Search found 1023 matches

by fmerkel
Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:54 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Dusty
Replies: 33
Views: 11712

Re: Dusty

I trust all will go well and the recovery is solid. Once you've gone through that trial, you can start to decide if diving is a goal you care to pursue.
by fmerkel
Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:09 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Equalizing *After* Diving
Replies: 5
Views: 2663

Re: Equalizing *After* Diving

Your Eustachian tubes and ears get a workout on a dive. The number and intensity of equalization you go through are way beyond 'design parameters'. You could be reacting to some micro-trauma from adequate but not exceptional equalization. Everyone's ears are different. I need to go slowly, pay a lot...
by fmerkel
Sun Jun 03, 2018 1:13 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Sund Rock changes
Replies: 38
Views: 11076

Re: Sund Rock changes

This is parking by the side of the road, and it's pretty limited. If this option is used much, it will probably cause that area to be [No Parking] zone. You have to hump gear down a somewhat steep path to a rocky peninsula. It's a fairly long swim out to the rock. It's not nearly as easy or user fri...
by fmerkel
Thu May 10, 2018 5:28 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: what is this?
Replies: 3
Views: 3003

Re: what is this?

cloisonne shrimp.
by fmerkel
Thu May 10, 2018 1:25 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5411
Views: 936496

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

These are the fast swimming 'centipedes' you sometimes see in your lights on a night dive, and sometimes a lot.
by fmerkel
Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:17 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Swimmer's ear remedy
Replies: 18
Views: 5196

Re: Swimmer's ear remedy

I can see the value for swimmer's ear. The Amazon reviews have a bunch of 5* for improving clearing. I see no way at all it could improve clearing. It's not supported by simple physics. Which makes me distrust those reviews. I have on occasion carefully applied a bit of olive oil or similar during a...
by fmerkel
Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:52 am
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Swimmer's ear remedy
Replies: 18
Views: 5196

Re: Swimmer's ear remedy

I just picked up a new pair of Doc's ProPlugs for my Bonaire trip. They have been helpful when doing 50 dives in 2 weeks to keep water out of the ear canal somewhat, which seems to lessen the beating my ears take in the process. Combine that with a bit of ear beer or alcohol and it's really helpful...
by fmerkel
Sun Apr 29, 2018 6:28 pm
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Attached Drysuit Boots Cause Floaty Feet?
Replies: 23
Views: 8604

Re: Attached Drysuit Boots Cause Floaty Feet?

Positive fins? He already has floaty feet. One of the reasons seriously negative fins are used around here is for this problem. Attached boots inherently "can" have more float than 'rock boots'. But they are warmer (warm air can migrate into the boot) and less hassle. It's a choice. Person...
by fmerkel
Sun Apr 29, 2018 6:22 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Swimmer's ear remedy
Replies: 18
Views: 5196

Re: Swimmer's ear remedy

"Ear Beer" - weird name, good preventative.
by fmerkel
Sun Apr 29, 2018 6:55 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Cost for regulator service
Replies: 8
Views: 4651

Re: Cost for regulator service

Nothing. For that level of use you should have just kept using them. Most regs will go 100+ dives and/or 2+ years of regular use without servicing. Get an IP gauge to check your first stage pressure stability. If the IP is good, the reg is acting fine and you are only diving 10x/year you can probabl...
by fmerkel
Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:40 am
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Scuba Show this weekend?
Replies: 11
Views: 4110

Re: Scuba Show this weekend?

The Marker Buoys and most of the other clubs had booths there for years. Rick was good enough to trade member-power help for booth space, a win-win I think since the clubs are non-profit and work with small budgets. But, in years of being there we never picked up a single new member until the last y...
by fmerkel
Tue Apr 10, 2018 3:01 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5411
Views: 936496

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Nice set of pix Jan. Always glad to see you. Rhoda spotted the weight pouch the woman from Sunday lost. It was sitting right on the rock nose some people enter from. I went out and got it, didn't even need scuba. Called her on the way home. She's an Aquarium volunteer and was on duty. She stopped by...
by fmerkel
Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:22 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Help - Water gettin in Hollis wing
Replies: 7
Views: 3656

Re: Help - Water gettin in Hollis wing

Might you need another pound or two of lead? I get water in my BCD when I dive so light that I am struggling to get the last of the air out. True. Every time you push the exhaust button, you create a 'leak', air goes out (mostly) some water may go in. If you are really pumping the exhausts to dump ...
by fmerkel
Mon Apr 09, 2018 7:01 pm
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Help - Water gettin in Hollis wing
Replies: 7
Views: 3656

Re: Help - Water gettin in Hollis wing

You press the button to let air out, some water goes in. Completely normal. Rinse it out, don't worry about it.
by fmerkel
Mon Apr 09, 2018 6:36 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5411
Views: 936496

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Confusing indeed. Flood > slack > ebb > flood again > ebb again. Most of us spent 15" swimming 'home' against the flood before it really changed.
by fmerkel
Sat Apr 07, 2018 6:33 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5411
Views: 936496

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

That was a worthy bit of education.
by fmerkel
Sat Mar 24, 2018 6:29 pm
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5411
Views: 936496

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Known problem with the D2. Doesn't happen to them all, but does happen. The company should be good for it but you'll be out your strobes for awhile.
by fmerkel
Mon Mar 05, 2018 5:21 pm
Forum: General SCUBA Discussion
Topic: Redondo: where did all marine life go?
Replies: 12
Views: 3821

Re: Redondo: where did all marine life go?

Seasonality is an issue. Takes some attention and a lot of diving to wrap your perspective around that. I think Grateful Dive has a viable view as he's been diving a long time and knows Redondo quite well. Tom Nic's perspective on 'winter' is also part of the equation. IMO another factor has been th...
by fmerkel
Fri Feb 23, 2018 10:32 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Lost Fin Redondo
Replies: 2
Views: 1774

Re: Lost Fin Redondo

Check with the MAST center, maybe TLSEA.
by fmerkel
Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:18 pm
Forum: Dive Planning
Topic: 3TN Shower
Replies: 12
Views: 3445

Re: 3TN Shower

Shouldn't it just be standard tap water for the area?
by fmerkel
Sat Jan 20, 2018 8:35 am
Forum: Critter Watchers - PNW Marine Life
Topic: Whidbey Island Critters
Replies: 5411
Views: 936496

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Any idea of the growth rate of those sponges?
Thank you for pointing out this change.
by fmerkel
Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:24 pm
Forum: Dive Recaps & Trip Reports
Topic: Keystone & Skyline 1/14/17
Replies: 5
Views: 2132

Re: Keystone & Skyline 1/14/17

Proceed down slope past 50'. Start looking for Crimson An. Generally they don't grow shallower than that, though there are a few. Look closely at the base of all of them. That's where they are.
by fmerkel
Mon Jan 08, 2018 7:54 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Atomic Cobalt computer issues
Replies: 17
Views: 5042

Re: Atomic Cobalt computer issues

If you push your diving much, and that's not to the point of imminent DCS danger, you may find the Suunto conservative algorithm very very annoying. My wife has a Suunto, and she's had to bench it a few times during trips. It will decide she's had enough and lock her out, when the whole rest of the ...
by fmerkel
Sun Jan 07, 2018 9:07 am
Forum: Gear Central (Recreational)
Topic: Atomic Cobalt computer issues
Replies: 17
Views: 5042

Re: Atomic Cobalt computer issues

Never had one but looking over your list of problems and outright failures I'd run away. Probably a Shearwater would serve you well.
by fmerkel
Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:42 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Three Tree NO NO's
Replies: 5
Views: 2208

Re: Three Tree NO NO's

The area near the hedge is off limits because the people living there persistently called in with their grievance. There definitely is at least one person, maybe more, that is willing to do whatever necessary to minimize public access and impact.