Living a Diver's Life

Image: Odessa Stratton By Fred Stratton Instructor & Repair Technician fred@bubblesornot.com Image: Odessa Stratton I once foolishly asked my wife "how many pairs of shoes do you need?"  She rapidly replied  "hmm, how much scuba gear do you need?" OK, fair enough. Certified in 1994, Emy knows that diving is an equipment intensive sport and like dressing well, it matters how you configure yourself for success.  In the February and March articles, BC Basics Parts I and II, we discussed selecting a BC and becoming proficient in its use. We also addressed various diving tools and accesories, as well as where to mount them for rapid access while remaining hydrodynamically efficient.  Let's build on that with some specific streamlining techniques. Proper Placement Why do you place your scuba accessories and tools where you do? Dive professionals likely  influenced your initial decisions. Certain equipment placement is standardized acros...

Fred Stratton BoN instructor and repair technician fred@bubblesornot.com Hi fellow divers. This is the first in a series of monthly articles focused on scuba equipment maintenance, repair, and configuration. Make this a dialog by providing feedback and asking questions to be answered in future articles. We have thousands of dives among us. We become better divers by sharing our experiences, be they close calls, good tips, funny situations, or curious questions. What do you take with you on a road trip? I take navigation software, beverages, snacks, music, a spare tire, some basic tools, blanket, and jumper cables. Divers like to eat and drink, so we're pretty good about bringing coolers and food. How about spare parts and tools to perform basic field repairs? Our scuba gear is our life support system. It's surprising how many divers are tempted to dive with a leaking SPG or primary second stage regulator because they've spent time and money getting t...