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#askmark why don’t scuba divers wear free diving fins? there faster. what would be the drawback
We do sometimes but, they’re quite cumbersome and while they’re great at straight line efficiency, normal fins are easier to pack and swim in a greater range of environments
@Scuba Diver Magazine my other question is there’s a dust cap that goes on the bc where the low pressure inflator is attached. i forget to put the dust cap on most times. is it as important as the dust cap on the reg.
Hi #ASKMARK, many years ago (1980s) I had a SeaHornet Reg Set – the first stage was a balanced piston with a full swivel turret, but even better was the second stage which had a neat feature where you turned the air purge plate 45 degrees it would lock down and hold the LP port open. This would then take tension off the LP seat and extend it’s life – so do you know of an after market pressure plate which would clip over the second stage and apply pressure on the purge to lft the LP valve out it it’s seat. Secondly is there any difference in the internal mechanics of Aqualung Helix Second stage and the Occy internals ? Finally what weight distribution do you recommend between the Cam Band trim pockets and intergrated weights on a Aquawing Pro (Cressi) – 70/30 or 50/50?
I’ve used spacers to hold the purge button down on a 2nd stage before. A section of bungee or electrical tape that holds something solid pressing the purge button in has a similar effect. There are a handful of regulator designs that have a feature like this built in today. Most Atomic 2nd stages have an automatic one, and some Scubapro have a similar sounding function to the SeaHornet where you can press the purge button and turn it to lock it in a ‘storage mode’.
But I haven’t seen any ‘official’ kits out there.
As far as the Helix, as with most 2nd stage designs the ‘primary’ version is the same as the alternate on the inside. But alternates are often set up a bit stiffer from the factory. Most divers won’t notice but it will increase your WOB.
Weight distribution depends on the diver and their trim. I like to have the majority of my lead in a ditchable position. But as long as you can attain positive buoyancy by dropping some of your lead easily you should be ok.
Scubapro has a compass, the FS-2, which apparently works in both hemispheres.
A good reason to have your transmitter on a short HP hose is that nobody will try to lift your BCD and cylinder with it. The transmitters are also usually quite wide, so they can block other ports on your regulator if they sit directly on it.
Thanks for your thoughts about the Helix regulator. I have been a fan of the Core for several years. Very happy to learn that the Helix is the next gen of Core. (Odd that they changed the name)
#askmark
Hello Mark
I do a lot of short diving what is you recommendation for storing my vehicle key while I’m in the water. I’ve seen a lot of people hide the key o the vehicle, I’m not real comfortable with that. Thank you for an ideas you have.
Great question!
Most of the time I just bring the metal-key part of my car keys secure in one of my pockets. I leave the electronic part hidden inside the car and bring the metal part with me so I can lock and unlock the doors.
If you have a proximity key and a drysuit, some divers pop it in a ziplock bag in their undersuit. That way even if their drysuit floods your key should be safe.
For wetsuits you can pop it in a waterproof case and attach it to a secure SMB that you return to at the end of the dive. Or some of the waterproof key cases are pretty good today, secure it in a pocket and bring it with you on the dive
#ASKMARK. What are some compass options when diving BPW. Don’t like it on my wrist or on one of those retractors. Just looking for ideas .
Appreciate you and your content !
You can get a simple retractor boot but without the retractor. That way you have a nice look to clip it to a boltsnap in a pocket and pull it out when you need it. Something like this: https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/computers/compasses/fs-15-dive-compass-wo-retractor
Otherwise, most computers have digital compasses which are pretty good now.
Aqualung’s Core Supreme is for cold water & just the ‘Aqualung Core’ is not for cold water. The Helios is about the same the silver one is for cold water , the blue is = to the Core. They do have a compact travel choice of the Helios as well . Thanks for the videos Marc.
As mentioned in the video, most computers have a way calibrate themselves with your assistance when you are at the location. In some cases your might have to know for sure which direction is magnetic north. For example my Oceanic.
What about a compass in a dive computer?
They’re pretty good today, you just need to recalibrate them whenever you’re somewhere new. And a lot of them you can adjust the declination in the settiings.
The issue with conventional compasses is that the Earth’s magnetic field is horizontal only at the equator. As you go North or South the needle wants to tilt down; if you take one to one of the poles the field is vertical so the needle tries to point straight down. Hence the needle includes a tiny weight at one end so that in the area where it will be used it will stay horizontal enough not to start sticking. Electronic compasses in dive computers use magnetic sensors that aren’t affected. But all mag compasses lose accuracy with increasing latitude as the horizontal field weakens🙂
@Tim Gosling Thanks very much. Clear and helpful. 👍