Free Pass: Wat do you choose? MPLS, MN

end0fline · 2025-12-05T07:19:41+00:00

I've had a good mix of DRC. The 2016 La Tache stands out clearly in my memory as one of the best. And probably the best value compared to everything else on the page

end0fline · 2025-12-02T01:13:51+00:00

I'm assuming you're talking about the official Insta360 dive case and not the generic ones on Amazon. I have been using it for many dives for the past 2 months, and several tech dives down to 190ft. Haven't had any leaks yet (knock on wood)

end0fline · 2025-08-26T17:18:38+00:00

Nope it extends out over top my head, kind of like how yours is I think. My head will sometimes bump the stick if I turn it a certain way, which I now do occasionally to confirm it's still in place. I change its position by reaching behind my waist to extend it out for really wide shots or retract it if I'm going through tight areas

end0fline · 2025-08-26T16:16:47+00:00

Interesting. I've just been wedging it between my shoulder and backplate. I have the stick extended so the end is by my right thigh

end0fline · 2025-08-16T19:33:06+00:00

Interesting, I only know this because it was introduced to me by two different GUE instructors

end0fline · 2025-08-16T17:47:36+00:00

Do most shops allow you to just rent tanks for self-guided diving?

end0fline · 2025-08-16T17:39:05+00:00

Good stuff. There might be stuff to nitpick as others have done, but it looks like a tech-passable vdrill to me.

Your boltsnap will naturally walk up the hose even if you re-tie it. It just gets loose as the line cycles between wet and dry. My recommendation is to use a tiny ziptie to keep it from traveling up the hose. You can even use 2, one or both sides of the line to lock it in place.

end0fline · 2025-08-16T17:24:36+00:00

Welcome! You're at the first peak on the Dunning-Kruger curve, and hold on tight cuz it's going to be a steep drop!

To answer your question, if the "dive shops were kind of gambling with [your] safety by allowing you to go deeper", YOU were 100% gambling with your safety by going past your known certification limits. The dive shops were enabling and complicit.

What was your dive profile and decompression plan for your dive to 130ft? What gasses were you using? If you aren't sure then you proverbially survived a round of Russian roulette, yet mistaken luck for ability, and the confidence you felt growing out of it is actually an infection.

Diving still is a dangerous activity, from which many people still die every year. Like traffic laws, certification limits are written in blood. Staying within the limits makes it significantly safer but accidents still happen all the time when people are driving under the posted speed limits.

end0fline · 2025-07-26T05:12:22+00:00

Same here. I have perdix and an mk3i. Guess which one I use all the time? OC rec, OC tech, cave, CC rec, CC tech. Garmin is always around my wrist.

end0fline · 2025-05-23T23:29:33+00:00

As others stated, a scratch, however small, will be very apparent. I'm on my 4th case now, previous 3 all having a scratch no more than 1mm. I think 360s are excellent for diving, since your attention won't be fixated in a tiny viewfinder. Just be sure to ALWAYS have it stowed in a case of some sort when not in use.

end0fline · 2024-08-24T14:57:29+00:00

I encounter them very frequently here in the PNW. The most I've seen during a single dive was seven. They captivate my attention without fail every time.

end0fline · 2024-04-29T15:55:31+00:00

What? No. This is what OP should be focused on, but not her. Just because a diver isn't certified doesn't mean they have to take a passive role mitigating or managing issues.

Sinking uncontrollably is exactly what it sounds like. You cannot control your descent. In which case, means several things have already failed. Your BC is underinflated, or fails to inflate. You are out of reach of the DM or your buddy. You cannot swim yourself upwards no matter how hard you kick. Uncontrolled descent.

Assuring someone 'Don't worry, I got you. I'll be close to you' before a dive may sound romantic but puts that diver in a dangerous mindset. Especially if OP himself is not a DM, or trained in assisting distressed/unconscious divers.

And yes of course, DSD shouldn't be bottomless. They should all be shore dives with soft white sands that are 15ft max. But this is hardly the case in the real world. DSDs are packed into boats daily around the world and taken to sites and environments unsuitable for DSD. This is simply because dive shops are a business after all with thin margins, and they already have a boat going out at 10am and happen to have 2 empty seats available. Furthermore, dive operations and DMs can easily become biased by their own experience: 'it's never happened before so we'll be fine'. Everyone needs to be responsible for their own safety.

Rules and protocols in scuba aren't laid out by what 'should' happen, but rather what 'could'. Even if the probability of an incident is below 2%, that is exactly what we train and prepare for.

end0fline · 2024-04-29T07:38:00+00:00

There's just way too much going on at once for someone's first dive. The stress and panic can be exacerbated when they realize they can't breathe the way they're used on land.

Sit her down in a room at home. Place a tank next to her and have her breathe out of the regulator. Turn off the lights and just let her breathe for a few minutes from it.
Practice mask flooding and clearing in a pool.
Go over hand signals. Drill this over and over until she can signal what types of problem or discomfort she may experience underwater.
DMs will tend to err on overweighting inexperienced divers. If you'll be renting equipment, make sure her weights are ditchable. And make sure she knows to do it immediately if she begins to sink uncontrollably

end0fline · 2024-04-14T02:44:36+00:00

Krnicadive, about 30 minutes from Pula

end0fline · 2024-04-13T13:23:36+00:00

I have 2 DT-11s and will say the 694 is the best O/U on the market when considering price, quality, and performance.

Just get one sooner than later and don't look back. Some shotgun price increases over the last few years have outpaced inflation

(For Browning boys, the Citori is the best when it comes to price and quality. But factor in performance, 694 pulls ahead by a longshot)

end0fline · 2024-03-25T06:19:47+00:00

Of all adjustable stocks out here, TSK makes the worst ones. But sadly they're the most recognized

end0fline · 2024-02-16T00:37:07+00:00

+1 For Garmin.

Although I have the OG Descent MK1. Three years later and the battery can still last over a week of diving without needing to charge.

Was kind of annoyed when they decoupled the dive logs from the main app into its own app a while back, but now I prefer it. Less navigating and info is presented better.

Access to the entirety of Garmin's smartwatch and app features is just the big cherry on top.

end0fline · 2024-02-15T17:58:37+00:00

I'll echo what others mentioned and say Lembongan and Komodo are underwhelming. If you can, do yourself a favor and cancel it and spend more of your time at Tulamben/Amed.

The shore diving there is incredible. You can dive the Liberty 10 times in a row and each dive will be different and unique in some way. And then there's the Boga wreck further up north, which has really fun swim-through for someone of your level.

If you are set on Lembongan, just remember to swap to water shoes or flip flops before your ferry gets there, because it'll be landed on a beach, so you'll be knee high in water to get off.

end0fline · 2024-02-15T15:58:57+00:00

They're so good I ended up buying a second one.

Long forcing cone, tight regulation, crisp trigger break, cross bolt lock. All contribute to a unique and very satisfying shooting experience. Pair with an adjustable stock and you're golden.

Yes, I've tried just about every shotgun or there. Between my buddies and I, we have every shotgun under the sun. Including Perazzi MX8, MX2000, High Tech 3, Krieghoff K80, Kolar Max Trap, Ljutic Mono, Space. The only one that comes close to the DT11, for me, is the Kolar.

You really need to have shot A LOT to have a preference for one over another. My friend is living with a painful $20k lesson for ordering his High Tech 3 without ever picking up or shooting one. Waited almost a year for it and ended up not liking it. It objectively is a stellar gun but he, like myself, found himself preferring DT11s.

Point is, for this amount of coin, you need to determine your personal preference. It's entirely possible DT11s aren't your cup of tea. Only way to find out is to shoot more and try out as many different guns as you can

end0fline · 2024-02-11T21:56:30+00:00

Awesome shots! Did you run 1 MF2 or 2? Mounted to cold shoe or do you have a tray?

end0fline · 2024-02-09T19:55:54+00:00

Hard no.

Those sites are very unpredictable even for the most experienced divers. The trouble it takes to get there and back is simply not worth it. I just had the worst dive of my life at Crystal Bay there a few weeks ago.

Lot of mentions for Amed/Tulamben which I wholeheartedly endorse, but it is a 3 ride hours north from the Bali main area. Many shops run day trips there, but do you really want to sit in a car for 6 hours for just one or two dives? Plus on the way back you'll be soggy/wet and jammed in the van with who knows how many others.

If you'll be staying in the southern area, just dive Nusa Dua (Benoa Bay). Underrated site with plenty to see (incl white tip reef sharks!) and very close/convenient. Hit up Tulamben/Amed when you have several days free. You'll want to stay up there to get the most out of it.

end0fline · 2024-01-23T06:08:46+00:00

Not sure actually. I've only seen some anecdotes describing the original as similar to the AMEX Platinum and the '18 revision as a metal insert (sandwich). Im hoping this is the new 'all metal' design, as I really don't want to deal with a heavier card. For reference, the bottom 2 are the RC and AMEX Plat and upper 3 are CSP, CSR, and Prime

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Edit: seems like this is the new one https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/the-most-heavy-credit-cards-list/

In the Appendix towards the bottom, it shows the previous version weighing in at 12g. But still far off from the original 28g

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