large_diver
Contributor
I submited a post a day or so ago regarding some new gear I bought and adjusted I made to the regulators. Thought I would post a summary of the report and the dive itself.
First of all -- for those who replied with advice on regulator hose adjustments -- thanks. I did tighten the hoses up with a wrench and saw no sign of leaks when submerged.
As for the dive -- it was a full moon (or nearly so) last night for our dive up in Nahant, a long, narrow penninsula located just north of Boston. We were diving at Canoe Beach, a pebbly beach -- dive site is a cove with rocks on both sides and relatively sandy in the middle. Our plan was to navigate a straight out and back course towards one of the "points" at the left mouth of the cove.
We went into the water at 9:01PM. Surface water temp upon entry was 52F (all but one of us was wetsuit diving). Maximum depth was 27 feet. While I enjoyed the dive, I would characterize it as one of those "learning experiences". Why -- too many variables altered at the same time. (1) I removed my ankle weights to try and reduce kicking effort and overall weight carried; (2) I wore a pair of very heavy wool socks under my booties for additional warmth (my booties are very leaky); (3) I was carrying a bunch of new gear (new wrist mounted Vyper computer and Suunto compass -- one on each arm, SPG clipped off to left hip D ring on a shorter hose than I am used to, new regulator); and (4) We were diving at night with visibility of about 8-10 feet. I have been on several night dives in similar conditions before, but with so many "new" variables.....
The biggest problem was my trim -- not sure if the socks affected my buoyancy, but the absence of the ankle weights definitely did. I felt like my feet were arched up over my head the entire dive -- very uncomfortable. I know that "feet up/head down" is the preferred position of many divers, but my feet where too far up and back to be comfortable for me. At the same time, about halfway through the dive I began to get mild-moderate cramps in my calves (so much for all the swimming I've been doing this winter -- guess I need to use fins in the pool more often) -- it's hard to stretch your calves when your feet are arched up over your head.
The gear -- not a big deal -- just took some getting used to. Biggest "aha" was to avoid shining the fu#$ing dive light directly at the face of the computer while the face is facing directly towards you -- you can't read it and the reflection blinds you! The Vyper has a nice backlight feature that I kept forgetting about. I had the SPG clipped off to my left hip D ring (no console, just a single brass gauge) -- it was very difficult to see without really craning my neck. Finally I just unclipped it and had it under my arm -- very easy. I have to say I love this Uwatec master diver SPG -- very precise markings and easy to read luminescent face. Not sure if I need a longer hose or a better clip that I can manipulate more easily -- need to do some trial and error on this.
The Suunto wrist-mount compass is also great. It works much better than the vast majority of console compasses I've used (I've rented quite a few over the past year). Glow in the dark face is a nice feature. I never felt like I had to wait very long for the compass to "right" itself when I held it up to read it. Easy to read side window. Bezel is easy to maneuver. One of the big concerns I had is whether I could mount this thing on my wrist with heavy 5-7mm gloves on -- no problems. My "process" for getting the computer and compass on my wrist with heavy gloves was as follows -- put right glove on. Use ungloved left hand to mount computer on right wrist over glove. Put left glove on. Use right hand to mount compass on left wrist.
So with all of this "stuff" happening, I felt like I spent more time "fiddling" and less time enjoying the dive. Regardless, diving is fun and I emerged from the water feeling that I had won a small victory by completing a 40 minute night dive under somewhat trying circumstances.
What did we see -- bottom was rocky with some open sandy areas. On our journey out, we did not see a whole lot of marine live (probably because I was preoccupied with gear fiddling) -- green sea urchins, a few small lobsters and what looked like haddock. My buddy saw a fairly good sized ocean pout curled up on the bottom -- I apparently swam right over it without seeing it (again -- no doubt fiddling with gear). On the way back in, we saw a couple of good sized skates, one of which almost crashed into me when Mike startled him.
Statistics -- water temp 52F at surface, 48 degrees at depth. Bottom time = 40 minutes. Maximum depth = 27 FSW. Visibility = 8-10 feet. Swam against a mild-moderate surge on the trip out due to incoming tide.
Oh, by the way GM, I did meet Brandi and told her you said hello. Apparently you guys are regular buddies for Nubble/Portsmouth-area dives. She sends her best.
First of all -- for those who replied with advice on regulator hose adjustments -- thanks. I did tighten the hoses up with a wrench and saw no sign of leaks when submerged.
As for the dive -- it was a full moon (or nearly so) last night for our dive up in Nahant, a long, narrow penninsula located just north of Boston. We were diving at Canoe Beach, a pebbly beach -- dive site is a cove with rocks on both sides and relatively sandy in the middle. Our plan was to navigate a straight out and back course towards one of the "points" at the left mouth of the cove.
We went into the water at 9:01PM. Surface water temp upon entry was 52F (all but one of us was wetsuit diving). Maximum depth was 27 feet. While I enjoyed the dive, I would characterize it as one of those "learning experiences". Why -- too many variables altered at the same time. (1) I removed my ankle weights to try and reduce kicking effort and overall weight carried; (2) I wore a pair of very heavy wool socks under my booties for additional warmth (my booties are very leaky); (3) I was carrying a bunch of new gear (new wrist mounted Vyper computer and Suunto compass -- one on each arm, SPG clipped off to left hip D ring on a shorter hose than I am used to, new regulator); and (4) We were diving at night with visibility of about 8-10 feet. I have been on several night dives in similar conditions before, but with so many "new" variables.....
The biggest problem was my trim -- not sure if the socks affected my buoyancy, but the absence of the ankle weights definitely did. I felt like my feet were arched up over my head the entire dive -- very uncomfortable. I know that "feet up/head down" is the preferred position of many divers, but my feet where too far up and back to be comfortable for me. At the same time, about halfway through the dive I began to get mild-moderate cramps in my calves (so much for all the swimming I've been doing this winter -- guess I need to use fins in the pool more often) -- it's hard to stretch your calves when your feet are arched up over your head.
The gear -- not a big deal -- just took some getting used to. Biggest "aha" was to avoid shining the fu#$ing dive light directly at the face of the computer while the face is facing directly towards you -- you can't read it and the reflection blinds you! The Vyper has a nice backlight feature that I kept forgetting about. I had the SPG clipped off to my left hip D ring (no console, just a single brass gauge) -- it was very difficult to see without really craning my neck. Finally I just unclipped it and had it under my arm -- very easy. I have to say I love this Uwatec master diver SPG -- very precise markings and easy to read luminescent face. Not sure if I need a longer hose or a better clip that I can manipulate more easily -- need to do some trial and error on this.
The Suunto wrist-mount compass is also great. It works much better than the vast majority of console compasses I've used (I've rented quite a few over the past year). Glow in the dark face is a nice feature. I never felt like I had to wait very long for the compass to "right" itself when I held it up to read it. Easy to read side window. Bezel is easy to maneuver. One of the big concerns I had is whether I could mount this thing on my wrist with heavy 5-7mm gloves on -- no problems. My "process" for getting the computer and compass on my wrist with heavy gloves was as follows -- put right glove on. Use ungloved left hand to mount computer on right wrist over glove. Put left glove on. Use right hand to mount compass on left wrist.
So with all of this "stuff" happening, I felt like I spent more time "fiddling" and less time enjoying the dive. Regardless, diving is fun and I emerged from the water feeling that I had won a small victory by completing a 40 minute night dive under somewhat trying circumstances.
What did we see -- bottom was rocky with some open sandy areas. On our journey out, we did not see a whole lot of marine live (probably because I was preoccupied with gear fiddling) -- green sea urchins, a few small lobsters and what looked like haddock. My buddy saw a fairly good sized ocean pout curled up on the bottom -- I apparently swam right over it without seeing it (again -- no doubt fiddling with gear). On the way back in, we saw a couple of good sized skates, one of which almost crashed into me when Mike startled him.
Statistics -- water temp 52F at surface, 48 degrees at depth. Bottom time = 40 minutes. Maximum depth = 27 FSW. Visibility = 8-10 feet. Swam against a mild-moderate surge on the trip out due to incoming tide.
Oh, by the way GM, I did meet Brandi and told her you said hello. Apparently you guys are regular buddies for Nubble/Portsmouth-area dives. She sends her best.
.
