Greetings from California! [Warning, longish post]

[undrwater]

Just wanted to give a shout out to everyone on the board...I'm a new board member.

:dazzler1:

There...

Now I want to tell you a sad story that happened to me this past Thursday (It actually encompases my dive history in Reader's Digest fashion).

Miwa said, "I'm going back to Japan for two months to join my family for a dive vacation".
"You mean you're leaving me?!" I replied.
"Well", she said, "you can join us, but only if you go diving. If you don't dive, my family will feel pressured to leave someone back to stay with you, which will reduce their enjoyment. You have 3 months, which is plenty of time."

Well, Love conquerors all, and any fear of the ocean or diving I had was eclipsed by the fear of being without my beloved for such an extended period of time. In an uncharacteristic manner, I signed up for lessons that same day. This was in 1995.

I got certified in Southern California, diving in the gorgeous kelp forests off the California coast. Needless to say, I fell in love with diving and I had my trip to Okinawa to look forward to (as well as warm water diving ). I bought my own gear from a combination of the local dive shop, discounters, and the recycler magazine.

The diving in Okinawa was truly magical, and I have to thank Miwa and her family for the experience. Sadly, soon after this trip, Miwa decided to break off relations with me. Of course, this didn't stop me from making more dives here in California.

Eventually, certain other activities started taking precedence over diving :11: ; budget, school, relationships (with non-divers),etc...

Fast-forward ten years. I'm a married man (again, to a non-diver :11: ), and have found myself in Belize. The ocean beckons to me...it calls me by name...I see mermaids...I hear sirens...I ask the wife what she thinks of me going on a dive. Her response, "sure."

So I take the refresher course and go on a few other dives while in Belize. Wow! Now I remember how it feels! I promise to myself (within earshot of the wife) that I'm going to get back into it, and she makes reassuring and supportive noises.

To that end, upon return I join the local dive club that has regular diving activities (including weekday night beach dives which I'm particularly interested in). That brings us to this past Thursday.

It was a night dive at Veteran's Park, Redondo Beach. I was nervous and excited about getting back into the California waters. The first shock came as I was gearing up. Slipping into my wetsuit (7mm farmer john/jacket style) took forever and a day, and once it was on I could barely breathe and was sweating profusely. I didn't remember it fitting so tight 10 years ago (oh yeah! I weighed 30 pounds less then!). I got it on anyway, put all the gear together, threw the cylinder (steel 95) and BC over my shoulder and humped it down to the beach.

Now...I can hear you thinking, "You should have tried on and tested everything before you got to the beach", and your'e right. You see, I wasn't thinking...my mind was so occupied with the excitement of getting back into the water that forethought was blown to the wind.

So at the water's edge I prepare to put everything together....but my BC won't close! The cumberbund did not reach! If I sucked in my belly, I could make the tips come together, but when I relaxed, the velcro would tear apart.

For a while, I just stood there...then it dawned on me that I had to abort the dive for that evening. I humped back up to the parking lot consoling myself that there would be other opportunities soon. But as I was driving away I realized that until I replaced that equipment, I wouldn't be able to dive!

I heard the wife's words from earlier that week echoing in my head (she's the CFO), "We can't spend any extra money for a couple of months because I've just paid off our trip to Belize." A $5 beach dive is one thing, a $40-$50 beach dive (including rentals) is quite another. I was down...on the verge of depression. The wife was supportive and reminded me that my birthday is coming up this September, and that I should ask for money from family and friends in order to get what I need.

So here I am today, joining this forum so that I might live vicariously through all of you until I replace my equipment.

Also, I ask some advice from those who have experience with lots of different kinds of equipment:

I'm 5'8", 145-160 lbs (my weight fluctuates a lot), 32.5" waist. I'm considering a one-piece 7mm wetsuit to replace the farmer-john. I'd like to hear opinions...should I stay with the famer-john concept, or are the one-piece suits warmer now than they used to be?

Thanks!

 

[dlndavid]

Hi undrwater, and welcome to SB. Sorry to hear about Miwa, but now you have found another love. Also you have come back to an original love, diving, good for you. Be patient, get the gear that works for you, plenty of deals out there.
David

 

[undrwater]

Thanks, dln...appreciate it!

Miwa wasn't a loss when I consider what I've gained.

I was noticing on another post that you were using an Akona 7mm. Have you had a chance to dive it yet? If so, were you warm?

What are your impressions.

Hello all!

 

[pasley]

Welcome to the board and back to diving. If you have not yet done so, be sure to check into the SoCal section for local dive talk. Located under Clubs, North America, United States, California Kelp Divers, SoCAl.

I dive a 7mm one piece with the titanium (or Gold Core) ocean liner from Agua Flite. This smooth surface really clings to the skin (ankle and wrist zippers a must) which makes it a bear to get on but a warmer suit. The key is fit. If the suit is a second skin, you will be warmer than if the suit fits like clothes (wrinkles here and there) which will be cold. Our normal temps are 52-62F depending upon the season, with most of the year 52-58F.

Once we get you back in the water, and exercising like you should be for diving (you are exercising now by swimming, riding a bike, running etc. right?) you weight should stabilize at a nice comfortable 145-150 and the waist come down to a nice 30" (sit-ups will not hurt, at least for long, either). Beach diving every week in SoCal is a great exercise program. I went from 155 to 145 and 32" to 30" waist once I started diving regular.

Here is another group (not a club, just a schedule on the internet) http://www.sandeaters.org that gets wet every week. Good description of local dive sites too.

If you ask around on the SoCAl website, you may find some used gear for sale, or maybe loan for the short term until you fit back into your gear. You never know, the diving community is unusual in terms of being very close knit and generous. No promises but, it could not hurt and might help.

Speaking of which, when was the last time your gear was serviced? If it has been over a year, even (or perhaps especially) if it has not been in the water in a few years, you should have it serviced BEFORE you take it diving. It could save your life.

I would also start back to diving with shallow dives. Redondo Beach is not normally a shallow dive with the dives there often in the 80-110 and beyond range. Not the place to find out you should have serviced your gear first, or that you had it serviced and the tech had a bad day, or that you have some other issues, like being a tad rusty.

I dive somewhere every week, and you are most welcome to give me a shout to get wet.

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks for sharing your story. Interesting, and with happier outcomes that my love life. But then, most are. :15a:

I like a 7 mil Jumpsuit, got one I've used off of the Channel Islands, and do not see enough extra benefit from the F.John suits to warrant the extra expense and bother. BTW, have you looked for cummerbund extensions? Hate to see you waiting all summer to dive. But do have your BC & Reg serviced by an authorized technician and - you were going to dive alone, were you? Don't do that.

You might add Calf or So.Calf to your location so others can connect with you easily, and get to know the folks on your local dive club forum.

don :biggrinpi

 

[tx.lakerats]

Welcome to the boards!!

 

[Ann Marie]

You've gotten some great advice about the cumberbun extender and gear servicing already. One thing you might want to look into is a lycra dive skin to wear under your wetsuit. I would recommend taking your farmer john into your sive shop and putting it on after you put on a dive skin. I wear a skin and it just makes getting a wetsuit on much easier.

Welcome back to diving and to ScubaBoard!

 

[undrwater]

Wow! Thanks all for the responses/replies...and especially advice!

The Gear: I had everything serviced as soon as I came home from Belize. The tank got the hydro and VIP, and reg and BCD got closely scrutinized (I told the tech that these hadn't been used seriously for 10 years)

Cumberbund Extender: This is a good idea, I'll definately look into it (can't believe I didn't even think to look for something similar).

Lycra Skin: I have one, although I wasn't wearing it for that beach dive. Once the suit was on completely I found it a hard to breathe...I'm thinking this was a big clue?

Losing weight: Actually, I'm at my ideal weight...when I bought the gear, I was very thin...probably too thin for my own good. I do a lot of swimming, cycling, and stair climbing, but no running.

Diving Alone: are you kidding? :11: I know some people who are comfortable diving alone, and maybe there will come a time when I might be...but God forbid the wife hears about it!! That beach dive was with a club, but I'm definately checking out sandeaters.com.

Lottery Ticket: that's a regular weekly expense for some of my family members.

Thanks again...see you in SoCal!

 

[Wristshot]

Here's a thought: ask around for someone in your size that has recently upgraded to a drysuit. They might be willing to sell an old wetsuit to cover some of the expense. You get a good deal and help out some one else.

I have a two-piece 7mm wetsuit, but it is a custom. I have found that if I wear lycra scuba socks, it is a lot easier to get the wetsuit on. Just something to consider.

And welcome back!

Wristshot