Canadiver's bag o' tricks... such as they are.

[Canadadiver]

It seems to have been a while since someone shared, so here's what I managed to British Airways flew across North America and some ocean for me:
Regs:
-Mares MR12 Axis 1st (Yoke) and 2nd stages
-Mares MR 22 Abyss 1st (DIN) and 2nd stages
BC/Harness:
-DiveRite Superwing
-OMS IQ Pack Harness w SS backplate
Mask:
-Mares X-Vision (blackout)
Fins:
-Cressi Master Frog (too long to fit in my dive bag!) w spring straps
Suits:
-Whites Nexus (bilam drysuit)
-Weezle Extreme Plus
-O'Neill Reactor (3/2 wetsuit)
Computer/guages:
-Suunto Vyper
-wrist compass
-OMS SPG (small gauge with bar and PSI!)
Bits and pieces:
-wetsuit hood
-"Blue Bare" drygloves w SiTech quick-clamp
-wetsuit booties
-Ramora dive knife (you know, the tiny butter knife that comes with a UK C8 light... er... "torch"...?)
-medical shears
-strobe light
-detachable/attachable hip pocket/pouch
And if that's not enough info, here's how I set things up at home. I just started using a set of doubles (Worthington X-120s [230 bar, 15.3 L]), which I had to leave behind and I have tried to follow a 'DIR-style' set-up (I like the simplicity, but don't think I buy the whole matching-outfits doctrine):
RHP
-Primary reg on 5' whip (down my right side, across my chest, around my neck and into my gob)
-wing inflator
LHP
-Backup reg (around the right side of my head and attached with a surgical tubing necklace - tres chic!)
-drysuit inflator
-SPG (hanging from a clip on my left side)
My computer and my compass are both on my wrist. My shears are on my right shoulder strap. I wear about 5.5 kg on a weight belt (backplate is 2.6 kg and tanks are -10 kg [full], -2 kg [empty] in the ocean).
My shopping list:
-> Lights! I've got my sights set on a Greenforce Force F2 Umbilical with Tristar Plus LED Head (I've heard good things, I like the price, etc.)
-> A new hose for my primary reg. I curse Mares for the 3/8" port on the Abyss 2nd stage - I bought a 1/2" hose without thinking about it [breathing through an adapter seems wrong in so many ways]! A hose swivel would be nice too...
-> Tanks. We dive single Al-80s back home, but there's a real hodge podge of twin sets. I'm not fussy with twins, just want to get what I need to dive wrecks around Scotland (I have the twin HP 120cuft/15L's back home in the hopes of doing some extended range/tech training, but it's probably overkill for most of the dives I plan do here).
-> A new BC. I left an ancient SeaQuest Black Diamond at home, so I'm looking for a similar (newer? replacement)... Otherwise, I'll have to dive with a twin-set...
-> Reels. I'm long overdue for purchasing an upreel and a primary reel.
-> Fins. I really like my huge, unbendable fins, but they're a bit ungainly in tight spots. A set of used jet-fins (do I really have to shell-out £65 for a pair?!) would be just the ticket for wreck penetration dives...
-> Miscellany. More backups (light...er... torch, knife, mask, slates, depth gauge, etc.) would be nice.

Whoa... that's a lot of info. Any advice on what to add to my kit or where to find the items in my list would be appreciated! I think I'll start posting shorter messages as soon as I get started diving in Scotland. For now, posting is all I have (sob!).

[regthing]

-> Tanks. We dive single Al-80s back home, but there's a real hodge podge of twin sets. I'm not fussy with twins, just want to get what I need to dive wrecks around Scotland (I have the twin HP 120cuft/15L's back home in the hopes of doing some extended range/tech training, but it's probably overkill for most of the dives I plan do here).
Twin 12L 232 bar are popular here. A bit over kill for shore 10/300s get used a bit as well but taller folk don't like them and you have the problem of Nitrox to 300 bar

-> A new BC. I left an ancient SeaQuest Black Diamond at home, so I'm looking for a similar (newer? replacement)... Otherwise, I'll have to dive with a twin-set...


What about a single tank adapter for your backplate?

[stafforddiver]

Nothing worng with a twin set for scottish waters.

Think of it as a 12 litre cylinder with an oversized pony :)

[regthing]

Nothing worng with a twin set for scottish waters.

Think of it as a 12 litre cylinder with an oversized pony :)

Quite agree. I use twin 7's and twin 12s but the 7's have been out of test for a few months now. The 12's are getting heaved over many a rock at the moment :)

[Canadadiver]

Twin 12L 232 bar are popular here. A bit over kill for shore 10/300s get used a bit as well but taller folk don't like them and you have the problem of Nitrox to 300 bar


What about a single tank adapter for your backplate?

It seems like twin 12Ls would be the best way to go: I'd want the option of Nitrox fills and to stick with a popular choice, since I'm hoping to resell in about a year (but I may just stay a wee while longer...) I think I'll by new tanks - found a Beaver 12L twin set (with iso manifold and tank bands) for about £340 (delivered). There's much cheaper sets being sold on Ebay, but it'll cost me a pretty penny to go get them from London or wherever.

And yes, I can get a backplate adapter, but the problem is with the humongous wing. I've looked around for a mention of people using a single cylinder with the Superwing, but no dice. I think that the wing has a tendency to wrap around the cylinder in a way that makes it difficult to dump air from it. Check out the DiveRite BC/Wing Manual: http://www.diverite.com/downloads/diverite_99.pdf

Great advise guys - thanks!

[regthing]

It seems like twin 12Ls would be the best way to go: I'd want the option of Nitrox fills and to stick with a popular choice, since I'm hoping to resell in about a year (but I may just stay a wee while longer...) I think I'll by new tanks - found a Beaver 12L twin set (with iso manifold and tank bands) for about £340 (delivered). There's much cheaper sets being sold on Ebay, but it'll cost me a pretty penny to go get them from London or wherever.

And yes, I can get a backplate adapter, but the problem is with the humongous wing. I've looked around for a mention of people using a single cylinder with the Superwing, but no dice. I think that the wing has a tendency to wrap around the cylinder in a way that makes it difficult to dump air from it. Check out the DiveRite BC/Wing Manual: http://www.diverite.com/downloads/diverite_99.pdf

Great advise guys - thanks!

Yep, you'll sell twin 12s no bother.

Ah, big wing, wasn't thinking :o Although on my wish list is a Dive Rite Rec Wing (currently using the Classic Wing)

I've had a loan of a Rec Wing recently and tried it with both my 7's and mt 12's. It handled the 12's with no problems at all. It will also do a single as it has a gusset control cord in it that restricts the size and stops it wrapping round the the single :cool: (although I didn't try it with a single)

[Canadadiver]

Ah, big wing, wasn't thinking :o Although on my wish list is a Dive Rite Rec Wing

Yes, the Rec Wing would have been a more appropriate choice, but I was offered an irresistible deal on the Super Wing/OMS IQ harness/Backplate... If I was filthy rich, I'd have 'em both. Or a CCR and a prettier dry suit.

[Canadadiver]

Got 'em! A new 12L twinset arrived today in the post. I ordered them over the phone yesterday afternoon and Deep Blue Dive Center (http://www.deepbluedive.com/) had them at my door 24 hours later. Fantastic! Now I need two fills and some weights... and a car...

[IFAIRLEY]

Well I'm sure i can sort you out with a nice cheap car that you will be able to sell again when you leave !!!!