so glad we have been getting ready little by little and early for this trip. we got my computer out yesterday to see how my battery status is, (had last used it memorial day weekend).......and here's the deal.....last summer on bonaire it flooded on me (after hubby had changed the battery)........took it to a dive shop there, they cleaned it up, etc. and it was fine the rest of the trip. it was fine on our memorial day weekend trip.......or so i thought........ When we got it out of the closet yesterday it looked like it had leaked again........opened it up.....and it looked very very scary.......rusty looking, etc. went to the drugstore, bought a new battery, and proceeded to the dive shop........great guy at houston scuba academy said it didn't look hopeful, but took it back to the workroom, and about a half hour later reappeared with it up and running. i was amazed. he cleaned it up, put a new o-ring in there, and all appears to be well. I'm thinking i'll see if the dive op where we are staying (barefoot cay) has a nitrox computer i can rent for the week and wear it also as a backup...........cause i certainly don't want to miss any dives!!!!! no, no no!!!!! lololol then, we were getting our passports out of the metal document box where we keep such things, and hubby's passport wasn't in there!!! he was freaking out. we started searching everywhere of course, then of course decided to go up in the attic and check all the pieces of luggage that had gone with us on memorial day weekend, and there it was in the zipper pocket of his carryon bag. thank goodness!!!!! (we do have copies of our passports however, to make replacement easier......but who wants to go through that and have to pay to expedite?) we were so glad that we were checking everything out four weeks ahead of time and more on our other gear.

 

[gypsyjim]

That is why one should wait until late the night before a dive trip to go threw gear, and start packing. Just think of all that last minute fun and games you deprived yourself of by doing all this ahead of time!

 

[scuba e]

Not to mention its kinda fun putting everthing together.

 

[WOODMAN]

This is the main reason why, between the two of us, we always have one backup computer with us. And I mean with us, not back in the dive bag in our room. I put one in my console (who needs a depth gauge, anyway?) and it is always there if needed and I make sure it is active and recording our dives so it can take over readily if one of our main computers poops out.

 

[stortecky]

I don't want to be a downer but you are going to have to get a new computer. Once you get water on electronic will keep oxidizing and will keep sorting out the micro chips. Salt water make the process go even faster. You can get things wet and some times it will take 3-9 months for the oxidation to get so bad enough that it will no longer work. But there is no way to really stop it (that I know of). Just throw it away.

 

[donnad]

oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh i seeeeeeeeee. well, that sounds reasonable. for this trip i'll wear a backup, whether i buy one or rent one i haven't decided yet. but i'm afraid not to back it up now.

 

[CajunDiva]

I bought an inexpensive Oceanic GEO wrist computer to use as a backup and I LOVE it! It also doubles as a wrist watch, so its a no brainer for a dive trip. I just leave my every day watch at home and I'm good to go...with the assurance that if something happens with my Suunto Cobra 2 primary computer, I'm covered

 

[Doc]

Roatn is becoming so civilized that even there you can easily find good quality SCUBA gear for rent at reasonable rates.

Yes, it's always good to do an early pre-flight check, it's best to play with your own toys, but Roatan visitors have access to rental gear in good working condition. There are some limited avenues for regulator & electronic/camera service repair, but I wouldn't go there thinking you can get instant service on anything in your dive bag.

If you should soak a camera, the guy that everyone takes their repairs to (island wide) is Tim Blanton. If your dive-op's photo-guy says they don't know him, either they're new in town or they want to charge you a fee simply for carrying it over to him. Buy direct if that awful thing happens. Find him at http://docksidedivecenter.com/photo.shtml

 

[donnad]

thanks for the info!! i think i'm going to get the Aeris Manta (the old one) for a backup........it's priced very attractive since the new model came out. actually i think i'll use it for my primary and let my XR2 become my backup.

 

[Akitakoi]

Heading down next week, good reminder to check my batteries and everything else.:shades: