Wrinkles January '05 Dive and BBQ planning thread - La Jolla

[ScubaSeanMaui]

Hah, Im a very non-violent huy Actually, due to some on going mold issues with my apartment, we are getting a free months rents and my half is $650. So, I have now found a used Cobra with less than 12 dives, the compass attached, and the PC Cable for $400 on ebay. Also comes with a 30 day guarentee for me to test it out. So, I believe I will be buying that one.

Do you use a seperate Air meter with your cobra to see how much air is in the tank, or do you just use the Cobra??

Good choice Shaxs! The Cobra is air integrated so it takes care of your air pressure.
The Cobra calculates your remaining air time from 500 psi up (500 psi = 0 airtime). On your right side is your remaining bottom time. It eliminates 1 hose from your reguator.
It's been a good computer for me! I think you'll like it!

 

[shaxs]

Good choice Shaxs! The Cobra is air integrated so it takes care of your air pressure.
The Cobra calculates your remaining air time from 500 psi up (500 psi = 0 airtime). On your right side is your remaining bottom time. It eliminates 1 hose from your reguator.
It's been a good computer for me! I think you'll like it!

wow at 500 psi it will read 0? I heard it was fairly conservative... I usually surface at 500psi. Would be scary to surace when my computer says 0! When do you surface?

Oh yes, and wit hthe remain money and some more, I'm going to buy a tank and some dive lights. What and where is the biggest possible tank I can get (in terms of hoq mich air it will hold)? I have around 16 dives...one sec, let me go find log book...hum, my instructor still has it along with my cert , anyways I am still learning about air consumption and to breathe properly so I maximize my air usage.

Thats another thing, My teacher will give me a temp certification, but I am sure anyone that dives with me will probably want to see my dive log. I can bring an SDSU lspreadsheet that shows all my dives... will that be okay?

EDITED: I have 16 dives, not 156

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

wow at 500 psi it will read 0? I heard it was fairly conservative... I usually surface at 500psi. Would be scary to surace when my computer says 0! When do you surface?

Oh yes, and wit hthe remain money and some more, I'm going to buy a tank and some dive lights. What and where is the biggest possible tank I can get (in terms of hoq mich air it will hold)? I have around 156 dives...one sec, let me go find log book...hum, my instructor still has it along with my cert , anyways I am still learning about air consumption and to breathe properly so I maximize my air usage.

Thats another thing, My teacher will give me a temp certification, but I am sure anyone that dives with me will probably want to see my dive log. I can bring an SDSU lspreadsheet that shows all my dives... will that be okay?

Actually finishing your stop and surfacing with 500 psi is perfect! I think the decomression model the computer uses is considered conservative. I i guess they don't want to be liable if your tank gets damaged due to low psi (under 300 is bad).

We'll see how the buddy system goes. We had only 1 problem last time. Just watch your depth & air and stay with your buddy!

 

[shaxs]

Actually finishing your stop and surfacing with 500 psi is perfect! I think the decomression model the computer uses is considered conservative. I i guess they don't want to be liable if your tank gets damaged due to low psi (under 300 is bad).

We'll see how the buddy system goes. We had only 1 problem last time. Just watch your depth & air and stay with your buddy!

Well thats what I normally do on a standard gauage. But, you are saying th cobra will read 0 at 500 psi? So, do you surface when the cobra reads 500 or 0?

 

[Ann Marie]

The cobra will alarm when it starts to get near 500psi. I was doing a surface swim (more like snorkeling with my reg. in at the Casino) and was down at 400psi. My cobra was continously beeping at me and flashing the psi count, but it still kept count of the psi.

In answer to your other question, I start to surface before my gauge reads 500psi. I always try and end the dive with 500psi. That is one really great thing about the cobra in my opinion---it tells you how much time you 'approx' have left if you continue to breathe at the same pattern at the same depth. I can easily figure out the time for my safety stops and still make it to the surface with plenty of air. (Since a lot of my dive buddies are guys and they use air faster than I do, I still usually have plenty of air left.)

Tank question: If you want steel, I know that Sport Chalet has some Norris Steel LP80s and HP100s for around $250. I bought a Pressed Steel HP steel 80 from Scubatoys.com for around the same price, but they are now out of stock. Sport Chalet also has the alum 80s for $110.

 

[Scottkl]

The Cobra does not read 0 psi when you have 500 psi left. There is a setting in the computer that lets you set what psi you want to come up with and it figures out your air time with that buffer. It will say you have 0 minutes remaining when you hit 500 psi left in your tank. So when you hit 10-15 minutes remaing it is time to start heading up slowly. The Cobra is a great computer I have been diving on it for over a year and love it.

Scott

Well thats what I normally do on a standard gauage. But, you are saying th cobra will read 0 at 500 psi? So, do you surface when the cobra reads 500 or 0?

 

[IAmJimbo]

I was heading down to L.B. (from Portland) with an ETA of Saturday afternoon, but seeing this thread, I'm going to try to get an extra day off and hit S.D. for the morning dives with you all (if you don't mind...)

JimD

 

[divinman]

I was heading down to L.B. (from Portland) with an ETA of Saturday afternoon, but seeing this thread, I'm going to try to get an extra day off and hit S.D. for the morning dives with you all (if you don't mind...)

JimD

Hey Jim. You are more than welcome to join in on the fun. We are always looking for fresh dive stories for the surface intervals.

Terry

 

[IAmJimbo]

Oh, P.S., I'll need to rent tank(s) Friday night when I get to the area... Is there a recommended dive shop close to the dive site to rent from? And is it close enough to get a refill between morning dives, or should I just rent two tanks?

thanx,

JimD

 

[OCdiving Deb]

Is there a recommended dive shop close to the dive site to rent from? And is it close enough to get a refill between morning dives, or should I just rent two tanks?

Hi Jim! It'll be great to have you join us! For the closest dive shop go to OE Express. The info for the shop is here on the Divebums links page.

I'll let the area SD experts tell you whether it's within reasonable walking distance. It's a county away for me!

Deb