Latest Vintage Gear Dive

[Turtleguy9]

Aloha, my latest vintage dive was on June 24, at the Sea Tiger, here on Oahu. I dived my rebuilt Royal Aquamaster to 125 fsw, with a j valve tank 2250 psi.
Don't you just love the freedom not having a BCD, to slow you down? I sure surprised the Eagle Rays cruising the wreck, as I was right in with them, in nothing flat.
I will attach a few photos, enjoy.
Turtleguy

 

[justleesa]

It was a great dive Looking at the pictures I started to wonder - since you don't have the BCD and a lighter tank.....how much weight did you need?

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Very nice Turtleguy!

I'm curious - whats the snorkel you are using?

Well done!

 

[Turtleguy9]

Very nice Turtleguy!

I'm curious - whats the snorkel you are using?

Well done!

Good Eye Scoobie, sorry, its not vintage, its my work snorkel, a modern cheap j tube, by seasports. I just feel naked without a snorkel. I have loads of old ones, just not one with me that day.
Aloha Turtleguy

 

[ScoobieDooo]

Hmm,
I have been seeking a simple, smooth-tubed snorkel.

I see where Omer has a new, silicone tube model freedivers use...

 

[jamiep3]

What thickness suit are you using, and how do you weight yourself? (Neutral at what depth) Back in the day I allways had an old Dacor vest, just for emergency flotation. Was figuring on using a SEATEC horsecollar I picked up for the same reason. Also to correct for compression on deeper dives with my 7mm.

 

[jamiep3]

I've seen a couple of vintage snorkels on Ebay lately. Personally I've got a Sportsways that's probably 36 years old.

 

[garyfotodiver]

Hmm,
I have been seeking a simple, smooth-tubed snorkel.

I see where Omer has a new, silicone tube model freedivers use...

Divers Direct sells a Sporasub Samurai snorkel. Simple, dark-colored, effective.

 

[Turtleguy9]

What thickness suit are you using, and how do you weight yourself? (Neutral at what depth) Back in the day I allways had an old Dacor vest, just for emergency flotation. Was figuring on using a SEATEC horsecollar I picked up for the same reason. Also to correct for compression on deeper dives with my 7mm.

I was using a fairly new O'neil 3mm suit. Pretty much neutral at the surface with 14 lbs lead. As the tank, an older steel 72 became empty, I gained a bit of bouyancy. At most I figure I lose about 2 pounds bouyancy at depth, from wetsuit compression. I do have a few nice old vests, Voit, and US Divers, I guess I wanted to do the Mike Nelson look.
Aloha Turtleguy

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I agree the streamlining and sense of speed and freedom is the best part of vintage diving. I have found that with my DA Aquamaster or Mistral and a hosecollar BC that I can go fast enough to make the double hoses vibrate in the slipstream. I think if more people experienced this and understood it, they would dive with a lot less junk hanging off them.