My first doubles dive was...

[Dive-aholic]

Somewhere in the 120s, I think.

Ah! Not I... I started doubles as a recreational diver to get used to them before moving on to more technical training (was considering cave training at the time).

Yes, I agree that adv ntx/deco training and the associated dives are a bit premature at 50 dives, but there's nothing at all wrong with getting together with a mentor or instructor and learning to use the equipment while staying well within "recreational limits"

Same here. Lots of recreational doubles dives. As with any new equipment, take it one step at a time. I would have started doubles sooner, but I couldn't afford them sooner and no one around here rents them or even dives them. I had to go out of the area for them.

 

[lamont]

around dive #96 (i'm missing a few months of dives that scrolled off my computer and never got logged, so that's approximate). it was a 53 minute dive with a max depth of 91 feet.

 

[Tavi]

First Doubles Dive # 86

diving was a lot cheaper before that
now it's 2 sets of doubles, deco bottles, more regs, more training, etc,etc........

 

[AquaHump]

dive # 23

 

[mer]

Around 120 I threw on some steel doubles. It was a disaster. Went back to singles after 30 dives and fixed some problems, put the doubles (alums this time) back on around dive 150

With the "fundamentals" down solid, it was hardly an adjustment. Just a little muscle memory to reach valves. 150 dives later (mostly in alum doubles) I'm ready for steels again and to finish my first deco class.

Personally, I think the right time to move to doubles is when you have your buoyancy, trim, situational awareness, and emergency procedures down nearly flawlessly in a single.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Depends on how you define doubles. My first couple sets of doubles were manifolded single outlet steel 45/50's with J valves no less. They were actually no big deal and trimmed better than an AL 80 and required no new procedures,which was a good thing as I doubt I had 50 dives by then and just strapped them on an went without benefit of instruction, etc.

If you are limiting it to strictly technically oriented doubles such as independent doubles, dual outlet doubles or manifolded doubles, I had well over 500 dives before that technology arrived on the scene.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

For me, somwhere similar to Lamont, before dive #100, but not too far before.

And my approach was similar to Snowbear's in there shouldn't be a problem with practicing with doubles or independant doubles while diving purely recreational profiles and gases to get accustomed to the equipment. I didn't add any sling tanks until our tech training dives which were around dive 120 or so.

I doubt we'll progress further to cave certs or any such - we're plateaued where we're happy, and have a comittment to plan & take a nice Pacific trip to include Truk Lagoon in 2006, and try to hit Bikini in 2007. If anyone knows where there's better wreck diving with true historical significance in calm, clear, warm water, drop me a PM, so I can put it on our 'to do' lists.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Well... Scapa Flow is not iced over, the water in the flow is a lot calmer than the water outside the flow, the visibility is a lot better than on most of the commercial dives I have done, and the ship are historically significant, so from a somewhat relative point of view, Scap Flow meets all your criteria.

 

[mnj1233]

Ah! Not I... I started doubles as a recreational diver to get used to them before moving on to more technical training (was considering cave training at the time).

Yes, I agree that adv ntx/deco training and the associated dives are a bit premature at 50 dives, but there's nothing at all wrong with getting together with a mentor or instructor and learning to use the equipment while staying well within "recreational limits"

Agree with Snowbear.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Well... Scapa Flow is not iced over, the water in the flow is a lot calmer than the water outside the flow, the visibility is a lot better than on most of the commercial dives I have done, and the ship are historically significant, so from a somewhat relative point of view, Scap Flow meets all your criteria.

Maybe you missed my pseudonym - or perhaps I should qualify a better definition of 'warm' beyond 'not iced over' - i.e. no drysuit recommended, a generally recognized break point for waters percieved as 'non-warm' - but thanks for the thoughts. The Galapagos is a reasonable dive travel destination break point for my clarification purposes - dry suit useful, but wetsuit still well functional. If you go to dive Scapa Flow / have been there, post a trip report so I can see firsthand experience please.

My interest in Scapa Flow currently would only be from the academic standpoint including the link to Bikini and similar events, causing the scuttled wrecks to suddenly increase in salvage value as non-irradiated, as well as general historical significance for WWI. You didn't happen to be one of those salvage divers at Scapa Flow until the remainder were preserved for historic purposes would you? Just wondering about the relative vis part of your post.

PM's still welcome as before. I'm striving to minimize hijacking on my part.