Where to go to learn how to dive doubles?

[texdiveguy]

I didn't realize that it was implied that I attempted to give every possible option for redundant bouyancy in my post. My apologies if you took it that way.

Just wanted to be clear to the OP that several options out side the dry suit solution do exist for this issue. I am betting with quality instruction and or self learned experience the OP will discover the many variables.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

now that you mention about steels, is there such thing as diving double alumnium 80's? what are the advantages/disadvantages?

 

[texdiveguy]

now that you mention about steels, is there such thing as diving double alumnium 80's? what are the advantages/disadvantages?

Congrats in asking good questions....when it comes to selecting cylinders it always seems one answered questions brings up another thought......here is a 'good' source of some basics:

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/library/tanks.shtml

And yes both al80's can make a nice set of doubles for certain environments and diving needs,,,less expensive and offer some advantages steel don't. I dive both materials in the form of doubles just depending on my needs. Given a choice of only one set my persl. pick would be steel.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

thanks for that website, that really helped, I think I may have found another way to compensate for doubles.... all though I still want to learn to dive doubles is a HP 130 cu ft a good idea for diving EANx? and do you think that a 50# lift BCD can handel it? with the back up aid of a lift bag just in case of a failure.

 

[rjack321]

now that you mention about steels, is there such thing as diving double alumnium 80's? what are the advantages/disadvantages?

In my neck of the woods (PNW) steel is the way to go. AL80s take too much weight on top of weight to sink my drysuit.

In warm water where your consumption tends to be lower anyway. Esp. with a wetsuit, AL80s have many advantages. Being less negative at the start of the dive when you've descended and your suit if now smushed is a big one.

 

[texdiveguy]

thanks for that website, that really helped, I think I may have found another way to compensate for doubles.... all though I still want to learn to dive doubles is a HP 130 cu ft a good idea for diving EANx? and do you think that a 50# lift BCD can handel it? with the back up aid of a lift bag just in case of a failure.

I own and have logged many dives on a single hp steel 130....a great cylinder for many types of diving and for both air and EAN. If you can become comfortable at handling a single hp130 than a set of doubles are a piece-of-cake in terms of trim. Always provide yourself a second form of redundant buoyancy just in case of a wing failure...a 'full' hp130 is a heavy cylinder in a wet diving situation.

 

[rjack321]

thanks for that website, that really helped, I think I may have found another way to compensate for doubles.... all though I still want to learn to dive doubles is a HP 130 cu ft a good idea for diving EANx? and do you think that a 50# lift BCD can handel it? with the back up aid of a lift bag just in case of a failure.

A 50lb single tank wing is plenty big, some would say about 10lbs oversized. The real barometer is how thick of a wetsuit are you using? And how much lead are you using with it?

A hp130 has about 10lbs of gas in it. If you need no weight for a 3mm suit with an Al80 you are going to be very heavy with a steel tank.

If you need 8-10 lbs with an AL80 you will need roughly none with the hp130 and it will work nicely.

An Intro to Tech or GUE-F class will address all of this vastly better than the internet IMHO.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

still looking into the intro and GUE.... since I would normaly for now use the 130 for the warm waters of the to keys I don't have a wetsuit, however looking into a possible purchase of a new wet suit maby 5mm for the cavern/intro to cave course at ginnie/devils I am looking into takeing with my dad.

 

[ucfdiver]

still looking into the intro and GUE.... since I would normaly for now use the 130 for the warm waters of the to keys I don't have a wetsuit, however looking into a possible purchase of a new wet suit maby 5mm for the cavern/intro to cave course at ginnie/devils I am looking into takeing with my dad.

If you want to take GUE-F, PM me. I'm looking for a buddy around December. Cost is $550 and you'll need to have your gear DIR compatible.

 

[rjack321]

still looking into the intro and GUE.... since I would normaly for now use the 130 for the warm waters of the to keys I don't have a wetsuit, however looking into a possible purchase of a new wet suit maby 5mm for the cavern/intro to cave course at ginnie/devils I am looking into takeing with my dad.

I dive a 7mm jumpsuit and 3mm vest in MX, which is about 6 degF warmer than Ginnie. I'm cool after an hour or 2. I'm going to guess that a 5mm is going to be a bit marginal for intro, probably ok for cavern. If you are interested in caves I'd be looking at a shell drysuit with fleece undies.

Naui tech has a cavern class and then "Cave 1" which is a bit beyond intro, more like apprentice.
GUE just has "Cave 1" which is basically cavern plus intro

Intro to tech is not a prerequisite for cavern or Naui Cave1 (as I understand it)
GUE-F is a prerequisite for GUE Cave 1