Dive 10a (a=aborted)

[NancyLynn]

I got the shutter bug long before the dive bug. I can’t imagine doing any interesting and/or new activity without bringing a camera; I consider it just as integral to my scuba setup as the mask and octo.

I know you don't want to hear it, but I really hope you will consider following the suggestion to leave your camera at home for a while - or at least any time you are doing anything new on the dive.

Like you, I got the shutter bug long before the dive bug. Nonetheless, on my dive trip a couple of weeks ago, I left my camera locked in the hotel on the first two dives since I was using entirely new gear and was a significantly different weight than the last time I went diving. I added two new additional skills in three other dives (wreck and a deep enough dive to risk narcosis, with swim throughs). Again, the camera stayed either in the hotel or the camera tank on the boat. Yes, I missed some great shots that I may not get a chance to get again - but I am alive, had great dives, and have great memories.

My standard rule is anything new and the camera stays on dry land for at least one dive (new body weight, new gear, new site, new skills, new buddy, etc.). If I am comfortable after the first dive, I consider taking the camera on the next dive.

There's probably quite a few folks here who think I shouldn't have a camera in my hands yet - with only 49 dives under my belt. I respect their opinions, and I do not disagree as rule of thumb.

 

[Monilite]

Mempilot/Eric;
Truce! No more to be said on the issue of undergarments. I hope that our schedules will allow us to dive together. I’m sure you will get a more accurate opinion of me as a diver if we dive together than anything I write and you read.

NancyLynn;
What a great post! Personal experience, shared opinions, clear logical guidelines; your good. I will take your advice and use your guidelines. I hope to be diving for many years to come, so postponing camera use for a while is obviously an inconsequential setback in the long run. I bow to the majority. I may still bring my camera on each dive and see if a more experienced diver is willing to use it for me, or leave it in the gear bag as each dive unfolds.

 

[z3r0c00l]

Thermal underwear under a (READ MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL IT SINKS IN) wetsuit?????

Hmm I use the same shirt from kayaking under my wet suit. It greatly improves the warmth of a wet suit by greatly reducing the movement of water inside - it sequesters your warm water layer. As long as it doesnt ruin the fit of your suit, what is the problem exactly? Creative solutions are not always so bad - sometimes only listening to others is asking for the same kind of trouble. My educators were all 200+ lbs - do they really know what I (160lbs) need to stay warm?

Great story though and lots of areas for improvement which is a good place to be. Plz dont take food into the water, that is just asking for something to bite your finger off. Not to mention it is gross and hurts the vis.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I used to wear thick wool socks under my 7 mm dive boots in Maine. It made a huge difference; without the socks underneath my feet would be completely numb, with them they would be cold, the difference was dramatic.

I suspect that wearing thermal underwear under a suit will not change the function of the suit a lot, except in siutations where the suit is a little too large. When my girl friend and i were poor college students, she would wear a thick wool sweater under my old wetsuit jacket (again in Maine) and it made a huge difference in making a suit that was too big, much warmer.

I used to wear lycra dive skin under my wetsuit when I did commercial diving work where I would be in the suit 6 hours of more per day. This was a big help in reducing chafing and made the nylon lined suit much more comfortable. I would also wear thin coton socks under my dive boots in warm water to make them more comfortable.

Wearing thermals under a suit does not sound very comfortable, but for South Florida diving, I can't see that it is a big deal.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Dennis;

Well phrased. If someone doesn't have a multi-tasking background then a camera would be too much for a new diver to handle. My diving skills are developing and the quality of my UW photos show it. I take pictures underwater, but the composition and framing are not up to my dry land standards. I will concentrate on my basic diving skills over my UW photography skills, but the camera wasn't part of my problems on this dive, on the contrary at least I got a couple of shots to justify the otherwise failed dive.

I have never seen you dive so I made it a general comment. It's tough judge anyone unless you've seen them in the water.

 

[all4scuba05]

Monilite, don't bother taking the Nitrox course. It's not going to benefit you for the dives you do. Spend the money on something more useful. As a matter of fact, don't even take the AOW course. some folks take it just to get more handholding by an instructor. For that you might as well just pay and instructor to dive with you one on one and simply point out the areas that need improving. If you must pay for another course, make it the Peak Buoyancy course.

 

[DiverBizz]

I like the idea of a pony tank, but will probably not follow through on it for at least a year. Keep me in mind if you run into any “situations” with your new pony tank; I would like to gather information while I wait for my right time to actually get one. Did you rent one before you bought one? How did your rental dive go?

The owner of my LDS asked me to check out a pony bottle of his before buying one. I tried it out in my pool but not in OW. I just felt it was needed after practicing equipment exchange in the pool and my buddy not wanting to share the reg. I decided that I would get a pony bottle. I hung the bottle on my side and it didn't appear to be bothersome. It was not in my way. I am lucky because my LDS offers/loans a lot of things prior to making a purchase.

 

[DiverBizz]

My next goal will be to get Nitrox certified by June

If you want longer bottom time for photos, Nitrox is a smart way to go.

Did you replace your octo with the new second stage/BC inflator combos I’ve seen, or do you have 3+ mouthpieces to keep track of?

When I am diving with my PADI instructor and working with a Rescue Class I will have my REg. and Octo. I did remove my octo. to practice in the pool. I plan on diving without my octo. when diving my pony bottle. Maybe I should try using 2nd stage, octo., and pony bottle and see how confused I can get juggling them all.

 

[DiverBizz]

all4scubao5

If you must pay for another course, make it the Peak Buoyancy course.

Good skill to have for photography.

 

[Jim Kerr]

Monilite, don't bother taking the Nitrox course. It's not going to benefit you for the dives you do. Spend the money on something more useful. As a matter of fact, don't even take the AOW course. some folks take it just to get more handholding by an instructor. For that you might as well just pay and instructor to dive with you one on one and simply point out the areas that need improving. If you must pay for another course, make it the Peak Buoyancy course.

Have to disagree with you on that. No one will "ever" ask to see your PPB card but they will ask to see your Nitrox and AOW card. Nitrox is definitely a beneficial course as is AOW. There are some dives that you won't be able to do unless you have an AOW card... i.e. The Spiegel Grove and Duane wrecks in Key Largo. And you can't get Nitrox fills without an EANx card. There are only 3 cards you will be asked for in recreational diving. They are OW, AOW and Nitrox. The only other card you will be asked for is a Drysuit C-card, but only if you want to rent one. They'll sell you one without it but they won't rent it to you.