Got Lost on a Dive

[dberry]

I told them I was pretty new. The DM made the pairing. They didn't volunteer. I did not communicate with the others like I should have retrospect. Going diving with total strangers is kind of awkward at first. It's been a big learning experience.

Just curious, how does everyone accumulate so many dives? It's been a real challenge to get my dives in locally.

I started late in life, just a couple of years ago, and have been trying to squeeze in trips as much as work and (non-diving) family permit. Maybe 20% of my dives have been local (quarry), but most have been on week-long trips with 2-5 dives / day. Some folks live close to an ocean or big lake (not me), which would make it much easier to get in regular weekend dives. (In fairness, I'm not that far from the Atlantic, but I hate fighting the traffic to the Jersey Shore in the summer...)

 

[tarponchik]

On the three dive charters I have been on so far, I have found the buddy system to be pretty non-existent except for spouses, and friends diving together. Everyone else seems to just do their own thing.

That's what typical Florida diving is.

 

[Steve_C]

That's what typical Florida diving is.

Sort of.

I find that there is a bit more buddy diving if there is not a group DM. No guarantee but happens.

 

[Scuba-74]

This was the first dive of three planned for the trip. I decided to experiment and to go with less weight than I used I used on a dive trip the prior week. From 18 to 14 lbs. I thought 15 might be ideal.

Amount of weight is always a little bit of a gamble, especially if you dive different conditions and with rental gear and different types of tanks. Aside from the OW class, I don't think I ever had an opportunity to do a proper buoyancy check adding/trimming weights before the dive. Definitely not on charter dives. So it's better to err on the side of caution and have a few extra pounds than struggle with buoyancy and burn extra air while being under weighted.

 

[Steve_C]

Each time I dive a new configuration and weighting seems ok I note the weight and equipment in the log book. Best part of the log boat. So far I have entries for
suits: dry, 7, 7 + hooded vest, 5, 5+hooded vest, 4/3, 14/10, 7 with attached hood, 3, 3+hooded vest, 3 shorty, 1.5, 3 shorty + 1.5.
tanks: AL 120, AL 100, AL 80, high density AL 80, Steel 100, LP 85.
water: fresh, salt, brackish.
So lots and lots of combinations.

PS: Rental hooded 7s on the west coast seem to take more weight than my personal 7 with hooded vest.

 

[Scuba-74]

Each time I dive a new configuration and weighting seems ok I note the weight and equipment in the log book.

I do too. It helps a lot.

PS: Rental hooded 7s on the west coast seem to take more weight than my personal 7 with hooded vest.

I guess it means that your personal wetsuit has more dives than the average rental suit? Neoprene buoyancy is inversely correlated with the amount of time it's been underwater, at least in theory.

 

[rjgiddings]

Chalk this one up to a great learning dive. You learned a lot from just this one - so - welcome to the club. We've all been through our own version of exactly that sort of situation.

If I had any .02 to give - it would be to check that compass heading when you had decided towards the end of your dive to burn off a bit more gas and head away from the ascent line. Once you wanted to ascend on that line - you could have managed to turn a 180 reciprocal heading - and voila- it would have been right there.

Dude, I've been there. I dive in crap-tastic viz. I go look for a wreck, and like - "Ok, um, how do you lose a wreck that freakin big"?
Ascending in mid water with no reference is a pet peeve. Lots of cursing through the regulator.

AL80 tanks are also a mess for buoyancy towards their 700 PSI or less side.

 

[Steve_C]

I guess it means that your personal wetsuit has more dives than the average rental suit? Neoprene buoyancy is inversely correlated with the amount of time it's been underwater, at least in theory.

All things being equal I would agree but my 7 is pretty new, but it is Henderson hyperstretch and the ones I have rented on the left coast seemed denser and heavier, made out of old truck tires or some such. So it might be that the high stretch material compresses more. Would make sense.

 

[Scuba-74]

All things being equal I would agree but my 7 is pretty new, but it is Henderson hyperstretch and the ones I have rented on the left coast seemed denser and heavier, made out of old truck tires or some such. So it might be that the high stretch material compresses more. Would make sense.

Interesting, will keep this in mind if I ever get a chance to dive West Coast.

The beat up 7mm Henderson I rented a couple of times from local shop and my new 7mm Bare require about the same amount of weight - that is 34lb with AL80 and about 30 (maybe slightly less, didn't try to trim) with steel 100 in salt water with hood and gloves. Crap load of weight to carry on you, but I weigh about 215 so I guess it is what it is.

 

[billt4sf]

You realize that quarry water is fresh and salt water is more dense so you need more weight in salt water.

There is an accepted way to do a weight check, and it's not a guessing game. At the end of your dive, have someone in the water watch you during this process. With 500 lbs in the tank, let out all the air from your BC and (without kicking) exhale, you should sink. Slowly. If you sink like a rock, take off 2 lbs and try it again.

Do a couple dives with this new weight. I would not change by more than 2 - 4 lbs at a time (unless you're VERY overweighted).

- Bill