NorCal vintage dive report 7/24/10

[Fish&beer]

Well yesterday Eric (ZKY) and I made a couple of dives at Gerstle Cove, Salt Point Park. The sea conditions were smooth but the vis really sucked- 3 feet! Eric was using his Freedom plate with his custom harness, no BC, J valve w/ rod, and breathing on his DA. During the first dive his DA was free flowing. So between dives Eric opened up the DA cans, adjusted the valve and seemed to have no further problems w/ it.
I was using my RAM & Zeagle Express Tech BC, The RAM had a 3 way splitter so I could use an inflate hose for my ET. I also had a banjo fitting so I could use my old stainless braided hose Healthways spg. My Aqua Flite custom smooth skin suit kept me toasty in the 50 deg water. The only problem I had was that the ET kept riding up causing the RAM to position off my shoulder blades causing harder breathing. I need to modify the ET & add a crotch strap to keep it from moving up. Except for the bad vis, fun was had by all. We even did a double hose buddy breathing drill during one dive (good practice).

I will try to post a few photos later

Jerry

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

That sure was fun Jerry, I had a great time. Sorry about that first dive getting cut short. I guess I was a little over zealous on the horse shoe lever adjustment the last time I fiddled with the reg. But It seems to be perfect now.
Hey, at least we got about 25 minutes before my J needed to be pulled.

That second dive was great! Yeah the vis sucked, but any day that I can get in on the North Coast is a good day. Next time I want to show you the great pinnacle, but we'll need bigger tanks.

We need to set up a vintage dive and campout sometime up in our neck of the woods. It would be fun! After all, we are up in campground central up here in Norcal.

 

[duckbill]

Thanks for sharing the report. Too bad about the vis. I'm used to low vis when diving the local rivers. It's all fun.

I agree. One of these days we should all get together for a vintage takover of some cove!

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Here's a photo.

Anyway, I want to do a small Monterey vintage get together in September sometime.

 

[herman]

Well yesterday Eric (ZKY) and I made a couple of dives at Gerstle Cove, Salt Point Park. The sea conditions were smooth but the vis really sucked- 3 feet! Eric was using his Freedom plate with his custom harness, no BC, J valve w/ rod, and breathing on his DA. During the first dive his DA was free flowing. So between dives Eric opened up the DA cans, adjusted the valve and seemed to have no further problems w/ it.
I was using my RAM & Zeagle Express Tech BC, The RAM had a 3 way splitter so I could use an inflate hose for my ET. I also had a banjo fitting so I could use my old stainless braided hose Healthways spg. My Aqua Flite custom smooth skin suit kept me toasty in the 50 deg water. The only problem I had was that the ET kept riding up causing the RAM to position off my shoulder blades causing harder breathing. I need to modify the ET & add a crotch strap to keep it from moving up. Except for the bad vis, fun was had by all. We even did a double hose buddy breathing drill during one dive (good practice).

I will try to post a few photos later

Jerry

I have added a couple of weight belt keepers to the waist band of the ET, behind the metal rings. This keeps it from riding up but at least for me, when the BC is riding correctly for my DH the waist band is way too low. I am working to have another set of waist band guides (keepers? rings?...whatever you call them) added above the existing ones to relocate it when diving it with a DH reg.

 

[Fish&beer]

I have added a couple of weight belt keepers to the waist band of the ET, behind the metal rings. This keeps it from riding up but at least for me, when the BC is riding correctly for my DH the waist band is way too low. I am working to have another set of waist band guides (keepers? rings?...whatever you call them) added above the existing ones to relocate it when diving it with a DH reg.

herman-

I think I solved my problem of the express tech riding up causing my RAM to leave the sweet spot.
What I did was remove the top tank cam strap and move it down to the next set of BP loops just above the lower tank cam strap. I then bought a 18"x1" velcro strap with attached plastic D ring from my local hardware store. I put the new velcro strap into the loops where I removed the top tank cam strap. I then looped the velcro strap around the neck (below valve)of the tank and secured it onto itself. This kept the upper part of the BP from flexing forward. By doing this I was able to lower the tank about 2 1/2 inches so the RAM cans set in the sweet spot between my shoulder blades. Tried it in the pool and it seems to work ok. So even if the ET raises up a little bit, the cans are still where they need to be. By the way I also put weight keepers on the shoulder strap above the strap guides.

 

[herman]

I tried that but for some reason I don't recall I did not care for it but I did not add the extra strap. I need to revisit the idea.

Thanks.

 

[duckbill]

Anyway, I want to do a small Monterey vintage get together in September sometime.

Hey, Eric, any word on this?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Hey, Eric, any word on this?

Yep, September, just got to figure out a good weekend.
I promised another guy I would go to his first annual seafood feastival up at Ocean Cove in September but I can't remember which weekend it is off hand. I'll have to get back to you guys.

 

[Fish&beer]

I'm in! I got all the weekends in Sept. free. Once we set a date, hopefully a few other vintage divers can join us too. That would be awesome!