Just getting back into caving - tons of questions

[FW]

... but now my son needs discount hand me down bc and computer. Does it ever end?

In a word, NO

[Wizard]

Old BC's are meant to be hung on a wall, not fixed. I have several.
As far as changing to sidemount, I remember a guy diving independent 120's next to us at cave class. Hoses were everywhere and the stuff looked to be 25 years old. Instructor mentioned to us that while the setup was not in vogue, it had brought the man out alive hundreds of times, and it's hard to argue with success. Keep your backmount stuff. But do buy an LED light. It's like having a video light while filming for the discovery channel. Made my old $600 HID flashlight look whimpy.

[Sludge]

Made my old $600 HID flashlight look whimpy.

Several months ago Edd Sorenson looked at my $600 HID and remarked, "I believe that is the second-best canister light ever made."

[adam0321]

I hope when I get back to the states I follow in the same slow responsible methods you are. I imagine many people just jump right into it.

[a64pilot]

AmyTom,
PM me either here or on the Cruisers site when your ready to make the drive up to Mariana, I'll show you around. My understanding is the flow at JB is up to epic proportions

[next gen]

AmyTom,
PM me either here or on the Cruisers site when your ready to make the drive up to Mariana, I'll show you around. My understanding is the flow at JB is up to epic proportions

Jackson Blue has more flow than ever. Twin syphoned and is blown, even down the first T it's blown. Hole in the Wall as far as upstream is concerned is bllown till the bridge at 400ft then it's great. Hole is springing and I think will clear soon, though you will have to pull and glide to get in the first restriction.

[whodunit68]

My understanding is the flow at JB is up to epic proportions

It is incredible. It's not so impressive when I say that I've never seen it so high (though I'm told when I did my training 6 years ago that it was as high as it had been in more than 10 years) but when Edd says it, that means something to me.

I was there this past weekend and it was tough. Reports are that HiTW has high flow through the first restriction then moderately low viz until ~400'P and Twin is less than 20' through most of the subway tunnel but opens up outside of it. Viz in JB is 40'-50' but hazy. Interesting times in Marianna.

[mfascuba]

I had the unfortunate luck to flood my HID battery with seawater, killed it dead. I was in the market for a replacement cave light, I looked at LED, I looked at HID, I looked at putting another $400 battery on the light I had. In the end, for high wattage light (more than around 20W), nothing beats an HID. I ended up dropping more than I should have on a light monkey 50W HID. Good for another 7 or 8 years...

[a64pilot]

I too have the LM 50W and it's a great light, BUT you have to carry a car battery around with you to keep it running.

[DeputyTom]

Now I've gotta get up there and dive