How do you like this setup? (Single Tank-Warm water)

[Mr Carcharodon]

How much ditchable weight do you have with this setup? I have not done the calcs but can you float this rig at the surface if you need to get out of it? Can you swim it up from 110 fsw with no gas in your wing or drysuit? I am not saying there is a problem, but do answer the questions for yourself.

I have always used standard hoses rather than the milfex. Standard works fine, what problem are you solving the the Milflex? At least some people have said the Milflex hoses are buoyant and float away from them.

(incidentally I just passed 1,000 posts. It took 7 years so I am not exactly a frequent poster -- still getting out and diving more and posting less seems like a good idea)

 

[TSandM]

A wing needs to do two things -- it needs to float your gear on the surface (in case you need to get out of it in the water to get back on a small boat, for example) and it needs to compensate for the lift lost from your exposure protection at depth, or in the event of a flood.

A full 130 is about 13 pounds negative. Add a regulator and some d-rings and maybe a light canister, and you're going to be VERY close to the maximum capacity of that 18 pound wing. I wouldn't take that chance, myself.

If your 30/30 floods, you need a wing that can get you and your gear to the surface . . . here, the 18 pound wing is totally going to fail. The tank is 13 pounds negative, and you can probably lose at least 15 pounds from the suit (judging from how much weight I carry when diving dry in the tropics), so you and your tank are 28 pounds negative, with a max lift of 18 pounds, leaving you with at least 10 pounds to swim up and a horribly negative situation on the surface.

I love my little DSS 17 lb tropical wing to pieces . . . but I won't use it when diving dry, even though I use aluminum tanks in the tropics. I wouldn't even remotely CONSIDER using it with a big steel tank.

 

[tracydr]

How do you do this calculation? With other tanks, etc.

 

[DaleC]

I'm curious what failure you anticipate under 50' (well to tell the truth 30-40') that will require a 19cuft pony?

 

[eelnoraa]

TSandM has it right. If you drysuit flood, you wing should have anough lift to get you out of trouble.

I think the concept of buying a DUI30-30 so that you can use for both summer (3mm wetsuit kind of water) and winter (50F kind of water) has some major flaw. A summer drysuit will cut pretty slim because not much undergarment is needed. You will not be able to wear the proper undergarment for 50F under it. If you buy a suit that fit 50F water undergarment, it will be way to baggy in warm water.

For wing, if you think you will use it for both winter and summer, get one that has appropriate lift for winter. It maybe too big for summer diving, but at least you will be safe in cold water.

Wouldn't i need less buoyancy if i have a dry suit on?


Here was my thinking,

Large tank, heavy. So instead of adding more drag (bigger wing) i went with a 18# and added a tropical dry suit (more buoyancy)
If i decide to shore dive in 30' the dry suit is overkill for sure but, if i want to go offshore and wreck dive deeper or in winter this one dry suit covers me with just a change of under garments.
I would need 2 wetsuits+ to cover all this......and everyone says diving dry is nicer anyhoo....
So shallow summer diving, deep summer diving, and shallow winter diving, deep winter diving...all birds killed with one stone, DUI 30-30
example: (could be wrong for sure! [

3mm wet suit.......Will that be warm enough @ 120+ ft in the winter? Not for me diving every day! So for this, i need the 2nd wet suit for sure....

So i figured just get the dry and use it year around. works out to be about the same price (for two wetsuits, close... DUI a bit more) and i get the comfort of diving dry, and i get the added buoyancy too boot. If its too dam warm in the shallows, i'll just get a cheapo skin to use, instead of a 3mm wet, that wont work in winter deep for my skinny bones!

That's kinda my thinking up to this point! hehe

 

[halocline]

I'm still wondering why anyone would choose to use a drysuit in warm water. I guess if you get really cold....but for most people, using a thin wetsuit when the conditions allow will be much more enjoyable. You mentioned the added buoyancy of a drysuit; for most divers that's one of the main disadvantages of the drysuit. You might be an exception, but it's not the norm.

You're also choosing a huge tank when I don't think it's necessary, and that means lugging around a lot of bulk un-necessarily. People use drysuits and heavy steel tanks because they have to, either for depth or water temp or both. You're talking about shallow warm dives (you're a new diver, correct?) and I would guess you'd be more comfortable in a wetsuit and smaller tank. The LP72s are super small (and cheap!) but maybe a good compromise would be a HP100, or just use AL80s for a while.

I agree with the others on the wing situation, it's just that I don't think you need a bigger wing for this scenario as much as smaller everything else. But, certainly an 18lb wing (teeny tiny) is not a good match with a drysuit and huge steel tank.

If you end up being as avid a diver as you seem, really diving a lot year round, you're going to want two set ups anyway. (At least!) Unfortunately, it's far too easy to acquire scuba gear once you get going on this hobby. Before you know it you'll end up with crap everywhere.....

 

[SirBubbleHead]

A wing needs to do two things -- it needs to float your gear on the surface (in case you need to get out of it in the water to get back on a small boat, for example) and it needs to compensate for the lift lost from your exposure protection at depth, or in the event of a flood.

A full 130 is about 13 pounds negative. Add a regulator and some d-rings and maybe a light canister, and you're going to be VERY close to the maximum capacity of that 18 pound wing. I wouldn't take that chance, myself.

If your 30/30 floods, you need a wing that can get you and your gear to the surface . . . here, the 18 pound wing is totally going to fail. The tank is 13 pounds negative, and you can probably lose at least 15 pounds from the suit (judging from how much weight I carry when diving dry in the tropics), so you and your tank are 28 pounds negative, with a max lift of 18 pounds, leaving you with at least 10 pounds to swim up and a horribly negative situation on the surface.

I love my little DSS 17 lb tropical wing to pieces . . . but I won't use it when diving dry, even though I use aluminum tanks in the tropics. I wouldn't even remotely CONSIDER using it with a big steel tank.

Good stuff thxs!

---------- Post added ----------

I'm curious what failure you anticipate under 50' (well to tell the truth 30-40') that will require a 19cuft pony?

That's easy, no clue......but if it happen's and i need a extra 19 i'll have it! [:

---------- Post added ----------

TSandM has it right. If you drysuit flood, you wing should have anough lift to get you out of trouble.

I think the concept of buying a DUI30-30 so that you can use for both summer (3mm wetsuit kind of water) and winter (50F kind of water) has some major flaw. A summer drysuit will cut pretty slim because not much undergarment is needed. You will not be able to wear the proper undergarment for 50F under it. If you buy a suit that fit 50F water undergarment, it will be way to baggy in warm water.

For wing, if you think you will use it for both winter and summer, get one that has appropriate lift for winter. It maybe too big for summer diving, but at least you will be safe in cold water.

Well i'm not so sure i agree with the cant use the slim fit dry suit with colder water under garments.

First, we are talking about South FL. here......So how cold are we talking in winter?
Second, i use Under Armor or Smart-wool products when i back country camp in winter conditions.

My layers: Polypropylene on skin, This is very thin, and will keep dampness off you. Then i will use Smart Wool or Under A. on top of that.......then wool sweater and gore-tex shell............

So, if i use the poly. (extra thin) as a base layer, then a light weight Smart-Wool or Under Armour, i find it hard to believe this wont fit under the dry, and keep me toasty in FL waters anytime of the year. I would just adjust the thickness of the Smart Wool too the depth i plan too go....
As you can see, I do have a Smart Wool addiction! hehe

I could be wrong!





---------- Post added ----------

Great place! Just wanted to thank everyone that took the time to post so far!

So up to this point here is what i'm thinking.


I have DITCHED the dry suit idea for my shallow warm weather diving.
I will instead be getting a 5mm with hood and gloves.


JUST kidding!

I will just be using a skin for this. With a 18# wing, and a steel hp 80 (rentals). (not losing my steel) on a oxycheq ultra lite backplate....

For the deeper stuff, i will use a 30# wing on a SS-alum plate. With the DUI 30-30


If i rent the 80's.... only things i will need to buy extra, from the original plan are....

1 30# wing
2 ss-alum. back plate Not sure which one yet
3: a skin

The extra $$$ Wont break me too much.

I will also get a canister light in the future (used one for sure) so i can dive dir in the deeper stuff

I think for the little extra money this is better. Thxs for setting me Str8!

 

[PfcAJ]

You're gunna have a great time in the summer wearing all that stuff before you get in the water.

 

[SirBubbleHead]

You're gunna have a great time in the summer wearing all that stuff before you get in the water.

???? I'm down too a 18# wing, 80cf steel and a skin for my warm water stuff? If your talking about the DUI 30-30 on deeper water dives, topside..
Cant be no different then wearing a 5 mm waiting to get into the water?

Correct me if i'm wrong. With the zips you can vent the drysuit while top side right?

 

[PfcAJ]

I dive a drysuit all the time, and its miserable in the summer (duration of dives leaves me without a choice). If you're just going to go suit-less in the summer, then go for it. I think youll end up with a wetsuit eventually.