Re: Need a Scuba refresher

I was certified about eight years ago and since then have only done
about a half dozen dives. Since then I've only been freediving.

I recently bought a 19cu/ft pony bottle with regulator to use for
unstucking anchors or cutting out fish that has wrapped too deep for me
to freedive.

For this intended use, I'll only put the tank on to go down to cut kelp
or loosen an anchor then come up slower than my bubbles. I don't expect
my bottom time to exceed 2 minutes. I may go as deep as 90'. I don't
believe I need any safety stops, correct?

Oh, I also won't be mixing the two (freediving, scuba). Once I retrieve
the fish or anchor, I'm done.

Well, I've been thinking about the upcoming lobster season and I would
like to use my new tank for some shallow water bug hunting. I've always
just freedived for lobster and never to more than 40'. When scuba
diving, what circumstances necessitate a safety stop? If I dive in 40'
for 20 minutes, would I need to do a safety stop or can I ascend slower
than my bubbles and be O.K?

Again, I won't be mixing the two. I'll either freedive for the lobsters
or scuba. Even though my diving is shallow, I can't remember what the
margin of safety was for doing both, so I'll only do one.

thanks


--
Spinal Tap
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In article <Spinal.Tap.1buyyb@forums.deeperblue.net>,
Spinal Tap <Spinal.Tap.1buyyb@forums.deeperblue.net> writes:
>
>I was certified about eight years ago and since then have only done
>about a half dozen dives. Since then I've only been freediving.

You may wish to consider re-taking the Basic Open Water certification
course. It sound like you have forgotten a lot. Some of the information
you are apparently missing could get you into big trouble.

...
>For this intended use, I'll only put the tank on to go down to cut kelp
>or loosen an anchor then come up slower than my bubbles. ...

That could be too fast for safety. (It has been a LONG time since
"slower than my bubbles" was an accepted guideline!)

> ... I don't expect
>my bottom time to exceed 2 minutes. I may go as deep as 90'. I don't
>believe I need any safety stops, correct?
...
>Well, I've been thinking about the upcoming lobster season and I would
>like to use my new tank for some shallow water bug hunting. I've always
>just freedived for lobster and never to more than 40'. When scuba
>diving, what circumstances necessitate a safety stop? ...

For safe nodecompression stop diving, you need to follow a table or computer
base dive system on every dive.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 15:00:50 +0000, Spinal Tap
<Spinal.Tap.1buyyb@forums.deeperblue.net> wrote:

>
>I was certified about eight years ago and since then have only done
>about a half dozen dives. Since then I've only been freediving.
>
>I recently bought a 19cu/ft pony bottle with regulator to use for
>unstucking anchors or cutting out fish that has wrapped too deep for me
>to freedive.

A 19ft tank is plenty enough to get you into trouble, not nearly
enough to get you out.

>
>For this intended use, I'll only put the tank on to go down to cut kelp
>or loosen an anchor then come up slower than my bubbles. I don't expect
>my bottom time to exceed 2 minutes. I may go as deep as 90'. I don't
>believe I need any safety stops, correct?

An unexperienced diver going solo to 90 ft on a 19ft tank? I think
you need to worry more about whether your body will be found. I would
definitely recommend a stop from 90. Remember you time to descend and
ascend when you figure how much air you'll need. And what happens if
it take you longer than a minute or two? You're looking at a task of
unknown difficulty. What happens if the anchor is really and truely
fouled?

>
>Oh, I also won't be mixing the two (freediving, scuba). Once I retrieve
>the fish or anchor, I'm done.

Are you freediving before you scuba dive?

>
>Well, I've been thinking about the upcoming lobster season and I would
>like to use my new tank for some shallow water bug hunting. I've always
>just freedived for lobster and never to more than 40'. When scuba
>diving, what circumstances necessitate a safety stop? If I dive in 40'
>for 20 minutes, would I need to do a safety stop or can I ascend slower
>than my bubbles and be O.K?

I doubt you'll get 20 minutes out of your tank.

>
>Again, I won't be mixing the two. I'll either freedive for the lobsters
>or scuba. Even though my diving is shallow, I can't remember what the
>margin of safety was for doing both, so I'll only do one.

Me thinks you need to do some book review. You're well on your way to
becoming a statistic.

>
>thanks

--
dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

"Charlie Hammond" wrote

> That could be too fast for safety. (It has been a LONG time since
> "slower than my bubbles" was an accepted guideline!)

It was never an accepted guideline. No faster than your medium sized
bubbles was. So was no faster than your small bubbles. If it was safe for
30 years or so, I suspect it's still safe.

Lee

Please make sure you make out your Last Will and Testament before retrieving
your anchor from 90 feet with a 19 cu. ft. bottle. Hey, can you put me down
for the 19 cu. ft. bottle?

Take a refresher course at least, and don't dive solo. You are asking for
trouble, and the ocean is more than happy to give it to you.

- Don
PADI MSDT

"Spinal Tap" <Spinal.Tap.1buyyb@forums.deeperblue.net> wrote in message
news:Spinal.Tap.1buyyb@forums.deeperblue.net...
>
> I was certified about eight years ago and since then have only done
> about a half dozen dives. Since then I've only been freediving.
>
> I recently bought a 19cu/ft pony bottle with regulator to use for
> unstucking anchors or cutting out fish that has wrapped too deep for me
> to freedive.
>
> For this intended use, I'll only put the tank on to go down to cut kelp
> or loosen an anchor then come up slower than my bubbles. I don't expect
> my bottom time to exceed 2 minutes. I may go as deep as 90'. I don't
> believe I need any safety stops, correct?
>
> Oh, I also won't be mixing the two (freediving, scuba). Once I retrieve
> the fish or anchor, I'm done.
>
> Well, I've been thinking about the upcoming lobster season and I would
> like to use my new tank for some shallow water bug hunting. I've always
> just freedived for lobster and never to more than 40'. When scuba
> diving, what circumstances necessitate a safety stop? If I dive in 40'
> for 20 minutes, would I need to do a safety stop or can I ascend slower
> than my bubbles and be O.K?
>
> Again, I won't be mixing the two. I'll either freedive for the lobsters
> or scuba. Even though my diving is shallow, I can't remember what the
> margin of safety was for doing both, so I'll only do one.
>
> thanks
>
>
> --
> Spinal Tap
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Posted via DeeperBlue.net - Your Online Resource for the UnderWater World.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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http://forums.deeperblue.net/member....fo&userid=3187
> View this thread on DeeperBlue.net:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...threadid=53081
>

Thanks for the replies. Some of you scuba divers crack me up. A simple
"I would advise against it, here are the reasons..." just wouldn't
surfice huh?


--
Spinal Tap
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A mild "I would advise against it" is a little understated to be effective
when someone kneels down in front of an onrushing train to tie his shoe.
..

Steve

"Spinal Tap" <Spinal.Tap.1bw22p@forums.deeperblue.net> wrote in message
news:Spinal.Tap.1bw22p@forums.deeperblue.net...
>
> Thanks for the replies. Some of you scuba divers crack me up. A simple
> "I would advise against it, here are the reasons..." just wouldn't
> surfice huh?
>
>
> --
> Spinal Tap
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Posted via DeeperBlue.net - Your Online Resource for the UnderWater World.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Spinal Tap's Profile:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/member....fo&userid=3187
> View this thread on DeeperBlue.net:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/showthr...threadid=53081
>

In article <r98Zc.7375$JT3.6521@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> writes:

> ... No faster than your medium sized bubbles ...
> ... than your small bubbles. If it was safe for
>30 years or so, I suspect it's still safe.

"Safe" is relative. It was and is safer that simply racing to the surface.
It is less safe that current practice.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

In article <Spinal.Tap.1bw22p@forums.deeperblue.net>,
Spinal Tap <Spinal.Tap.1bw22p@forums.deeperblue.net> writes:
>
>Thanks for the replies. Some of you scuba divers crack me up. A simple
>"I would advise against it, here are the reasons..." just wouldn't
>surfice huh?

... and if that is your attitude, just ignoring you would have done as
much good!

But we chose to try to make it clear that what you suggested has an
unacceptably high risk or serious injury or death -- whether you believe
so or not.

And as for "here are the reasons" ... it just isn't that simple.
From your question it is clear that you are missing a LOT of knowledge
that is *REQUIRED* to SCUBA dive safely. You really need to [re]take
the Basic Open Water course. But if it just cracks you up, I guess
it would be a waste of time.

Now someone will accuse me of casting pearls before swine. True.
My hope is that even if the swine doesn't benefit, other readers may.

And if you just posted for the purpose of talking down the good folks
who took your interst to heart and tried to help you... Well, in that
case, shame on me for being taken in. (Guess you touched a nerve.)

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

"Charlie Hammond" <hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com> wrote in message
news:CbkZc.9258$EG3.6287@news.cpqcorp.net...
> In article <r98Zc.7375$JT3.6521@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
> "Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> writes:
>
> > ... No faster than your medium sized bubbles ...
> > ... than your small bubbles. If it was safe for
> >30 years or so, I suspect it's still safe.
>
> "Safe" is relative. It was and is safer that simply racing to the
surface.
> It is less safe that current practice.

No, it's not. You're either safe or you're not. There's no between. Not
bent = safe. Bent = not safe.