Must-have accessories for first boat dive
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OP
Thanks for the tips and reminders, folks. Along these lines, what sort of exposure protection might be right for mid-April in Key Largo? The only upside to my high BMI is I don't tend to get cold. Too warm, usually. I was fine in a 5mm with boots and hood below the thermocline at Dutch Springs last August (63 F). I'm wondering if I'd be too warm in a 3mm long in April? Sun protection for my legs might be nice, tho... Any guesses for water temperature that time of year?
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Find Florida Keys Weather information here at Fla-Keys.com - Islamorada, Key Largo, Marathon, Lower Keys, Key West
Looks like mid to upper 70s.
I would wear my 3/2 full suit in that. My personal opinion is that the concern with a wetsuit being too warm is generally more relevant to being too warm when you're out of the water, rather than in it. I know that I personally would not be too warm in my 3/2 full suit in 79 degree water. I *might* occasionally, as I swim along, pull the neck open to let a little water in. Maybe. But, the bigger concern to me would be whether I'm too hot when I'm suited up on the boat before or between dives. And, that time of year, air temps will probably be in the 70s - so I would not be too hot. But, I'm originally from north FL, so I have some tolerance to high heat and humidity. You have to decide for yourself if you would be. I think you would be fine in your 3mm.
Find Florida Keys Weather information here at Fla-Keys.com - Islamorada, Key Largo, Marathon, Lower Keys, Key West
Looks like mid to upper 70s.
I would wear my 3/2 full suit in that. My personal opinion is that the concern with a wetsuit being too warm is generally more relevant to being too warm when you're out of the water, rather than in it. I know that I personally would not be too warm in my 3/2 full suit in 79 degree water. I *might* occasionally, as I swim along, pull the neck open to let a little water in. Maybe. But, the bigger concern to me would be whether I'm too hot when I'm suited up on the boat before or between dives. And, that time of year, air temps will probably be in the 70s - so I would not be too hot. But, I'm originally from north FL, so I have some tolerance to high heat and humidity. You have to decide for yourself if you would be. I think you would be fine in your 3mm.
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Netdoc dives in just a tshirt & shorts most of the year, once in a while he'll wear his shorty.
Me? in the mid 70's I'm in either my 5mm or my 3mm with a vest. 73 or below = dry suit.
Yes we make a fully looking pair when I'm in a dry suit and he's in a tshirt.
While the water maybe in the mid 70s, if it's windy, it feels colder because you don't warm up as fast between dives or on the way back to the dock....unless of course you are in a dry suit.
Me? in the mid 70's I'm in either my 5mm or my 3mm with a vest. 73 or below = dry suit.
Yes we make a fully looking pair when I'm in a dry suit and he's in a tshirt.
While the water maybe in the mid 70s, if it's windy, it feels colder because you don't warm up as fast between dives or on the way back to the dock....unless of course you are in a dry suit.
gcarter
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Used a 3/2 full suit for a week of diving in KL last May. Water was in the 76 - 77 range, quite comfortable.
dumpsterDiver
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Of course, you can make 1 lb weight adjustments by switching out 2 and 3 lb weights, right?
True - if you're using those. I used the one pounders on two different dives when I was in Mexico. Both times, I got in thinking I had enough weight. But, at the end of the dive found that I wished I had just a little more. When I got out, it was easier (for me - in that particular situation) to just add 2 x 1 #s before my next dive than to take the weights out that I was using and swap them.
Something else, not "dive" related.
Wear glasses? Have that expensive pair of sunglasses?
I have a small Pelican case that my glasses go into just before I put my mask on. I hook the case over my next tank so that it is there when I get back out. Nice and safe and secure - nobody can damage or scratch them.
---------- Post added February 5th, 2015 at 08:36 AM ----------
I often take them as well. I don't need too much weight, but I like having the two pounds for trim - that's all I need. Of course, it could be a "placebo"...likely wouldn't need it anyway.
Wear glasses? Have that expensive pair of sunglasses?
I have a small Pelican case that my glasses go into just before I put my mask on. I hook the case over my next tank so that it is there when I get back out. Nice and safe and secure - nobody can damage or scratch them.
---------- Post added February 5th, 2015 at 08:36 AM ----------
I often take them as well. I don't need too much weight, but I like having the two pounds for trim - that's all I need. Of course, it could be a "placebo"...likely wouldn't need it anyway.
Seymour Fisch
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Definitely +1 on a hard case for glasses. I picked up a cheap, clear lexan case from GSI at a camping store years ago, and it works great for this purpose. I think it's this one: GSI Outdoors: Products
I figure the translucent box might deter theft on shore dives, too, as there's obviously nothing valuable (except to me!) inside.
Up-thread, Octopusprime mentioned a BCD mount for the GoPro. I love photography and am a new diver, so when I started diving, I knew I wanted to bring a GoPro with me. However, I had read all the great advice from experienced folks here about avoiding task loading, etc. I went with a BCD mount from Z-Gear (https://www.zgearinc.com/store/p3/BCD_GoPro_Mount.html) and have been meaning to write a review, but it's now 1.5 years later and I still haven't gotten to it. :-/ Frank and Julie Garrido (who are on Scubaboard) were great to deal with, and the mount works pretty well on all the different rental BCDs I've used. I got a battery bacpac, too, so I just turn on the camera before I splash and turn it off back on the boat, and I can record two full dives with some power to spare (Hero 3+), without having to open the case on the boat or anything. The videos aren't great, since they're like a dash cam, rather than thoughtfully planned shots, but the task loading is minimal, I've really enjoyed being able to re-live my dives, and I got wonderful video on Stuart Cove's shark dive, and the manta ray night dive in Kona. (On the subject of task loading: despite my idiot-proof setup, I still managed to be an idiot and forget to turn on the camera a couple times, including missing a pacific octopus with a 6ft tentacle span casually hanging out in the open right in front of me. I was so happy that I was getting this all on video, and only when I was swimiming back did I realize I had forgotten to turn on my camera before starting the dive. :doh
I figure the translucent box might deter theft on shore dives, too, as there's obviously nothing valuable (except to me!) inside.
Up-thread, Octopusprime mentioned a BCD mount for the GoPro. I love photography and am a new diver, so when I started diving, I knew I wanted to bring a GoPro with me. However, I had read all the great advice from experienced folks here about avoiding task loading, etc. I went with a BCD mount from Z-Gear (https://www.zgearinc.com/store/p3/BCD_GoPro_Mount.html) and have been meaning to write a review, but it's now 1.5 years later and I still haven't gotten to it. :-/ Frank and Julie Garrido (who are on Scubaboard) were great to deal with, and the mount works pretty well on all the different rental BCDs I've used. I got a battery bacpac, too, so I just turn on the camera before I splash and turn it off back on the boat, and I can record two full dives with some power to spare (Hero 3+), without having to open the case on the boat or anything. The videos aren't great, since they're like a dash cam, rather than thoughtfully planned shots, but the task loading is minimal, I've really enjoyed being able to re-live my dives, and I got wonderful video on Stuart Cove's shark dive, and the manta ray night dive in Kona. (On the subject of task loading: despite my idiot-proof setup, I still managed to be an idiot and forget to turn on the camera a couple times, including missing a pacific octopus with a 6ft tentacle span casually hanging out in the open right in front of me. I was so happy that I was getting this all on video, and only when I was swimiming back did I realize I had forgotten to turn on my camera before starting the dive. :doh
Netdoc dives in just a tshirt & shorts most of the year, once in a while he'll wear his shorty.
Me? in the mid 70's I'm in either my 5mm or my 3mm with a vest. 73 or below = dry suit.
Yes we make a fully looking pair when I'm in a dry suit and he's in a tshirt.
While the water maybe in the mid 70s, if it's windy, it feels colder because you don't warm up as fast between dives or on the way back to the dock....unless of course you are in a dry suit.
I'm always in my drysuit. Took it to Belize and Croatia last year, and it will be travelling to Oz and the South Pacific with me in just over a month
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