Scuba Gear – Scuba Equipment

What is a better deal? *scuba gear*?

Im not an experienced diver yet so I am unsure of which work better. I can get pro blade fins with an avanti mask and a stream snorkel for $250 or viper fins, Ion3 mask and ultra dry snorkel for $300

$300.00 for viper fins, ion3 mask and ultra dry snorkel? That is a bit steep considering that according to the Oceanic website the manufacturer suggested retail price for those three items totals $219.85.
http://www.oceanicww.com
It is important that the mask does fit properly. The Ion3 mask is a bit narrower with regard to the mask skirt and I would say that it leans a bit more toward narrow yo average size faces. The three windows do allow for a bit more peripheral vision and light penetration. The single front lens does offer a decent field of vision as well. The ultra dry snorkel is one of the best dry snorkels that I have used (yes I use a snorkel every time I dive). I had to loan it to a divemaster in Belize when he had to chase down our dive boat when it broke away from it’s mooring line (The crew member back on the boat couldn’t get it started). He had a long swim to get to the boat and as I looked around the group, I was the only one with a snorkel.
The vyper fins are great for beginners all the way to the seasoned professionals but they are open heel (strap fins) which require that a wetsuit boot be used in conjunction with them. I work at http://www.visibilityunlimited.com and http://www.snorkelingonline.com (a snorkeling specific webstore) which are manufacturer authorized retailers of Oceanic products.
http://www.buyoceanic.com/locator/results.aspx?zip=60467
I can only speak from the Oceanic equipment point of view as our store does not carry the other items you mentioned. Please realize that no manufacturer out there can afford to make bad equipment and comfort and fit are the primary concerns with regard to any scuba or snorkeling equipment. If you do buy online always check the manufacturer websites to ensure that they are authorized to sell that company’s equipment. Also glance at the return policy on the particular website you are looking at. Ours, for example is here http://www.visibilityunlimited.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=returns&Store_Code=scuba
Our snorkeling website http://www.snorkelingonline.com (a division of visibility unlimited) may be worth a look see to compare prices.
http://www.snorkelingonline.com/snorkel/Mask-Fins-Snorkeling-Packages/Ion-Viper-Ultra-Dry-Sunset.html

Scuba Diving – When ascending, are you able to inhale, or only exhale???

A friend told me today that when ascending from a dive, you cannot inhale from your regulator, because of lung over-expansion. He said that you can only exhale by blowing slow bubbles until you reach the surface. Is this all true??????????????

The main rule is never hold your breath while ascending and never ascend too quickly. You should always ascend slowly while breathing normally, you can breath in and out, as you still require oxygen in order to maintain your conciousness. You can however blow longer breaths to purge the excess volume. What you shouldn’t do is hold your breath on ascent as this will cause problems.
I was told these rules, which are easily available online:

1.Never try a dive you’re not comfortable with. During descent, you should gently equalize your ears and mask. At depth, never dive outside the parameters of the dive tables or your dive computer (information that helps you avoid decompression sickness).
2.Never hold your breath while ascending. You should always ascend slowly while breathing normally.
3.Become familiar with the underwater area and its dangers. Learn which fish, coral and other hazards to avoid so injuries do not occur. Be aware of local tides and currents.
4.Never panic under water. If you become confused or afraid during a dive, stop, try to relax and think the problem through. You can also get help from your dive buddy or dive master.
5.Never dive without a buddy.
6.Always plan your dive; then always dive your plan.
7.Be sure that your diving equipment can handle the dive you have planned and that the equipment is working well.
8.Don’t drink alcohol before diving.
9.Never dive while taking medicine unless your doctor tells you it’s safe.
10.Diving can be dangerous if you have certain medical problems. Ask your doctor how diving may affect your health.
11.Cave diving is dangerous and should only be attempted by divers with proper training and equipment.
12.If you don’t feel good or if you are in pain after diving, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
13.Don’t fly for 12 hours after a no-decompression dive, even in a pressurized airplane. If your dive required decompression stops, don’t fly for at least 24 hours.

Neosport Sport Skin

Neosport Sport Skin The NeoSport Sport Skin is a full body watersport garmet that is comfortable, and provides a non-confining stretch fit. It is perfect worn alone or as a base layer under any wetsuit. It makes putting on a wetsuit much easier. Foot stirrups keep legs in place. Manufactured by SCUBA wetsuit legends, Henderson USA, you can be sure that this suit will perform for years to come.

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I scuba dive, but where can i find people to dive with?

Im a REALLY big fan of scuba diving, i started about 6 months ago and i already have :
Fins
goggles
weights (lol but no BC)
snorkel
flashlight (a pretty good one)
and a g250v Scubapro reg with an SPG as well

Pretty much all im missing is a BC, and ofcourse the tank of air. I hope to get my advanced open water diving soon, and im already nitrox certified. Im 17 years old, and scubadiving will be a biggg part of my future. I dive with one of my instructors actually, we became friends, and the first out-of-class dive we went on he told me i looked like i had been on atleast 300 dives (im sure he was being nice, but other instructors always comment on it as well). Anyways, i dont want to always have to dive with him, and i was wondering where i can find others to go with. Thanks for feedback

Others have listed good sources.

Try meetup.com as well. You can find local groups into scuba.

ways to clean a rented scuba regulator?

I recently rented some Scuba Gear for a dive and the regulator mouth piece.. i wanted to make sure its not dirty and gross. Plus i want to make sure that i got all the previous spit from that last user off. How would i clean the mouth piece of the regulator so its truly clean and it wont damage or change anything and the rental place wont know . please help

You can take germophobia too far you know. Every dive centre I’ve worked for made sure that all the gear was washed thoroughly after it was returned. A good slosh in the rinse tank, followed by hanging it up to drip dry, is more than sufficient to clean the spit out.

However, if you want to make absolutely sure, a general rule would be, don’t wash the mouthpieces in anything you wouldn’t put in your mouth. I would suggest you soak the second stages in a weak solution of antibacterial mouthwash (e.g. listerine) overnight. If you do that, and then rinse the mouthpieces out with fresh water, you can be reasonably sure that it’s clean enough to use.

Although I should point out, as soon as you jump in the sea with it, you’ll be exposing yourself to far higher levels of bacteria than what might have been on the mouthpiece in the first place…

Can you use mystic wetsuits for diving?

Got it for xmas… and Im not a kite border. But i do scuba dive. Wondering if im going to have any problems with it in the water like warmth or the fit of it… Btw i got the Venom 5/3

It will be fine for warm water diving but that’s all really.

Using standard gear, a scuba diver can go to a depth of 130ft.What is the water pressure on him at that depth?

Water weighs 62.4 Lb/ft^3
at 130 ft the column of water above him weighs:
130*62.4=8112 lb
That is aso the presure acting per square foot. The pressure per square inch is:
(8112 lb/ft^2)/(144 in^2/ft^2) = 56.33 psi.

Louis Vuitton Scuba MM Black M92802

Constructed from Monogram embossed neoprene the LV Scuba MM Black is from the 2009 Cruise collection from Marc Jacobs. This oversized tote is creatively fashioned from a synthetic rubber most commonly used for wetsuits and even car fan belts. With an abundance of space for storage and sharp detailing this innovative handbag is perfect for using on a daily basis but would also make an ideal overnight bag.

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what do beginner scuba divers need to buy exactly?

im thinking of taking up scuba diving if i like it, but there are different wetsuits, fins etc, how would i know which to buy? is there a way of getting them cheaper also? thks

The absolute bare minimum you’ll need is mask, fins and snorkel. You’ll need all that day one of your course. You’ll also need to make sure they fit. Only one way to do that and that’s not by buying online. You need to go into a dive shop.
Cheaper? Then forget scuba. It’s not for people that skimp on their gear since that gear is what keeps them alive. Even simple things like mask, snorkel and fins that don’t properly fit or are cheaply made can get you into some serious difficulty.
If you bought an entire package from a dive shop, they’ll probably give you a discount ( normally whatever the sales taxes are).

Is it possible to go scuba diving once on Catalina Island if you have no past experience?

I would like to go scuba diving on Catalina island for my birthday next month. I don’t have any experience and I am staying there for four days. I would like to just learn how to scuba dive and go on a diving trip that lasts just for a few hours or so. Is there a place that teaches you, gives you a scuba diving trip, provides you equipment, and is affordable in one place? Or should I just forget it?

You can take a "resort course". This course will expose you safely to one dive.

In California, PADI (www.padi.org) gives a list of SCUBA certification places. PADI is located in So Cal.