Warm Water
- kitsapdiver
- Submariner
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:28 pm
Warm Water
So when I learned to dive in Ohio I had an apollo "drysuit" (a misleading term) that I bought for 200 bucks. Eventually bought a real drysuit, and in all my diving have only dove wet when diving on vacation in warm water destinations. For those trips I have always taken fins a little big lighter than my JET fins. For my next warm water trip I'm heading to the Bahamas, but afterwards I'm heading to OHIO, and will be taking my drysuit for the diving there. So my curiousity is ... is there still value in taking lighter fins for the warm water? Does anyone dive with Jet fins in wetsuits (they seem like they would be heavy). I'm going to buy a pair of neoprene pocket shorts I think because i'm going to miss my drysuit hip pokcets too much.
What other suggestions do folks have for diving warm water, when I'm so used to this more crisp, and refreshing PNW water?
What other suggestions do folks have for diving warm water, when I'm so used to this more crisp, and refreshing PNW water?
THE Ohio State University
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Re: Warm Water
I wear my Slipstreams in the tropics--no problems (other than looking funny wearing drysuit boots and neoprene socks.)
Kelly
Re: Warm Water
i used my jets several times in warm water, and the weight of them never bothered me.
Re: Warm Water
Ditto for me-I have 2 different sizes of Turtle fins, one for my wetsuit boots, the other for my drysuit boots.
I'm going to look like a moose on rollerskates. -airsix
... my Mom caught me fenestrating once. -lavachickie
And I get so tired of fainting and peeing all over myself when the hammer falls on an empty chamber! -Nailer
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... my Mom caught me fenestrating once. -lavachickie
And I get so tired of fainting and peeing all over myself when the hammer falls on an empty chamber! -Nailer
Want to know where I'm performing? Check out my Facebook fan page!
Re: Warm Water
I dont know if anyone else has this problem or not but diving warm water I was leg heavy. No matter where I placed my tank my body wanted to be in the standing position. I was wearing light, warm water fins, but still had the problem. To wear my Hogs/Turtles in warm water would be certainly uncomfy in terms of trim.
Next time I'm going to buy one of those new headband weights to see if that trims me out. I hear they have flames on them!!!
Next time I'm going to buy one of those new headband weights to see if that trims me out. I hear they have flames on them!!!
**Pinch it, don't stick your finger through. You're just pinching a bigger hole.
CAPTNJACK - 2012**
CAPTNJACK - 2012**
Re: Warm Water
I've done a fair bit of diving in a 3 or 5 mil wetsuit and Al80 and Jet fins. I put the weight I require on the cambands, and find the fins counter the tendency of the tanks to go butt-light as they empty.
But why not just dive dry in the warm water? It's utterly delightful.
But why not just dive dry in the warm water? It's utterly delightful.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
- ArcticDiver
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 7:15 pm
Re: Warm Water
Turtles for cold water and smaller foot pocket Hollis and cam band weight for warm. But, next trip I'm digging out my old Blades. Why? Lighter luggase and simplicity. Why dink with something you don't have to? Lighter fins mean no cam band weight and one less piece of kit.
Yes, I've got too many fins. I was going through my garage the other day. I've got too much of just about everything. Sale Time!
Yes, I've got too many fins. I was going through my garage the other day. I've got too much of just about everything. Sale Time!
The only box you have to think outside of is the one you build around yourself.
Re: Warm Water
Ahh so JUST cam band weights??? I had some in my cam bands, but was also sporting a weight belt...makes sense
**Pinch it, don't stick your finger through. You're just pinching a bigger hole.
CAPTNJACK - 2012**
CAPTNJACK - 2012**
Re: Warm Water
In a pinch you can just take a spare weight belt with a few extra pounds on it and thread it between your tank straps for an improvised cam band weight. That worked nicely on my last trip to Bonaire, a few pounds on each side of the tank was enough to get my trim sorted. You can put it up on the neck of the tank and crank the belt really tight, but it tends to want to shift and roll.
Regarding your normal fins. I would think the weight difference will be negligible and mitigated if you are going to be using weight up top. Not having to lug two sets of fins in your travel bags is a nice bonus, especially with how they gouge you on bag weight and prices. Another nice benefit of Northwest fins is you have plenty of room for soled neoprene booties, which are handy to have for any shore diving you do. On the neoprene bootie front, one tip I picked up on the last trip. Get a pair of thin lycra socks and wear them under your boots. They will do wonders in protecting your feet from wear and friction, especially if you are doing a lot of dives.
Have fun in the Bahamas
Regarding your normal fins. I would think the weight difference will be negligible and mitigated if you are going to be using weight up top. Not having to lug two sets of fins in your travel bags is a nice bonus, especially with how they gouge you on bag weight and prices. Another nice benefit of Northwest fins is you have plenty of room for soled neoprene booties, which are handy to have for any shore diving you do. On the neoprene bootie front, one tip I picked up on the last trip. Get a pair of thin lycra socks and wear them under your boots. They will do wonders in protecting your feet from wear and friction, especially if you are doing a lot of dives.
Have fun in the Bahamas
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- ArcticDiver
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 7:15 pm
Re: Warm Water
Norris wrote:Ahh so JUST cam band weights??? I had some in my cam bands, but was also sporting a weight belt...makes sense
Not necessarily. Depends on balance. For me the cam band weight is primarily a trim weight although on occasion it is the only weight. It gets counted in the total but its' location is for trim and balance. Total weight depends on which kit I'm using.
The only box you have to think outside of is the one you build around yourself.
- kitsapdiver
- Submariner
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:28 pm
Re: Warm Water
So Aluminum backplate or steel? I have a 3mm wetsuit, and bought X-shorts for the trip. About 9 months ago I switched to an aluninum backplate for diving my doubles so that I could add a tail weight, and weight belt to help distribute weight so that I could trim out with out being head heavy. It seems I'm going to have more control of an AL80 than I do double LP faber 95's. In terms of travel I don't think weight will be a concern, so based strickly on diving I'm debating between steel and aluminum.
THE Ohio State University
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Re: Warm Water
Personally I need a steel plate to trim out with an al80. I use an al plate with steel cylinders.
"The place looked like a washing machine full of Josh's carharts. I was not into it." --Sockmonkey
- Sockmonkey
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 1467
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:43 am
Re: Warm Water
I'm not sure what water temperature has to do with fin selection. I wear my jets every time I dive in our 77-80 degree water.
Aloha hard bitches,
-Eric
Aloha hard bitches,
-Eric
- ArcticDiver
- I've Got Gills
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 7:15 pm
Re: Warm Water
Sockmonkey wrote:I'm not sure what water temperature has to do with fin selection. I wear my jets every time I dive in our 77-80 degree water.
Aloha hard bitches,
-Eric
Different footgear so different sized fins. Now that I'm in the warm water AL80 cycle my F1s and Turtles are too heavy so they need a trip weight on the cam band. Also, I'm trying to reduce luggage weight as I posted earlier. Next time I go to where I'm back in steel cylinders it will be back to the black fins.
BUT, trim is very much a personal thing and is very muich a different strokes for different folks thing.
The only box you have to think outside of is the one you build around yourself.
Re: Warm Water
I will be going to Hawaii (the big island) at the end of june. I am planning on taking most of my own gear. I probably will only dive 1-2 days, but was also considering taking my Bare SB drysuit as it is pretty light in weight. I have only dived tropical waters once just after my open water cert about 4 years ago. I remember I used about 12lbs of lead but that was rental gear. I am thinking about buying a wetsuit well cause I have issues about who peed in it last.
Jeff Castor
Re: Warm Water
No problem using jets with a wetsuit, I just use 7mm booties which are more comfortable anyway.
I would not take a steel plate on a plate if possible. jets + steel plate really add up.
I would not take a steel plate on a plate if possible. jets + steel plate really add up.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
- kitsapdiver
- Submariner
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:28 pm
Re: Warm Water
When you say add up do you mean in terms of weight for the airplane or do you mean as in it will make you overweighted? I planned on putting the plate in my carry on so it wouldnt' matter how much it weighs, and I'm taking a 3m full wetsuit and X-shorts so that will add some boyancy. Does that change your opinion Richard? I'm leave Thursday and I still have not decided what I'm going to do so I'm still open to suggestionsCaptnJack wrote:No problem using jets with a wetsuit, I just use 7mm booties which are more comfortable anyway.
I would not take a steel plate on a plate if possible. jets + steel plate really add up.
THE Ohio State University
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Re: Warm Water
I pack my plate and fins in checked and it really adds up fast. I have never brought a steel plate to the tropics. I am not so much worried about being overweighted its just a pain to haul around more mass (from car to baggage to car blah blah) than you need when lead is always available and free. Put 5lbs on the cam bands if you need to.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
- lavachickie
- Dive-aholic
- Posts: 238
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:24 pm
Re: Warm Water
I've yet to enter the realm of owning ten sets of fins, but I feel it coming. I'm still running the TUSA X-Part Zoom's I bought for Open Water. A year and a half and almost 100 dives later and I'm no longer loving them. (Tried a friend's Hollis F1 and kinda liked them; going to try the Scubapro Jets and probably end up with those.) But I've always dove warm water with something like a 1 mil Akona full length, and used a soled bootie with my fins. (The soled booties are a backup to my rock boots.) If you're wearing a full length it won't look odd. Wearing a shortly it's going to look like wearing black socks with sandals.
I'm getting a pair of slip on warm water fins before my next trip though. But if I were headed out with warm and cold water in the trip ahead, I'd just take the cold water setup.
I'm getting a pair of slip on warm water fins before my next trip though. But if I were headed out with warm and cold water in the trip ahead, I'd just take the cold water setup.
Hey Oregon Divers: check out Oregon Scuba Club! http://oregonscuba.com
Looking forward to Roatan June 2016.
Looking forward to Roatan June 2016.
- kitsapdiver
- Submariner
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:28 pm
Re: Warm Water
As it seems to work with all the best laid plans I headed to the airport tonight to catch a flight to Nassau, and eventually a blackbeard cruise, but on the way my family notified me that my grandma was only given a couple of days to live, and that everyone should start heading home. So I had American Airlines change my final destination to Dayton Ohio, and will miss my warm water diving. No need for jet Fins, or X-shorts now.
THE Ohio State University
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Go Buckeyes Beat Michigan
Re: Warm Water
Having just returned from the "Warm Water Divers Mecca" in Colorado (yes...more certified divers there per capita than anywhere outside of Florida) I learned a lot.
Warm water fins. If you can find warm water fins with an open heel (still lightweight but fully adjustable) then you have the option of wearing a sock or not...with the same set of fins.
Lightweight travel gear: If you're going to try to haul your 12 lb fin set, your 14 lb BCD and your 8 lbs of regulator...well...that coupled with your 17 lb bag...and you've now over weighted your first set of baggage...and that's without any exposure protection, lights, knives, etc. etc. Serious travelers look at every ounce of gear so they can maximize their experience without draining their wallet at check in.
Look for "Travel BCD's" Aqualung, ScubaPro, Cressi and Oceanic (among others) all make dedicated travel bcd's with different features/benies on each. They come in both jacket and rear inflate styles with full or partial weight integration, depending on the BCD. Definitely something to shop to compare fit and function of each model.
Travel luggage...if your bag weighs less than 7 lbs before you load it...you can pack more in it before you hit 50#. (Common sense...)
Warm water fins. If you can find warm water fins with an open heel (still lightweight but fully adjustable) then you have the option of wearing a sock or not...with the same set of fins.
Lightweight travel gear: If you're going to try to haul your 12 lb fin set, your 14 lb BCD and your 8 lbs of regulator...well...that coupled with your 17 lb bag...and you've now over weighted your first set of baggage...and that's without any exposure protection, lights, knives, etc. etc. Serious travelers look at every ounce of gear so they can maximize their experience without draining their wallet at check in.
Look for "Travel BCD's" Aqualung, ScubaPro, Cressi and Oceanic (among others) all make dedicated travel bcd's with different features/benies on each. They come in both jacket and rear inflate styles with full or partial weight integration, depending on the BCD. Definitely something to shop to compare fit and function of each model.
Travel luggage...if your bag weighs less than 7 lbs before you load it...you can pack more in it before you hit 50#. (Common sense...)
********************
Cindy
http://www.scubashoppe.com -
Retail, Training, Travel and a Full Service Center: 130 Main Street, Auburn.
Cindy
http://www.scubashoppe.com -
Retail, Training, Travel and a Full Service Center: 130 Main Street, Auburn.
- lavachickie
- Dive-aholic
- Posts: 238
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:24 pm
Re: Warm Water
I have developed a new philosophy when traveling:
Pack carefully, taking only what you really need. Then pay whatever it is the airlines are charging for baggage. It's not worth the worry.
Pack carefully, taking only what you really need. Then pay whatever it is the airlines are charging for baggage. It's not worth the worry.
Hey Oregon Divers: check out Oregon Scuba Club! http://oregonscuba.com
Looking forward to Roatan June 2016.
Looking forward to Roatan June 2016.