New Equipment Dives in a pool?

[stevetim]

Out of curiosity...

does anyone else besides myself do your own personal "checkout" dives in a pool with any new gear that you have purchased?
I started doing this a couple of months ago with the addition of an octo over an octo/inflator combo. I also did it to test hose routing with the SP MK25/S600.

Pretty much just a familiarization dive vs. putting myself at risk in the ocean trying to configure everything.

So, just wondering if there are any protocols you all use for new gear.

 

[sasscuba]

If it is warm enough I do since my pool is outside in my backyard.

 

[spectrum]

Pool access is sometimes hard to come by here. I do make sure to intoduce gear on a conservative shore dive with a trusted buddy and a plan of what we're trying and what to watch for. The same would hold true for freshly serviced gear. It's also best to change 1 item at a time if possible.

Pete

 

[rocketry]

I'm the same exact way. I would never go for a full dive with new / newly serviced gear. While I have never had any problems, I have heard the horror stories, oh my! I have a pool near me that lets me and a buddy use (15ft) and it's perfect for getting aquanted with new gear, fine tuning trim, etc.

 

[SparticleBrane]

I've only hopped directly into open water with brand "new" (new to me, anyway) gear, and that was when I did a dive trying out doubles. Did it in the shallow 'confined water' area of a local rock quarry--shallow, decently warm, and decent vis. No problems either.

 

[Reggae Joe]

Ideally, I'll hop in a pool too to take new equipment for a test dive. My LDS in Toledo is really good about letting divers do this sort of thing--and they have a heated pool, which is even better. I did, however, break in my new BC without the pool, but tested it in the shallow part of a local quarry while a friend of mine was doing her OW skills.

 

[ClayJar]

My parents have a pool in their backyard. Whenever I get a new piece of equipment, I hop over there and dive it in their pool, and then I clean up the bottom to thank them for it. Works well, as I get to use their pool, and they get a much better bottom cleaning than you can do from the surface.

 

[David The Gnome]

It's hard to get the pool here at UK when nobody is in it but when I get new equipment it's nice to test it out in the pool before taking it out in the "real world" so to speak.

 

[The Kraken]

A very prudent exercise, indeed . . . if the opportunity presents itself.

the K

 

[JodiBB]

Yep! I bought new equipment about 2 months ago. I refused to go out diving until I tried everything out in a pool with my instructor from the OW/AOW class. I missed a couple of fun dives with it, but I can't imagine trying to do it any other way.