Just had my first diving course...

[VJ]

http://scubaproasiapacific.com/produ...d=3&prodid=475
is the one i use, its more expensive

Nice... but as I am not considering buying a breather just yet, and as I want to carry it with me (just in case) an integrated model seems less interesting for me.

(I have been recomended to use the watch type that has the transmitter)
It might seem like an extra chunk of money, but it does remove the need to buy a seperate set of gages.

Are you referring to the D9?
Its list price in the diving club/shop/school is apparently 1099 euro (without transmitter but with pc connection kit), but with a substantial discount if you are a member of the club. The D6 is somewhere in the 600-700 euro range (without pc connection kit). So in all not that big a difference... (and the optional air integration is nice...... )
The makes that are easiest to find here are Suunto and Oceanic.

Jörg

[Sasq]

sorry been recomended not to
they do suffer transmitter interferance issues at times.
I do on the other hand need to pick up a second computer - as you never know when one will die - or in my case decide I was bent.

[Sasq]

as an extra thought.
If you are going as far as buying a comp, I honestly recomend you just get all the gear and be done with it.
You will be a lot more comfortable diving in your own gear, you get to know its quirks, how it feels, how to deal with your trim in the water.

Before buying, it is good to try different styles of gear, full jacket BC, back pane, intergrated weights verses belt weights etc.

also choosing a good regulator that you are comfortable with is worth its weight in gold.

[Fat Tone]

So if you guys had to sum up the attraction of diving in a paragraph, what would it be? Sight-seeing, danger, adrenalin, what?

[VJ]

sorry been recomended not to
they do suffer transmitter interferance issues at times.
I do on the other hand need to pick up a second computer - as you never know when one will die - or in my case decide I was bent.

Ha, ok... Well, the manual mentions that before diving you should make sure that all divers use different setting. But I can imagine in real life you don't always have a chance to do this checking.

as an extra thought.
If you are going as far as buying a comp, I honestly recomend you just get all the gear and be done with it.

Yes, but I feel I need more experience before being able to make a good purchase (e.g. regarding the thickness of the suit I need in different water temperatures). The club/shop rents out quite good equipment, and prior to a purchase I could always go to Nemo33: they allow one to test a wide variety of equipment.

The dive computer is indespensible for safety, the other stuff (when high quality stuff can be used/rented) is more for comfort. The way I see it now, I'll start with the computer, and see where to go from there.

So if you guys had to sum up the attraction of diving in a paragraph, what would it be? Sight-seeing, danger, adrenalin, what?

Hard to say... I haven't done any sightseeing, but still like it. I think it is a combination of a sense of freedom, while still requiring you to carefull think over your decissions (not unlike flying in that aspect ! ). I guess when sight seeing becomes possible it further enriches the experience.


Jörg

[DukeP]

Ohh.. Air integration. Yummy.

I havent really met any versions that didnt do the job proper. In fact, when I do fixed depth dives, I only use a d-timer.

But: If you have to invest, get one with NITROX support. You never know when you happen upon a nitrox course - and once you go nitrox, you dont go back.
The Suunto your looking at has got a very nice set of Nitrox profiles. Recommended.


~~DukeP~~

[VJ]

Thursday, I had my second deep water dive: an instructor, a divemaster (learning to become instructor) and me in a 7m dive put. Suprisingly, my oxygen lasted much longer than that of the instructor (but it had been a while since she dove; I continued exercises with the divemaster).
Then yesterday, I had my first open water dive in a specific dive location. It was great fun, despite the low visibility at times (0m - 2.5m). The divetime was 41 minutes, in water with temperatures of 16-19°C. The instructor was again suprised to see that I only used up 100 bar of a 12 l bottle. But he was diving with 2 bottles (also because he was diving with a dry suit).

Still, great fun, can't wait for my next dive.
I will start with the Nitrox courses too; after the dive on thursday, I had a bit of a headache. This was less yesterday (we didn't stay as deep for a long time), but might still be more comfortable.
(haven't decided on a divecomputer yet, the functionality of the Suunto D6 is adequate for me, but if the price difference isn't too big to my liking, I might go for the D9 to be more future-proof)

Jörg

[DukeP]

Be carefull about saving on air - plan you dive and then use enough air to last the dive through.

You use the air as much for oxygen, as for exhaling carbondioxid. Since the partial pressure of Oxygen is much higher under pressure, you dont _need_ to breathe as often while diving as while above ground. But you then risk getting too high a concentration of carbondioxide, which might be what is giving you headache.

A steady breathing, loong inhale, pause and long exhale, pause.

Although it is fun to compete (and to brag) about ones low use of air (this is often seen as a sign of relaxation during the dive - which is good) - one should really always focus on using the right amount; not the least.



~~DukeP~~

[VJ]

Yes, I understand.
But I don't do anything special to save on air, I just breath like I normally do (I always have a very low breathing rythm, and a very low pulse; approx. 40-50 bpm).

Jörg

[Umfriend]

(I always have a very low breathing rythm, and a very low pulse; approx. 40-50 bpm).Jörg

Geesz, you must be quite the athlete. My bpm @ rest is 85-90 or so....

[VJ]

Not really, although I did do a lot of sports as a kid (badminton, swimming, ...).

I just enrolled for the nitrox courses as well (theorycourse is on Monday, they usually do a dive with nitrox as well, and then use it for the normal courses ). Next up on my list is a divecomputer; I'll check the stor e for advice.


Jörg