Scuba Gear – Scuba Equipment

What size wetsuit do you know need for scuba diving?

I live by the great lakes and i want to know how thick of a wetsuit do i need to scuba dive? i am taking a scuba class at the end of august and need a wetsuit before then? i was told 7mm by a couple of people and me and my buddy are diving 50 to 70 feet down.

It all depends on how cold the water is. I dive in the Puget Sound and the water ranges from 40 to 55. During the summer some people can get away with wearing a single 7mm suit. but during the winter most people use a full 7mm suit and a 7mm shorty on top of that. When I started my diving it was in the month of March. I froze my *** off in the 14mm stuff. Right after my Open Water certification I got my dry suit cert. If you are going through a class they should have rental equipment so you don’t have to buy a whole kit just to learn. If they don’t or if they say you have to buy it all then go to a different shop. For most Open Water classes all you have to buy are mask, fins and snorkel. Everything else is rented from the shop. They will have the proper suits for you to wear.

Good luck with your diving.

Florida Fishing-the Treasure Coast

The treasure Coast is on the the east coast of Florida.Roughly south to Stuart and North to Vero Beach. The intercoastal waterway,Wich includes all of the Indian River Lagoon,runs north from Stuart Florida,approximately 150 miles.Hutchison Island is the barrier island that separates The ocean from the intercoastal waterway. The Fort Pierce Inlet divides the Island into north and south.

Some of the best fishing sites in Florida are on the treasure coast. The reason is that there are so many types of Fishing you can enjoy here. Because of the barrier islands,it”s unique ecosystem makes the Indian River Lagoon the most ecological diverse waterway in all of North America. No where else can you find more spcies of fish,crustations,mammals,and plant life than on Floridas Treasure Coast.

Enjoy the following types of fishing at any given time.

1.Offshore-Stuart is the Sailfish capitol of the world.If you like big game fish this is the place. also dolphin,king fish,wahoo,and barracuda,the list goes on and on for great offshore sport fishing.

2.Inshore fishing-The Indian River Lagoon-Known for it”s wide variety of fish. You will want to target just one or two,depending on the time of day and season.I can”t list them all but here”s a few. Snook,mangrove snapper,jacks,sea trout,sea bass,flounder,pompano,sheepshead,redfish,that should be enough to make you hungry!

3.Bottom Fishing-party boats offer a great value for reef fishing.The six and 8 mile reefs off the treasure coast are the most visited.grouper,snapper,sea bass and a variety of others make for a great meal from these bottom feeders.

4. Surf Fishing-Miles of uncrowded beaches make for fishermans paradise.Fish the first drop off only a few feet from the beach to catch whiting and the like or,go large and rig up for some shark fishing or,anything in between. Anything goes at the beaches.

5.Fresh Water Fishing-Fresh water is everywhere on the treasure coast. Pull of the side of the road and fish a small canal our lake or pond.large and smallmouth bass are exceptional here.Drive 30 miles west to lake okeechobee and you will find some of the best freshwater fishing in the country.

6.Spear Fishing-want even more excitement? Then gear up for a spear fishing charter from one of the three inlets along the treasure coast.(St. Lucie,Fort Pierce,and Sebastion)You must be certified to scuba dive of course.

This list doesn”t even come close to all the choices for florida fishing on the Treasure coast.This area is still a great place to plan a fishing trip.Why do I recommend The treasure coast? Well, maybe it”s because sometines You are the only one on the beach fishing,or the only voice you can hear is your own.Might be the great Surises over the water. Or it could be that I live here and want to share this wonderful place. Fishing in Florida has never been better.

Rick Noble
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/florida-fishingthe-treasure-coast-727232.html

Great Activities to do on Tropical Islands

Tropical islands provide a wide range of activities for vacationers. Depending on what you’re interested in, there is an island in the world for you. The number of activities available for vacationers depends on the size of the island and its location in the world.

Most islands offer the standards: snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and kayaking. Larger islands such as Bali, Hawaii, and Reunion offer many more activities such as hiking, jungle trekking, wild life safaris, and surfing. In fact, surfing is a widespread activity on many of the largest and most popular destinations in the world. Surfing is a very physical sport where beach goers learn to ride the waves and stand up on a board. It’s very hard but a great work out and lessons can be done very cheaply. For those who want something less challenging, you can always go body boarding. Body boarding is when you get a small board and lay on it, letting the wave take you in. It is very fun.

Jungle trekking allows people a chance to see the local flora and fauna and get out of the sun for a day. However, it is only the larger islands, most notably the ones in the pacific region, that offer this activity as many other islands in the world tend to be small and don’t offer the extensive amount of jungles and wildlife that these large islands can. Some of the best islands to hike around include Hawaii, Bali, Fiji, Bora Bora, Reunion, and Cebu. You’ll be able to work up a great sweat for when you come back, taking a cool refreshing dip the ocean.

By far the most popular activities involve the ocean. Vacationers look forward to exploring the ocean and seeing the vast reefs and abundant fish that inhabit the waters beneath the surface. Some of the best diving in the world can be found in the Seychelles, the Maldives, Bali, Thailand, and Australia. For those not interested in scuba diving, there is always snorkeling. Snorkelers simply float on top of the water with a mask and fins and stare down and look at the wildlife below.

For adventurous people, you can go sailing or fishing. Many tropical islands offer sailing tours to see dolphins or whales and sunset trips for couples and honeymooners looking to add romance into their trip. You can rent on or have someone take you out. For those looking to fish, you can also rent a boat and head out into the ocean to catch dinner. A lot islands offer deep sea fishing where you can catch “the big one.” You’ll be able to eat for a week when you do!

Beaches offer a wide variety of activities beyond just getting a tan. For those interested in traveling to islands, it’s important to thoroughly research the type of beach activities you want. For those looking to just relax, you can build sandcastles, get a massage, order some fruit drinks and just get a tan. While the majority of islands can accommodate your needs, for those looking for more active island adventures need to look for large islands or large chains of islands so you can get a wide variety of activities to do.

Matthew Kepnes
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/great-activities-to-do-on-tropical-islands-680104.html

What is Scuba diving equipment?

What is the use of scuba diving equipment and I also want to know necessity of scuba?

Scuba offers diving course and the equipments of scuba are masks, fins, gloves, boots, and snorkels. You can learn different and safe diving through the scuba diving equipment. This also helps you to enjoy the beauty of underwater world. You can get a different experience and fun.

What scuba equipment should I buy?

I’m a beginner diver. I’m interested in purchasing a regulator with octopus and gauges and a BC. I dont know what brands would be the best. I live in Erie pa so I will be making cold water dives.

I believe you would get some better answers if you posted in other outdoor activities.

where can i get a scuba diving wetsuit made to measure in England?

Try a company called Namron in Sheffield – they made suits for myself and several other commercial divers a few years back.

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.