OW Dive Equip?

[banff50]

I have my OW dives next weekend and have been told I will need a dive knife and a dive watch. I am pretty cash-strapped. Any recommendations?

 

[fisherdvm]

Go to the local Kmart and buy a cheap watch that is rated for 200 ft water resistance... should find some for 20 bucks or so. Get an inexpensive folding stainless steel knife with serrated edge if possible for your BC pocket. Or buy an inexpensive bandage scissor that is stainless steel from a drug store that would fit in your BC.

Just rinse them real well after you dive, and remove them from your BC pocket, as they definitely will rust around the hinges and stain your pretty BC.

If you are reallly cheap, get a kitchen timer from a dollar store and put it into a couple of zip lock bags... You can put a bead of superglue into the seam, just in case... I would say that 3 zip lock bags will get you down to 60 ft easily.

 

[fisherdvm]

Or, just pretend you had one, and bum the numbers from your dive buddies.... In a real OW dive, I would be surprise if you will get tangled in any fish lines....

A very experienced diver I know just carries a small children safety scissor in his BC... I doubt if I ever really need to carry a knife to cut through a 1/2 inch poly rope... I think this only happens in the movies.

Seriously, my main concern at depth is getting hooked by fish hooks on mooring ropes as you ascend or descend... How have folks gotten out? Just jank it hard?

 

[dkktsunami]

I have my OW dives next weekend and have been told I will need a dive knife and a dive watch. I am pretty cash-strapped. Any recommendations?

Golem Gear offers stainless "mini" emt shears with cordura sheath for $9. These will NOT rust and can be attached almost anywhere.

 

[Jafo123]

I can understand a knife on O/W check out dives. My wife got tangeled in fishing line the very first check out dive she had. At the time we didn't have dive knives and the instructor had to cut her free.

 

[doghouse]

Harbor freight has crash scissors for 2.99. Or Leisure pro has some in the pouch for 5.99.

Dive watch, TJ Max or any other discount store. Any waterproof watch with a stopwatch function is perfect.

 

[SharkDiver36]

I'm assuming you need a dive watch because you aren't using a dive computer or a "real" bottom timer on your dive.

I suggest you borrow a couple of bucks and rent a bottom timer or an actual dive computer from your LDS.

Buying a $20 watch isn't good advice in my opinion and in the end I believe will be a waste of $20. No watch in my opinion could be called a bottom timer for $20, that's my opinion, I'm sure others would disagree.

Besides, you could probably rent the "real thing" from your LDS cheaper than the $20 anyways.

For the dive knife, anything would do I suppose. Even a cheap'o pocket knife it was easily accessible. If you have access to a decent Med Kit, there is usually a pair of scissors that should suffice if the justification for carrying it is entaglements. The scissors I'm referring too are similar to the Sea Snips, big handle in a "L" type shape.

Good luck on your dives!

 

[SteveAD]

Buying a $20 watch isn't good advice in my opinion and in the end I believe will be a waste of $20. No watch in my opinion could be called a bottom timer for $20, that's my opinion, I'm sure others would disagree.

Besides, you could probably rent the "real thing" from your LDS cheaper than the $20 anyways.

How is spending $20 to rent an allegedly superior piece of gear that you don't get to keep more cost effective that using the same $20 to buy an argueably inferior piece of gear that has daily wear applications?

I fail to see why a watch is any worse than a bottom timer. If you can tell time and have the discipline to check your watch at the appropriate times you should be fine. If not, should you be diving?

That being said, I dive with a computer (I like it's record keeping ability), but I used to dive with a watch and have never owned a bottom timer.

 

[Brand0n]

just get a serrated edge knife from a local fishing store with a sheath and tape it to your console, thats what i do still works fine for me, and cheap to replace.

 

[fisherdvm]

Besides, you could probably rent the "real thing" from your LDS cheaper than the $20 anyways.

Why rent the stupid thing when a cheap McDonald happy meal watch can do with duct tape around it?? It is always fun to be a DIY.... and you can learn how 3 atm of pressure can seap through zip lock bags...

Once you saved enough money, then you can buy a dive computer.... All of these garbage about having to buy a dive computer is keeping many people from diving... Did Jacque Cousteau have a dive computer?? NO..

I bought a dive watch about 15 years ago, which is still working with the SAME original battery... 15 years of ticking.... And I still dive with it... It cost me about $20 then, and I guess that similar model now would even be cheaper. Look for one with large screen and bright back light, and easy to push button. You would appreciate this when you have gloved hands.