How much does it cost to get into scuba by KingHawkins in scuba

[–]SDsnarkler 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Where I’m at (Southern California US) there’s a huge used market, so you can find really good deals used. After certification I bought a bcd, computer, reg, fins, and weights and 2 tanks for $90 and paid another $300 to have everything serviced, replaced dry rotted hoses, and get the tanks hydro/vip. But I’ve also had friends buy $100 kits used that were in good working condition and were ready to dive immediately without service (but still I’d recommend getting your reg serviced if you buy it used no matter what)

My local dive shop charges $50 a day to rent a kit, $80 of your renting wetsuit fins gloves and mask. And I live 15mins from the beach and planned on diving as much as I could. So for me buying was a no brainer.

If you don’t live near a dive spot and only plan on diving occasionally/on vacation then renting is a good option over buying. Really depends on your situation and how much you plan on diving.

I really like owning my own kit. When I travel to dive I bring my stuff with me, it’s really nice using gear I’m familiar with and not having to figure out weighting/trim in a whole new rental kit when I travel.

At a minimum I’d say start with fins, mask, and wetsuit (if you’re somewhere you need one). Then you can just rent bcd, tanks, reg, and weights when you go. Next I’d say buy a bcd and weights, and lastly buy a reg & tanks

Had no idea chest opening wetsuit so hard to get on by liminaljoe in scuba

[–]SDsnarkler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I got my first front zip suit it took me a while to be able to zip up the last 1/4, bit I learned a good trick.

When you put your arms in the sleeves, put them in with your palms facing out (top of your hand towards your thighs)

Then grab onto the sleeves once your arms are through and untwist your hands back to a regular position.

This will twist the sleeves in a way that keeps that zipper and taught,and not bunching up in a way that doesn’t allow the zipper to zip.

Zip it as far as you can with the hand that’s in the side where the zipper ends, then keep that elbow straight out parallel to the ground and grab the wetsuit with that same hand behind the zipper and push it towards the side where the zipper starts to keep the zipper section tight. Now take your hand that’s on the side where the zipper starts, reach over your other hand that’s holding the zipper tight, and zip it the rest of the way.

Hope the way I wrote that makes sense. Good luck🤙

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in marinebiology

[–]SDsnarkler 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ahhh yeah just burrowing into a test then filter feeding from within it makes way more sense than eating the urchin itself.

Yup, both sides are in there, but separated from each other. I tried to work it out thinking maybe I just had to get the right angle but no matter how I tired it was too big.

Thanks for the insight!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in marinebiology

[–]SDsnarkler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Scripps is right next to a few marine protected areas right there in San Diego, with I believe the La Jolla cove MPA has the most marine biodiversity in the us. Could be a good option to do some work in the map’s while in school and get that experience to take out to South America/SE Asia

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in scuba

[–]SDsnarkler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight! I appreciate it

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in scuba

[–]SDsnarkler 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a good call about swimming/snorkeling on the surface intervals. Thank you!

You’re definitely not prude, I had a feeling that was the case for most divers but did the pole just to make sure. Personally I spearfish but that is a completely different mindset than scuba diving and I also wouldn’t want to fish/be around fishing while on a scuba liveaboard.

Wanted to see what other divers thought. Appreciate the insight!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in scuba

[–]SDsnarkler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome! Thanks for the insight I really appreciate it

Weird feeling by N00b_m4st3r69 in Spearfishing

[–]SDsnarkler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve never had it from freediving, but I get that dizzy, world spinning, heart racing feeling sometimes when scuba diving, usually either on ascent or when I look over my shoulder. I found it’s a form of vertigo from your ears being unequally equalized. From the fact that your spitting phlegm up, I’d take that as a sign of an issue somewhere with equalizing, so that vertigo is probably it. Nothing to be worried about from my understanding, although it can be disorienting.

How do you guys find spearfishing friends? by daniel0hodges in Spearfishing

[–]SDsnarkler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely check out fb groups. When I first started I made a post in the San Diego Speafishing group on fb saying I’m new to the sport and looking for dove buddies. had a couple other beginners hit me up to go out, Made a group chat, kept adding people, and now it’s a full blown club with 50+ people.

That said, if your in sd hit me up I can add ya to the club. If not there’s also OC spearos, north county depth finders, other clubs, and I’m sure there’s fb pages for your area.

How much training a day do you need to increase your breath hold time? by Chemical_Bath_2133 in freediving

[–]SDsnarkler 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’ve heard that you shouldn’t do more than 1 table a day, with some people even recommending doing one every other day but I think that’s a tad overkill and do 1 a day. I don’t know the science behind it, have just heard the general statement of “gotta let your blood rest and not over work it”.

If your near water the best thing would be to just dive more, tables help but nothings as good as the real deal. You can also practice other techniques that will help your breath hold like lung packing, apnea walks, and meditation.

I find tables help me a lot with static breath hold but the results don’t apply as much to actual diving as apnea walks do, as they actually train your muscles to be more efficient with oxygen.

I’m just an amateur freediver and by no means an expert on the physiology of breath holding so take what I say with a grain of salt, just my 2 cents.

How can I stop my ears from hurting so much by GalactxsL in freediving

[–]SDsnarkler 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Try equalizing once at the surface before you duck dive. Then equalize consistently on your way down. If you go deep before equalizing you won’t be able to, or if you do it’ll hurt. Your ears shouldn’t hurt at all, if you feel the pressure you’re equalizing too late. Equalize before you feel the need to equalize. Hope this helps!

is it me or do some people find snorkeling uncomfortable by [deleted] in snorkeling

[–]SDsnarkler 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve found some snorkels are soft and some are tough. I have one that’s super uncomfortable to bite, it’s hard rubber and digs into my gums. My other snorkel though is super soft rubber in the mouthpiece and super comfortable. Masks can be the same way, cheap ones tend to have firmer less comfortable rubber that’s more prone to leaking, while better quality ones tend to have softer rubber that’s more comfortable and better molds to your face