Been busy diving

[rx7diver]

Great Lakes folks - I don't have dry gloves. Should I bring 3mm or 5mm gloves to GL in Aug?

I never used dry gloves (nor a dry hood) for my Great Lakes diving. (I never wanted to deal with leaks/holes.) I used three-finger mitts at first. And then I replaced these mitts with Mares cold water gloves. For my profiles (~25-30 minutes at depth, ~90 minutes total dive time), both worked--although my fingers got plenty cold at the end of dives early in the season, when I couldn't warm up in the shallows.

I think it helped, though, that my drysuit has neoprene fold-under wrist seals (and neck seal), rather than latex or silicone seals.

rx7diver

 

[L13]

I guess I'm just a wimp. I wouldn't even consider doing the dives in 3 mil gloves. I have always used dry gloves for temperatures below 50.

 

[Wibble]

Been having a fantastic week of diving in Malin Head, north west Ireland in Donegal.

Simply amazing wrecks in the MOD2 range to 70m/230ft or deeper (if you really like decompression hangs!). The great news for me was the photographer, Kieran Hatton, with a decent camera and an eye for the shots...

The bow of a Type VII-C submarine was smashed off at the torpedo tubes, giving access to the torpedo room. The diver holding the light is hovering over the torpedo tubes.

Side view of the bow, lit inside.

The torpedo tubes laying to the side of the sub

Above the submarine with the shot line.

 

[Wibble]

And then there's the famous Empire Heritage, an ex whaling ship pressed into war service and laden with Sherman tanks and other heavy trucks when it was torpedoed.

The Dreadnaught battleship HMS Audacious and the 13.5" guns. Sunk by a mine in 1914.

 

[Tracy]

Great Lakes folks - I don't have dry gloves. Should I bring 3mm or 5mm gloves to GL in Aug?

Temperature in the straits will vary a lot based on wind and currents. It is not unheard of to have 70F and 50F bottom temps on the same wreck one day apart.
I can't imagine doing any Great Lakes diving below 50 feet in wet gloves, but I see people do it every weekend. I would say bring the 5mm or it would be a good time to pick up some dry gloves.

 

[Marie13]

Got sick of paper checklists for building my unit. It was the paper I hated. I’m as paperless as possible. I ended up creating a checklist in the Notes app on my iPhone/iPad. Document shared between the two as it’s synced via iCloud. Complete checklist and fill out info. I save just finished checklist with the date and I have a record for comparison as needed. iPad for at home and iPhone when away. Works great.

 

[Marie13]

I’ve been on a scuba decluttering mission. My place is 630ish sqft. The WI buddies love my cast offs!

Just got rid of:
Small dive light
Several rolls of bungee and fuel hose (for “handle” on bottles)
NIB Si Tech drysuit dump valve (a friend is giving me $40 for it - he offered)
Dive Rite lift bag

I just post it on my FB page and offer it up. I swear I’m encouraging a couple of hoarders.

 

[Boarderguy]

My place is 630ish sqft.

 

[Marie13]

Cheaper to rent, heat, and cool. Less effort to clean. I’d rather read than do housework.

 

[Marie13]

Just some fun photos from diving at Pearl Lake in South Beloit, IL yesterday. When a buddy with a big camera rig who takes excellent photos wants to come along, you say yes immediately! Big light on my left hand is a video light I was carrying as I was “modeling.” I think the photo with the blue gill giving the camera a big stink eye will probably end up as one of the photos on my Christmas card! LOL