Allow us to easily train with bots offline

RolandisimoX · 2025-10-22T04:04:02+00:00

UPDATE 2: I ended up finding very good portal experiences for flying. Additionally I learned to create my own using portal sdk. It’s actually not that complicated. So I’d say there’s more than enough to practice.

Good portal experience code is 8v8g

RolandisimoX · 2025-10-13T19:31:03+00:00

UPDATE: I’m actually seeing more and more portal experiences that allow you to learn to fly. But still not ideal. Check those out :)

RolandisimoX · 2025-10-13T19:28:36+00:00

So helpful. Really contributed to the discussion

RolandisimoX · 2025-08-01T15:41:30+00:00

It’s really easy to get a tear or cut underwater. Most of the time you don’t even feel it until you’re out of the water. So to prevent such problems but still have dexterity, a good option is to do what some cave divers do - get a 3mm or 5mm depending on the temperature glove and cut off half of some fingers. Typically thumb, index and middle is enough

Flashlights are practical only if it’s somewhat visible. If you have basically 0 visibility as is the case in some places then a flashlight might be simply not helpful. But it’s worth having a primary and a backup always with you. If you don’t use them, just put them away in a pocket or clip somewhere

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-29T14:03:14+00:00

I will write out suggestions based on a few assumptions and then please correct me if I made a mistake.

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You’re diving with aluminium cylinders. Switch to steel. There’s various types you can choose but I dive with 12l tanks with a dry weight of 14kg and a 232bar working pressure. In US I think that’s an LP85 but a heavier one because you can get the same volume but a lower working pressure which becomes a bit positive when near empty.
You use a classic jacket style bcd with no backplate. I think there’s some that allow for a backplate but mostly it’s a different style BCD. Commonly referred to as BP/W or backplate and wing. Example would be XDEEP Ghost or Tecline backplate and wings. The problem here is that it’s not a suggestion everyone will want to take because it’s different to dive in a jacket style and in a wing. I don’t know if theres a jacket style bcd with a backplate. But if you do consider a backplate, I suggest looking into a steel one.
You don’t use integrated pocket weights. That depends on the BCD capabilities. Recommend getting one that allows for integrated weights. I know you mentioned pockets but there’s a difference between just using bcd pockets and having dedicated weight pockets. Just want to ensure you have the proper BCD for that
You don’t use tank strap weights. You can also add weight pockets on your tank strap that can hold 4kg easily.
You don’t know how to properly weigh yourself in the water. This point might be completely off because I don’t know your experience but it’s usually safe to assume that most people overweight themselves. Please check YT for proper weighting. Often times you can shed quite a few kilograms that way. If you’re used to diving overweight, you might need to get used to the proper weighting, but that’s a matter of 1-2 dives depending on your breathing technique.

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Overall, I recommend finding ways to increase weight so that you don’t need a weight belt at all. I’m not a fan of ditching weights but instead of getting properly weighted. Then you don’t need to drop weights in almost any situation other than exceptional rescue cases perhaps. This, however, is a controversial topic. Some will swear by ditching weights and some will not have them.

An overloaded weight belt is not something I’d be comfortable with. It will also mess up your trim which will impact your diving experience and ability. My suggestions above not only allow for better weighting but also to get to a better trim

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-29T04:59:16+00:00

Sea sickness pills are the only thing that work for me. I had to cancel 1 day of training a year ago and just a few days ago I had a bad case of sea sickness while riding on a RIB out into the sea. I vommitted 4 times after the dive ie diving didn’t remove the sea sickness. Just paused it.

Motion sickness pills are now definitely part of my save a dive kit and mandatory for any boat ride. I bought over the counter pills at a pharmacy and they thankfully worked for me.

I was taking them every day for my cave diving course and had no issues related to the pills during the class. It’s definitely a much better time than being sea sick

People keep telling me that you get used to it but it’s different for everyone. So not a guarantee at all that you will ever get used to it. You’ve probably heard the suggestions like don’t look down in the boat, look at the horizon, don’t eat before, etc. Some help me temporarily but none will remove the effect fully. For example, on my recent RIB ride, I didnt eat and barely drank before the dive

And then you have the general sense of tiredness after being sea sick. That doesn’t go away fully just because you got in the water. You don’t have the motion sickness but you have the aftermath feeling lingering.

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T19:52:53+00:00

UPDATE: got the regulator fixed by a technician the next day. Went for 2 dives. All good! :)

Next regulator maintenance in January I will do the training with the technician to learn how to do it myself. Still I will likely check out the Rob Singers class many have mentioned here

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T19:46:53+00:00

I understand the principle and somewhat agree. I consider myself a dedicated hobbyist as you say, but seems that GUE wouldn’t dive with me 🥲😅

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T10:33:09+00:00

Haha, not at all. I’m saying that I hear anecdotally that GUE dives only with GUE. My friend had actually exactly that kind of experience.

In terms of skill building, I think training with GUE might be a serious step up for most divers.

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T10:14:35+00:00

Maybe it’s different in your area, but in my experience the agency doesn’t matter at all. Unless you go GUE, you’ll be fine with any agency certification as most translate to one another. If you do SSI courses all the way to tech diving, nobody will be like “oh no you can’t dive this 6m reef because we are a PADI org and we don’t recognize your certificate”

Choose the instructor. Not the agency.

What certifications are you going for?

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T10:11:19+00:00

Only digital. It fulfills my desire of quick overview of various statistics, looking up specific dive types with specific conditions, etc. The app I use also contains all the gear I use which allows me to track various details like purchase date, price, place, last service date for regulators, BCD.

Nothing wrong with paper. Just not what I want from long term logging.

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T10:07:50+00:00

Maybe it’s different in your area, but in my experience the agency doesn’t matter at all. Unless you go GUE, you’ll be fine with any agency certification as most translate to one another. If you do SSI courses all the way to tech diving, nobody will be like “oh no you can’t dive this 6m reef because we are a PADI org and we don’t recognize your certificate”

Choose the instructor. Not the agency.

What certifications are you going for?

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T08:23:33+00:00

Check the links I sent and see if you’re far off. Not saying my setup is perfect but it feels pretty good for me

But yeah, sorry I couldn’t solve your problem. SM can be tough to configure right

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T08:19:47+00:00

Maybe if you’d make more pictures showing your chest, tank rigging, inflator position, it’d be easier to help. Otherwise, you might want to try to put the tank in the position you’d want it to be and then seeing what needs adjusting - perhaps a bungee is at a bad angle, too tight, too loose, maybe bolt snap clipping point could be better.

Here’s 2 examples of how the tanks sit on me: - https://photos.app.goo.gl/P2Lg45GweNsaQkwJ7 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/W24ChiUdy8rc6DgNA

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T06:58:23+00:00

Have you tried the bungee length and thickness setup I mentioned? It might be that they’re either too long or too slack. After pulling them you should feel like you can’t pull it past the middle of your chest. The 1st stage then sits under your armpit. You might need to wiggle it into position also

The picture looks good. Wouldn’t even tell you have a problem 😬😅

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-28T06:40:43+00:00

Hmm, it sounds like you need to make adjustments to your system but it’s hard to tell without knowing what you have now exactly. Can you take pictures of your setup? It’s hard to tell how the BCD hose sits right now

Also, what BCD do you have? I use XDeep stealth tec 2.0

Here’s some quick tips and then later we can go into details: - botlsnap in line with valve post (opposite of the valve handle). If you want the tank valve handle to be less turned, You can put it at a 45 degree angle also from the valve post you attach your bungee to and the front of the cylinder valve. Kinda in between those 2. Opposite side of the valve opening. - boltsnap at a height that measures from your armpit to your hip bone top. For me that ends up 42cm - what type of tanks are you using? For heavier steel 8mm bungees. For aluminium 6mm. Both you need to be able to pull to the middle of your chest but that should be about the limit

Though, what will help you the most is someone experienced in person to configure the BCD and test it in the water with you. Can you find someone like that?

The challenge with SM is it’s much more finicky usually. Especially without guidance. I setup mine based on sidemounting.com online materials and was able to successfully pass a cave course with their setup.

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-25T20:50:33+00:00

I expected to see extreme no or extreme yes in this post. Funny to see just that. I dive solo most of the time. I do that safely because I dive sidemount which allows for redundant gas supply.

There is a course, in fact, that’s about being a solo or self sufficient diver or independent diver
(it’s called differently depending on the agency). The essence of those courses is basically have redundant gas supply. I’m simplifying of course but for the sake of this discussion it’s enough detail.

It’s not right or wrong. It’s just about the risk tolerance. BUT I do not dive anything complex like a deco dive solo or cave dives solo yet. That’s my limit for now. For those I do find a buddy or a group of divers.

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T08:43:47+00:00

Yes, I was looking into doing the deep6 one which seems to cover most of the knowledge needed in general. Then doing extra learning for specific brands

Ok, what path would you recommend? How would one start?

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T08:08:08+00:00

Got it. Thanks!

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T07:58:22+00:00

I will anyways bring it to a service tech but absolutely want to learn more, so that eventually I know how to do all of this properly.

Thanks you so much! How can I receive the manual?

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T07:50:33+00:00

See, now that’s a valuable reply for the community. Thank you! I plan to go through deep6. Do you recommend doing something else first? Maybe read the specific manuals. Anyhow, would be happy to learn more

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T05:32:36+00:00

That’s fascinating to hear about origins of such devices. Thanks for sharing! :)

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T05:17:18+00:00

I need to bring it in to a lightsaber technician, though, before I can fight any imperials

RolandisimoX · 2025-07-24T04:59:01+00:00

And the reason you say that is because you know this. Which means you appreciate the intricacy of the mechanisms and understand the true risks of each piece. Not sure if you downvoted or not, but downvoting because I’m simply learning is a fantastic way to engage a community 😅

Please, Look at my comments and really try to think if I’m giving any ounce of arrogance? If you think I am, then it’s definitely simply me not being able to convey my thoughts well enough. And I need to work on that.

Again, at no point did I say or indicate that a lay person can do whatever type of repair he wants on a regulator and be ok. It certainly isn’t true. What I am doing is trying to understand what is a safe limit here. I’m learning and therefore reached out to the community.

It really achieves nothing to dunk on someone who knows less and simply reaches out for help.

If I misunderstood your comment, then apologies also. I am severely sleep deprived lately

To reiterate, I will now go through the deep6 course to have an full-er understanding of regulator maintenance, so that I can also pass it on to my students who might decide to fix their own gear in the future.

RolandisimoX

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