I’m never using a BC again!

[Eric Sedletzky]

The proper term is "sporty"...

I fixed it.

 

[tarponchik]

Did you miss this part?
“As I approached the beach the surge and beach break took the bags away from me and shore support got them out.”

But this was accidental, not planned.

 

[CD24]

Great drive report. Curious what depth you typically harvest urchin.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

But this was accidental, not planned.

No it wasn’t, I let go of them on purpose knowing shore support would get them out. Kinda hard on the bags and lift bag getting beat up in the surf zone but they are tools.
I never drag bags up on the beach, that’s what shore support is for, unless I’m solo. If I’m solo then I leave them out in waist deep water. I get myself out and unkit, then go back out and grab them. But I would never solo dive on a day like it was on 10/15/23 at Stillwater.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Great drive report. Curious what depth you typically harvest urchin.

Anywhere from 6’ to 15’ right now, tide dependent.
After we clear all the urchins from the weed line close to the beach we will work outward into deeper water. Then maybe 15’ to 25’?
Getting all of them out of the shallows is our goal right now.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

This week looks looks pretty gnarly too:

PZZ540-172315
Coastal Waters from Point Arena to Point Reyes California out to 10 nm
315 AM PDT Tue Oct 17 2023

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM PDT THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT



TODAY
NW winds 15 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots. Wind waves around 2 ft...building to 4 to 5 ft this afternoon. W swell 5 to 7 ft at 14 seconds. Patchy dense fog this morning.

TONIGHT
NW winds 15 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots. Wind waves 5 to 7 ft. W swell 4 to 6 ft at 13 seconds. Patchy dense fog.

WED
NW winds 10 to 15 knots. Wind waves 4 to 5 ft. W swell 4 to 6 ft at 20 seconds. Patchy fog.

WED NIGHT
NW winds 5 to 10 knots. Wind waves 4 to 5 ft. W swell 6 to 8 ft at 21 seconds.

THU
NW winds 5 to 10 knots. Wind waves around 2 ft. W swell 10 to 12 ft at 18 seconds.

THU NIGHT
NW winds 5 to 10 knots. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell 9 to 11 ft at 17 seconds.

FRI
NW winds 10 to 15 knots. Wind waves 0 to 1 ft. W swell 6 to 8 ft and SW up to 2 ft.

SAT
W winds 10 to 15 knots. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell 4 to 6 ft and SW around 2 ft. Patchy fog.

 

[The Chairman]

I fixed it.

Marketing 101 in the Keys.

 

[SlugLife]

I always have a lift bag for these work dives, but I am weighted such that I can float on the surface even with a full tank, so all I need to do is be able to kick up and I know I can float on the surface. And then of course if all hell breaks lose (I don’t know what scenario would constitute that?) I just drop my weightbelt and I’m out of there.
We are only working in 15’ max depth at this time so the surface is not far away.
The lack of clutter is what really makes no bc diving nice. In this case less is way more. More can just get in the way of agility. Even the lack of a skinny wing made a difference when the water rushes by you, inflated or not it’s still there causing some drag and the inflator hose is another thing flopping around in the way. And like I said, why bring it if it never actually gets used? I just risk chafing it up, poking a hole in it when the surge swings me into to a wall loaded with urchins, etc.
If you want to try it, go in light and add weight as needed. You’ll have to tip forward and swim down. Forget about laying sky diver style waddling around, that’s not what wingless diving is about. Keep your body straight and see how efficiently you can glide forward. Think freediving posture in the water, except you can breathe.

I might have to try doing sidemount no-BCD. I might want to remove a 1-2 lbs from my setup, but I could do a few dives with an empty BCD.

----

A safety checklist or recommendations for anyone who wanted to follow in your foot-steps finning might be interesting. It's probably a simple checklist for anyone moderately experienced (50+ dives).

• Neutral Buoyancy - Ensure your buoyancy is neutral enough, you can easily and safely fin to the surface. Alternatively, if slightly negative, be able to drop a few weights to be slightly positive.
• Carry redundant flotation - Such as a lift bag or DSMB. This could be used to aid in surfacing in a pinch, but is mostly intended for surface flotation (such as cramps, or ending up a distance from your intended exit)
• Practice - Ensure the first few times are done in a safe environment, until you get the hang of how it's supposed to work. (you can also practice by wearing a BCD, but never inflating it at all during a dive).
• Experience - Probably not recommended for people who just completed their open-water training or doesn't dive regularly.

I intentionally labeled these as recommendations and not rules, since I'm sure highly experienced divers might have reasons to dive differently, or the dive-site may require more or fewer precautions.

 

[tarponchik]

No it wasn’t, I let go of them on purpose knowing shore support would get them out. Kinda hard on the bags and lift bag getting beat up in the surf zone but they are tools.
I never drag bags up on the beach, that’s what shore support is for, unless I’m solo. If I’m solo then I leave them out in waist deep water. I get myself out and unkit, then go back out and grab them. But I would never solo dive on a day like it was on 10/15/23 at Stillwater.

OK, then I misunderstood. Still, I disagree with "Air in BC’s are a major factor in divers getting slammed on beaches." I'd say, the major factor is not taking the fins off in time. Air in BC is your friend.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

OK, then I misunderstood. Still, I disagree with "Air in BC’s are a major factor in divers getting slammed on beaches." I'd say, the major factor is not taking the fins off in time. Air in BC is your friend.

Well maybe you should join us for one of our dives and you can show me the proper way to do it.
The next one is 10/29 (tentatively) and I expect you to be there. OK
See you there!
Cheers