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Smudge Learns to Scuba* Dive... Hopefully!
(*Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) |
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"I shall learn to dive", I thought. "After all, I can snorkel already, I know an instrucor. How hard can it be?"
Dumb question I know! But hey, here's where you get to learn from my experiences (hopefully) |
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Equipment |
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Pictured on the left is my original snorkelling gear, a well fitting mask, pool fins (Fins with a formed foot which are worn like shoes, Note: "Flipper" was a dolphin *NOT* another name for fins!), a simple snorkel and a good diving knife. Also a life jacket which has either CO2 or manual inflation but no built in buoyancy (Makes diving down a bit awkward).
You'll have noticed in the photos of me snorkelling that I'm not wearing a lifejacket. That is because one was not available to me at the time and I was in shallow and sheltered water with help close by.
As you'll see from the photo below, the kit list grows somewhat when the water is cold and SCUBA gear is added... |
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As you see the pile grows larger by the minute, as do the bills :-(
The most obvious feature I suppose is the drysuit. This is a one piece garment which allows you to wear normal thermal clothes underneath and, as the name suggests, stay (fairly) dry. It is fitted with an inlet valve on the chest (and a dump valve on the sleeve) which allows air to be forced in from the tank both to relieve pressure caused by depth, to adjust the divers buoyancy and to provide a layer of air to help keep you warm. These can be pricey but I was lucky enough to find one to fit second hand.
The suit prevents the use of "pool" fins so fins with an open heel and larger opening for your foot are required. |
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Also to protect against the cold you may just make out a neoprene hood and gloves (5mm thick for the UK!). Below these is my regulator, 1st stage (fits to the tank and reduces the high pressure air to around 5-7Bar for my 2nd stage/demand valve) and on seperate hoses from it my demand valve and mouthpiece. Also running from the 1st stage is a high pressure hose with the tank contents gauge and on mine a depth gauge. As well as that there is a hose to inflate my drysuit and another to provide air to my BCD (Buoyancy Compensation Device, the waiscoat thing in black). This is a secondary means of buoyancy control (primary when a wetsuit is used) a means of mounting the tank on my back and the provider of handy pockets and many clips, D rings etc! It also has a mouthpiece for manual inflation which in the case of mine has a proper mouthpiece fitted, called "air 2" it can be used to breathe from in the event of a problem with my 2nd stage regulator. This is an alternative to having a spare unused (hopefully) 2nd stage regulator, (called an "octopus" for reasons which are apparent when you see the number of hoses dangling around a diver;-) I'm trying to avoid too many!)
Finally we have the divers knifes. Some people think they're a sort of macho fashion accessory... they obviously have never considered the possibility of getting tangled in an old fishing net or some stray rope, fishing line etc... a terrifying thought as the air runs low!! Anyone on the water should carry at least one sharp knife and probably a general use one too. I'm considering getting a slightly larger one to accompany the two small ones pictured. People may laugh at carrying "too many", but I'd rather be laughed at than caught unable to reach mine or having dropped it! and no, it's not for fighting off sharks ;-) they're better swimmers than me! |
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As you'll have worked out from the photo on the left my training has come on somewhat since the last update!
I'm in the suit with yellow shoulders and Bob is instructing in the blue suit. He's also taking his life in his hands and preparing to submerge with me as his buddy and trainee for my first open water dive!! |
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You will have guessed by the fact that I'm writing this that the dives were successful! The picture on the right shows our return and if it weren't for the mask and dv you'd be able to see a massive grin :-)
Click here to find out more about my training, the club I have joined and the most recent dives... |
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