Attention Scuba Divers-- let's talk equipment

Ok..I take my BCD with me everywhere - I have a relatively cheap but good Dacor entry level model for travel. I purchased a cheap BCD for travel because my Mares BCD I use when I dont have weight restrictions is..well, weighty. I have a US divers reg and occy from the stone ages that I keep getting maintained and given a new life with parts that I source from whichever dive shop has the needed bit, but also use a scubapro reg that I travel with thats a bit newer. I have a Sunto dive computer wrist model which is probably about 10 years old and is big and bulky by todays standards but its easy for me to read and im familiar with it. If i was to replace it, id go with Sunto again.

I dont take my weights with me or tanks for obvious reasons other than to Timor and Papua New Guinea or anywhere in Aus thats remote - eg Ningaloo, Rowley Shoals or the Receche Archipeligo or the Tiwi Islands.

I have a sentimental attachment to my 2mm Adrenaline wetty because ... it has a tiny rip on the kneecap from one of my earliest dives when i had a run in with a mantis shrimp. The tiny rip doesnt let any water in but its a constant reminder wetties arent just for keeping warm. I dive with gloves for the same reason. I have a 5mm wetsuit for diving here which i call the deathsuit from hell because it takes me about ten minutes to wrestle myself into. The deathsuit from hell sometimes even requires the lavacore hooded vest underneath because..we have cold water with no fish and planes you bump into if you do any shore diving locally (Shore diving to me is about as much fun as being probed by aliens...i would imagine, never having been probed that I know of).

I also use the lavacore hoody vest under the 2mm in colder tropical waters - Komodo is a good example of cold tropical waters.

I have Tusa fins and mask and some Kinetics knife and torch but the kinetics knife has been retired after finally inheriting my dads diving knife - well over 60 years old and from the days before BCDs when brave souls didnt have computers and were asked to dive on the atomic detonation sites by the WA Museum.

New stuff - Id say my favourite bit of gear would be my tingting stick. My partner has stick envy. I am very proud of my tingting stick and made a complete idiot of myself when discussing transferring dive vid was asked how big my stick was (USB Duh) not tingting stick so I measured out with my hands how big it was...only to see everyone look at me with confusion to realise they meant my USB not tingting.

And FIN socks! I love them. Although I only got to use them once because Giant doesnt have any gear and was using hire fins so got big toe blisters and commandeered my fin socks.

If he is a good giant and learns to stop touching things (dont play with the pretty sea snake, he doesnt like you, let him GO!) I will buy him fin socks but he is not getting a tingting ever..or not at least until hes got hmm...100 logged dives :-) Reply to this

That's right, at the moment I do own only fins, mask and my wetsuit from Decathlon what I love - it's a size 14Y.
And well - thank you Peter for your offering 😉 - can't wait :D!
I Love you!!! Reply to this

Deni,

Not cage diving, but cave diving...

There is a big preception about what you may refer. I did the shark cage viewing in South Africa. They call it cage diving...but the only equipement involved in Gansbaii is a wetsuit and a mask, this is it, as they don't lower the cage much!

The only truly cage diving with great white is available around Adelaide on liveaboard, and same thing in Baja, Mexico. Wish to do both, one day, but not right now on my list.

This summer we should do some very wellknown cave diving...blog coming on it middle of July! Reply to this

I'm proud to own my Apex Tech 3 regs, my Dive Rite Rec Wing and plate w/ a Trans plate rig. I just finished twinning an old set of 72's which are bright orange (some of the ugliest tanks you'll ever see - but I love them). My DUI drysuit is a CF200 that has probably 1000 bloody dives on it (used to be a military suit) of which I've put on about 100.
Let's go diving!!!! Reply to this

I really love my wing and back plate. It rides differently in the water than a jacket style BCD as you hang from the plate and wing. It looks sexier too. LoL!!! This however is negated by the fact I no longer use my wing for anything other than staying a float on the surface. I use my drysuit for bouancy while diving. I say use what you feel comfortable with and what you think looks cool. They all do the same thing in very similar ways so as long as you are getting the most out of your rig, then whatever goes, goes.
I will add that the plate/wing combo does have the most versatility for sizing and configuring your rig.

Your mileage may vary Reply to this

Agree with you on the with what works for you - Jason what water temps are you diving in?? Im a big wuss and have a mortal fear of cold water..which to me is 20c or anything below...drysuit the thought makes me shudder. I have enough trouble spitting the dummy when I have to squeeze into a 5mm with Lavacore underneath in 22 degree water.

LOL hadnt thought of lookin sexy underwater..there is a diver I keep bumping into throughout asia I have nicknamed Minnie Mouse, I absolutely love her get up underwater...everything matching black and red including yep a mini mouse bandana with bow on top for reasons known only to her.

Does anyone else have a ting ting stick? Im thinking its probably one of the better less flash peices of equipment that I have...wont leave home with out my tingting ever 😊 Reply to this