I like my Slate...!!

[DandyDon]

I never know who I will dive with or what kind of hand signals they know? I know, we could review, but I guess I need a reminder...?

I still have my original one from years ago, altho it looks like I need a new retractor now. On my last trip diving with a :newbie: and a Vacation diver, I finally added two more entries in indelible pen to one side, so I can just point. I show these to my buddies now before we go in, so they'll know which I'm referencing without having to look too close.

Hehe, maybe one more at the bottom, reminding me to review hand signals before going in.

 

[eandiver]

I used to have a slate, forgot who made it, that had a series of preprinted questions on it. Very nice. When I was spearfishing with a friend he had the same slate so we woild just hand signal the question number we wanted to ask.

Now I use one of those wrist mounted ones that have flip up leaves. Nice too.

 

[moneysavr]

Hey Don,Thanks I got to clip mine back on,This past weekend was on a wreck dive with a Pastor pal and he had his and made a note for me,I said to myself nice! but did not look thru the dive bag,now I will!
Brad

 

[scuba_mike]

I have the style of slate that is shaped to strap to my arm and has fold-up slates to provide multiple writing surfaces. It's come in very handy on several dives to keep compass headings and exchange info with my buddy.

I've written the same thing a few times so I really like your idea of pre-writing common questions/info on part of your slate for quick reference. I'll start to do that as well.

Cheers

 

[do it easy]

I wrote "I'm lost!" on mine.

 

[DandyDon]

I wrote "I'm lost!" on mine.

See "Where's the boat?!" :11:

 

[devolution365]

I've been thinking about a slate lately. I started out wanting a magna-doodle type 'cause it's so easy to erase. Then I thought about what I'd use it for: 50% of the reason I want a slate is to keep track of depth, temp, etc for filling out my log. That's not gunna happen on a magna doodle unless it's one with a regular slate on the back/under the cover. So, I started looking at regular slates, then onto wetnotes (but I don't want something I'll have to replace when it gets full). Lately I've been looking at the Anura Amphibious Scuba Notebook, which is like the wetnotes, but the pages are supposed to be erasable/reusable.

Whichever way I go, the permanent phrases seem like a good idea. I actually know a bit of sign language, but my buddy refuses to even learn the alphabet. (Grrr) The wrist mount slates seem like they'd be clumbsy, but I'm not sure about clipping a regular slate to my bcd either. No idea where I'd put the notebook. I have this mental image of me looking like an x-mas tree with all kinds of "ornaments" clipped to my (rental) bcd. :freak:

Oh well... I'll figure it out. But, thanks for the tip about the permanent "often used phrases". I think that'll come in quite handy!

 

[do it easy]

No idea where I'd put the notebook. I have this mental image of me looking like an x-mas tree with all kinds of "ornaments" clipped to my (rental) bcd. :freak:

You can glue pockets onto just about anything- especially wetsuits and drysuits. I wouldn't recommend glueing anything to rental gear.

I have the Dive Rite slate that has multiple pages, but doesn't mount on the wrist. If I need a clean page, I just flip another sheet. Underwater Executive slate. I replaced the plastic clip with a larger brass one to make it easier to manipulate with drygloves.

 

[DandyDon]

No idea where I'd put the notebook. I have this mental image of me looking like an x-mas tree with all kinds of "ornaments" clipped to my (rental) bcd.

Yeah, I'm surprised there are not photos of me all geared up floating around: slate, sausage, storm whistle, DAN tag, dive alert whistle, pony bottle, 2 regs with 3 second stages, 2 spgs on hoses, 2 - 4c dive lights, and a partridge in a pear tree. :14:

 

[TheRedHead]

You can glue pockets onto just about anything- especially wetsuits and drysuits. I wouldn't recommend glueing anything to rental gear.

I have the Dive Rite slate that has multiple pages, but doesn't mount on the wrist. If I need a clean page, I just flip another sheet. Underwater Executive slate. I replaced the plastic clip with a larger brass one to make it easier to manipulate with drygloves.

I love the Dive Rite pencil. I use the Dive Writes with multiple pages which I have clipped to a little retractor snapped inside my pocket (I lose stuff). The multiple pages make it so easy to write longer messages.

It's a lot of fun to write: "You have a Remora on your Butt" and hand to the DM after he shoots the bag.