The absolute minimum to bring when traveling

[trtldvr]

I was filling in as a DM this morning at a LDS here in Key West and quickly remembered why I choose not to do it all of the time. First of all let me say that all 5 divers on the boat were very nice, and surprisingly not too bad in the water. The pain in my ..um..side, came when I gave them a return time of 1 hour and learned that 3 of the 5 did not have a watch or any other timing device.

This has got me thinking about what a vacationing diver needs to bring. Gear can be rented but there are a few items that generally can not be. These are the things I feel divers need to be responsible for. Please feel free to add.

1. C-card. Keep it with you. Yes the shop can verify with your agancy but this takes time.

2. Watch or timing device. If you can afford to travel go to K- Mart and spend $27 for a timex.

3. Dive table. Do not trust someone else to keep you safe.

4. Cutting device. Good dive spots are often good fishing spots. Monofilament line can ruin a great day.


Just another thought if you are renting gear in the US gauges will be in ft and psi, if you are traveling in Europe gauges will be in meters and bar. If you are not familar with these it may be wise to find out if the type you are familiar with is available.

I am done ranting. I am better now thank you.

Trtldvr

www.divealive.org

 

[H2Andy]

cut your stuff by half and double your money

 

[EvaL]

I agree with you. I'd add mask and fins that fit. The rest one can rent.
Several dive ops I know (although they are still in the minority) are providing computers with rentals or making divers rent a computer if they don't have one. If these divers you DMed did not own computers, I'm guessing they don't dive that much and hence probably won't be able to stay down for long.
Dive safely.

 

[wjknobles]

I would say alot of what you would take would depend on where you were going, what you plan on doing on the dive, and who you are diving with. Personnally I would say the minimum would be mask, fins, wetsuit (if you have one that fits the temp and locale - 'cause as dive shop owners will swear, you don't want to know what happens to rental wetsuits), and if a wrist-mount comp then bring that because as mentioned earler, some places require you to rent if you don't have one, and why rent something you aren't used to when you can bring your own.

I would always say bring what you feel comfortable carrying though. The more of your own gear you have, the less the rental fees, and the more you can trust the gear, since you know how its been serviced and how it works intimately.

 

[Wildcard]

Id say less than 10% of vacation divers have any sort of time device. Very scary. They depend totaly on us to babysit them. For deeper dives a computer is mandatory IMHO if for nothing else than liability reasons. They show up with a reg but it does not work with the rental BCs and they have never used it before or notused it in five years without being serviced. I recently had a rant on this too.
Watch/computer
Favorite mask
wetsuit that fits your odd body size
Thats my big three.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

In the briefing did you mention to listen to you banging on the boat when it was an hour? Assuming you noticed no watches before they entered the water.....I agree they should have them, but.....doesnt always happen

 

[wjknobles]

i know far to well about the babysitting ... when our basic students first hit the lake many of them don't remember a watch the first day. needless to say many of them make a trip to wal-mart that night

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

LOL....Perfect....You should buy some and sell them on the boat

 

[ArcticDiver]

Minimum Kit For Traveling Diver:

1> Diver with sufficient clothing to meet modesty codes and weather encountered enroute.
2> Credit Card with sufficient cash available to buy or rent everything needed at destination.
3> Generous heart to leave it all in good hands at end of diving and before returning home. Any funds recovered is a bonus and should be donated to a worthy cause.

 

[H2Andy]

Id say less than 10% of vacation divers have any sort of time device.

this is just mindboggling

how do they manage to get through OW without figuring out the importance of TIME and keeping track of it?