Shallow dive equipment

[CotoChris]

I am fortunate in the sense I live near the sea and have access to a good part of the coastline. My mrs yesterday suggested that we could do some diving off the shores independently.
Some areas I will place off limits due to currents but there are some nice bays to explore. The diving would really be 'deep snorkels' and less than 10m. We were thinking of setting up a 'dive light' equipment. Basically not too carry heavier than neccesary equipment. The main change we thought was to get 7l cylinders each. I reckon this is enough for shallow short dives. Now do I have a screw missing in my brain or should we stick to the 12's. Are 10's another option? I thought with the 7's I could also use them as ponies for the other deepr dives, but would this be too big as a pony?
I have a Buddy Commando which is good and tough but large. I thought also of getting a lighter simpler BCD, any suggestion for that?

[purple vonny]

We used to shore dive in Mallorca with 5 litre cylinders and could do an hour on them if we didn't rush about. Here I use a 10 litre for shore diving, which is overkill when our local shore dive is max 14 metres and mostly about 10.
It depends on your air consumption, and that of your wife... and whether you'll have enough to share if there is a problem.

I can't see much point in changing your BCD unless you really want to. You'll be walking down to the shore with all your kit on your back and probably won't notice much difference.

I got a cheap trolly from Aldi to cart the kit about.

[CotoChris]

Originally Posted by purple vonny

I got a cheap trolly from Aldi to cart the kit about.

A bit difficult in the sand Nah, good advice though. We are fortunate our air consumption is good from 11-13l SAC. The water can be a fresh 14ºc, even in the summer.

[Sipadan]

i did a dive in cyprus on a single 7, it was sweet , plenty of time with a good SAC and a max depth of 8 metres.

how about ditching the bcd altogether? cousteau seemed to do quite well without one alternatively, diver magasine have just reviewed a superlite cressi bcd. Divernet | DIVER Tests | BC CRESSI FLEX

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by CotoChris

I am fortunate in the sense I live near the sea and have access to a good part of the coastline. My mrs yesterday suggested that we could do some diving off the shores independently.
Some areas I will place off limits due to currents but there are some nice bays to explore. The diving would really be 'deep snorkels' and less than 10m. We were thinking of setting up a 'dive light' equipment. Basically not too carry heavier than neccesary equipment. The main change we thought was to get 7l cylinders each. I reckon this is enough for shallow short dives. Now do I have a screw missing in my brain or should we stick to the 12's. Are 10's another option? I thought with the 7's I could also use them as ponies for the other deepr dives, but would this be too big as a pony?
I have a Buddy Commando which is good and tough but large. I thought also of getting a lighter simpler BCD, any suggestion for that?

I regularly do shoredives just like you are suggesting after work in a local Marine Reserve. I get around 30-35 mins out of a 7.6L at that depth, no worries. Just take it easy and slowly. It's certainly much more comfortable getting in and out.

I don't reckon the BCD will matter once you are in the water, the main issue is the weight of a 12L and trying to clamber on & off the rocks. But cerrtainly, the 7 would be fine.

[al kennedy]

10s are lovely for shallow stuff...

The gas in them is light enough to allow you to use suit for buoyancy, why not stick it on a backplate and try without a BCD? (If the suit fails just walk back up the beach!)

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by Sipadan

i did a dive in cyprus on a single 7, it was sweet , plenty of time with a good SAC and a max depth of 8 metres.

how about ditching the bcd altogether? cousteau seemed to do quite well without one alternatively, diver magasine have just reviewed a superlite cressi bcd. Divernet | DIVER Tests | BC CRESSI FLEX

Or even this for 70 quid.

[TerryH]

No probs with the cylinder size with your SAC.

Worth looking for cheapo club style BC's. Not much on them, whch is
what you want.

Take a look here.
...:::Subacqua:::...
The 840 is a cheapo BC, nice and light and loads of local dealers.

[bigfeller]

If you go with a lighter tank are you not just going to take more lead? If so wouldn't it be better to take more tank (gas!) and less lead?

Or have I not had enough coffee today...

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by bigfeller

If you go with a lighter tank are you not just going to take more lead? If so wouldn't it be better to take more tank (gas!) and less lead?

Or have I not had enough coffee today...

Nah, my 7.6L steel uses the same amount of lead as my 12L and 15L.