Random thoughts about scuba equipment good bad and ugly

[Splitlip]

I have been playing over at ScubaBoard with split fin bashers the last couple days and had some thoughts after reading an artical in one of the mags.

One of the arguments the "purists" use to support their position on Jetsfins, is that they have been around for 40+ years. Does that make them better than new technology?
40+ years ago they were also using bulky oval masks with no way to pinch your nose, 2 hose regulators that were difficult to share, purge and breath in odd positions. there were no BCD's few SPG's and no computers. (Time was BCD's screamed "kook!".)

So, I started thinking of some of the inovative things I like and some of the things I really don't care for.

Mask purge................. ........don't like
Retractors...........................don't like
low profile mask....................like
BCD's .................................like
Conventional Octo's..............don't like
Octo inflators.......................like
split fins..............................like
hinge fins............................don't like
BC knives............................like
titanium tools.......................like
computers...........................like
single hose/2 stage regs........like
aluminum tanks for singles.....don't like
dive alert............................like
tank bangers.......................don't like
Teva sandals on a dive boat..don't like
Teva sandals at the beach....don't like
Teva sandals at the mall.......don't like
Teva sandals in a restaurant..don't like
sneakers on the beach..........don't like

Oh wait. getting off the subject

[Jaymeany]

Back inflate...like
tilos 5/4......like
princeton tec lights....dont like
uk lights......like
reef sandals for dive boat, beach, life......love

[DevilDiver]

Spring Straps... Like

[Shellback]

Splitlip, that is the beauty of having so many manufacturers out there pumping out these products, we can pick what we like and what works best for us. Looks like the deck of a surfboard in your avatar, as a kid I thought that I would shape and glass and then polyester resin was the norm and all my blanks came from Clark Foam. Since then I know that the preferred resin is Epoxy.

Change is good sometimes.......

[FishFood]

I used to be a fan of the retractor untill I nearly broke a finger from hitting the wrong button. Now I surgical tube everything instead.... Less risky


Good list. I agree for the most part.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by Shellback

Splitlip, that is the beauty of having so many manufacturers out there pumping out these products, we can pick what we like and what works best for us. Looks like the deck of a surfboard in your avatar, as a kid I thought that I would shape and glass and then polyester resin was the norm and all my blanks came from Clark Foam. Since then I know that the preferred resin is Epoxy.

Change is good sometimes.......

Yup. When Clark closed their doors, a lot of people went UH OH. I say their time was done. SurfTech and the others were becoming more and more popular and "acceptable"
Although all my boards are shaped from home grown Clark Foam blanks. No Tuppa Ware for me.

[Damselfish]

Dry snorkels aren't on your list.

The Jetfin thing gets old. Obviously they are a good match for lots of folks and that's fine, but they're not appropriate for everyone. But some folks seem to think they are the only worthwhile fins, or suggest them as the answer to any fin question whatever the circumstances of the person asking. Kinda like many other pieces of gear.

[terrillja]

OMS Slipstreams...Love
Ocean Reef Neptune Space Predator...getting to like
art to media wreck maps...like

[Trey9123]

Mask purge................. ........don't like
low profile mask....................like
Frameless Mask....................like
BCD's .................................like
Conventional Octo's..............don't like
Octo inflators.......................like
hinge fins............................like
full foot fins........................like
BC knives............................like
titanium tools.......................like
computers...........................like
Keen sandals on a dive boat...like
Keen Sandals everywhere......like
Keen Sandals in winter..........like
Shorts in winter...................like
sneakers on the beach..........don't like
Girls in wet suits..................like
Wetsuits in H2O 60% and up..don't like

[Splitlip]

Neoprene wetsuits...like

not this one