ABWA - Dive Report - One dive closer to cavern!

[mwhities]

Date: November 15 2008
Dive Location: http://www.divealabama.com
Buddy(ies): Adam (nephew), Rita and Gordon (video)
Time: 10AM
Bottom Time: 52 minutes
Max Depth: 40ffw
Vis: 20/30
Wave height: None
Temp at depth: 39 minutes
Surface Temp: 68F
Tide information: None
Gas mix: 21%
Best moment: Diving with my nephew. Getting to dive.
Things to do differently next time: Wear thicker/more undies. Use less air in the dry suit.
Comments: Had a great time. First "open water" dive with doubles. Was a little worried from all the horror stories I heard but, overall, it was a great dive. Stayed above 40ffw as Adam is only certified to that depth. (SSI Junior). Trim was WAY off since my feet were quite heavy. (Maybe the tanks?) If I tried to add air to my feet I would get really light footed and would get scared that I'd do a feet first ascent so, I kept most of all the air out of my feet. Just enough air to keep the squeeze at bay.

Practiced the last part of the dive on the 15' platform and tried to get and stay trimmed. No luck.

Don't laugh to hard.. remember.. only my 5th dry suit dive, first HP130 dive and first time carrying a light in a dry suit with doubles on.



Be easy on me. (I'll get more videos up when Gordon sends them to me on dvd.)

Michael

[FW]

Not too bad for so little experience. You need to get the kid in the single (nephew?) to take a cavern course, though

[mwhities]

Not too bad for so little experience. You need to get the kid in the single (nephew?) to take a cavern course, though

I appreciate that but, I actually did better on the second dive and then the LP108s was my best. No video of that though.

I'm actually piecing gear together for him now. I have the regs (My back ups) and Jets fins for him so far. Looking for the BP/W now. He dove an AL DiveRite back plate with an OxyCheq(spelling?) wing and he came up from the dive and said, "I know what I'm adding to my Christmas list!", with a big grin on his face.

Until then, we are going to hit the pool and I'm going to try to help him get trimmed out and diving better. He's ready to dive whenever I can go.

Michael

[FW]

I'm actually piecing gear together for him now.

He doesn't need new gear, as much as he needs to learn to keep his feet off the bottom, and secure that dangling console. I just wish they would teach all that in the OW classes.

[mwhities]

He doesn't need new gear, as much as he needs to learn to keep his feet off the bottom, and secure that dangling console. I just wish they would teach all that in the OW classes.

That's what I am going to work on. I'm going to look for a way to keep the console up and off the ground. Once I get him trimmed and using his feet instead of hands, I'm sure he could "cradle" the console through his arms to keep it off the ground.

In time, he'll be there.

Oh, he liked the BP/W more than his jacket BC, he couldn't carry an AL63 but, with the BP/W, he could carry the steel 72. He liked that... so did I... I didn't have to carry it to the water for him

Michael

[J_glenn06]

that place is pretty cool!!! Good place to get experience wish we had something like that around here.

[FW]

Once I get him trimmed and using his feet instead of hands, I'm sure he could "cradle" the console through his arms to keep it off the ground.

Tie a piece of line around the console, and put a snap link on it, then clip it to something on the jacket or BP/W.

[mwhities]

Tie a piece of line around the console, and put a snap link on it, then clip it to something on the jacket or BP/W.

I had actually thought about that and then it totally slipped my mind. Thanks, I'll add that to his rig tomorrow.

Michael

[mwhities]

Date: November 15 2008
Dive Location: http://www.divealabama.com
Buddy(ies): Adam (nephew), Rita and Gordon
Time: 2:27 PM
Bottom Time: 45 minutes
Max Depth: 42
Vis: 20'
Wave height: None
Temp at depth: 66F
Surface Temp: 54F
Tide information: None
Gas mix: 21%
Best moment: I was able to a few of the basic 5 and stay trimmed out and within a 3' window of depth. The HP130s grew on my or I them. I was able to get trimmed a little bit better.
Things to do differently next time: Add more undies. Add a snap bolt to my primary hose. Make sure my mask is nice and clean.
Comments: The HP130s were still somewhat of a PITA but, I was able to get trimmed with them better and I was able to manipulate the left valve with a little effort. The first dive with them, I couldn't reach it at all. Over all a LOT better dive than the previous one with the video.

[mwhities]

Date: November 16 2008
Dive Location: http://www.divealabama.com
Buddy(ies): Adam (nephew), Rita and Colin
Time: 11:06 PM
Bottom Time: 55 minutes
Max Depth: 49
Vis: 25'
Wave height: None
Temp at depth: 66F
Surface Temp: 55F
Tide information: None
Gas mix: 21%
Best moment: When I first hit the water, I was able to trim out with the LP108s. Felt comfortable and didn't feel like I was going to somersault forward.
Things to do differently next time: Add more undies. Add a snap bolt to my primary hose. Make sure my mask is nice and clean. (Yes, I forgot to do that.. that's why it's the same as the last dive report. :P)
Comments: I believe I'm going to go ahead and start looking for some LP108s. From what I've been told, the only real difference between the 108s and 104s is the weight. I felt really good and felt trimmed out with the LP108s. Not sure that I need to try any other tanks. Added: I can also reach the valves with the LP108s as well. Encouraging for myself.