<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14081846#post14081846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kenmx10
Strongly dissagree with shelving the snorkel. Any Divemaster knows the importance of this small , inexpensive peice of equipment.
Well, THIS Divemaster knows that the only reason it's important is because it's a requirement for class. I don't require it for the training of the people that I put in the water, but to get your basic Open Water certification, it's a requirement, based on outdated information. Ask the agencies why they require one, and they'll tell you that "they always have."
Long surface swims aren't done face-down, especially in strong current, and especially with extraneous gear... So adding a snorkel does nothing for a diver.
And you dont even realize you have on when your in the water.
It's the foot-long tube connected to your mask flopping around in the current, pulling on your hair and causing your mask to leak.
Sure, you might not notice it in a pool or freshwater spring, but in any environment with current and visibility as a variable, a snorkel is a liability, and a "dangly" that simply gets in the way. As I also mentioned, it's also unused, since a diver is much more capable of swimming long distances and through current floating on his back than on his belly - so why have it at all?
If you ever had to do a long swim against the current you better have your snorkel.
I do long swims pretty much every day. No snorkel.
Many time I havent been able to see my buddies at the surface because they came up too far away, but I could see their red snorkel sticking up out of the water.
...Might be a good idea to stick closer to your buddies, then, especially if you could see the "little red tip" but somehow missed the three-foot-long tank and mess of hoses sticking out of the water from a diver supposedly in a prone position. I thought you were taught to stick close to your buddies?
Also, you can save tank air before decent by swimming w/snorkel if you have to do a little surface swim first or waiting for a buddy. I have a waterless and its awesome in bigger surf. Im not sucking in water while Im trying to breath. . Otherwise you would have to use your regulator and suck air out of your tank. Less time at bottom.
Good theory, but practically speaking, pointless:
If you're waiting for your buddy, then you're probably floating in the water, looking up at him about to splash in. Believe me, you won't have anything in your mouth at the time, so that you can communicate with him... You'll have your BC inflated and be laying slightly on your back, watching him splash in. Likely you'll even have your regulator in your right hand, waiting to submerge. No snorkel.
Besides, even if you were breathing on your tank at the surface - you're not going to use that much gas. A dive to 100' is at four atmospheres - assuming that a diver has a constant breathing rate, air (or whatever gas they're breathing) will be depleted at a rate four times that at the surface. Another way of saying that is that at the surface, you're using 1/4 the amount of gas - and maybe less, since you're so relaxed - than you do at depth... So the difference between breathing your supply and not breathing your supply is less than you might think.
Also SeaJay, If you read most MFG warranties, they strickly say, if bought on line there IS NO WARRANTY,EVEN IF ITS BRAND NEW.
Yeah, yeah - I hear that all the time from people who just blew $5k on $1k worth of gear.
That's all garbage propagated by the LDS. Sure, there's no manufacturer's warranty on a used piece of gear from eBay - but new stuff sold in the US has to have a warranty, by law, regardless of who sold it. Check Scuba.com and DiversDirect.com. New gear comes with the original manufacturer's warranty.
Also you do not know what you are getting.
I think that's a risk with any eBay transaction - but when it comes to new gear sold by an online retailer, it's the same thing you just tried on in the shop there at Chas. Scuba.
With my Aqualung, they will pay for the replacement parts on their Regs at annual inspection. otherwise it would cost around $50 I believe. Do the math. 4 years is 200.00. After 5 or 6 years you could have bought another REG.
Yeah, I hear LDS's saying that all the time, too - that's not a "warranty," as they call it... That's a "buy the reg from us and we'll do the annual service each year for the next 'x' years for free." It's a way to get you into the shop. Of course they're willing to do that for you. And by the way, look at the fine print of that "warranty" - they don't charge you for parts - they still charge you for labor, so no, your annual service is not free, although you may score a free o-ring or two.
Here's the no-BS answer to servicing your reg... The going rate is $25 per stage for labor, and $25 per stage for parts. That means that, to have a reputable shop do your annual service, it's going to cost a diver about $150 a year to maintain. That's rule #26 why gear sucks.
Imagine if you've got many sets of regs like I do!
Anyway, if you buy the regs at Charleston Scuba and they do their "free annual service," they'll throw in the parts kits "under warranty," but still charge you the labor - so your annual service might be more like $75.
Is it worth it? Not if you paid double for the regs... And not if you don't go to the same shop every time... And not if you've seen what most LDS's consider "annual service."
You might save 100 to 150 for used on ebay, but then any safe diver or Divemaster knows you have to go have it inspected (50-80 bucks) .
Is that what they're charging you up there? Wow. Tell ya what - I'll inspect them for $40-$70 for you...
Then parts replacements might be another 50. So you dont really save much and you get used equipment. When Im 120 feet underwater , I want to know where my equipment came from.
Well, buying used is always risky, but there's lots of places to buy new online - and then you can rest with confidence that it came from Scubapro, Aqualung, Apeks, Cressi, or whatever.
If you have ever spent alot of money to travel to a remote Island and your buddies cheap online $100. 00 computer goes out and you have to end your dive, You will appreciate the reasons for having good equipment.
I certainly hope you're not completely, totally dependent on your buddy's $100 dive computer. What's wrong with using the tables like you were taught in class? A computer failure isn't a reason to kill a dive...
As far as the comment that gear sucks, Maybe yours does. Mine is awesome.
Heh. Oooo-kay.
I have lots of the very best gear, because I'm a commercial diver - and I understand how you love your gear and all, but yes, it definitely gets in the way of diving, and it's only there because it's an absolute requirement. I own lots of it, and much of it purchased at Charleston Scuba.
It might even be the same stuff you have.
My point was that you'll get over the joy of the gear - diving isn't about gear-ing, it's about dive-ing... And all of the maintenance, hauling, and screwing around with gear pretty much is a pain in the neck.
Also the statement" an absolute minimalist attitude towards dive gear is almost always a benefit to the diver" Thats true at the surface. When your lugging everything around. But, When your sitting on top af an aircraft carrier below 100 feet and you want to look inside, BUT, you didnt bring your flashlight. That would suck. Or if your in the Bahamas and you come across a huge friendly whale shark that you can swim up to and touch, that would suck if you didnt have your camera. Or if you where ever in an emergency situation and you needed a piece of gear that could have saved you or your buddies life, but you didnt have it, because you belive in carrying minimal equip. , that could cost you or your good friend their life.
I think you're missing the definition of "minimalist gear configuration."
I'll be in Charleston taking care of a couple of clients of mine in the next couple of weeks - you're welcome to come diving with me so that you can see what a "minimalist configuration" means.
I got certified at Charleston Scuba in SC, and they encouraged us to try several different BCD's while we where in training to see what fit the best and what was most comfortable. Also My instructor gave me his $600.00 Regulator and let me use it to see if I liked it while he used the rental gear. [
Yeah, I know Tom and Sally pretty well - who was your instructor?
I know everyone has their own opinion and alot of it is based on the experiences they've had. i know alot of people that feeel the same way you do. My experience is, always Find a good dive shop and stick with them.
(*Sigh*)
Always get good equipment thats comfortable and easy to use(It doesnt have to be the most expensive.) Always be safe and get in the water as much as possible.
I'm holding you to that last part, there, speedy.
But recommending that is like recommending to a teenager who's not yet got their driver's license to, "Buy the car that is comfortable and easy to drive, and always be safe and drive as often as possible."
How 'bout, "Save your money and rent/borrow other cars until you figure out if you're a truck guy or a car guy first?"
