Reply I recently posted on ScubaBoard to a question about the value of Divemaster certification.
This thread has sparked some interesting (and not so interesting) discussion.Why get DM certification? Is it worth it? Can you make any money at it?
Everybody's motivations are different, but there are some common theme's. Personally, I have only had my DM for about a year, and assist with classes about 1 - 2 weekends per month on average. My personal motivation in seeking DM certification was to become a better diver, to be better prepared to handle in-water emergencies, and to learn to deal with people and the problems that can arise in teaching new students to dive.
Is it worth it? Personally - yes. I get a great deal of satisfaction working with students, and seeing the tremendous growth in self-confidence that can happen in just a matter of days. I personally like Open Water training the best - where the student has a chance to demonstrate the skills and really enjoy this great sport of diving. The enthusiasm and excitement of newly certified divers completing their first real open water dives is truly contageous and rewarding.
Can you make money as a DM? Very simply, no. Many DM's get great discounts on gear, air, trips, and other perks, but you cannot make a living as a DM unless you are in a location where your pay (or lack thereof) is strongly supplemented by tips.
To the poster that has made the negative comments about DM training - I would ask what other opportunities does a diver have to increase their knowledge, skills, and ability other than the intensive training (CPR, First Aid, Oxygen Provider, Rescue, etc.) necessary to achieve the DM rating?
The final point I would offer is that the DM certification in itself is not a means to an end. It is only a formal recognition of a basic level of demonstrated performance for the diver, and a stepping-stone to contined education and experience. As the worn out cliché goes "A good diver is always leaning".
Dive Safe!
Friday, October 05, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Review of OxyCheq 30# Mach V Wing
Short review of the Oxycheq 30# wing. My LDS started carrying these wings and I have heard great reviews of them, so I decided to take the plunge. Mounting was easy with my Fred T SS backplate with STA. No issues. Bolt holes matched perfectly. One modification that was necessary was that I had to replace my 30" LP inflator hose with a 22" hose. The OxyCheq Inflator corrugated hose was much shorter than my previous wing, and therefore this was necessary as my old hose was an entanglement hazard.
Now have about 30 dives on the wing, and have been very pleased. The wing makes a very tight package, and I hardly notice that it is on my back. I have sensed considerably less drag in the water, and also a reduced amount of air that has to be be added or purged from the wing. This has resulted in lower air consumption, and a much more stable horizontal diving position in the water.
For reference, I am about 185#, 6', and usually dive fresh water in Lake Jocassee in the beautiful upstate of South Carolina. With a 7mm Bare Arctic, and a HP 100 cubic foot Worthington Steel Tank, I carry no additional lead.
Here are a few shots of the the Wing:
Photo 1: OxyCheq wing in place on Backplate (partially inflated wing to provide better visibility for the picture).
Photo 2: Front view of wing. Notice K Inflator, and also the amount of wing extending below the backplate. The wing has a "doughnut" shaped bladder, allowing 360 degree transfer of air top and bottom unlike traditional wings.
Photo 3: Back view of wing. Note ScubaPro Cincher Bands (really like these bands by the way - never had them slip).
Now have about 30 dives on the wing, and have been very pleased. The wing makes a very tight package, and I hardly notice that it is on my back. I have sensed considerably less drag in the water, and also a reduced amount of air that has to be be added or purged from the wing. This has resulted in lower air consumption, and a much more stable horizontal diving position in the water.
For reference, I am about 185#, 6', and usually dive fresh water in Lake Jocassee in the beautiful upstate of South Carolina. With a 7mm Bare Arctic, and a HP 100 cubic foot Worthington Steel Tank, I carry no additional lead.
Here are a few shots of the the Wing:
Photo 1: OxyCheq wing in place on Backplate (partially inflated wing to provide better visibility for the picture).
Photo 2: Front view of wing. Notice K Inflator, and also the amount of wing extending below the backplate. The wing has a "doughnut" shaped bladder, allowing 360 degree transfer of air top and bottom unlike traditional wings.
Photo 3: Back view of wing. Note ScubaPro Cincher Bands (really like these bands by the way - never had them slip).Conclusion: I really like this wing, I think that it is an affordable, well-made compact single tank wing. 5 out of 5 Seahorses.
Dive safe.
Caribbean Blue
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Review of Coco View Dive Resort
Roatan, Honduras
July 2007
By Duncan Seaman
In a Coconut shell:
This report is written for the diver considering Coco View Dive Resort (and Roatan) for the first time. Coco View offers excellent value for the serious diver wanting to get the maximum diving for their money. The rooms are clean and basic, and the food is fresh and well prepared. The resort does not offer a lot other than diving, so if you are looking for Beach and nightlife activities - or traveling with a non-diving partner - I would recommend that you look elsewhere.
What I liked:
· Diving – Outstanding Dive Operation
· Food
· Botanical Garden
What I didn’t:
· Bugs (no-see-ums)
· No Beach
· Honduras Customs (Inbound)
The Diving:
That’s what you come to Coco View for!
During the week, the weather generally cooperated and I managed 26 dives. Most days were a 2-tank morning, and 2-tank afternoon boat dives. Each 2-tank dive consisted initially of one of the many sites on the South side, then a drop off dive outside the Resort at either Coco View Wall, or Newman’s wall.
The dive operation is first rate, and highly professional. From the layout of the gear lockers, to the dive boats and crews, things are designed with the serious diver in mind. Although the boats did not always leave exactly on time, it is a well-oiled machine that offers the best value for the diver, and 24/7 shore diving and Nitrox continuously available. Shore diving is an easy entry and exit, with a short walk from the gear lockers into the water.
Marine life is abundant, and during the week our group had sightings of Whale Sharks, Dolphins, Seahorses, a variety of crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus, and a wide assortment of Caribbean Fish. There were several all-day diving excursions offered to the West End and Port Royal. The West End group ended up snorkeling with 2 Whale Sharks (which I unfortunately did not sign up for!), and the Port Royal trip ended up being shortened to a ½ day trip due to weather concerns.
Typical dive profiles were in the 60 to 80 foot range, with many dives lasting about 60 minutes. Diving is varied, and can offer depths in excess of 100’ for the more advanced divers. 32% Nitrox is available (and plentiful) for $6 per tank, or $100 for the week. You can pretty much dive your own profiles on the shore dives, although the DM’s limit the depth & dive time when on the boat to 60 minutes to keep things organized. Also, a lot of the divers really liked the ease of entry back on the boat using the center “Moon Well” ladder on the dive boats.
The Resort:
The Resort is situated on a private island about 20 minute ride from the airport. After transport to a small landing, you take a boat to the island, and begin orientation briefing that lasted about an hour. The resort delivers your luggage to your room, which I thought was a nice touch. After that, they conducted a short orientation dive in the “front yard”, and the wreck of the Prince Albert.
The rooms were basic, but clean. We had an over-water Cabana that was a large open wood-trimmed room, with a private porch overlooking the Caribbean. Since our room was booked as part of a group package, I am not sure of the specific rates for the different room options (Bungalow’s, Cabana’s, vs., Ocean View Rooms) but in general I do not think you can go wrong with any of them. Maid service was daily, with a change of sheets mid-week.
The resort has a small friendly bar (you must try the “Monkey-La-La”) for unwinding in the evenings, and you are provided with a free drink coupon upon arrival. Two evenings they had live entertainment, and also “fire dancers” one night. Most nights the group was in bed fairly early due to the extensive diving, although Willie the bartender was very friendly,
The resort also has wireless Internet in the “Clubhouse”, and also 2 computers with Internet access located near the health spa. The made it easy to keep in touch with the world - if that is what you want to do while you are on vacation! Also FYI - I found the cell phone reception was fine at the Resort with my GSM Cingular world phone.
A short note about the bugs – we used 100% DEET everyday, and still managed several nasty bug bites. We heard an assortment of bug repellant remedies from various guests from Dove soap to herbal lotions with mixed results. So – come prepared. The local critters like foreign blood!
An aerial view of the resort can be found here: http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=16358943&x=-86431841&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2
The Food:
I would rate the food at the Resort very good. While not gourmet, the food was fresh and well prepared. Breakfast was typically eggs to order, fresh made waffles, sausage and bacon, and plenty of fresh fruit. Dinner was an excellent main dish (meat, chicken, or fish) with local side dishes. All meals were served in the open-air screened Dining room Buffet style.
One of the nights we had an island cookout with ribs and chicken on the Cay (very good), and another night was Lobster and prime Rib (excellent). The menu is fairly varied, and should suit even the most demanding diets. My wife and I went to a local restaurant (Gio’s) as part of a Resort organized outing, and while the food was good - I would rate the Coco View Lobster dinner better. Dinner at Gio’s ended costing my wife and I about $50.00 each with appetizers and drinks.
The drinking water at the resort is provided in the room in 5 gallon bottles. We had plenty of salad and fresh fruit without concerns about bacteria. Before traveling to Roatan, we did get all the required immunizations, and also Malaria medication as recommended by the CDC.
The Island:
I would recommend the Island tour on Friday Afternoon (since you can’t dive before flying anyway). It consisted of a visit to the Iguana Farm (so-so), the Botanical Garden (very good), and a trip to West End. The West End is basically a dirt road surrounded by dive shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, and gift shops. It reminded me of somewhere you would go on spring break when in college. Nice to visit one-time, but don’t know that I would go back except to hit one of the great Restaurant’s on the water.
The Island tour will give you a better sense of the Local Island culture, and you will find that the Roatan standard of living is low, with many dirt streets and a low level of services available. This is stark contrast to the rolling hills and the natural beauty of the island both above and below the water.
Conclusion:
If you love to dive, dive, dive – Coco View is the place for you. If not, look elsewhere on the island. There is not much else to do at Coco View other than diving since you are pretty well island-locked. The diving is outstanding, and I would consider Coco View an excellent value for the Money.
July 2007
By Duncan Seaman
In a Coconut shell:
This report is written for the diver considering Coco View Dive Resort (and Roatan) for the first time. Coco View offers excellent value for the serious diver wanting to get the maximum diving for their money. The rooms are clean and basic, and the food is fresh and well prepared. The resort does not offer a lot other than diving, so if you are looking for Beach and nightlife activities - or traveling with a non-diving partner - I would recommend that you look elsewhere.
What I liked:
· Diving – Outstanding Dive Operation
· Food
· Botanical Garden
What I didn’t:
· Bugs (no-see-ums)
· No Beach
· Honduras Customs (Inbound)
The Diving:
That’s what you come to Coco View for!
During the week, the weather generally cooperated and I managed 26 dives. Most days were a 2-tank morning, and 2-tank afternoon boat dives. Each 2-tank dive consisted initially of one of the many sites on the South side, then a drop off dive outside the Resort at either Coco View Wall, or Newman’s wall.
The dive operation is first rate, and highly professional. From the layout of the gear lockers, to the dive boats and crews, things are designed with the serious diver in mind. Although the boats did not always leave exactly on time, it is a well-oiled machine that offers the best value for the diver, and 24/7 shore diving and Nitrox continuously available. Shore diving is an easy entry and exit, with a short walk from the gear lockers into the water.
Marine life is abundant, and during the week our group had sightings of Whale Sharks, Dolphins, Seahorses, a variety of crabs, shrimp, squid, octopus, and a wide assortment of Caribbean Fish. There were several all-day diving excursions offered to the West End and Port Royal. The West End group ended up snorkeling with 2 Whale Sharks (which I unfortunately did not sign up for!), and the Port Royal trip ended up being shortened to a ½ day trip due to weather concerns.
Typical dive profiles were in the 60 to 80 foot range, with many dives lasting about 60 minutes. Diving is varied, and can offer depths in excess of 100’ for the more advanced divers. 32% Nitrox is available (and plentiful) for $6 per tank, or $100 for the week. You can pretty much dive your own profiles on the shore dives, although the DM’s limit the depth & dive time when on the boat to 60 minutes to keep things organized. Also, a lot of the divers really liked the ease of entry back on the boat using the center “Moon Well” ladder on the dive boats.
The Resort:
The Resort is situated on a private island about 20 minute ride from the airport. After transport to a small landing, you take a boat to the island, and begin orientation briefing that lasted about an hour. The resort delivers your luggage to your room, which I thought was a nice touch. After that, they conducted a short orientation dive in the “front yard”, and the wreck of the Prince Albert.
The rooms were basic, but clean. We had an over-water Cabana that was a large open wood-trimmed room, with a private porch overlooking the Caribbean. Since our room was booked as part of a group package, I am not sure of the specific rates for the different room options (Bungalow’s, Cabana’s, vs., Ocean View Rooms) but in general I do not think you can go wrong with any of them. Maid service was daily, with a change of sheets mid-week.
The resort has a small friendly bar (you must try the “Monkey-La-La”) for unwinding in the evenings, and you are provided with a free drink coupon upon arrival. Two evenings they had live entertainment, and also “fire dancers” one night. Most nights the group was in bed fairly early due to the extensive diving, although Willie the bartender was very friendly,
The resort also has wireless Internet in the “Clubhouse”, and also 2 computers with Internet access located near the health spa. The made it easy to keep in touch with the world - if that is what you want to do while you are on vacation! Also FYI - I found the cell phone reception was fine at the Resort with my GSM Cingular world phone.
A short note about the bugs – we used 100% DEET everyday, and still managed several nasty bug bites. We heard an assortment of bug repellant remedies from various guests from Dove soap to herbal lotions with mixed results. So – come prepared. The local critters like foreign blood!
An aerial view of the resort can be found here: http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=16358943&x=-86431841&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2
The Food:
I would rate the food at the Resort very good. While not gourmet, the food was fresh and well prepared. Breakfast was typically eggs to order, fresh made waffles, sausage and bacon, and plenty of fresh fruit. Dinner was an excellent main dish (meat, chicken, or fish) with local side dishes. All meals were served in the open-air screened Dining room Buffet style.
One of the nights we had an island cookout with ribs and chicken on the Cay (very good), and another night was Lobster and prime Rib (excellent). The menu is fairly varied, and should suit even the most demanding diets. My wife and I went to a local restaurant (Gio’s) as part of a Resort organized outing, and while the food was good - I would rate the Coco View Lobster dinner better. Dinner at Gio’s ended costing my wife and I about $50.00 each with appetizers and drinks.
The drinking water at the resort is provided in the room in 5 gallon bottles. We had plenty of salad and fresh fruit without concerns about bacteria. Before traveling to Roatan, we did get all the required immunizations, and also Malaria medication as recommended by the CDC.
The Island:
I would recommend the Island tour on Friday Afternoon (since you can’t dive before flying anyway). It consisted of a visit to the Iguana Farm (so-so), the Botanical Garden (very good), and a trip to West End. The West End is basically a dirt road surrounded by dive shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, and gift shops. It reminded me of somewhere you would go on spring break when in college. Nice to visit one-time, but don’t know that I would go back except to hit one of the great Restaurant’s on the water.
The Island tour will give you a better sense of the Local Island culture, and you will find that the Roatan standard of living is low, with many dirt streets and a low level of services available. This is stark contrast to the rolling hills and the natural beauty of the island both above and below the water.
Conclusion:
If you love to dive, dive, dive – Coco View is the place for you. If not, look elsewhere on the island. There is not much else to do at Coco View other than diving since you are pretty well island-locked. The diving is outstanding, and I would consider Coco View an excellent value for the Money.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
New Wing!
The best part about Diving is getting new gear! Almost like a kid at Christmas. Anyway, recently purchased a new OxyCheq 30# Mach V wing. I've admired these wings for some time, and since my LDS has finally started carrying the OxyCheq line, I decided to take the plunge. The make of the wing is high quality Black Cordura, with the word "OxyCheq" stitched distinctly down the side of the wing in a bright gold lettering. Compared to my old Deep Outdoors (DO) 34# wing, the OxyCheq seems substantially longer, and much much narrower. In my early days of diving (with my Zeagle Ranger) I used an alternate air source Inflator, but I have long since gone for the more traditional inflator, and a dedicated (bungeed) Alternate Second Stage. The OxyCheq wing has a high quality Power Inflator as part of the package.
After mounting the wing to my backplate and dry fitting to my standard Worthington HP Steel 100 cuft Tank, I found that the bottom of the wing touched the ground, where the DO wing did not ride that low. A nice design feature is that the OxyCheq wing connects on the bottom to make a "doughnut" air bladder configuration. This was one of my complaints with the DO wing, and would allow some off balance air-trapping. Although this was never a major problem, I did feel that this did not help with trim since I often use the rear pull dump (only on one side) when in the horizontal position to manage bouyancy. With the OxyCheq, this bladder connection on the bottom will allow air to flow from one side of the bladder to the other.
One adjustment I had to make as a result of the new OxyCheq Wing to to replace my LP BC inflator hose from my First Stage. My old hose was 30", and this was waaaay too long for the new wing (with shorter corrugated hose). I ended up replacing it with a 22" hose, and this was still maybe an inch or two too long. During my Cavern course earlier this year, a shorter corrugated hose was one change recommended by my NSS-CDS Instructor, Mr. Johnny Richards.
I really like the nice tight package this wing makes, and can't wait to dive it! I will have a good opportunity to fully evaluate the wing since I am getting ready to head to Honduras in two weeks for a much deserved dive trip!
More on the in-water evaluation after I get back.
Until then, dive safe!
Caribbean Blue.
After mounting the wing to my backplate and dry fitting to my standard Worthington HP Steel 100 cuft Tank, I found that the bottom of the wing touched the ground, where the DO wing did not ride that low. A nice design feature is that the OxyCheq wing connects on the bottom to make a "doughnut" air bladder configuration. This was one of my complaints with the DO wing, and would allow some off balance air-trapping. Although this was never a major problem, I did feel that this did not help with trim since I often use the rear pull dump (only on one side) when in the horizontal position to manage bouyancy. With the OxyCheq, this bladder connection on the bottom will allow air to flow from one side of the bladder to the other.
One adjustment I had to make as a result of the new OxyCheq Wing to to replace my LP BC inflator hose from my First Stage. My old hose was 30", and this was waaaay too long for the new wing (with shorter corrugated hose). I ended up replacing it with a 22" hose, and this was still maybe an inch or two too long. During my Cavern course earlier this year, a shorter corrugated hose was one change recommended by my NSS-CDS Instructor, Mr. Johnny Richards.
I really like the nice tight package this wing makes, and can't wait to dive it! I will have a good opportunity to fully evaluate the wing since I am getting ready to head to Honduras in two weeks for a much deserved dive trip!
More on the in-water evaluation after I get back.
Until then, dive safe!
Caribbean Blue.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Converting a Sartek Light from Backplate to Belt mount
Finally spent about 30 minutes converting my 10W HID Sartek Cannister Light from Backplate to belt mount (See my previous Blog for SS Quick link connection to Backplate).
Photo 2 - a 10 inch piece of webbing has been cut and the ends burned to prevent fraying.
Photo 4 - The Cannister placed on the right side web belt with a second delrin buckle holding the light snug against the right side D-Ring. Light Switch is in the up position.
Photo 1 - The SS bands have been loosened and removed from the cannister.
Photo 2 - a 10 inch piece of webbing has been cut and the ends burned to prevent fraying.
Photo 3 - The webbing is folded in half, and looped over the top band, and then both ends under the bottom band. Note that the switch (top of light) is to the left on the photo. The SS bands were placed approximately 3 inches apart, and then tightened.
Photo 4 - The Cannister placed on the right side web belt with a second delrin buckle holding the light snug against the right side D-Ring. Light Switch is in the up position.
Photo 5 - Inside of waist belt showing Cannister and second buckle.
The bands may be spaced just a little bit too wide, but after I dive this setup a few times, I will evaluate if the webbling gets too flexible to hold the light firmly in place. If so, I will slide the bottom SS clamp a little closer.
All in all, a very easy conversion.
Dive Safe.
Caribbean Blue
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The Bones Family says hello
Shot taken today of the world famous Bones Family at the Divers Ramp - Lake Jocassee, Upstate South Carolina. Did a couple great Solo dives today with the Standard Gear, and Pony bottle.
Conducted thorough pre-dive check (since solo), and gave me an opportunity to practice running guideline, finning and bouyancy. Carried new Sartek light as blogged previously.
Only highlight of the day was when I was reeling in on Dive Number 1, noticed that I seemed to have something tugging on the other end of my guideline. I thought for a second that maybe I might have caught a fish, but you guessed it, some stroke was trying to pull himself along my line.
Remember the guideline rules of etiquitte:
- If visibility is good, there is no need to ever touch a guideline.
- You should never pull or tug on a guideline.
- The guideline is meant as a directional reference, not a means of propulsion.
- If visibility is bad, you should circle your index finger and thumb around the line, managing your bouyancy by touch contact on the line.
- Finally, never remove or cut a guideline that you have not personally placed.
Over 3 dives, max depth was about 80', and bottom temperature 61 degrees F. The Bones Family was in full force today, and asked me to pass along the important message above to the diving community!
Until next time - Dive Safe.
Caribbean Blue.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Diving the "Haunted Forest" - Lake Jocassee
Training dive yesterday at the Divers Boat Ramp at Lake Jocassee.
Equipment for the dive as follows;
- Fred T SS Backplate with STA, Hog webbing
- 100 cuft Worthington HP Steel Tank (31% Nitrox)
- 30 cuft AL Pony (slung left side) - Bailout Bottle
- Mk 20/S600/R190 Long hose configuration
- 7mm Bare Fullsuit with Henderson 3mm Hood
- Salvo 400 foot Primary reel
- Brand New Sartek 10W HID Canister Light - more on this later!
- Scubapro Jet Fins
- Suunto Vyper Computer
Dive profile as follows:
- Depth: Max - 130 feet, Average - 68 feet
- Dive time: 33:40
- Temperature: 68 degrees surface, 52 degrees bottom
- SAC Rate: 0.7 SCFM (a little high)
Buddy and I did a training dive yesterday to practice some of the cavern skills from the NSS-CDS course earlier this year (see blog below for review). We started off in the water with a match check, bubble check, S Drill, then checked gas and calculated turn pressure. I was diving a 100 cuft tank, and buddy was diving a 130 cuft, so my turn pressure ruled. Objective was to do a deep dive into the "Haunted Forest" on the North side of the divers boat ramp, and I was going to practice tie-offs and running the guideline. The Divers Boat Ramp is located in Devil's Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee in the beautiful upstate of South Carolina.
First time diving with the new Sartek 10W Canister light with 2 Lithium Batteries
(CBPS4.5LIH10MRFS - burn time 8 hours). The light has a high quality industrial feel to it, and all cords, connections, etc. look like they are made for the long run. I believe this light has the new Brightstar bulb, but have not been able to confirm this fact. A lot of discussion and Pro's and Con's about the Brightstar vs. Welch-Allyn bulbs can be found on the web. The light came with 2 110Volt wall chargers, 2 car chargers, and also a light clip and brass snap-link, but no handle. Instruction sheets are bare bones, and included with each of the components. Would be good if they included a little more instruction for the care and feeding of the Li-Ion batteries. Batteries as delivered were nearly full, so just topped them off and connected them for the dive.
I connected the light directly to my backplate with 2 SS links. The band spacing on the light matched the hole spacing on my backplate, so this worked well. I do not like the metal to metal connection in case I need to hand off or ditch the light, but I will eventually change the canister to belt mount when I get some time to reconfigure. Mounted the canister switch down, and was easily able to reach and turn the light on and off. This light has the newer rotating white on/off switch.
First time diving with the new Sartek 10W Canister light with 2 Lithium Batteries
(CBPS4.5LIH10MRFS - burn time 8 hours). The light has a high quality industrial feel to it, and all cords, connections, etc. look like they are made for the long run. I believe this light has the new Brightstar bulb, but have not been able to confirm this fact. A lot of discussion and Pro's and Con's about the Brightstar vs. Welch-Allyn bulbs can be found on the web. The light came with 2 110Volt wall chargers, 2 car chargers, and also a light clip and brass snap-link, but no handle. Instruction sheets are bare bones, and included with each of the components. Would be good if they included a little more instruction for the care and feeding of the Li-Ion batteries. Batteries as delivered were nearly full, so just topped them off and connected them for the dive.I connected the light directly to my backplate with 2 SS links. The band spacing on the light matched the hole spacing on my backplate, so this worked well. I do not like the metal to metal connection in case I need to hand off or ditch the light, but I will eventually change the canister to belt mount when I get some time to reconfigure. Mounted the canister switch down, and was easily able to reach and turn the light on and off. This light has the newer rotating white on/off switch.
I ended up going with the Dive Rite elastic hand mount handle. It was substantially cheaper than Sartek Goodman handle which is made from milled aluminum (about $18 vs. $65). The clip from the handle to the light head light perfectly, if not just a little bit loose. One disappointment was that the dive Rite handle has two screws attaching the clip to the handle, and when I first attached the head to the handle and rotated the head, the exposed screws scratched the black anodized light head. Oh well - knew it would happen sooner or later.
So how does the light work? I bet you were wondering when I would get to this. The light beam at depth is very bright, with a slight bluish tint. The beam was able to penetrate a considerable distance, and it did not pick up much backscatter from the suspended silt particles. The light has a focusable head, and I tried various settings at depth in the woods, but really didn't see much of a substantial difference. I'm sure at night this would be more obvious.
I have read all the debates about Right hand vs. left for carrying the light head, but used the light head on my right hand for the majority of the dive. Even with deploying my Primary reel also in the right hand using my thumb to control line tension, no issue at all with controlling the reel and light together. As you can imagine, reeling the line in was a little more interesting since I was holding the reel in my left hand, and was reeling in with the right. However, since the Salvo reel is "ambidextrous", I may try reeling in with the left hand just for fun. As a side note, I also have an OMS Safety reel, and I find the reeling action of the Salvo reel substantially smoother.
Weighting - just a short comment about this critical topic. With the Pony on the left, and the canister on the right, weighting balance was about right side to side. I was concerned about this initially, and in the end decided against wearing any ballast to offset. If I am wearing the Pony alone, sometimes I will wear a 2 pound weight on the right side to offset. So, no additional weight on this dive.
After reeling in, I was at turn pressure, and Buddy and I turned the dive. Did a slow ascent, deep stop, and safety stop. Finished
the dive with about 700 psi. SAC was a little high as noted above, but considering the task loading, depth, and temperature - was OK. Temperature was a brisk 52 degrees (buddy recorded 50 degrees) at depth, but I was fairly warm with the Bare 7mm Arctic Full suit. I have blogged about this before, but this is a great affordable suit with wrist and calf seals inside the suit to limit the water exchange. I was diving 31% Nitrox, so was limited to about 132 feet at 1.6 PPO2. Don't usually like to dive at 1.6, but as the dive profile indicates, was at this depth for a limited time. At depth, minimum NDL time from going into Decompression was 3 minutes, so didn't push it too close to the limit.
Duke Power formed Lake Jocassee in the early 1970’s as they were creating the nearby Oconee Nuclear Plant, and a considerable amount of land and forests were flooded to create this lake (along with Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell). The tree trunks at depth are a stark contrast against the sepia colored water, and give the dive site an interesting composition where you would expect to see the "Headless Horseman" come riding through at any minute. The remaining tree trunks and branches give the site an eerie other world feeling. This interesting contrast is why I like to call this dive site the "Haunted Forest".
Until next time - Dive Safe.
Caribbean Blue.
So how does the light work? I bet you were wondering when I would get to this. The light beam at depth is very bright, with a slight bluish tint. The beam was able to penetrate a considerable distance, and it did not pick up much backscatter from the suspended silt particles. The light has a focusable head, and I tried various settings at depth in the woods, but really didn't see much of a substantial difference. I'm sure at night this would be more obvious.
I have read all the debates about Right hand vs. left for carrying the light head, but used the light head on my right hand for the majority of the dive. Even with deploying my Primary reel also in the right hand using my thumb to control line tension, no issue at all with controlling the reel and light together. As you can imagine, reeling the line in was a little more interesting since I was holding the reel in my left hand, and was reeling in with the right. However, since the Salvo reel is "ambidextrous", I may try reeling in with the left hand just for fun. As a side note, I also have an OMS Safety reel, and I find the reeling action of the Salvo reel substantially smoother.
Weighting - just a short comment about this critical topic. With the Pony on the left, and the canister on the right, weighting balance was about right side to side. I was concerned about this initially, and in the end decided against wearing any ballast to offset. If I am wearing the Pony alone, sometimes I will wear a 2 pound weight on the right side to offset. So, no additional weight on this dive.
After reeling in, I was at turn pressure, and Buddy and I turned the dive. Did a slow ascent, deep stop, and safety stop. Finished
the dive with about 700 psi. SAC was a little high as noted above, but considering the task loading, depth, and temperature - was OK. Temperature was a brisk 52 degrees (buddy recorded 50 degrees) at depth, but I was fairly warm with the Bare 7mm Arctic Full suit. I have blogged about this before, but this is a great affordable suit with wrist and calf seals inside the suit to limit the water exchange. I was diving 31% Nitrox, so was limited to about 132 feet at 1.6 PPO2. Don't usually like to dive at 1.6, but as the dive profile indicates, was at this depth for a limited time. At depth, minimum NDL time from going into Decompression was 3 minutes, so didn't push it too close to the limit.Duke Power formed Lake Jocassee in the early 1970’s as they were creating the nearby Oconee Nuclear Plant, and a considerable amount of land and forests were flooded to create this lake (along with Lake Keowee and Lake Hartwell). The tree trunks at depth are a stark contrast against the sepia colored water, and give the dive site an interesting composition where you would expect to see the "Headless Horseman" come riding through at any minute. The remaining tree trunks and branches give the site an eerie other world feeling. This interesting contrast is why I like to call this dive site the "Haunted Forest".
Until next time - Dive Safe.
Caribbean Blue.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Diving Lake Jocassee for the first time in 2007
Been a couple of weeks since the last post. Yes I have been diving, but nothing new to report since most dives were at the "Hot Hole" at Lake Keowee.
So - had the opportunity to dive the "Junk" Wreck for the first time in 2007. Our local Dive Shop has finally moved back to Jocassee since it should be warmer - little did we know! The weather was fantastic outside, and one of the best days so far this year. Air temperature was near 80, and only a few clouds in the sky and little winds. Water level at the lake was -1.1' below full pond, which was very unusual. This made the sites about 20 feet deeper than my last dives here in November/December 2006.
We loaded the students on the boat - who were on their second (and final) day of Open Water Certification. Took the short boat ride over to the Junk Wreck. Tied off the boat, completed the dive briefing, then the group splashed in - 6 students, the instuctor, and I was DM'ing for the dive.
Visibility was suprizingly good at about 20' until the students stirred up the bottom!. Max depth was about 65', water temp a brisk 55 degrees, and a total dive time of 22 minutes. All in all a good dive, and we swam around the wreck several times giving the students a chance to acclimate to the depth (and temperature). Just as we were settling in, a student indicated he only had 1000 psi (turn pressure was stated as 1500 psi in the dive briefing!), so we turned the dive. I gave the thumbs up to all students, and directed them back to the line for the acsent and safety stop. After the students turned, I went back to the wreck and did a final sweep to make sure no one left behind. Students did an excellent slow ascent up the line, and safety stop.
Most students had at least 1500 psi left, so we made the short trip over to the rock wall near the Junk, and did a second dive. Considerably shallower here, and I ended up with Max Depth of 42 feet, water temp 57 degrees, and dive time of 23 minutes. I had about 2100 psi left starting the dive (100 cuft steel tank), and really enjoyed this dive. Since the students were technically certified, they were more or less on their own, and I went in and first check the anchor set, then swam to the wall, starting deep, and worked my way up checking the student groups I passed to make sure they were OK and air was holding. Visibility again was very good at about 20 feet, and this was a very peaceful dive and opportunity to work on frog kick and bouyancy. Bouyancy on this dive was about the best I have had. Turned the dive, and navigated underwater to where I thought the boat was, and unbelievably came up at the boat ladder. Considering the depth, low vis, and dive time, this made a great finish to the dive!
Will be back out again soon with the classes, and hope to see you at the Lake!
Dive Safe,
Caribbean Blue.
So - had the opportunity to dive the "Junk" Wreck for the first time in 2007. Our local Dive Shop has finally moved back to Jocassee since it should be warmer - little did we know! The weather was fantastic outside, and one of the best days so far this year. Air temperature was near 80, and only a few clouds in the sky and little winds. Water level at the lake was -1.1' below full pond, which was very unusual. This made the sites about 20 feet deeper than my last dives here in November/December 2006.
We loaded the students on the boat - who were on their second (and final) day of Open Water Certification. Took the short boat ride over to the Junk Wreck. Tied off the boat, completed the dive briefing, then the group splashed in - 6 students, the instuctor, and I was DM'ing for the dive.
Visibility was suprizingly good at about 20' until the students stirred up the bottom!. Max depth was about 65', water temp a brisk 55 degrees, and a total dive time of 22 minutes. All in all a good dive, and we swam around the wreck several times giving the students a chance to acclimate to the depth (and temperature). Just as we were settling in, a student indicated he only had 1000 psi (turn pressure was stated as 1500 psi in the dive briefing!), so we turned the dive. I gave the thumbs up to all students, and directed them back to the line for the acsent and safety stop. After the students turned, I went back to the wreck and did a final sweep to make sure no one left behind. Students did an excellent slow ascent up the line, and safety stop.
Most students had at least 1500 psi left, so we made the short trip over to the rock wall near the Junk, and did a second dive. Considerably shallower here, and I ended up with Max Depth of 42 feet, water temp 57 degrees, and dive time of 23 minutes. I had about 2100 psi left starting the dive (100 cuft steel tank), and really enjoyed this dive. Since the students were technically certified, they were more or less on their own, and I went in and first check the anchor set, then swam to the wall, starting deep, and worked my way up checking the student groups I passed to make sure they were OK and air was holding. Visibility again was very good at about 20 feet, and this was a very peaceful dive and opportunity to work on frog kick and bouyancy. Bouyancy on this dive was about the best I have had. Turned the dive, and navigated underwater to where I thought the boat was, and unbelievably came up at the boat ladder. Considering the depth, low vis, and dive time, this made a great finish to the dive!
Will be back out again soon with the classes, and hope to see you at the Lake!
Dive Safe,
Caribbean Blue.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Review of NSS-CDS Cavern Diver Course
Just returned last weekend from the NSS-CDS Cavern Diver Course with instructor Johnny Richards (and instructor candidate Teppo) at Ginnie Springs, Florida. There were a total of 6 students in the class from our LDS (a couple of Divemasters, an instructor, and a couple of Public Safety Divers). We traveled to Branford on Thursday, and stayed at the Steamboat Dive Inn. This is a no-frills motel, and with a cheap price you get cheap accommodations. I am not easily bothered by a place to sleep after a long day of diving, but some are, and did not like the way housekeeping and maintenance attended to things. But - you can't complain too much at the price!
Anyway - on to the training. We started at 9:00 on Friday at the Ginnie Springs store and met Johnny, and the course proceeded as follows;
Anyway - on to the training. We started at 9:00 on Friday at the Ginnie Springs store and met Johnny, and the course proceeded as follows;
- Friday Morning - moved upstairs to the classroom, and spent the morning discussing Cave diving accident analysis, light signals, hand signal, propulsion techniques, and a discussion about pre-dive safety checks (equipment check, bubble check, S-drill, turn pressure) and cavern hazards - with many sobering examples of cave accidents.
- Friday Afternoon - after a very quick lunch break, we moved outside and set up our gear as if we were ready for a dive. What followed next was a person-by-person critique of our gear set-up for Cave Diving. Very specific evaluation was done of each person's set-up by Johnny and Teppo. Following this, we moved over to the picnic tables where Johnny laid out a guideline course, and discussed the fine points of guideline placement and tie-off, and then line following techniques, and blackout hand signals. We were broken into our two-man teams for land drills that took us until late afternoon.
- Friday Evening - For "homework", we were asked to do a dive with our teams and practice Primary and Secondary tie-offs, Cavern Penetration, and buddy techniques. This proved to be a lesson in task loading, while simultaneously trying to manage the Primary Reel, dive light, buoyancy, and equalize. We took turns running in the reel and trying to find the right tie-off points.
- Saturday Morning - We were asked to start early Saturday since the weekend crowd can stir up the cavern pretty quickly. When my buddy and I got to the spring at about 7:30, we were greeted with 16 degree F temperatures (I thought this was sunny Florida)! My wetsuit was a little damp from the night before, and it actually froze before I could put it on. Luckily, there is a heated shower room close by with hot water, and we actually donned our wetsuits in the hot shower! The morning consisted of swims along an open water guideline course with mask, without mask, and with blackout masks, all while sharing air in buddy teams. Although akward at first, this became easier as you learn to depend on your buddy, and communicate through touch contact and hand signals. Johnny also demonstrated flawless propulsion techniques for the group. After the in-water line drills, we ran several guidelines into the Ginnie Ballroom Cavern in our buddy teams. These started easy, but grew progressively harder with increased complexity and simulated emergencies to test the teams. These exercises lasted until early afternoon when we were given a quick break for tank fills, and meet again at Devils Ear for the "fun dive".
- Saturday Afternoon - The highlight of the training was a Cavern Dive at Devils Ear. After assembling we were broken into 2 groups of 3 divers. Johnny did the hard work and ran a reel and guided a Cavern Dive into the entrance of Devils Ear to where the Grim Reaper sign is present. What was amazing was the flow coming out of the case system - you literally had to climb your way into the Cavern. Then, one-by-one, he took each student into the entrance of the Cave system where two tunnels were present. Each student was asked which way was the correct way out, left or right? Pick the right way, you live, the wrong way, you die. The answer? You have to take the class to find out! Following this great Cavern dive, we re-assembled in the classroom for some basics about Cave Geology, and a review and discussion of the written exam for the course.
Conclusion - I have to compliment Johnny for his patience, the professional manner which he conducted the course, and his grasp of the material. It is evident he has lived the evolution of cave diving in the Florida Springs, and the Cavern course is an excellent introduction to gear configuration, safety techniques in an overhead environment, and a great intro to Cave Formations.
Highly recommended.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Diving the "Hot Hole"
1/14/07 - Dove the "Hot Hole" at Lake Keowee today. So named because this is the outflow from the cooling water from the Oconee Nuclear Reactor. In the winter this spot is popular due to the warmer water conditions (at least 15 degrees) compared to other upstate lakes. We loaded the boat at Warpath Landing, then took the short ride over to the structure. After mooring the boat, the group got ready and splashed in. We navigated around to the edge of the headwall structure underwater, and then literally climbed our way to the middle of the spillway over the rocks at a depth of about 35' in the face of the current.
Water was blasting out of the structure, and this will literally rip the mask off your face if you do not face up current as you are moving to the center of the structure. After you are in the middle of the current, it is simply a matter of letting go, putting a shot or two of air in the BC to get slightly higher in the water column, and turning 180 degrees to let the current take you downstream for the ride!
After a couple minutes, a noticeable thermocline confronts you, where you take a 90 degree turn to the right (150 to 180 degree compass heading) and the eddy currents will take you back around for another ride.
Dive profile/conditions:
Max Depth - 44 feet
Avg Depth - 33 feet
Air Temperature - 70 degrees F
Water Temperature - 68 degrees F
Dive time - 31 minutes (for 3 circuits) - (Also did a second dive of 15 minutes)
Air used - 52 Cubic Feet
Equipment:
SS Backplate & Deep Outdoors 34# wing
100cf HP steel Tank
7 mm Bare Arctic Fullsuit + 3mm Bare Thermal vest with 7mm hood
5mm Instadry Gloves
ScubaPro Jet Fins
Great dive - highly recommended.
Water was blasting out of the structure, and this will literally rip the mask off your face if you do not face up current as you are moving to the center of the structure. After you are in the middle of the current, it is simply a matter of letting go, putting a shot or two of air in the BC to get slightly higher in the water column, and turning 180 degrees to let the current take you downstream for the ride!
After a couple minutes, a noticeable thermocline confronts you, where you take a 90 degree turn to the right (150 to 180 degree compass heading) and the eddy currents will take you back around for another ride.
Dive profile/conditions:
Max Depth - 44 feet
Avg Depth - 33 feet
Air Temperature - 70 degrees F
Water Temperature - 68 degrees F
Dive time - 31 minutes (for 3 circuits) - (Also did a second dive of 15 minutes)
Air used - 52 Cubic Feet
Equipment:
SS Backplate & Deep Outdoors 34# wing
100cf HP steel Tank
7 mm Bare Arctic Fullsuit + 3mm Bare Thermal vest with 7mm hood
5mm Instadry Gloves
ScubaPro Jet Fins
Great dive - highly recommended.
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