M2 Advice

[benwild]

Excuse what may be some very naive questions but for diving on the M2 is a torch an absoulte requiermet? DSMB? Would diving with a single Cylinder no pony be reasonable?

I dont have much experiance in the UK (a fair bit in warmer waters) this would be my deepest dive here but I have dived a fair bit in Portland Harbour and fancied somthing a bit more of a challenge.

I am going to buy a torch, DSMB and reel but I will be not so experianced at using the DSMB when the opertunity to dive the M2 arises. What kind of torch is necasarry, I dont have the money for anything massive at the momment. My thinking is that if I could get away with somthing small that could be used as a backup once I progess to a bigger canister that would be great, not wasting any cash. What would you reccomend?

Cheers for you time.

Ben

[Brick]

I would say DSMB would be strongly recommended, for a torch, look at the Ikelite PCa and I'd personally prefer a pony but many in my club wouldn't bother with one

[warmwaterdiver]

Originally Posted by benwild

is a torch an absoulte requiermet?
DSMB?
Would diving with a single Cylinder no pony be reasonable?

yes (small one ok, but I'd still say yes)
yes (imagine no shotline & lost buddy)
NO (35m and no backup gas source?)

[frosty the snowman]

Yes
Yes
Depends! I've done it many times on a single 12 but know the site and conditions well. I'd say a single 15 is not unreasonable but a pony is a much better bet.

[sch]

I'd suggest that basically you think of the things that might go wrong on this kind of dive and whether those bits of kit could be useful.

DSMB - what happens if you can't get back to the shot (either can't find it or low on air at the end of the dive). Would you really feel comfortable doing a free ascent/safety stops without the reel/DSMB?

How about if you get to the surface and you're a bit further from the boat than you expected? It can be really hard to spot a head sticking from the water, especially if there's a bit of swell. Having an DSMB means you could inflate it to signal where you are.

PONY - simple question here - how deep do you fancy doing a CESA from? Is the dive you're doing deeper than that? Yes - then get a pony.

Its nice to think that you can do an alternate air source ascent, but what if you can't find your buddy? If you've got a problem with your gas and no pony/stage then you've not got very long to spot them - seconds.

TORCH - ok, not so much a safety thing but it can be used for signalling. However the M2 is reasonably deep, vis on her isn't always great and it can be dark. Having a torch would make the dive much more enjoyable.



As for the dive, I'd suggest that the M2 can be quite an advanced dive even for someone who's used to the UK - she can be murky, dark, have reasonably strong currents. Its not a wreck I'd suggest to someone without much UK experience unless you have an experienced buddy who's willing to keep a close eye on you. It might be worthwhile considering doing a couple of slightly shallower dives first and building up some experience using a DSMB before trying something like the M2.


Simon

[tom]

Originally Posted by benwild

for diving on the M2 is a torch an absoulte requiermet?

Yes

DSMB?

yes

Would diving with a single Cylinder no pony be reasonable?

I wouldn't do it personally.

I dont have much experiance in the UK (a fair bit in warmer waters) this would be my deepest dive here but I have dived a fair bit in Portland Harbour and fancied somthing a bit more of a challenge.

The harbour is very easy diving. Have you done anything in the range between the harbour and M2-type 35m depths? Say something in the 20m range? If not, that would be a good way to progress in my view.

What kind of torch is necasarry, I dont have the money for anything massive at the momment. My thinking is that if I could get away with somthing small that could be used as a backup once I progess to a bigger canister that would be great, not wasting any cash. What would you reccomend?

Personally I'd be looking at something like a Photon Torpedo, Halcyon Scout, the Tektite torch that some people like (can't remember what model it is). Either the original or LED versions. They shouldn't break the bank and will always be useful in future.

Good questions by the way.

[Lou]

Ok, I have never dived the M2 but when does lack of direct experience stop anyone? WHat I have heard, thorugh similar discussions on here is that it is quite an atmospheric wreck, and in some conditions has the propensity to be a much "bigger" dive than it's size and depth would indicate. It has given some experienced divers "the willies".

There are lots of wrecks around Prortland that would bridge the gap between the harbour dives and something like the M2 and it would give you the chance to find out what they diving is like outside the harbour, use an SMB etc without going all the way!

Of course, I am probably coming across as overly cautious again

Edit: Or maybe not as Simon and Tom have both squeaked in ahead of me with the same concerns!

[turbanator]

Hi Ben,
I have to echo what the others have said.
I foolishly too a bs-AC dive leader on the M2 for what I was told was 'one of her first dives' in this country, it turne out that it was her first.

It was a CF from start to finish, and resulted in me giving her and her husband such a bollocking for misleading me, they they did not join our friendly BS-AC club

It can be a great dive and it can also be a dark murky place.

I would take all of the kit that you are asking about, and be practiced in using it, but not make it one of my 1st dives in the UK.

r
Paul

[benwild]

Cheers for the advice it has been noted, looks like I have some shoping to do hopefully, I will be able to hire a pony which will save some cash. Things here are diffrent but I surrpose the diving is more demanding. At what depth would you consider an redundent air supply an requierment where I trained it was never a consideration for a recreational dive?

[tom]

Originally Posted by benwild

CAt what depth would you consider an redundent air supply an requierment where I trained it was never a consideration for a recreational dive?

Personally, if I'm going below about 10m I'll take a pony. If I'm going below 30odd (and usually before) I'll take a twinset. That may be a little conservative for some people, but it works for me.