Hello Kyra, thank you for the feedback. I will keep in mind to have larger tanks ready and have the briefing written somewhere even though it's just a summary of the briefing. I think it's been established that having a written format can be more effective for some people thus increases safety. Thanks again. =)
Best practices
- Thread starter noblesix
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2airishuman
Contributor
Some to consider, in no particular order
1) Reasonable and fair booking, payment, and refund policies.
2) Tank valves that will accept either yoke or DIN regulators ("pro" valves)
3) Larger tanks available for those of us with higher muscle mass/metabolism. For boat dives the tanks should fit in whatever brackets are on the boats. For most boats this means steel rather than aluminum 100s. Most of us who need them are willing to pay extra
4) (boat dives) Office/store/shop as close as possible to the boat or logistics handled in such a way that divers can proceed directly to the boat without a stop at the office/store/shop
5) (boat dives and dive docks) Ladders that will accommodate fin-on exits
6) Web-based reservations. Failing that, prices and schedule on the web
7) Separate rinse buckets for cameras
8) (boat dives) Freshwater showers on board
9) (boat dives) Fruit
10) Tip jar divided appropriately among crew, with sign or announcement to that effect, so divers don't have to figure out how to split tips among a DM, guide, captain, and off-duty employee who ends up helping
11) Proper fills for HP cylinders
12) A recognition that, for some of us, there is no such thing as a funny joke about EPIRBs, lifeboats, life vests, emergency O2, fire extinguishers, or any other safety equipment or procedures
13) Keep a clean shop/store/kiosk
1) Reasonable and fair booking, payment, and refund policies.
2) Tank valves that will accept either yoke or DIN regulators ("pro" valves)
3) Larger tanks available for those of us with higher muscle mass/metabolism. For boat dives the tanks should fit in whatever brackets are on the boats. For most boats this means steel rather than aluminum 100s. Most of us who need them are willing to pay extra
4) (boat dives) Office/store/shop as close as possible to the boat or logistics handled in such a way that divers can proceed directly to the boat without a stop at the office/store/shop
5) (boat dives and dive docks) Ladders that will accommodate fin-on exits
6) Web-based reservations. Failing that, prices and schedule on the web
7) Separate rinse buckets for cameras
8) (boat dives) Freshwater showers on board
9) (boat dives) Fruit
10) Tip jar divided appropriately among crew, with sign or announcement to that effect, so divers don't have to figure out how to split tips among a DM, guide, captain, and off-duty employee who ends up helping
11) Proper fills for HP cylinders
12) A recognition that, for some of us, there is no such thing as a funny joke about EPIRBs, lifeboats, life vests, emergency O2, fire extinguishers, or any other safety equipment or procedures
13) Keep a clean shop/store/kiosk
drrich2
Contributor
I'm not trained for side mount. I've got a stage kit, and I've dove with a 130 cf HP steel tank on my back & an 85 cf steel tank 'slung' clipped to my left BCD D-rings. Later got a 30 cf pony bottle instead, and recently picked up a 3 cf Spare Air I haven't tried yet.
Our local quarry requires solo divers be solo cert.d & I believe have a redundant air source, and that's where I've dove like this.
I considered side-mount, mainly in case I go back to Bonaire, but the hassle of messing with the more elaborate (& bulkier, with 2 tanks) rig has to be weighed against just getting out & hooking up another tank.
Some travel destinations have at least a limited supply of bigger tanks. Some examples:
1.) Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Key Largo, in 2013, had 2 100 cf AL tanks, I believe, which were what I used with them.
2.) Sun Dancer 2 (now called Belize Aggressor IV) - had me a 100 cf AL tank.
3.) Jupiter Dive Center, Jupiter, FL - had 120 cf steel tanks.
4.) Olympus Dive Center, Morehead City, NC - had 120 cf steel tanks.
5.) For whatever reasons, for a planned trip (Lord willing & providing) to Southern California in August on a limited load Southern Channel Islands live-aboard, the affiliated dive operation had at largest 95 cf tanks, and from what I understand really big (e.g.: 120 & 130 cf steel tanks) for rent can be hard to find out there. Very strange to my mind; California divers often wear dry suits, some dive solo, conditions are colder than Caribbean diving & entanglement (in kelp) a risk...seems like really big steel tanks would be a nice differentiator for an op. offering such.
When I shop a dive destination operator, all other things being about equal, if you've got steel 120 cf tanks & your competitor is 100 cf & less, I'll probably book with you.
Richard.
Our local quarry requires solo divers be solo cert.d & I believe have a redundant air source, and that's where I've dove like this.
I considered side-mount, mainly in case I go back to Bonaire, but the hassle of messing with the more elaborate (& bulkier, with 2 tanks) rig has to be weighed against just getting out & hooking up another tank.
Some travel destinations have at least a limited supply of bigger tanks. Some examples:
1.) Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Key Largo, in 2013, had 2 100 cf AL tanks, I believe, which were what I used with them.
2.) Sun Dancer 2 (now called Belize Aggressor IV) - had me a 100 cf AL tank.
3.) Jupiter Dive Center, Jupiter, FL - had 120 cf steel tanks.
4.) Olympus Dive Center, Morehead City, NC - had 120 cf steel tanks.
5.) For whatever reasons, for a planned trip (Lord willing & providing) to Southern California in August on a limited load Southern Channel Islands live-aboard, the affiliated dive operation had at largest 95 cf tanks, and from what I understand really big (e.g.: 120 & 130 cf steel tanks) for rent can be hard to find out there. Very strange to my mind; California divers often wear dry suits, some dive solo, conditions are colder than Caribbean diving & entanglement (in kelp) a risk...seems like really big steel tanks would be a nice differentiator for an op. offering such.
When I shop a dive destination operator, all other things being about equal, if you've got steel 120 cf tanks & your competitor is 100 cf & less, I'll probably book with you.
Richard.
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