What kind of slate do you use, and where is it stored?

[JT2]

I currently am using a slate that looks like a magnadoodle on one side and it has a pencil slate on the other, an I clip it to a D-ring on my BC becuase it is almost impossible to get it out of my BC pocket. I am really needing some ideas on what slates work best and are out of the way when not needed, as I don't really use it much, but I do like to have it, it just drives me crazy having stuff clipped to my BC everywhere, I feel like a big fishing lure!

[Dee]

I use a Dive Rite Executive slate. (http://www.dive-rite.com/products/tools/uw_exec.htm) It's small, 4x5" and has 5 thin pages. That gives me 10 writing surfaces. I can keep several small maps of the local sites and still have plenty of room for temporary messages.

As much as I like the slate, I actually bought it for the pencil! I was tired of those wooden golf pencils that need constant sharpening and soon fall apart. The lead in this mechanical pencil is replaceable, with the extras in the handle. I've been using the current one for over a year and am still on the original lead! And yes...I use it alot.

I keep it in a pocket where it is handy yet out of the way.

[Uncle Pug]

$12.99 at Westmarine...
Tape a small ziptie to the pencil so I can fish it out of the binding where I store it for writing... run a loop of cave line through the binding and a bolt snap so that I can clip it off in the right pocket... (bolt snap free to slide up and down on the loop.)

Pencil easilt sharpen with knife but falls apart with great regularity...

[Iguana Don]

"Wetnotes", use some of those pencils that you push the old lead into the back of the pencil and a new point emerges.

Stow it in my pocket.

ID

[JT2]

Hey Pug, why do you clip things off if they are in a pocket already? And please understand that I am not trying to be sarcastic, I have only been diving about six months, and I am just trying to learn all that I can from others.

[JamesK]

Clipping things off in a pocket keeps things from falling out when you open the pocket. If you are horizontal, and you open a pocket on your thigh, things like to fall out, epsecially when digging through other gear that you carry in your pocket. When you dive in overhead environments, like caves/wrecks, you can not go vertical before opening your pocket.

Check this pic out to see how we do it.

http://www.wkpp.org/images/pina_equip/left_pocket_contents_r.jpeg

[JT2]

Thanks for te link Big James, now it makes sense!

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by JT2
Thanks for te link Big James, now it makes sense!
JT2 I didn't take it as sarcastic and Big Jimmie just poached me on the answer (good job btw :D )

I want to add that stuff doesn't just fall out... sometimes we just pull it all out... unclip the thing we want and stuff the rest back in... without looking... that's the beauty of having stuff clipped off.

[JamesK]

Hmm, my line arrows and spools fall out all the time. LOL!!!!!

Big Jimmie! LOL. Only my mom calls me Jimmie! But in the case of Pug, it's cool.

[Uncle Pug]

:D seems we have a little problem with double posting here...

[Uncle Pug]

...sometimes we pull it all out...


Is what I meant.... :D

[JamesK]

I guess you are off the hook! :jester:

[Iguana Don]

There will be NO pulling it ALL out on this Board!

This is a family place.

[Wendy]

I use the wetnotes and have them clipped off in my pocket as well.

[martinjc]

I bought a small wrist slate with attached (bungeed) golf-pencil at my LDS ($7.95) with two velcro straps that I tie off to my left forearm. I supposed it is a potentil entanglement hazard, but it is really low profile and easy to use. Not a lot of writing surface - but I've never needed more than space for one or two words....then again I haven't been doing this very long. Also - I don't have a pocket for my Transpac II....need to get one...

[gentlegiant]

I was using a Trident slate clipped off to a BC D-ring but recently purchased one of the Dive Rite multi-page wrist slates. I have not had the chance to get it wet yet but I think it will work better for me and is definitely much more streamlined. I'll let you know how it goes after my next trip to Panama City in a week or two.

[tchil01]

I have two slates. The first is a multi-page wrist slate from Aqua Explorers. It has three pages so there is plenty of room for notes and things likr that. I also have my Compass mounted to the front part of the slate and the top page of the slate is great for bearing info.

My other slate is a mini quest. It's one of those magna-doodle things on one site and a two sided slate on the other. It was great for my wreck survey course or when my buddy and I need to write notes back and forth. I have it attached to a d ring with a locking retractor . Yeah, it's not very streamlined but I only take it when in open water or when surveying.

Ty

[WreckWriter]

I have a DiveRite "multi-page" wrist slate that I mostly use for keeping my deco schedule on. Wet Notes for my pocket (as soon as I get it sewn on.....)

The "Quest" slates are cool but they're just too big. I don't like danglies and it would be a big one.

Iguana Don: I've recently looked high and low for those pencils and can't find one. Haven't seen one in years...

Tom

[tholt576]

Originally posted by JamesK
Clipping things off in a pocket keeps things from falling out when you open the pocket. If you are horizontal, and you open a pocket on your thigh, things like to fall out, epsecially when digging through other gear that you carry in your pocket. When you dive in overhead environments, like caves/wrecks, you can not go vertical before opening your pocket.

Check this pic out to see how we do it.

http://www.wkpp.org/images/pina_equip/left_pocket_contents_r.jpeg

Question about that picture: Shouldn't the mask be on your face and not in your pocket? ;-)

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by JamesK
Hmm, my line arrows and spools fall out all the time. LOL!!!!!

I keep my line arrows on a short piece of clipped off surgical tubing - they're easy to pull off but won't fall off.
Rick

[dkerr]

The suunto vyper has a slate for access to the computer terminal. I love this because I dont need to cary an additional slate. I have a pencil tied off with small tubing so everything is where I need it if I need it.

[Iguana Don]

Big Chief Tablet and Black Crayons!

[JamesK]

Originally posted by Rick Murchison

I keep my line arrows on a short piece of clipped off surgical tubing - they're easy to pull off but won't fall off.
Rick

I do basically the same thing. I have a piece of surgical tubing connected to a bolt snap. I then connect the bolt snap to the bungee in my pocket. Works great.

[metridium]

Wetnotes in right drysuit pocket - soon to be rigged Pug-fashion - with plastic mechanical pencil clipped onto the binder.

[Texass]

I've been using one of those magnetic doodle slates I found at Walmart in the toy dept. Hey $3. It's OK for your basic "Let's do this" messages.

[Bill Walton]

I use this set up most the time clipped off to a BC D-ring. Also have a dive rite multi-page slate but don't use it that often.

[slichti]

I bought one of the large Innovative slates. I removed the clip &
retractor bungee, milled out two slots for my watch band to go,
leaving room for the face and bezel on top. Then I drilled four holes, and stuck surgical tubing (the stretch bungee (can buy at Walgreens or medical supply) stuff) through them and tied the ends off with cable ties. Next I used a heat gun (before actually attaching the tubing (didn't want to melt it!)) to give it a bit of a
curve so it would conform to my arm more.

I use it before dives to write down my plan and my bailout depth & time...

--Steven.

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Iguana Don
"Wetnotes", use some of those pencils that you push the old lead into the back of the pencil and a new point emerges.

Stow it in my pocket.

ID
I got one of those nifty pencils with my original DiveRite Executive slate but have been unable to find 'em again. Any idea where I might find one? I've scoured all the usual places here in the hinterlands of Lower Alabama without success.
Thanks,
Rick

[slichti]

No clue, sorry... My pencil (golf pencil) is on a yellow bungee tube that came with the slate.

--Steven.

[O-ring]

This has been killing me as well, so I finally got off my arse and did some creative Internet searching to try to solve it.

The pencils are called "Pop-A-Point" and you can find a ton of places that sell all different types by entering "pop-a-point" in google... I got mine at www.studentsupply.com (http://www.studentsupply.com)

I bought a box of the marine life ones..:D

Hope this helps..

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by O-ring
This has been killing me as well, so I finally got off my arse and did some creative Internet searching to try to solve it.

The pencils are called "Pop-A-Point" and you can find a ton of places that sell all different types by entering "pop-a-point" in google... I got mine at www.studentsupply.com (http://www.studentsupply.com)

I bought a box of the marine life ones..:D

Hope this helps..
Why thankyousir... thankyouverymuch...
Rick

[jeepster0000]

I have seen many divers use wetnotes but never got them for my self. I think they would be great and want to try them but I have no clue where to get them. I have asked about 15 diveshops and no one has heard of them. Could they be under a different name? Is there a great place to get them offline?
Thanks
ADAM

[O-ring]

fifthd.com and extremeexposure.com both have them...I have never seen them in a dive shop yet..

[sxyscubagal]

I bought a kids small magnadoodle at toys r us... it works perfectly.. and it came with a clip!! If i lose it... i've only lost about 6 bucks..