Lobstah Slayah
Contributor
I really wanted to go out into the ocean by myself, but I followed the directions of a more experienced yakker. I instead decided to just take the yak in a lake that is very close to my house. Let me start by saying that I have never dove alone, in fresh water, without a wetsuit, off a kayak or during twilight (I'm just a night dive away from AOW). In spite of all of this I felt confident enough in my diving skills to at least give this thing a try.
Lesson 1:
The wheeleez for the kayak are great but it took me a while to get the center of gravity correct with the gear. They need to go back farther than you'd think.
Lesson 2:
Although I had read a few post reguarding the uselessness of the bungees for the tank well, It took me actually trying it to see why. Bungees will snap back and smack you when the clip doesn't hook. I need straps!
Lesson 3: I was able to paddle out fairly easily and get to a suitable spot to get ready to gear up. I put my mask, fins gloves and other small gear in the front hatch. It wasn't hard to retrieve and had no problem doing so. This may be different while pitching about in the ocean. While I had purchased an anchor, I hadn't bothered to attach it yet. So while retrieving my small gear I had drifted back almost to shore. Attach the anchor, it is useful!
Lesson 4: I paddled back, got the tank and BCD out of the well and threw it in the water. I jumped in and suited up with no problems. Oh boy is the water warm! After double checking the flag and line attached to the kayak, down I went. After 10 feet visibility was about 2-3'. The other thing I noticed was that the water was no longer warm at all, if fact it was damn cold! I went down to 20' and had to hold my gadge right up to my mask to see. I switched on my light and shined it toward the bottom. Nothing but murk! I established boyancy and began to swim. I couldn't even tell the kayak was attached. Now I began to wonder if it was. I popped back up and everything was fine. Back down to about 20 feet, I began to get nervous. It wasn't any one thing but all of the factors together, no vis, cold and diving alone. I was fine but knew when to say enough. Don't try too many "firsts"!
Lesson 5: I was able to take off the gear, stow it and reboard the yak without a problem. I even jumped off and back on several times to see how easy it was. I paddled back to the shore. I unloaded the gear to the top of the seawall and struggled to lift the kayak back up on top. 60lbs seems heavier at the end of a busy day and it's easier to get it down the 5' seawall than up!!!
Overall, I learned a lot and decided not to take it out solo on my first try in the ocean. Although I would have felt more comfortable diving there than in the lake. I need to take it to the shop to get some straps installed and need to figure a way to mount the anchor. I really look forward to ocean diving with this. Hope to see some of you soon!
Dan
Lesson 1:
The wheeleez for the kayak are great but it took me a while to get the center of gravity correct with the gear. They need to go back farther than you'd think.
Lesson 2:
Although I had read a few post reguarding the uselessness of the bungees for the tank well, It took me actually trying it to see why. Bungees will snap back and smack you when the clip doesn't hook. I need straps!
Lesson 3: I was able to paddle out fairly easily and get to a suitable spot to get ready to gear up. I put my mask, fins gloves and other small gear in the front hatch. It wasn't hard to retrieve and had no problem doing so. This may be different while pitching about in the ocean. While I had purchased an anchor, I hadn't bothered to attach it yet. So while retrieving my small gear I had drifted back almost to shore. Attach the anchor, it is useful!
Lesson 4: I paddled back, got the tank and BCD out of the well and threw it in the water. I jumped in and suited up with no problems. Oh boy is the water warm! After double checking the flag and line attached to the kayak, down I went. After 10 feet visibility was about 2-3'. The other thing I noticed was that the water was no longer warm at all, if fact it was damn cold! I went down to 20' and had to hold my gadge right up to my mask to see. I switched on my light and shined it toward the bottom. Nothing but murk! I established boyancy and began to swim. I couldn't even tell the kayak was attached. Now I began to wonder if it was. I popped back up and everything was fine. Back down to about 20 feet, I began to get nervous. It wasn't any one thing but all of the factors together, no vis, cold and diving alone. I was fine but knew when to say enough. Don't try too many "firsts"!
Lesson 5: I was able to take off the gear, stow it and reboard the yak without a problem. I even jumped off and back on several times to see how easy it was. I paddled back to the shore. I unloaded the gear to the top of the seawall and struggled to lift the kayak back up on top. 60lbs seems heavier at the end of a busy day and it's easier to get it down the 5' seawall than up!!!
Overall, I learned a lot and decided not to take it out solo on my first try in the ocean. Although I would have felt more comfortable diving there than in the lake. I need to take it to the shop to get some straps installed and need to figure a way to mount the anchor. I really look forward to ocean diving with this. Hope to see some of you soon!
Dan
