MikeJacobs
Guest
Fred & all kayakers - who's doing a lot of kayaking in Venice these days? Is it really worthwhile to get out beyond the shore-divers? How deep are the beds out there?
Kayaking Venice?
- Thread starter MikeJacobs
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Mike - Yes, there is benefit to get beyond where we dive. depth is still in the 20' range even a half mile out.
Was perfect Yaking water. Surface was real calm and only had slight ripples.
Wildbill:cop_2:
Wildbill:cop_2:
Scuba Duba Do
Registered
This sounds like it might be a good option to avoid a long surface swim, but I have a few questions since I've never seen it before...
1. Is this a special "dive" kayak and if so where do you get one and how many people can it carry? (You and your buddy would be nice)
2. How do you prevent your kayak from drifting away while you're diving? - Anchor it in the sand somehow, tie it off to a buoy or maybe tie it off to the diver and mount the dive flag on the kayak (that last one sounds like trouble waiting to happen)
2. My biggest concern is dealing with your gear, where and when do you put your gear on, before or after you get in the kayak and how to you get back in the kayak with your gear?
Thanks for bringing me up to speed
1. Is this a special "dive" kayak and if so where do you get one and how many people can it carry? (You and your buddy would be nice)
2. How do you prevent your kayak from drifting away while you're diving? - Anchor it in the sand somehow, tie it off to a buoy or maybe tie it off to the diver and mount the dive flag on the kayak (that last one sounds like trouble waiting to happen)
2. My biggest concern is dealing with your gear, where and when do you put your gear on, before or after you get in the kayak and how to you get back in the kayak with your gear?
Thanks for bringing me up to speed
Gibbon
Guest
well SDD, this has come up on occasion, and I've come up with 2 web sites that explain just about everything to do with kayak diving.
The Complete Guide to outfitting and using your dive kayak
Jim Spear's Kayak Diving
I haven't seen many kayaks that can hold 2 divers + gear for 2 (comfortably).
of course, this also depends on if you're doing 1 tank dives, or 2. if 2, you have to figure close to 125lbs of gear/person. Average person = 180lbs
180 * 2 = 360lbs
+ 125lbs * 2 = total: 610lbs.
Most kayaks that are good for diving either don't go that high for floatation, or barely make that.
The Complete Guide to outfitting and using your dive kayak
Jim Spear's Kayak Diving
I haven't seen many kayaks that can hold 2 divers + gear for 2 (comfortably).
of course, this also depends on if you're doing 1 tank dives, or 2. if 2, you have to figure close to 125lbs of gear/person. Average person = 180lbs
180 * 2 = 360lbs
+ 125lbs * 2 = total: 610lbs.
Most kayaks that are good for diving either don't go that high for floatation, or barely make that.
Scuba Duba Do
Registered
Thanks for the quick replay and the links - looks like I have some reading to do but thats ok, I enjoy reading especially if I can learn a thing or two.
I'm almost sold on the idea, and if the price is right I might just have to get 2, one for the wife, and one for me. (It sure is nice being married to your dive buddy. It often makes things a lot simpler, notice I said "often" not "always" but thats another story, actually a few stories, but we won't go there - lol )
We were out at Venice today and the surf and the strong westerly winds made the beach entry mighty tough until you got past the breakers, not to mention the poor vis. A kayak might have been the perfect solution for getting past the breakers, or the perfect solution for disaster. Obviously practice in calmer waters is called for before venturing into less than friendly seas.
How often do you guys go to venice, if at all? I'd love to take a look at the "pros" in action.
Oh, and do you know if you have to register the kayak in Florida, like a regular boat?
I'm almost sold on the idea, and if the price is right I might just have to get 2, one for the wife, and one for me. (It sure is nice being married to your dive buddy. It often makes things a lot simpler, notice I said "often" not "always" but thats another story, actually a few stories, but we won't go there - lol )
We were out at Venice today and the surf and the strong westerly winds made the beach entry mighty tough until you got past the breakers, not to mention the poor vis. A kayak might have been the perfect solution for getting past the breakers, or the perfect solution for disaster. Obviously practice in calmer waters is called for before venturing into less than friendly seas.
How often do you guys go to venice, if at all? I'd love to take a look at the "pros" in action.
Oh, and do you know if you have to register the kayak in Florida, like a regular boat?
Gibbon:
Gibbon
Guest
"We were out at Venice today and the surf and the strong westerly winds made the beach entry mighty tough until you got past the breakers, not to mention the poor vis. A kayak might have been the perfect solution for getting past the breakers, or the perfect solution for disaster. Obviously practice in calmer waters is called for before venturing into less than friendly seas."
The biggest thing to remember with kayak diving is to SECURE ALL GEAR on the yak. double and triple secure if neccessary.
going into and out of surf you HAVE to expect that sooner or later, your kayak WILL go swimming without you.
The biggest thing to remember with kayak diving is to SECURE ALL GEAR on the yak. double and triple secure if neccessary.
going into and out of surf you HAVE to expect that sooner or later, your kayak WILL go swimming without you.
DEEPSEAWOLF
Contributor
First off... no you do NOT have to register a kayak as long as there is no motor on it. There are some models that have a transom like the sevylor dive kayak, which is made for that purpose. (not to be confused with the "diveyak" by sevylor)
The whole diver sinking the kayak... Gibbon and I have tried his yak with two people and only ONE set of gear, as well as my wife and I in a yak with ONE set of gear. Let's just say,... NOT COOL!!! The Crystal River dive... with me and the wife in one yak, my gear strapped in behind me, and me sitting at the rear position,... when Holly jumped off, the yak almost went bow to the sky dumping me and gear off! On the way back in, we put some in Gibbon's yak so ours didn't sit so low in the water. What we've found is... get a tandem and use it as a one person platform. Plenty of flotation, and room for comfort. Although the Kayak Trimaran is the next option.
I just paid a hundred bucks for a damaged yak that I am repairing quite well. I am considering turning it into a two person dive platform with outriggers. Two wings to place gear on, and a ladder for easy reboarding.
The whole diver sinking the kayak... Gibbon and I have tried his yak with two people and only ONE set of gear, as well as my wife and I in a yak with ONE set of gear. Let's just say,... NOT COOL!!! The Crystal River dive... with me and the wife in one yak, my gear strapped in behind me, and me sitting at the rear position,... when Holly jumped off, the yak almost went bow to the sky dumping me and gear off! On the way back in, we put some in Gibbon's yak so ours didn't sit so low in the water. What we've found is... get a tandem and use it as a one person platform. Plenty of flotation, and room for comfort. Although the Kayak Trimaran is the next option.
I just paid a hundred bucks for a damaged yak that I am repairing quite well. I am considering turning it into a two person dive platform with outriggers. Two wings to place gear on, and a ladder for easy reboarding.
I haven't tried one yet but I hear the stablity leave a little to be desired. I managed to get my hands on a 10 ' ocean kayak For free from a freind that owed my a favor. I haven't realy tried it out yet but now that I have all the peices parts I ready. I watched a older gentleman down to Venice that had the same one I have and he had no problem. Although he I didn't see how or if he climbed back in. I studied up on how it's done and I don't think I have any problems. Seems if you keep the the K.I.S.S. system you should do fine. Not to set something up SOON.
Fred
Fred
Gibbon
Guest
I have an Ocean Kayak: Drifter, and it's a GREAT dive platform.
I didn't need to add ANY additional eyelets/rivets to the thing (just a rope), and it's ready to go. It's sooooo stable that I can stand up and walk in it (tho there's not much room to walk).
Got mine from a retailer for $100 off (they used it in a couple demos. Been in the water 4 times before I got it.)
I didn't need to add ANY additional eyelets/rivets to the thing (just a rope), and it's ready to go. It's sooooo stable that I can stand up and walk in it (tho there's not much room to walk).
Got mine from a retailer for $100 off (they used it in a couple demos. Been in the water 4 times before I got it.)
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