Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Just for fun, who here practices absolute minimalist diving?
Recently in another thread entitled 'Submersible Pressure Gauge" there was some discussion about the history of the SPG, which lead to the discussion of old school style diving back in the day when divers didn't have SPG's, which lead the conversation into diving before BC's, and a lot of the other extra stuff which has become commonplace these days.
Then the thread got pushed back on track to the discussion about SPG's only, so I decided to start a discussion about bare minimalist diving as it applies to todays gear choices and political diving environment.
So, does anybody here practice minimalist diving? Is anybody interested in minimalist diving?
Let's talk.
What I mean by minimalist is using only a tank with straps or backpack, a single reg with only one second stage, possibly no SPG if you have a J valve, or alternatively using an unbalanced first and second stage so you have plenty of warning when air is running low, or relying on a keen sense and lots of practice just knowing instinctively how much air you have left.
Planning your dives based on air volume in your tank which determines depth and time. So if you did your planning correctly you should be back at the beach or at your ending point right about the time you are out of air, there shouldn't be any surprises if you've been paying attention.
The proper weighting for diving with no BC and breathing practices.
Streamlining and cruising using optimimum finning techniques and body positioning (slipstream optimization) which allows for effortless travel through the water.
It is quite liberating to dive so simply that all your gear you can easily put it in the back seat of a car or in the trunk
It takes up very little room on a boat and can be carried in one trip. Cleaning gear at the end of the day is a snap, no BCD to clean out combined with all the rest of the gear.
I know people who have quit scuba diving and went to freediving just because the gear was such a pain to deal with at the end of the day they decided it wasn't worth it. What they didn't know was it doesn't have to be that way with minimalism.
I see it as a movement that could definitely take traction.
I know the Vintage community dives this way, but that's not what I'm talking about.
Vintage is great but to me has limitations. The gear is finite and only so much remains. It's not easily accessable to all people. I also see some contradictions.
With modern minimalism all the gear used can be brand new, and the movement is open to all that want to learn and practice. This allows it to be sustainable for as long as people want to practice it.
It also allows for new innovations.
Let's start a discussion about anything related to minimalist diving, the pros, cons, the applications, the limitations, etc.
Thanks
Recently in another thread entitled 'Submersible Pressure Gauge" there was some discussion about the history of the SPG, which lead to the discussion of old school style diving back in the day when divers didn't have SPG's, which lead the conversation into diving before BC's, and a lot of the other extra stuff which has become commonplace these days.
Then the thread got pushed back on track to the discussion about SPG's only, so I decided to start a discussion about bare minimalist diving as it applies to todays gear choices and political diving environment.
So, does anybody here practice minimalist diving? Is anybody interested in minimalist diving?
Let's talk.
What I mean by minimalist is using only a tank with straps or backpack, a single reg with only one second stage, possibly no SPG if you have a J valve, or alternatively using an unbalanced first and second stage so you have plenty of warning when air is running low, or relying on a keen sense and lots of practice just knowing instinctively how much air you have left.
Planning your dives based on air volume in your tank which determines depth and time. So if you did your planning correctly you should be back at the beach or at your ending point right about the time you are out of air, there shouldn't be any surprises if you've been paying attention.
The proper weighting for diving with no BC and breathing practices.
Streamlining and cruising using optimimum finning techniques and body positioning (slipstream optimization) which allows for effortless travel through the water.
It is quite liberating to dive so simply that all your gear you can easily put it in the back seat of a car or in the trunk
It takes up very little room on a boat and can be carried in one trip. Cleaning gear at the end of the day is a snap, no BCD to clean out combined with all the rest of the gear.
I know people who have quit scuba diving and went to freediving just because the gear was such a pain to deal with at the end of the day they decided it wasn't worth it. What they didn't know was it doesn't have to be that way with minimalism.
I see it as a movement that could definitely take traction.
I know the Vintage community dives this way, but that's not what I'm talking about.
Vintage is great but to me has limitations. The gear is finite and only so much remains. It's not easily accessable to all people. I also see some contradictions.
With modern minimalism all the gear used can be brand new, and the movement is open to all that want to learn and practice. This allows it to be sustainable for as long as people want to practice it.
It also allows for new innovations.
Let's start a discussion about anything related to minimalist diving, the pros, cons, the applications, the limitations, etc.
Thanks