diving (scuba) questions (OT)

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TomCochrane

Trad climber

Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay

Feb 24, 2013 - 11:34pm PT

Trad climber

Calgary

Feb 25, 2013 - 03:58am PT

Am diving in Lembeh Straight Sulawesi right now.
Really industrial as we are near the port of Bintung. Lots of trash like paint cans, tires, on the bottom but some neat stuff lives in them and on the coral patches. This is the home of weird and wonderful macro stuff with new discoveries still being made. Some of the fish are even uglier than the garbage. True muck diving but like an awesome treasure hunt.
Truly a unique experience

John Duffield

Mountain climber

New York

Feb 25, 2013 - 10:09am PT

I was reading about making cave diving photos this w/e.

Seems - to get any photo depth in zero light - you need a sensor, on your companions gear, that fires their Strobe at the same time as yours.

Said sensor needs to be at the top of his tank so it can see your strobe.

The author remarked, that at the bottom of popular cave routes, there are a ton of plastic knobs. Guess that must be from the first stage banging on the roof. Can't imagine hitting the overhead that hard but that's what he says. He mentioned that, cuz if your friend scrapes off your strobe sensor, it gets to be a really expensive sport.

Seems a bunch of my Scuba friends are getting into Cave Diving. Though, IIRC my fav dive buddy flunked her course.

For myself, I dunno. Looks like one of those things you get into all the way or leave it alone.

miwuksurfer

Social climber

Mi-Wuk

Feb 25, 2013 - 01:45pm PT

The ink is still wet on my open water cert. I'm so stoked to get out. Love the photos and the trip reports.
Keep them coming. The accident reports, though grim, are good to read also, I belive.

Question: Do most of you prefer the wrist mounted computers or the computer and pressure guage mounted on a hose?

nature

climber

Boulder, CO

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2013 - 02:02pm PT

I prefer mine on the console. Though I know many that prefer the wrist mount. The nice thing about the console is integrate air is a lot less expensive.

And just wait locker - I'm going to mexico this summer to dive with Whale Sharks and part of the requirement is we do a fundraiser. All proceeds go back into "the cause" (awareness to the shark finning industry and putting a stop to that horrible industry). There will be prizes :P

kev

climber

A pile of dirt.

Feb 25, 2013 - 03:03pm PT

Nature,

Here are a few thoughts.

1) I'm not sure how old you are but if you're starting to loose any near visual acuity then the size of the font for the computer really matters.
I've got a newer oceanic (which will do multiple gas mixtures :) but it's hard for my eyes to read - ug.

2) Specific computer experiences
Aeris - they break and you should avoid them.
Sununto - seems to hold up pretty conservative algortithms.
Oceanic - some of the new ones have multiple algorithm choices for modeling nitrogen absorption and this allows you to choose how liberal or conservative you want it. My current on is an oceanic and it has survived about 140 hours in the last 16 months.

3) On the strobe question - if you get and ikelite housing buy a used ds125 strobe, if you don't get an ikelite housing get a S&S YS-D1 or Inon z240 type 4. If your shooting macro you probably will need a focus light.
For used gear try reef in florida - lots of used stuff on their website, also backscatter (CA) has some used stuff as does bluewater photo. Jack at Ocean Optical sales also has some used stuff from time to time but typically isn't advertised on his web site - also scuba board and wetpixel are good sources for used stuff.

kev

nature

climber

Boulder, CO

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2013 - 04:42pm PT

thanks kev. I'm almost 47 and so far my eyesight is holding up. Though I'm noticing really small fonts are hard to read.

I've had an Oceanic for 12 years and it's held up well. It's very basic but it's easy to read. Doesn't do mixed gas though.

After consulting with my instructor I've decided that my first priority is a new BC. After that it'll be a computer. And then maybe a new reg.

The timing on the strobe info is perfect. I have my housing (it's a canon) and the fish eye lens is on order.

I'll check out some of those sites.

mynameismud

climber

backseat

Feb 25, 2013 - 07:42pm PT

I second the back plane and wing. I currently dive with a jacket type bc and it works fine. Had a Zeagle for a while. The scuba pro jacket is cleaner, more simple and more streamlined but does have less lift. I would love to have a back plane / wing setup and when I wear out my current bc that is the way I will go. Way less drag, very configurable and simple which is important in diving. Redundant, failsafe but simple.

I quit recording my dives when I starting showing my log book to folks (only when asked) and half my dives were solo and received tons of crap. Absolutely love solo night dives. Reminds me of being a kid and walking alone in the woods. Have to keep thinking I am not afraid of the dark, dang it I am a grown man no way I am afraid of the dark. I think the incredible amount of pressure about not diving solo is in some ways bad even though I do understand why folks do it. I strongly discourage people not to dive solo. But the result was me diving solo and not telling anyone where I was and what I was doing. It is very similar to free soloing, recognize what you are doing, minimize risk, stay within boundaries. In some ways it has made me a better diver in some ways worse. When I dive I think self-contained, I monitor my stuff and my environment and expect my partner to do the same. To me it seems some divers that are completely entrenched in the dive partner philosophy rely on those partners which I think is a dangerous thing to do in the ocean. It is very good to have a partner there and there are times I will not go in the ocean without one but I think it is good to be self reliant.

I really like my scuba pro computer and reg. I do not like computers that have integrated air. With an actual air gauge if your computer fails you at least you know how much air you have. Also really like the Air 2 and Do not think I would dive without it, simple and bomb proof. One simple aftermarket piece of gear that I got that I highly recommend is the full piece mouth piece. When it gets rough or whatever I can clamp down on it better and I have only lost my reg once and that is when getting picked up by a wave and slammed into some rocks which kinda knocked the wind out of me. My reg shot out of my mount but the Air2 was right there ( I had two partners that day) and thankfully my partner grabbed me while I was getting maytaged and pulled me deeper and handed me my reg. I also recommend getting a bc with at least two dump valves one on the shoulder and one down low at the bottom, I see the third dump valve on the Air2 as being optional even though it is there by default with an Air2 type setup.

Have fun out there but be safe.

mynameismud

climber

backseat

Feb 25, 2013 - 07:49pm PT

Some words that also stuck with me. I remember when I got my advanced card from my instructer. He congratulated me in the group. Then found me when I was off by myself, looked me hard in the eye and said "You know what this means (while pointed at my card then not waiting for an answer), absolutly nothing". He then walked off.

nature

climber

Boulder, CO

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2013 - 07:51pm PT

The Air2 is a nice feature. One less hose to worry about. The shop I'm training with and will eventually be working at uses ScubaPro's as their "uniforms". Though I guess that means if I go with a ScubaPro BC with Air2 I also need up upgrade my reg to ScubaPro.

kev - what are your thoughts on the Ikelite AF35?

kev

climber

A pile of dirt.

Feb 25, 2013 - 10:20pm PT

Nature,

Here are some strobe/s100 ramblings - please ignore anyhting you already knew - I wasn't sure where you were at with the whole underwater photo thing.

So I had (well still do until I bother to sell it) an Pany LX-5 in an ikelite housing. I was using a ds125 via electrical sync. The damn thing was way to strong and I found the TTL metering was so/so. This caused me to set the strobe manually. It was pretty easy once I got the hang of it. So I'm not sure how important TTL really is for you. Plus the Cannon S100 does NOT support TTL in manual mode which is probably what you'll be shooting in most of the time.

Initially I suggested Ikelite strobe with Ikelite housing because I assumed the housing had an electrical sync cord/TTL circuit which is uber fast (recycle time is < 2 seconds). Well, it's not that the sync is fast but rather with electrical sync you're only dependent on the strobes recycle time which with the DS125/160s is way way fast. Using the camera's flash as your strobe trigger means you're limited by the S100 recycle time. So the big selling point of the ikelite DS125/160 (and maybe 51) is gone.

My current system uses a mirror to allow flash from my d7000 to pass down a fiber optic cable which is connected to my strobe which then interprets the preflash for TTL that way - essentially what ikelite is doing with their autoflash 35. With this camera/strobe combination it seems pretty good. I'd call a few stores and see what they've had that works well with the cannon, I know some of the sea and sea strobes and the Inon strobes will fire via your a mask over your cameras internal flash with a cable running from the mast to the strobe. Here's an example http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/ys-02-flex-arm-package and here's a S&S camera/strobe compatibility chart link http://www.seaandsea.jp/products/strobe/compatibilitychart/a.html but again I really don't think your going to use much TTL.

A lot of people really like Inon, S&S and Ikelite - I've used 2 of the three myself and they've all got their little pros and cons. But I don't think you need the TTL. Focus on the amount of light not the TTL unless you really think you're NOT going to me shooting in manual. I wouldn't use anything with less power than the DS51.

Hope I haven't muddied the waters too much.

kev

climber

A pile of dirt.

Feb 25, 2013 - 10:22pm PT

Yeah the Air 2 is great until you have a panicked diver. If/when you go the Air2 route get an extra long hose for your primary so you can keep the panicked student/diver a reasonable distance away from you.

nature

climber

Boulder, CO

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2013 - 11:00pm PT

I'm fairly new to underwater photography and most of my years of experience have been outdoors (little use of strobes).

I don't see the need for TTL - I'll just get use to manual adjustments from the get-go. I'm ok with the recycle time with the s100 - I don't have a choice give the housing I chose.

I'm figuring I'll be shooting in Manual (C) at first. Still trying to learn this camera. It's pretty complex for being so little.

thanks for the link to the YS-02. I'll probably debate on that one vs the AF35.

nature

climber

Boulder, CO

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 1, 2013 - 01:49am PT

bought the YS-02 with flex handle.

Trad climber

Calgary

Mar 4, 2013 - 06:08pm PT

If you like photography you must go to Indonesia. The sites there are legendary. I just got back from several weeks diving at Bunaken and Lembeh and am already thinking about Raja Ampat next year.
The comparison to other diving I have done is: You can climb a scruffy route on a choss crag. Yes it is climbing and it may be fun. Then compare it to the Nose or Astroman and you know this is a totally different arena.
Lembeh in particular is awesome and probably features the most unusual creatures you will ever see under water.
Check out videos on Youtube and you may want to book at a resort immediately! The dive resorts are great with 1 guide to 1-2 clients. They do everything for you ( twice I had to turn on my air though) and are there to find the wonderful things you want to see. Every dive featured critters I had never seen before and discoveries are still being made so no one knows everything that is down there. Especially exciting when you spot things before the guide does. Just like a giant treasure hunt.
Do it

John Duffield

Mountain climber

New York

Mar 4, 2013 - 06:38pm PT

Learning the camera is easy. It's the bouyancy that's problematic. Very much like texting and driving. The camera is devouring your attention. I've dived with some groups where they get hostile towards the idea. I had a 3 dives a day for a week with one of the best in the business. So I'm not bouncing all over the dive site, though I've been known to take off and my partner has to follow me. Here's a shot I took of him.

nature

climber

Boulder, CO

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 4, 2013 - 07:49pm PT

I'm getting a lot of practice with buoyancy. Part of the DCS requirement is being able to demonstrate all the open water skills while maintaining neutral buoyancy. Some of them are pretty tricky. Switching to a rear inflation BC and getting the integrated weights just right is also really helping.

mynameismud

climber

backseat

Mar 4, 2013 - 08:16pm PT

Nature
...if I go with a ScubaPro BC with Air2 I also need up upgrade my reg to ScubaPro.

Your primary Reg can be whatever you choose.

The hose on my primary is not real long but is a bit longer than normal. I have had to hand off my primary once while I used the Air2. It worked ok. If I was a Dive Master, doing Rescue Diving or Cave diving I would probably change my setup and go with a secondary with a long hose.

Other tips would be to learn to dive inverted (head down). Half the cool stuff out there is underneath something. Dive with as little weight as you can. It definitely eases buoyancy but if you take a beginner out extra weight can be helpful. Simplify/streamline your setup as much as possible while still being safe.

As far as photography goes.. If you dive with a photographer you may as well learn to dive solo :) One of my primary dive partners is a photog and he inevitably floats off by himself. He dives dry, I dive wet and would not only die of boredom but would freeze to death if I stuck by his side at all times. He takes pics and I swim around and find stuff. For the most part we do keep tabs on each other, the arrangement works.