Posts filed under 'Gear'
Well, this afternoon my good dive buddy Nailer and I (and our new buddy Larry) threw up our caps (hoods?) as we graduated from Advanced Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) Trimix class (I believe this is called Mod 3 in Europe). This means that I can use hypoxic amounts of oxygen (less than 16%) mixed with helium and nitrogen, in various amounts, as diluent when mixing with pure oxygen in a closed breathing loop. I am now certified to dive to 330 feet, which opens up a lot of diving options.
It seems like forever ago, but just 7 months prior I started my first CCR class, Air Diluent CCR cert. It did take me months to find the groove on the Meg, but sometime along the way it just clicked. I’m glad I stuck with it because honestly, those first dozen dives or so had me thinking, what have I done?. Now I feel pretty natural in the water again, not as carefree as on OC before I made the switch, but definitely confident, which is huge.
Continue Reading June 16th, 2008
My dive buddy Josh, aka Nailer99, offers up his account of our recent COPIS Megalodon CCR training from Silent Scuba instructor Mel Clark. All day, every day for a week solid - this was some of the toughest dive training I’ve ever done - but the end result is that we can now stay down for hours on end, and this opens up our NDLs tremendously so that we can stay deeper for longer. With virtually no bubbles, fish and other marine life came right up to us. I can’t wait to shoot some stills and video with the mCCR. I’m looking forward to doing many dives with my new COPIS. It wasn’t cheap (in terms of time or money) but the training corresponds to the higher level of proficiency and diligence needed to dive a Closed Circuit Rebreather like the manual Megalodon from Innerspace Systems.
Continue Reading November 23rd, 2007
After taking a few videos of sixgill sharks lately, I realized just how lacking my Casio EX-Z1050’s video capabilities are. So, I decided last week that it was time to take the plunge and so I’m delving into the world of underwater high-definition video. I won’t tell you much about it yet, since I haven’t even gotten this rig wet yet - but I’ll leave you all with some photos that should make your mouth water.
Continue Reading October 4th, 2007
The exposure suit is perhaps the biggest difference maker when it comes to enjoying your dive. Even with the best equipment, dive buddies, location and experience - if you have an inadequate exposure suit for the conditions you’re diving in, you won’t have fun. In the worst case, you may not even be able to safely dive without the proper thermal protection. After diving a starter suit for a year, I finally threw down the duckets and bought myself a custom suit from DUI. With more available options than a Wall Street broker, the CF200x is simply the ultimate drysuit.
Continue Reading July 20th, 2007
Finding an iPhone at the 6PM launch yesterday took some creativity. Using the iPhone though is absolutely a dream, compared to previous phones I’ve owned. The iPhone sets a new standard for smart devices and I probably won’t be buying another make of phone for as long as Apple keeps making iPhones. Having three Macintosh computers in my life, the compatibility factor just can’t be ignored. The interface is beyond slick, the size and weight are pocket-friendly and the web, music and video capabilities are unlike anything I’ve ever seen, short of a desktop computer.
Continue Reading June 30th, 2007
Reading a thread on Scubaboard, I came across these new Patagonia wetsuits. They look pretty good, though I’m not sure that the insulation they claim to provide is actually as good as advertised. I dive in the PNW regularly, and I can’t picture going diving here in a 3mm fullsuit and also staying warm. But, Patagonia does make very good alpine gear, usually of excellent quality for a premium price (which is why the company is sometimes referred to as “PataGucci” by climbers and hikers) - so I wouldn’t be surprised if these suits measured up against some of the best, when it comes to diving in warm water.
Continue Reading April 3rd, 2007
Four months and forty dives after buying my latest underwater camera and housing kit, I’ve ended up with some great impressions of Casio’s 10.1 Megapixel EX-Z1000 camera and EWC-80 polycarbonate housing. With very few shortcomings and a lot of resolution in a small package, this little rig delivers as does no other in the compact digital market. Extremely quick on the draw, unequalled battery life (~360 shots per charge!) and intuitive user interface all add up to a superb record of my recent dive history. If you’re in the market for a small, affordable, easy-to-use underwater digital camera, look no further.
Continue Reading November 23rd, 2006
After a disastrous spill of a cocktail into my shiny new Nokia E60 Smartphone, I started looking for another mobile phone (I wouldn’t think of buying the same gear twice). I ended up coming upon the newly-released BlackBerry Pearl (8100), recommended to me by a phone-junkie friend. In a nutshell, the new Blackberry offers up one of the best form factors of any phones I’ve come across in my searches. It employs a trackball similar to the Apple Mighty Mouse and does away with the scroll wheel on the side. The phone is surprisingly slim and light and has a usable camera with flash. If you generally like Blackberrys, you’ll love the 8100 Pearl.
Continue Reading September 26th, 2006
Most people select a fin based on looks, and I’ll admit that cosmetics are a consideration for me too. But, there are several other types of things to consider when choosing a fin. These include: whether you want a traditional ‘paddle’ fin, or you want one of the newfangled ’split’ fins. “What’s the difference?” you may ask. Well, there are tradeoffs with each given style and shape, and no fin is perfect for every application. Also, you have to take your boot (or foot) shape into consideration when choosing a fin. These considerations are just for starters, read on for the full scoop.
Continue Reading August 10th, 2006
An external flash can make all the difference when shooting photos underwater. Colors die out, red going first, as you go deeper - leaving only shades of blue as you reach depths greater than about 30fsw. Calibrating your whitebalance can help a great deal, especially when in clear waters and shooting subjects at a moderate distance. But, for shooting photos in murkier waters or for capturing subjects at the optimum color and intensity, you may need the help of an external strobe.
Continue Reading July 11th, 2006
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