Ridiculous Equipment?

[clint@uniquescuba.com]

It seems that every time I open the internet or go into a dive shop or attend a diving trade show I see so many ridiculous equipment accessories I think "What are these people thinking?"

Just wondering if any of you deal with this as well and what new equipment you might think is absolutely Ridiculous?

 

[Dtaine]

Oh boy, I went to the dive shop today to get advice on what gear I'm considering purchasing online. Of course I wanted to buy splits because they're faster, and faster is better. Considering that I go so fast underwater, and sometimes forget to check my air supply, I made sure to pick up a Spare Air, and add an Air2 for streamlining. But then, right as I was actually thinking of buying these items from the store, they tried to tell me to forget all that and take some weird course called Fundies. I was like WOAH!!! hold on! I was about to buy from you all these super cool items and you're telling me to get retrained and buy a new setup?!? I walked out, bought all the items online, and e-mailed my local PADI instructor about his upcoming boat diver specialty course.

Edit: I just needed to beat RJP to this thread actually.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

If you caught the thread about minimalism, this is exactly what we were discussing and ulimately what minimalists are against.

 

[Gary D.]

Well, SCUBA is actually a container of air and a way to get it into your body. In other words a tank and a regulator. Everything else is an option. So that can make a lot of things Ridiculous.

Gary D.

 

[NudeDiver]

Well, SCUBA is actually a container of air and a way to get it into your body. In other words a tank and a regulator. Everything else is an option. So that can make a lot of things Ridiculous.

Not necessarily. the "A" in SCUBA is "apparatus" :

Apparatus, (Latin, apparātus; plural apparatus or apparatuses) is a mass noun used to describe equipment designed or assembled for a particular purpose.

So, it's perfectly reasonable to include a great deal of things as part of the "apparatus". The first one of which is a way to carry it around (BCD, harness, or whatever) - and then it goes from there.

People can draw the line at different places.

 

[muddiver]

I wouldn't be cought dead with the little propeller on the SCUBA tabk that I saw to Japanese tourists wearing on a So. Cal beach.

 

[Gary D.]

Not necessarily. the "A" in SCUBA is "apparatus" :

Apparatus, (Latin, apparātus; plural apparatus or apparatuses) is a mass noun used to describe equipment designed or assembled for a particular purpose.

So, it's perfectly reasonable to include a great deal of things as part of the "apparatus". The first one of which is a way to carry it around (BCD, harness, or whatever) - and then it goes from there.

People can draw the line at different places.

What is NEEDED for SCUBA is an APPARATUS to get air from a container into the body. Again a tank and a regulator. You don't HAVE to have a mask, fins, BC, weights, suit or anything else. All those do is make it more comfortable and enjoyable.

Take a look at the Navy Diving Manual 7-2.2. That hasn't changed since at least the early 60's and that is one of the first things they teach you.

Gary D.

 

[NudeDiver]

What is NEEDED for SCUBA is an APPARATUS to get air from a container into the body.

So, by that standard, a hypodermic needle that can be used to inject air into the body qualifies as a SCUBA unit.

 

[Mayor]

Oh boy, I went to the dive shop today to get advice on what gear I'm considering purchasing online. Of course I wanted to buy splits because they're faster, and faster is better. Considering that I go so fast underwater, and sometimes forget to check my air supply, I made sure to pick up a Spare Air, and add an Air2 for streamlining. But then, right as I was actually thinking of buying these items from the store, they tried to tell me to forget all that and take some weird course called Fundies. I was like WOAH!!! hold on! I was about to buy from you all these super cool items and you're telling me to get retrained and buy a new setup?!? I walked out, bought all the items online, and e-mailed my local PADI instructor about his upcoming boat diver specialty course.

You should have taken the advice!

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I saw an ear dryer in a shop last week.