Search found 1023 matches

by fmerkel
Mon Dec 25, 2017 8:54 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Dry Suit Question
Replies: 7
Views: 3308

Re: Dry Suit Question

Aluminum tank? Go to steel and lose about 6# with no other penalty. FWIW, you simply have to figure out what specific part of the kit is contributing to your buoyancy, then see if you are willing to deal with the expense and trouble of switching. Like, going from a Ranger > Back Plate/Wing likely wo...
by fmerkel
Wed Nov 22, 2017 6:43 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Switched over to drysuit finally!
Replies: 15
Views: 4236

Re: Switched over to drysuit finally!

I'm one of the (rare?) people that don't bother to equalize gloves. Hands are pretty bony. Unless you push things to serious depths the squeeze is not a bother. If you do equalize (some kind of tube), when you put your hands up, the gloves fill up. When you put them down (normal position) the air al...
by fmerkel
Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:28 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5393
Views: 924796

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

That's certainly a different set of pix from you. Pretty cool. I've only done one day of cenote diving.
Outer ear infection is a bummer. Multiple dives in warm water can do that if you don't take precautions.
by fmerkel
Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:12 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Lost gear alert
Replies: 5
Views: 2323

Re: Lost gear alert

Check with the MAST center also.
by fmerkel
Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:52 am
Forum: Underwater Imaging - Photography & Video
Topic: Komodo
Replies: 17
Views: 5233

Re: Komodo

Fantastic! Did you take a drone for the aerial shots?
by fmerkel
Fri Oct 13, 2017 8:40 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: looking for drysuit advice
Replies: 4
Views: 2368

Re: looking for drysuit advice

Yes, one might. It's a Bare, probably less than 200 dives, maybe only 100. Fit is everything, well after not being a leaky piece of junk. You are welcome to check it out. If it fits you can take it for a test dive. Minimally you'll have more information going forward. I live in the north end, about ...
by fmerkel
Thu Oct 12, 2017 4:52 pm
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: looking for drysuit advice
Replies: 4
Views: 2368

Re: looking for drysuit advice

I have 3 suits I got from friends that quit diving to sell. All in fine shape, zippers good, seals in 2 are all brand new, all different sizes. So.....what size are you?
by fmerkel
Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:00 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: air consumption curiosity
Replies: 11
Views: 4510

Re: air consumption curiosity

I can't answer wetsuit > drysuit for sure, too many variables, but suffice to say if you are freezing in a wetsuit, and warm in a drysuit your air consumption will probably be way better in the drysuit. If you aren't comfortable, the dive can be miserable. But, you can freeze in a drysuit too. I've ...
by fmerkel
Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:38 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Staying warm on a budget
Replies: 11
Views: 4123

Re: Staying warm on a budget

Go for the Weezle, they are excellent. This is from someone that has been wearing the 4thElement Arctic for years.
by fmerkel
Tue Sep 05, 2017 2:24 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Deception Pass 8.30
Replies: 7
Views: 2286

Re: Deception Pass 8.30

Nice video. Interesting ending.
by fmerkel
Wed Aug 30, 2017 12:11 pm
Forum: Dive Site Listings
Topic: Diving Hawaii Big Island
Replies: 13
Views: 9108

Re: Diving Hawaii Big Island

There are not a whole lot of nudis in HI, at least not easy to find. If you don't mind paying for a boat trip Kona Dive Company is excellent with critter finding and ID. Kerry Key, owner, is particularly good with nudis.
by fmerkel
Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:11 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Alternative uses for drysuit undergarments
Replies: 2
Views: 1960

Re: Alternative uses for drysuit undergarments

I use my old fleece a lot in the winter. It's warm and easy to get in and out of. We keep the house fairly cool that time of year. But, can't say how I'd react to see a stranger wearing it.
by fmerkel
Tue Aug 01, 2017 9:41 am
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: O2 fills?
Replies: 4
Views: 1894

Re: O2 fills?

Didn't know that.
by fmerkel
Mon Jul 31, 2017 6:19 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: O2 fills?
Replies: 4
Views: 1894

Re: O2 fills?

Only UWS Aurora has hydro. All other hydros get sent to Fire King. Shops don't make much on a hydro so you aren't doing them much disservice if you take it there yourself. They make their profit on the VIP after (which is technically unnecessary as a VIP is done with the hydro at a decent shop, whic...
by fmerkel
Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:12 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Dive Vehicles
Replies: 16
Views: 4594

Re: Dive Vehicles

Scubaroo Outback or Forester.
by fmerkel
Sat Jul 15, 2017 1:09 pm
Forum: Underwater Imaging - Photography & Video
Topic: Best dive camera less than $500?
Replies: 10
Views: 3131

Re: Best dive camera less than $500?

Have a similar setup, Oly EPL1. You need a strobe to get the best out of it.
by fmerkel
Mon Jul 03, 2017 3:32 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Skyline, Critter ID
Replies: 4
Views: 1411

Re: Skyline, Critter ID

I received a response from Andy Lamb. The colorful 'flea' is [Thorlakson's short rostrum amphipod Thorlaksonius brevirostris -- which is not in the hard copy of our book. However, it has been added to our online product. The book is now 12 years old and in the interim, we have added over 100 species...
by fmerkel
Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:58 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Skyline, Critter ID
Replies: 4
Views: 1411

Re: Skyline, Critter ID

Hoping for an ID, I get an education. Fantastic! You are the best.
I assumed they were using the 'sponge' opportunistically, not making it.
by fmerkel
Mon Jul 03, 2017 7:26 am
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Viz Reports Thread
Replies: 3235
Views: 637007

Re: Viz Reports Thread

Skyline, probably a very foggy 10'. Worst I've seen in some time at a site that does not get good viz.
by fmerkel
Sun Jul 02, 2017 9:48 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Skyline, Critter ID
Replies: 4
Views: 1411

Skyline, Critter ID

Did a dive at Skyline today. Lousy viz but decent critter action. Found a shrimp like critter I've never seen, about 1/2 inch. Could not ID in the big [Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast] book by Greg Jensen. Also found a dark gray sponge (I think) about the size of a tennis ball, with small cra...
by fmerkel
Sat May 27, 2017 7:41 am
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Keystone at ebb tide
Replies: 3
Views: 1574

Re: Keystone at ebb tide

Hopefully you mean reading current tables. Tide tables are an indication of the current but you really want to read current tables most of the time. For some sites like Keystone and Cove 2 some of the data provided by the tide is also useful as YellowEye pointed out.
by fmerkel
Sat May 13, 2017 8:04 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Dry glove system on neoprene wrist seals?
Replies: 5
Views: 2502

Re: Dry glove system on neoprene wrist seals?

If the neo seal is 3mm or thinner and flexible you can use an OS system on it. The way the Kubi is 'normally' used is pretty similar to the OS, just a bit more elegant. You need to turn the sleeve inside out, position the cuff ring inside, apply a strong O-ring to the groove, then turn it back outsi...
by fmerkel
Thu May 11, 2017 12:08 pm
Forum: Underwater Imaging - Photography & Video
Topic: Olympus TG-4 initial impressions
Replies: 9
Views: 2952

Re: Olympus TG-4 initial impressions

Some molded housing can end up with a ridge/imperfection in the O-ring channel. Check it very carefully. If found remove with some superfine W&D sandpaper > 1000>2000. Old Canon housings were infamous for this. The current crop of Oly PEN housings are vastly superior to earlier models. Don't kno...
by fmerkel
Tue May 09, 2017 8:18 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: BCD storage, no air, some air? full?
Replies: 3
Views: 1836

Re: BCD storage, no air, some air? full?

Same inflator I've gone to. Easy to overhaul with the special tool. I always carry a spare in my kit.
by fmerkel
Mon May 08, 2017 2:51 pm
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: BCD storage, no air, some air? full?
Replies: 3
Views: 1836

Re: BCD storage, no air, some air? full?

Good rinsing is probably more critical than state of inflation. FWIW my wife has a Zeagle, used extensively for NW diving for ~5 years. Then retired to tropical use for the next 10 years so it gets used well for 1-2 weeks every year or 2. Inside is always fresh water rinsed. At the end of use is it ...