Do You Have Your Own Gear?

[ScubaDog]

Okay, fellow divers, you've heard me say this before: A "C" card means you can dive....but diving makes you a diver. What we want to do with this thread is two things. First, we want to get everyone who has their own gear to please post. Second, if you are outfitted for colder water diving--or plan to be--post that as well. The goal is to get people to dive at least one dive each month.

I'll start. Yes, I have my own gear and I'm fully outfitted for diving year 'round here. I have a 7mm full wetsuit with 5mm hood, 7mm gloves and 5mm boots with 1mm neoprene socks. I'm also fully geared for night diving with both a primary pistol-grip type light and my BC light (that I take with me on all dives).

I'm typically available to dive any weekend and night dives during the week.

I'll happily advise anyone who's looking to augment their gear for colder diving. I'll tell you from experience I dove last year and the year before with my Waterproof 5mm full with hood, gloves & boots and was able to handle about 35 minutes down to a depth of about 50ft in 50 degree water. The 7mm will be more comfortable.

Okay, who's next?

[ScubaBob]

Hello Divers! It's Scuba Bob,

Well I guess I'll be the second to post...I have my own gear and I'm fully outfitted for diving year round or I will be shortly. I have a 5mm full wetsuit with 5mm hood, 5mm gloves and 5mm boots. I'm in the process of upgrading to a 7mm or 8mm full wetsuit ("can't decide on which one I want"). I'm also fully geared for night diving with both a primary pistol-grip type light and my BC light that I also take with me on all dives.

And I'm ready to dive anytime!

Who's Next???

[Phil_218]

Wow, I get to be the 3rd to post. I do have my own gear, including tanks, and am equipped to dive year round. For cold water swims I have a 7/5mm suit, 6.5 mm hood, 5mm gloves and boots. I am equipped for night diving with a primary pistol grip type light and backup; however, I have not yet done a night dive.

My work schedule is screwy and weekends are almost always out for me. The best times available for me are usually weekdays. It's about a 2-hr drive for me to get to Amistad, so availability of gas money is also a major hold up. Once our overtime becomes available again I'll be able to make a few more trips. Right now I am planning on making monthly trips to Canyon Lake and if money and schedule allows, I'll be making monthly trips to Amistad.

As a side note: I am happily married and out of respect for my wife I only dive with male dive buddys.

I'll post messages when I know I'll be coming out.

[ScubaDog]

Phil, thanks for the post...and I think it's so cool what you said about respecting your wife.
We're hoping Amistad clears up now that the temp is dropping. As we pass into 2010 things should ease off a bit for me at work, so given enough lead time I can usually swing a day or two during the week to eat up some leave. Perhaps we can work out a dive or two. Night dives are great, a different animal, but take a bit more prep. Well worth it, though, in my opinion.

[ScubaBob]

I agree with Rob, night dives are awesome! Although....I'm not sure how good a night dive would be this time of the year

[DaveO]

Evening. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. As to gear I have everything needed for night and winter (5 and 7 mm suit) work out here. Weekends are the best. I desperately need to get in the water.....

[Phil_218]

I expected to see a few more responses on this by now. Well, I'm off on Thu/Fri this month so if the weather looks decent over the next few weeks, I may make a trip to come out.

I'll post a message if I set some plans.

Phil

[ScubaDog]

Yikes, with temps in the teens, I'm not sure you'll find anyone anxious at the moment. ScubaBob and I tease each other on days like today..."How about a dive?" Then we just laugh. Of course, I do absolutely have to get at least one dive per month in. If the temps ever get back up to what we normally have here then I can squeeze in a dive. I'm freezing with all this global warming.

[ScubaBob]

So Rob, How about a night dive tonight?????

[Phil_218]

For those who are reading this post and do not have your own equipment, please take the time to read this blog.

http://www.divebuddy.com/blog.aspx?BlogID=6414&SearchFor=&Category=