I had to go back to July 2006 in my logbook to find my two POLING dives and see what gear I had.
It was Cape Ann Divers, Faber steel 100s pressed up to 3200 with air. Had to wear an unfamiliar BC because buddy’s had some type of failure while we were still on the boat Only spare one was the deckhand’s, too small to fit him. So we tried mine and it was just barely big enough to fit him. So I got the deckhand’s BC, which was just barely big enough to fit me.
Went to 94 feet to see where ship’s bottom was, to see how it came apart in tension as she split in two in awful winter storm. I was still getting used to the bc, I remember the inflator and dump valve felt kind of vague, but they did work. And buddy’s tank strap (meaning my tank strap) came loose, I had to refasten it.
COLD despite 3rd of July, air 75, water 62 surface and 45 at depth. Great dive but only 26 minutes. Second dive less deep and I was cold, and almost grateful when computer ordered me up. I think an 80 would’ve been too small.
This is a good memory. I remember when Poling sank in 1977, I was in the Coast Guard in Boston and knew a couple of the rescuers. They risked their lives, it was a really bad winter storm.
Anyway that’s my story. I don’t think an AL80 would’ve been quite safe enough.