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I know that the second rule of diving is to wear black and look cool. But the first rule, unless I'm missing something, is to stay safe. So why the hell are so many of us diving in black, grey, blue, or green suits/hoods?
On a club trip to Baltimore in Cork last summer I bought a dayglo organge hood with a huge reflective strip on top. An experienced buddy who shares my excellent sense of judgement (but not my sense of colour coordination) bought a dayglo green hood. The rest of our club members, with one honourable exception, laughed. Privately they admitted they could see the sense of our purchases after one or two dives when they realised the difference it made. But to date none of them have invested in the same hoods.
This really gets my goat. Why the hell can't we forget the macho crap and just do what it takes to keep divers safe? Black/grey/blue/green are the most stupid colours imaginable for a dive suit. They're virtually impossible to see on the surface and in an emergency situation in high seas they make the chances of spotting a lost diver on the surface slim.
I don't look pretty when I get into the water, but at least I'm not going to get run over by some idiot practising figures of eight in his new toy speed boat and my buddy can locate me easier in the water if the viz is relatively poor (as it usually is here on the Irish coast). Plus, the cox in the boat can usually see me doing my three metre stop even without an SMB...again because of the 'uncool' day glo hood. I have not seen any other similar hoods at dive sites in Ireland.
Am I the only one who thinks that being seen and being safe is a damn sight more important than being cool? Or are things different in foreign parts? BTW, I still get the girls - I dive in a black Aquatek dry-suit and a grey O'Dare s-dry! :mean:
(Ignore - that's just my sexual insecurity coming through - I'm in therapy for that! )
Last edited by Irishdiver; February 9th, 2003 at 06:28 PM.
My Poseidon Unisuit has a large yellow stripe across the hood and yes it makes you much more visible. I don't have a problem with that. I don't have any plans for an underwater assualt on the bad guys.
My Scubapro shorty is done in basic black, but with my less than tan legs sticking out it's not a big problem.
I'm sorry for wearing black...and sorry for being stupid..BUT.. i also think that before you go jumping down on most of the board ( whom must all wear these "stupid" colors) you should have thought your post over alittle.. At my local LDS he doesnt have a big supply of hawian tropical colored wet suits to choose from, i think my selection or colors was actually from the list you called stupid.. except i think there was pink... that wasnt on your list but anyway... so I guess that makes me macho ..BTW the first rule is to " never hold your breath" staying safe results from fallowing the rules we do have...as far as wearing your bright tropical colored outfit.. mayby its not a bad idea. but when I have my Scuba gear on im more concerned with my dive plan and what Im gonna see ,then trying to pick up girls... that, i think bud would keep you diving safe.. peace
I prefer the black due to it not showing dirt and ware but it is almost impossible to see in murkey water. My fins are bright yellow, my BC has yellow side panels and my dive skin had yellow stripes, all purchased that color to increase my visability.
xtracheese4me once bubbled... I'm sorry for wearing black...and sorry for being stupid..BUT.. i also think that before you go jumping down on most of the board ( whom must all wear these "stupid" colors) you should have thought your post over alittle.. At my local LDS he doesnt have a big supply of hawian tropical colored wet suits to choose from, i think my selection or colors was actually from the list you called stupid.. except i think there was pink... that wasnt on your list but anyway... so I guess that makes me macho ..BTW the first rule is to " never hold your breath" staying safe results from fallowing the rules we do have...as far as wearing your bright tropical colored outfit.. mayby its not a bad idea. but when I have my Scuba gear on im more concerned with my dive plan and what Im gonna see ,then trying to pick up girls... that, i think bud would keep you diving safe.. peace
no insults intended ...
.... no cool phrases either
Hi Xtrachesse4me - don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that DIVERS are stupid for wearing these suits...my rant is against the manufacturers who produce the suits in these colours. No manufacturer I have come across has given the option of colours that can be easily on the surface. That's all I ask...an option. Then divers can make their own choices. I would not wish to insult the diving fraternity at large by saying that they were stupid - if that was my opinion, I would not be a member of this board. Your comment about the range of colour options at your LDS underlines my point - we don't have a choice. And I was being smart about the first rule of diving and my abilities with women, but thanks anyway. Your point is well made.
I don't think that people buy black gear to appear cool. Black gear will show less wear and tear than brightly colored gear and is easy to color coordinate. (Everything black...easy) A lot of people, myself included, do not like bright colors on gear.
If people really need bright pieces of gear to keep track of their partner, then their buddy skills are lacking. I don't see any real advantage to bright colored gear. (Colors on lift bags or surface markers are fine though...they're designed to attract attention.)
Companies produce the colors that people want, black just happens to be very popular. There is not a need for colorful gear other than personal taste.
However, if people want to dive bright gear, then so be it. That's fine with me, although I don't see any real advantages.
a "hunter safety orange" wetsuit but it's too small for me so I've never worn it. Personally I refuse to follow the trend of matching gear; I'm unique and even my parents can identify me by my gear when they see me in pictures and on video. Why? Every hose on my regulator is wrapped in a different color hose wrap with a mis-matched hose protector at the first stage!
Personally I could care less if my suit shows dirt. I've never owned a new wetsuit, used was much cheaper. Warmth is all I care about besides I like to make people laugh!
Ber
"I'm not a fan of summer storms. Between the lightening that might blow up my house or the tornado that might throw a cow through it, I don't sleep well." Steve_Dives
Happy to be a dork diver! www.dorkdiver.com
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