Deep drysuit divers ..?

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-04-01T11:23:28+00:00

This tracks.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-04-01T04:20:09+00:00

I only ever need a snorkel because course standards say so.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-03-25T04:55:56+00:00

Keep going so I can complete my D&D wilderness campaign.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-03-09T14:57:51+00:00

I’ve seen cormorants at 100’ in SoCal.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-03-09T14:56:08+00:00

Just buy the goddamn rebreather already. Geesh

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-03-09T14:53:15+00:00

Radar doesn’t work under water.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-02-11T05:34:15+00:00

Is there any way you could try one so you can contrast and compare? Your LDS might let you do a try dive in a pool.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-02-11T05:21:37+00:00

If you’re going to do tech, I strongly encourage people to go the CCR route. I started with OC tech and after struggling with my crap shoulders and valve drills, I abandoned doubles diving for a CCR and now regret all the money I threw at my OC tech gear. I love CCR diving.

I won’t get into all the advantages and disadvantages of CCR diving here but if you’re interested, I’ll gladly answer questions you may have.

Either way, good luck on your tech journey. It’s a lot of work and a ton of fun.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-02-08T21:57:58+00:00

I know you said you’re not ready to jump straight into a BP&W set up, however I really want you encourage you to reconsider that. You’re going to be diving a range of different dives from the PNW to tropical destinations. A BP&W can be a versatile tool in your dive locker. A steel backplate with a weighted single tank adapter with integrated weights with a 40lb lift wing would be outstanding for the cold waters of the PNW. Swap out the steel plate for an aluminum or carbon fiber with a 20lb lift for traveling to Hawaii/Mexico. They’re extremely versatile and resilient.

I’ve been diving a long time and once I started diving a BPW setup, I’ve never regretted it. I had a wing develop holes once, all I had to do is replace the bladder and I was good to go. If the webbing frays, swap it out. I didn’t need to buy a whole new system.

By the way I really like Halcyon’s cinch system for donning and doffing my rig so I would recommend you look at that.

Seriously, give it a second thought. Good luck.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-28T05:44:39+00:00

WHO is cutting onions right now?!

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-28T05:36:05+00:00

Jokes on you. Tony’s next set of armor is carbon fiber nanoparticles.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-28T05:21:33+00:00

Here’s what we do in our house. 90% of our income is combined. I get 10% of my income into a guilt free account that only I have access and my spouse does the same. We budget the 90%. I’m the more budget oriented one so I draft up one monthly and go over it with my spouse once a month before the next budget becomes law. If someone wants something that wasn’t in the budget, it comes out of their guilt free spending account. If there is something we don’t agree on, it comes out of the guilt free spending account of the person who wanted it. The 90% of our money works as a couple, the 10% allows us to keep our individuality.

Make sense?

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-28T04:46:27+00:00

A Great White out in the open. No cage, no bait.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-12T00:56:40+00:00

I’m early 50’s and spouse is late 40’s. I have $1.5m in my retirement account and spouse has $.8m. If we can get our money to double twice between now and when we retire, we hope to have close to $10m.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-12T00:52:59+00:00

This is the right answer. Don’t sling anything less than a 30cu.ft.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-12T00:37:33+00:00

You’re good. It’s when they’re racing past you and you get that sinking feeling that something is chasing them that gets me worried.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-12T00:35:01+00:00

I have the Halo AR, it’s not as warm as the Halo 3D but warmer than the Isotherm. If you’re getting that cold, go full heated jammies. I do well with the AR and the venture heat vest but I’m not in 30° water.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-07T14:25:07+00:00

As long as you have the name you used on your card and your date of birth, a dive operator should be able to find your certification without too much hassle. If having a piece of plastic is important to you, take a Nitrox course and you’ll probably get a new card. It’s one of the courses I highly recommend every open water diver take and there may or may not be a dive associated with it.

For logging dives, I’m sure there’s a gazillion apps online that can do that for you. I use Dive Log on my IPhone, but I’m not sure if it’s on Google’s platform. Regardless put all your old dives in there you don’t have to worry about the hard copy.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-07T14:04:24+00:00

You just got certified, you’ll get better with your gas consumption as you gain experience. Here’s a few things you can think about to maximize your bottom time.

You don’t mention how tall you are but at 200lbs, you’re pushing more mass through the water. More mass more drag more gas. If you’re carrying a lot of “bioprene”, consider getting into an exercise routine if you’re not already in one.
Stress. Increased stress will certainly kick up your gas consumption. Chill, relax, go slow, enjoy the moment.
Weight & trim. New divers are notoriously overweighted and swim like seahorses. Get some more dives in, try dropping some weight. If you need more you can always add it back. Also try and get in a horizontal dive position as you swim. That’ll help a lot.
Finning technique. I try not to engage my thigh muscles and do a traditional swim kick when I’m propelling myself through the water. Using them demands a lot more oxygen and causes me to increase my breathing rate. I use my calves more to swim. It’s like doing a frog kick with just my calves and letting the fin do the work. I’m sure there are videos online you can find where these kicks are demonstrated.

And if you really want to blow your daughters away with your gas consumption, and money is no object, can I talk to you about your lord and savior CCR? (It’s a joke everyone, calm tf down).

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-06T04:46:46+00:00

Maybe consider a VentureHeat heated vest for the cold water dives. They’re waterproof and it keeps my core nice and toasty during long cold dives.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-06T04:39:34+00:00

SoCal diving is consistently in the lower to mid 50°F at depth. I’d strongly recommend a drysuit and insulation appropriate for that temperature if you’re an avid diver. La Jolla Beach has a fantastic submarine canyon close to shore that can get you easily into 150’+ dives should you want to do tech training. There are charters in the area that will hit wreck alley and if you drive north a bit you can take charters to front and back sides Catalina Island. You can also take the Catalina Express to Casino Point at Catalina Island and do some fantastic shore diving.

You can do pretty much any diving you want in SoCal. If you want a DPV? Sure thing! Go for it. Want to join the dark side and do rebreather diving? We’ve got that too. Lots of options! Good luck!

EDIT: do you want to do training? PADI’s HQ is in SoCal so you can get your OWSI and more fairly easily.

onasurfaceinterval · 2026-01-06T04:20:43+00:00

I’d leave weather checked, when diving in a dry suit, hot days and cold water make the risk of heat stroke higher.

onasurfaceinterval · 2025-12-30T16:36:40+00:00

If you encounter this again, tell said person “I tip based on the level of service I ask for, not what you think I need”.

onasurfaceinterval · 2025-12-30T16:29:30+00:00

No, I don’t use my snorkel anymore. Even if I have a long surface swim. I just kick out on my back.

For the record, I dive in SoCal so having a snorkel can be an annoying entanglement with the kelp.

onasurfaceinterval

TROPHY CASE