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Dive Club Marlborough, Waikawa Bay, Picton, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

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DIVE CLUB NEWS NEW INTERNAL LAY OUT 

The compressor is plumbed in with an additional filter delivering you super "clean air" and Nitrox for Nitrox capable cylinders, we share the premises with Compass charters so it is now manned for more hours, even "off" season.

DIR DIVE EQUIPMENT

By Brent McFadden PADI Course Director 

Dive equipment manufacturers are continually finding new gimmicks to help sell their equipment. Over the years this has lead to some pretty outrageous equipment configurations and prices, none of which help make you a better diver, but more than likely will make you a poorer diver. The fact is that since Jacques Cousteau adapted a regulator design and applied it to diving, the basic mechanics or performance of the regulator has not changed.

  I have been involved with dive retail since 1986 and have sat through many service clinics and manufacture seminars and listened to why their regulators, computers, BCD’s, fins masks and so on are better than their competitors. The fact is that they are not, and like the fashion, automotive or snow industries the changes are generally made so they can sell more equipment at a healthier markup.

  As a charter operator and instructor I have seen many a new diver arrive on the boat looking like a Christmas tree, with all sorts of accessories hanging off them and sporting the so called latest in BCD technology with bullet proof 100 denier material and enough stainless steel D-rings to lift a double decker bus. 

All of if good if you plan to take on the arm defenders squad or impress Father Christmas, most of it a useless hindrance when trying to streamline yourself,  a basic diving skill. I’ve also been privy to many a dive store owner stating that they train divers so they can sell them equipment. Not that there is any thing wrong with that, they have to survive some how, but unfortunately this can devalue training and puts pressure on instructors, (whom in many cases get paid a commission on gear sales), to pressure entry level divers into buying equipment before they are ready and in many cases buy equipment designed beyond their entry level capabilities.

  DIR Diving, or doing it right, is a new catch phrase which is starting to be used by an ever growing group of seasoned divers around the world who have seen it all and want to promote safe, value for money, easy diving. One of the biggest problems with most of the brands of equipment sold in our shops is the profusion of fancy releases, clips and sheer bulkiness. Such gimmickry does not make you a better diver, but costs you more to buy and more to service, you might look great out of the water, but lets face it, diving isn’t a fashion show and who cares what you look like underwater anyhow.

  Part of the club philosophy is to promote a simplistic approach to equipment. We do this is by, firstly offering new divers to the club free scuba and wetsuit rental for the first year, this will give them time to try out different equipment configurations and time to make an informed decision to what best suits them. Secondly by stocking and selling only equipment which meets our DIR specifications and that we have personally field tested and believes in.

  Our preferred DIR equipment configuration and reasons for our choice is as follows. 

  BCD: Halcyon Eclipse Multi Function Compensator

  This unit is a component BCD with stainless steel backpack weighing 3KG, continuous webbing harness with adjustable D rings, one stainless quick release buckle, and detachable double bladder back wing with one dumping mechanism. This BCD will last you a life time, unlike most BCD’s the bladder is fully replaceable as are the other components. A ballast control system can be added so no weight belt needs to be worn. There is a crutch strap so the unit does not ride up on you on the surface. It can be purchased in either a 30 or 40lb version depending on what type of exposure suit and diving you are doing. A double wing can be added for twin tank systems. The MFC fits like a glove, once you dived one you will not want to change back to the jacket style.

  This unit is priced competitively when compared to jacket style BCD’s on the market.

Regulators: Apeks, DS4, ATX100  or ATX200 Also Diverite

  The Apeks regulator is the choice of technical divers. The Apeks is a European make and very serviceable. The models listed have minimal moving parts are environmentally sealed and great breathers. These regulators do not have a first stage turret a common failure point.

Gauges: Uwatec or Halcyon SPG and Vyper wrist computer, SK6 compass.

  For simplicity and reliability a simple analogue SPG gauge on a shortened hose and gate clip attached to your left shoulder D-ring is the way to go. It can be seen hands free at any stage just by glancing down. With failure to monitor your SPG being the most common equipment problem, this is by far the best way to go. Even better it’s is the cheapest way to go.

  Your computer should be where you can find it and that’s on your left or right wrist, not hanging on the end of a hose or stuffed into your BCD pocket. The Vyper is a good computer with easy to read face, has nitrox capacities and the user can change the battery which can be brought in most camera shops. 

  The SK6 Suunto wrist compass is the most reliable and best balanced compasses on the market, it should be worn on your wrist where it can be found and used to best effect. This compass will work when tilted, a big problem with many other U/W compasses that only work when held level and in the underwater world where gravity does not exist, staying level is a problem..

Exposure Protection: Dry or Wet

DIR exposure suits should be able to be put on and taken off without help, the zip on the dry suit should run diagonally across the front. It should have a vent on the left shoulder only, no ankle vents and for comfort and safety a pee valve (guys only), this is so you do not dehydrate your self prior to a dive which can lead to DCS on longer deeper dives. It should have a bellows pocket on the left thigh for spare mask etc and a low profile pocket on the right thigh for slates etc. Pockets on the BCD are a waste of time as the are very hard to reach. I recommend the Otter Britannic or DUI trilaminate suit’s as they are less likely to suffer punctures than neoprene suits, are lighter and more compact when traveling and offer more flexibility to your thermal protection.

Surface Marker Buoy: Halcyon

These come in different lengths and fit up into the Halcyon back pack. They can be inflated orally or mechanically and are very robust.

Knife: 

Rambo knives are out and surgical sheers or small sharp BCD knifes are in. Unless of course you want to take on Jaws. These knives/sheers are compact, cut through line very easily and are accessible when attached to the BCD webbing.

Valves: 230 or 300 bar DIN’s

Standard A-clamp yoke regulators and valves have a horrible tendency to leak and can fail under water if hit hard on a solid object. DIN valves allow the regulator to screw into the valve, thus reducing the chance of leaks and failures; it also makes for a lower profile system, so no banging your head on the first stage. DIN valves also allow you to fill your cylinder to its true working pressure.

Cylinders: 230bar 105 Steels

Steel is a stronger metal than alloy and has a higher working pressure for less volume. Steel cylinders are also negatively buoyant when empty an important consideration when doing your safety stop or diving in shallow water, as alloys become buoyant as the pressure drops. Steels are less likely to suffer neck cracks and have a longer life span than alloys if looked after.

Fins: Tusa Imprex or Scuba Pro Jets with spring clips

Simple and effective. Split fins are a gimmick and cost the earth.

The above comments represent what many divers world wide see as simple effective diving equipment. As you have probably worked out, the emphasis is on keeping things simple, easy to find and see, while reducing the amount of failure points. By doing so it means that generally the equipment is a lot cheaper than equipment with all the unnecessary bells and whistles. If you are thinking of buying equipment and are unsure to what best suits your needs, give me call, I am only to happy to help you out with advise with out expecting you to buy from our store. I can be contacted on 0274 344 874.

DIR simply configured beautifully made 100% effective NO NONSENSE

Dive Club Products

DIVE Marlborough are dealers in several main brands and have a selection of well thought out kit that we are happy to talk to you about without any pushy sales stuff, drop in and compare some options. We use it ourselves ! It does not cost the earth and it not only does the job but looks cool as well ! 

We have also unbranded budget priced kit that no other shop in the South Island can even start to match

These are the same BCD'S , Masks, fins etc. that are stocked under the famous brand name

BUT WITHOUT THE NAME, SO YOU PAY FOR PRODUCT NOT FOR LOGO

Drop in to the shop and be amazed, no better deal for the budget buyer, and remember your special club discount !!

More Dive Equipment information click on this link

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