Newby question on buying Gear...

"dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com.au> wrote in message
news:441695b5$0$23325$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> snip
>
>> "dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com.au> wrote in message
>> news:4413ce9c$0$23305$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-> and may I suggest a
>> BC
>> with integrated weights. Why? because most/all dive
>>> boats carry weights on board and you don't have to carry a weight belt
>>> around most of the time ( doing a shore dive you are no worse off and
>>> can
>>> carry your weights down by wearing your BC). The only problem is making
>> sure
>>> that a new dive buddy know how to dump your weights if necessary.
>>
>> I've been looking at some with integrated weights. I have a friend (old
>> Instructor who's since quit) with a scubapro BC that he might sell, but
>> without intergrated weights. He says that he doesn't like them, as he
>> considers them dangerous. (Harder to dump than the weight belt).
>
> Dumping your weights is really last resort stuff in an absolute emergency.
> If your buddy is well briefed he will be just as able to pull a pocket out
> of your BC as reach under your BC to undo a clip.
>
> The only time I have dumped a weight belt was when my buddy was getting
> tired and getting nervous on the surface ( in a very nasty chop ) waiting
> for the boat which had to leave the line to pick up other divers, dumping
> his belt made him lighter and calmed him down ( we got it back as I
> clipped it up and slid it down the line).
>
> PS we made him pull the line up

I should have said dumping you weight belt while under is really last resort
stuff
>
>

With respect to the split fins, I love my split fins. The only down side is
a belief expressed by some wreck divers that the vortex induced off the tips
of split fins can destroy vis more quickly than standard fins. I haven't
tested this myself but I did notice a fair amount of muck stirred up in one
wreck where I got too close to the floor of the wreck.

However in open water, splitties are hard to beat. Just one word of
warning - they all lok the same. Put some paint stripes or cable ties or
comsething on your fins so you can pick them out on a crowded dive boat.

With respect to wetties in cold water diving areas, it is hard to go past a
semi dry or dry suit. I personally like my 5/7 semidry. Look around - they
vary quite a bit in quality, finish on seams etc. The best semi drys use a
dry suit zip. The cressi semi dry is not bad.

If you go dry, buy one with some decent thermal insulating properties. I
have seen dry suit divers come up shivering even with a lot of gear on
underneath the suit.

If you are buying a BC, I definitely agree with integrated weights.
dechucka is right, if you are having to dump weights then a lot of things
have probably already gone wrong. I have a SEAC Pro 3000, and I have played
in the pool with the weights. Very easy to get out. Most integrated weights
have a quick pull system.

One last point, once you have your gear - go to the pool - can't emphasise
that enought - go to the pool. Play with your gear, est weights, play with
the dumps on the BC , understand where the inflator sits on the BC, and test
how much additional weight the semi dry will force you to use - you will be
VERY surprised.

Cheers.

"Adam H." <ahairsub4@rREMOVEMEspamSTOPPER.jvxp.com> wrote in message
news:44165e34$1@quokka.wn.com.au...
> Hi,
>
>> Don't bother buying a tank at this stage. The easiest thing to hire and
>> (apart from lead) the heaviest thing to carry. Personally I agree with
> mask,
>> fins, boots, snorkel and wettie first. Then a BC - it's really nice to
>> get
>> completely familiar with your own BC rather than messing around trying to
>> get familiar with a hire one!
>
> Thanks for your suggestion. At this stage, I have my mask, snorkel and
> boots. I guess the next thing on the list should be the fins and the
> wettie.
>
> I've seen some fins around with a split down the middle. When I tried them
> on, they were certainly a lot easier to swim with, but was wondering if
> their is any downside to split fins? Are they any slower, or is their any
> other downsides, or are they the better ones to go for.
>
> I'm considering a subapro steamer (I think they're called, or maybe
> semi-dry
> suit) - ones that are wetsuits, but hardly let any water in. I'm in
> Victoria, so I guess most of my diving will be around cold water
> unfortuantly at this stage. Does anyone have any suggestions re wetties
> also, or are they pretty much a no-brainer?
>
> "dechucka" <dechucka@vomithotmail.com.au> wrote in message
> news:4413ce9c$0$23305$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-> and may I suggest a BC
> with integrated weights. Why? because most/all dive
>> boats carry weights on board and you don't have to carry a weight belt
>> around most of the time ( doing a shore dive you are no worse off and
>> can
>> carry your weights down by wearing your BC). The only problem is making
> sure
>> that a new dive buddy know how to dump your weights if necessary.
>
> I've been looking at some with integrated weights. I have a friend (old
> Instructor who's since quit) with a scubapro BC that he might sell, but
> without intergrated weights. He says that he doesn't like them, as he
> considers them dangerous. (Harder to dump than the weight belt).
>
> I'm only new at scuba (got open water certified 2 weeks ago) so I have a
> lot
> to learn. I have however, found that weighbelts can get stuck too (with
> the
> BC), or the buckle can rotate, making it not so quick to release if I
> really
> needed to, so I'm wondering if integrated weights could actually be safer
> in
> the long run.
>
> The other thing I guess is a reg. It's probably further down the list than
> the other items above, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it too much at
> this
> stage. Just seems like the more gear you have, the cheaper it is. <g>
>
> On a completely different note - my wife has come up with a bad rash all
> over her both times she's gone diving. Lasted about 3 days. I'm not sure
> what has caused it, but I'm tending to lean towards the wetsuit. (However,
> she also got it on her head where her hood covered her face), so I'm
> wondering if it's an allergic reaction to the material, or if it's a
> common
> thing?
>
> We've thought about getting a rashie for her, but I guess you don't get
> rashies for your head, so that won't help in that instance. Has anyone got
> any idea of what might be causing the rash, or any ways to prevent it?
>
> Thanks for all your suggestions so far. I'm very eager to learn a lot
> about
> diving, and appreciate all the feedback you have given todate!
>
> Regards
>
> Adam.
>
>