uk diving---what do i need?

Hi folks
I am about to start diving in the uk,my previous diving and training
(currently PADI Rescue)has always been in warmer climates.From what i have
read in various groups and articles there appears to be additional equipment
that is considered the norm for a UK diver.

At present i own the following equipment:-
MK 25T/S600T with R380 octopus
Glide 2000 BC (integrated weight system)
Oceanic Shadow Titanium wetsuit (2 piece system)
variuos masks/fins/knives
Suunto Stinger
Suunto wrist compass

I just purchased a drysuit (Othree MSF500TB) and will be doing my drysuit
speciality course in early march,by which time i will also have aquired my
own cylinder(s)--probably a 12 and a 15ltr

I have no desire to look like a overloaded christmas tree,or to purchase non
essential kit.

So what else do i need?--dsmb?/pony?/reel? whatever
Please note "need" the rest can go on the wish list for a while--or untill a
deal too good to pass comes along.

thanks in advance folks
probably be ascending feet first in a lake near you soon!

"Budweiser" <bud.bottle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fmPUb.292$cb7.1968@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net

> Hi folks
> I am about to start diving in the uk,my previous diving and training
> (currently PADI Rescue)has always been in warmer climates.From what i have
> read in various groups and articles there appears to be additional equipment
> that is considered the norm for a UK diver.
<snip>
> So what else do i need?--dsmb?/pony?/reel? whatever

1) A good Hood
2) Gloves
3) At least one 'backup' size torch. Preferably two.
4) APValves self sealing DSMB with your name marked on it
5) 35ish metre spool from Halcyon/Aleutian etc.
6) Plenty of practice in controlled conditions with 4) and 5)
7) Soft bag to keep your stuff neat on dive boat
8) Bag/box of tools/spares/o-rings/duck tape/bungee/stuff
9) Copy of 'British Marine Animals'
10) A good buddy...

Cheers,
Huw
--
http://www.huwporter.com


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"Budweiser" <bud.bottle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fmPUb.292$cb7.1968@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> Hi folks

Hello.

> I am about to start diving in the uk,my previous diving and training
> (currently PADI Rescue)has always been in warmer climates.From what i have
> read in various groups and articles there appears to be additional
equipment
> that is considered the norm for a UK diver.

Correct.

> At present i own the following equipment:-
> MK 25T/S600T with R380 octopus

Supposed to be very good...

> Glide 2000 BC (integrated weight system)

Supposed to be very good...

> Oceanic Shadow Titanium wetsuit (2 piece system)

Supposed to be very good...

> variuos masks/fins/knives
> Suunto Stinger

Like a Vyper but smaller. Supposed to be conservative but I've not been
limited by me Vyper.

> Suunto wrist compass

SK7? Good compass...

> I just purchased a drysuit (Othree MSF500TB)

Supposed to be a good drysuit manufacturer...

....you might want a weezle extreme to go under it.

> and will be doing my drysuit speciality course in early march,

Someone will take the p*** out of you for that, but do it anyway. It's not
that expensive (I hope) and it will give you two dives under supervision and
you will learn a bit about drysuits and how to fly them. I've done it, I
got a fair bit out of it.

> by which time i will also have aquired my
> own cylinder(s)--probably a 12 and a 15ltr

Some may well be along to tell you to get two 12s and join them together...


> I have no desire to look like a overloaded christmas tree,or to purchase
non
> essential kit.

Good thinking!

> So what else do i need?--dsmb?/pony?/reel? whatever

If you are serious about UK diving you need an SMB and reel. There has been
much discussion about this (some generated by me!) and it is well worth
checking back through the archive. My take was to go for a AP Valves
self-sealing red smb and a bodaine mini reel with a view to getting a yellow
self inflating SMB in the future...

You will also want some kind of light source. I bought an Ikelite PClite
and it is nice for shallow stuff for peering into holes but that's its
limit. I'm in the market for something with a bit more... ooomph.

> Please note "need" the rest can go on the wish list for a while--or untill
a
> deal too good to pass comes along.

Don't let the big boys bully you into buying a YBOD...

> thanks in advance folks
> probably be ascending feet first in a lake near you soon!

Don't do that - it isn't particularly good for your health! Do the drysuit
course, do some sheltered diving in an inland site to get the hang of it,
get comfortable and take it from there.

CAS
--
Temperature @ Stoney? Find it or share it @
http://stoneytemps.calumscott.me.uk/

"Budweiser" <bud.bottle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fmPUb.292$cb7.1968@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> Hi folks
> I am about to start diving in the uk,my previous diving and training
> (currently PADI Rescue)has always been in warmer climates.From what i have
> read in various groups and articles there appears to be additional
equipment
> that is considered the norm for a UK diver.
>
> At present i own the following equipment:-
> MK 25T/S600T with R380 octopus
> Glide 2000 BC (integrated weight system)
> Oceanic Shadow Titanium wetsuit (2 piece system)
> variuos masks/fins/knives
> Suunto Stinger
> Suunto wrist compass
>
> I just purchased a drysuit (Othree MSF500TB) and will be doing my drysuit
> speciality course in early march,by which time i will also have aquired my
> own cylinder(s)--probably a 12 and a 15ltr
>
> I have no desire to look like a overloaded christmas tree,or to purchase
non
> essential kit.
>
> So what else do i need?--dsmb?/pony?/reel? whatever
> Please note "need" the rest can go on the wish list for a while--or untill
a
> deal too good to pass comes along.
>
> thanks in advance folks
> probably be ascending feet first in a lake near you soon!

You need a new handle. Budweiser won't get any respect at all in the UK.

Lee

Lee Bell <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>
> You need a new handle. Budweiser won't get any respect at all in the UK.
>

Now now, every good Britain knows Budweister is a perfectly respectful American
bottled mineral water

Nick

"CAS" <calumscottTAKETHISBITOUT@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c00h3r$120tal$1@ID-193985.news.uni-berlin.de...
> "Budweiser" <bud.bottle@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:fmPUb.292$cb7.1968@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> > Hi folks
>
> Hello.
>
> > I am about to start diving in the uk,my previous diving and training
> > (currently PADI Rescue)has always been in warmer climates.From what i
have
> > read in various groups and articles there appears to be additional
> equipment
> > that is considered the norm for a UK diver.
>
> Correct.
>
> > At present i own the following equipment:-
> > MK 25T/S600T with R380 octopus
>
> Supposed to be very good...
>
> > Glide 2000 BC (integrated weight system)
>
> Supposed to be very good...
>
> > Oceanic Shadow Titanium wetsuit (2 piece system)
>
> Supposed to be very good...
>
> > variuos masks/fins/knives
> > Suunto Stinger
>
> Like a Vyper but smaller. Supposed to be conservative but I've not been
> limited by me Vyper.
>
> > Suunto wrist compass
>
> SK7? Good compass...
>
> > I just purchased a drysuit (Othree MSF500TB)
>
> Supposed to be a good drysuit manufacturer...
>
> ...you might want a weezle extreme to go under it.
>
> > and will be doing my drysuit speciality course in early march,
>
> Someone will take the p*** out of you for that, but do it anyway. It's
not
> that expensive (I hope) and it will give you two dives under supervision
and
> you will learn a bit about drysuits and how to fly them. I've done it, I
> got a fair bit out of it.
>
> > by which time i will also have aquired my
> > own cylinder(s)--probably a 12 and a 15ltr
>
> Some may well be along to tell you to get two 12s and join them
together...
>
>
> > I have no desire to look like a overloaded christmas tree,or to purchase
> non
> > essential kit.
>
> Good thinking!
>
> > So what else do i need?--dsmb?/pony?/reel? whatever
>
> If you are serious about UK diving you need an SMB and reel. There has
been
> much discussion about this (some generated by me!) and it is well worth
> checking back through the archive. My take was to go for a AP Valves
> self-sealing red smb and a bodaine mini reel with a view to getting a
yellow
> self inflating SMB in the future...
>
> You will also want some kind of light source. I bought an Ikelite PClite
> and it is nice for shallow stuff for peering into holes but that's its
> limit. I'm in the market for something with a bit more... ooomph.
>
> > Please note "need" the rest can go on the wish list for a while--or
untill
> a
> > deal too good to pass comes along.
>
> Don't let the big boys bully you into buying a YBOD...
>
> > thanks in advance folks
> > probably be ascending feet first in a lake near you soon!
>
> Don't do that - it isn't particularly good for your health! Do the
drysuit
> course, do some sheltered diving in an inland site to get the hang of it,
> get comfortable and take it from there.
>
> CAS
> --
> Temperature @ Stoney? Find it or share it @
> http://stoneytemps.calumscott.me.uk/
>
>

The drysuit couse came as a freebie with the drysuit,and i see no harm in
gaining another piece of plastic--and i do appreciate by no means will it
make me a "drysuit specialist"--only dive experience can go towards that.
The feet first ascent comment was intended to be a throw away comment,and
hopefully after my pool orientation with the suit to understand the
difference of diving dry this can be avoided.---however i have seen it
happen to people whilst getting to grips with the suit.
As far as undersuits /hoods/ are concerned--have them--i consider them to be
part of the drysuit "package" and did not think it was worth mentioning
seperately---thanks for the input tho.
On the subject of SMB--why the choice of red / yellow?---the self inflating
options i can understand, but that seems to be "pay your money,take you
choice" scenario---or is there a valid reason for one option or the other?
My choice of a 12ltr and a 15ltr is to cover the two dive scenario, where no
refill station is available and to allow me a choice of size for a given
dive.--A twin set is something that i may progress to later.
With reference to the light source-- i can see no point in buying a mini
torch(ok can see the relavance in a backup situation),nor getting a cheap
one--every time i buy something cheap it last a short time and generally
never does as advertised on the tin.What is a good mid range multi purpose
unit?

thanks for your input and valid comments

"Nick Bown" <nbown@nospamthanks.ixcg.com> wrote in message
news:4023d5e2$0$15668$fa0fcedb@lovejoy.zen.co.uk.. .
> Lee Bell <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > You need a new handle. Budweiser won't get any respect at all in the
UK.
> >
>
> Now now, every good Britain knows Budweister is a perfectly respectful
American
> bottled mineral water
>
> Nick

I thought it was one of those non-alcoholic beers???!!!


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On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 17:33:48 GMT, "Lee Bell"
<leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote:

>You need a new handle. Budweiser won't get any respect at all in the UK.

You'd think that, but the Bud we get here is not the same carbonated
urine that you'd pay money for over there.

Budvar is another matter entirely.
--
ferret
Best before: see end

ferret wrote:

> You'd think that, but the Bud we get here is not the same carbonated
> urine that you'd pay money for over there.

It could be worse. When I used to live in Maine there was a beer
called Shlitz. Drinking it gave you the shlitz.

- Keith

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 17:58:58 +0000, Nick Bown wrote:

> Now now, every good Britain knows Budweister is a perfectly respectful
> American bottled mineral water

I thought it was an alcopop.

Jason

--
http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Aussie diving reports including
Coral Bay, Rottnest Island, Dunsborough and Darwin