Newbie gear tips required.

[nixsie]

Not sure where to put this....but anyway

Ok so you just bought your gear all shiny and new. Dammit the expense didnt cover a regs bag or kit bag just yet.

Looking for some tips and guides for things you can do and get so you dont stand out too much like a complete newbie.

Questions

1. How do you mark up the kit, regs, BCD, weights etc ? - Especially if you may want to sell later on.

2. Marking regs...too etch or tape ?

3. Overheard someone mention about putting a small hole in their semi hood, to stop them looking like egg head when surfacing ?

4. Now looking for travel case, my gear, regs, clothes etc so I can go to Florida and OZ.

5. Anything else - probably missed loads actually.......

Thanks all

[Noel Johnson]

Hi,

I've used a permanent marker on my stuff (lead suit etc) and on the back of my depth guages - Selling gear? Do any of us actually do that? Keep them for spares etc you'll soon amass more stuff than you know what to do with

Put some holes in the top of the hood, I had to do this at depth once and my buddy thought I was trying to commit suicide by driving my dive knife into my skull! The explanations are easier if t's done on dry land...

Travel case; I have a IQ dive bag but any suitable case would do. Thinking about it a good hold all that doesn't shout "I'm full of diving gear steal me" might have been a better idea...

HTH and enjoy the shiney new kit,

Noel.

[Spacehopper]

Originally Posted by Noel Johnson

.
I've used a permanent marker on my stuff (lead suit etc) .......

You dive a lead suit? what do you use for buoyancy, an airship?

[nixsie]

Hmmm can see why digging a knife in your head would look funny, well in a strange way. So whys is this required and whats the best way ? Hot screwdriver straight in the top ? How big and how many ?

Perm markers - all my gear is black well almost......

Ha still thinking about being underwater digging a knife in your head - must of looked really funny.....

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by nixsie

Not sure where to put this....but anyway

Put it anywhere, the frienly admins will move it if they think its wrong, nice to be polite tho.

Originally Posted by nixsie

1. How do you mark up the kit, regs, BCD, weights etc ? - Especially if you may want to sell later on.

Chances are no-one will buy it and you'll keep it anyway if its any good (don't buy rubbish)

Originally Posted by nixsie

2. Marking regs...too etch or tape ?

What! ...... note the serial numbers

Originally Posted by nixsie

3. Overheard someone mention about putting a small hole in their semi hood, to stop them looking like egg head when surfacing ?

Yeah, lot of people do this, but personnally I keep a massve hole in the hood to let the air out, I just tilt it towards the surface by looking upwards.

Originally Posted by nixsie

5. Anything else - probably missed loads actually.......

Thanks all

Just ask away


Cheers, Paul

[Conor]

I would just record the srial numbers as suggested. If you are wondered about it all looking the same then don't worry, you soon get to know your kit

If you have a wrist computer then you may want to mark this, as it is sepearte from the rest of you kit and can look the same as someone elses.

Hole in hood, only necessay if you feel you have a cone head problem, some hoods come with a little hole already there, so don't take a knofe to your gear unless you feel its necessary.

For a travel case, I just use a large tarpaulin'ish North Face bag, from field and trek. It keeps the water in/out as required, doesn't look like a bag full of scuba gear and doesn't way as heavy as some of the trolley scuba bags (up to 7-8kg). If you just want something for your gear in this county just buy a crate.

And most of all, take your time and enjoy, listen to those you dive with and you'll have it all sorted in no time......having said that I'm a scubamuppet

Conor

[nixsie]

Cheers guys good advice - Enjoy the dive being the key. !!

[RickG]

Originally Posted by nixsie

3. Overheard someone mention about putting a small hole in their semi hood, to stop them looking like egg head when surfacing ?

I wouldn't - I did this over the winter (mostly to see if it worked rather than through any great need), and found that I got a REALLY cold head. The hole has since been glued shut and I've gone back to tilting my head down and pressing the top of my head to force air out round the back of my neck...

Originally Posted by nixsie

5. Anything else - probably missed loads actually......

Replace everything you can with bungee, Always carry cable-ties and the best equipment advice to give to any diver: "If you need it, take two. If you don't need it, leave it in the car"

[Tonto]

Originally Posted by nixsie

3. Overheard someone mention about putting a small hole in their semi hood, to stop them looking like egg head when surfacing ?

I made a small cut in shape of a plus in the top crown to get rid of air (and outside both ears to equalise a little easier), (someone on here suggested it a while back can't remember who sorry but appreciated) it definitely helps.
but I have since cut a bit away from my hood face hole to fit the mask better rather than overlapping and tend not to get anywhere near as much air in my hood now

[Noel Johnson]

Originally Posted by Spacehopper

You dive a lead suit? what do you use for buoyancy, an airship?

Yep and it's a bugger for doing shutdowns as well