Blazinator
Contributor
In light of the fact that I'm still a bit of a hoover (big chest and other issues), and am going to be in Oahu and Maui in May, I've read in numurous threads like this statement by KrisB about a dive op that only supplied 50's and 63's:
"Since we were both instructors, we were allowed the freedom to explore as we saw fit by IDH -- and I'm sure you can get a smaller tank from them. It was that the other op was a little less "dive as you wish" and had newbies diving 50's in the same dive group. We stuck around underwater longer than they did... but still, it's disappointing to see fresh divers have to go back up after a 30' for 20 minute dive when it's due to small tank size."
__________________
-kb
Now I do understand that making a living running dive trips has to be tough, and the novelty of paradise wears off, so I can only assume that the smaller tanks assure that the boat will be back in time to collect more money on other trips that same day.
Why not just limit the time at depth to 40 minutes, but supply 80's? Diving a 63 seems waayyy too dangerous, and would tempt a newbie to push his air time down to 300 psi or less just to get his $130.00 worth (tip included).
90% of other dive ops in the caribbean are able to get two to three trips a day while allowing 45 minutes each tank on 80's. Why not Hawaii dive ops?
Personally, I will be looking to rent steel 100 or 120's (if they are available) for my shore diving (not likely available on boat dives) because I want the peace of mind to know that I have a safe amount of air left after 40 minutes, and don't want to spend my dive staying shallow, or minimizing my movement so I'm not out of breath.
When I was getting Nitrox certed in West Palm Beach doing constant 70 to 90 foot dives, Jupiter Dive center gave me Steel 100's and they were perfect - 45 minutes bottom time. I met a grey haired veteran spear fisherman on the boat that had a steel HP 120, and asked why, and he soon became my hero. He said its because he really moves underwater checking things out from reef to reef. That's what I want to do! But I'm constantly concerned about getting out of breath, sucking my air supply, so I try to go slow.
By the way, all you guys on this board really impress me, and I can't wait to meet some of you.
As a matter of fact - I will be bringing my black light filter for my 24 watt HID and plan to do some biofluorescent night diving that you have GOT to see - corals light up like they are lit with neon inside. Anyone want to join up, PM me - I'll be in Oahu May 11th, 12th and 13th, and near Ulua beach on Maui the 14th through the 28th.
"Since we were both instructors, we were allowed the freedom to explore as we saw fit by IDH -- and I'm sure you can get a smaller tank from them. It was that the other op was a little less "dive as you wish" and had newbies diving 50's in the same dive group. We stuck around underwater longer than they did... but still, it's disappointing to see fresh divers have to go back up after a 30' for 20 minute dive when it's due to small tank size."
__________________
-kb
Now I do understand that making a living running dive trips has to be tough, and the novelty of paradise wears off, so I can only assume that the smaller tanks assure that the boat will be back in time to collect more money on other trips that same day.
Why not just limit the time at depth to 40 minutes, but supply 80's? Diving a 63 seems waayyy too dangerous, and would tempt a newbie to push his air time down to 300 psi or less just to get his $130.00 worth (tip included).
90% of other dive ops in the caribbean are able to get two to three trips a day while allowing 45 minutes each tank on 80's. Why not Hawaii dive ops?
Personally, I will be looking to rent steel 100 or 120's (if they are available) for my shore diving (not likely available on boat dives) because I want the peace of mind to know that I have a safe amount of air left after 40 minutes, and don't want to spend my dive staying shallow, or minimizing my movement so I'm not out of breath.
When I was getting Nitrox certed in West Palm Beach doing constant 70 to 90 foot dives, Jupiter Dive center gave me Steel 100's and they were perfect - 45 minutes bottom time. I met a grey haired veteran spear fisherman on the boat that had a steel HP 120, and asked why, and he soon became my hero. He said its because he really moves underwater checking things out from reef to reef. That's what I want to do! But I'm constantly concerned about getting out of breath, sucking my air supply, so I try to go slow.
By the way, all you guys on this board really impress me, and I can't wait to meet some of you.
As a matter of fact - I will be bringing my black light filter for my 24 watt HID and plan to do some biofluorescent night diving that you have GOT to see - corals light up like they are lit with neon inside. Anyone want to join up, PM me - I'll be in Oahu May 11th, 12th and 13th, and near Ulua beach on Maui the 14th through the 28th.