Assorted questions.

[Old Man Dave]

I'm not much of a gear freak but I am looking for any edge some new gear will give me. Having looked through some past threads I still can't answer a few questions. Any advice welcome. Here goes;

Snorkels. Can't find much on these. I have a simple old style rigid 25mm "J" tube and silicon mouthpiece. Wondering if either the Beuchat Active Tubair or the Omer Zoom will be an improvement.

Weight vest. Thinking on saving my old back some strain. It's down to Omer Weight Vest (much discussed and oft praised on various threads) or Seacsub Weight Harness (not mentioned on threads but cheap and seemingly popular). Comments? Votes?

Omer Laser knife. The one that you can get on the arm band thingy but not on the arm band, 'cause the arm band thingy is crap. Does it therefore come with straps. I'll wear it on my arm anyway.

My Omer XXV Gold 90cm gun needs new rubbers. The original Omer bands seem to measure 22cm which would be right for a 90cm gun. However Omer 18mm powerbands seem to be either 21cm or 23cm. Confused on this one. Over to you Spaghetti old mate?

Anyone know about Beuchat Elaskin bootees. Supposed to be very flexible (only 2 sizes needed). Meant to be less cramping and warmer due to better fit (more elastic). Come in 4mm which would suit me as warmer than 3mm and less spongy under my footpockets than 5mm.

Sorry about the many idiot questions but I've looked first and geez!!! this crap weather is sending me nuts.

Dave

 

[Erik]

Weight vests: I wear one of these and a small weight belt Dave Spearfishing and Freediving Equipment - Weight Belts - Light Weight Harness - Technosport Inc.
About 6 kilos in the vest and the rest on the belt. If I'm in a 3mm suit, I don't need a belt. Very comfortable and perfect placement for the weight.
Cheers.

 

[Magpie]

Snorkels: Welcome to try my Omer Zoom to see if you find a difference.

Weight Vests: Welcome to try mine thats just like the one in Erics link, its got 10lbs in it, and your brothers got the Omer jacket of course. Gives you a different angle in the water which I find preferable but will seem odd at first.

Knife: Mine came just with the wide strap, which is woeful, its now held on my arm with a rod tie and a windsurfing strap, which is ok but it still slips occasionally. Job for the winter is to make an elastic one.

The rest: Dunno!

 

[sunfish]

Dave, I've had the Elaskin socks in the year 2000. Sounds like a song but I've just dug out the catalogue and that was the year. They were in two sizes but I can't remember which I had. They were fine as socks. Although the stitching came loose over part of the seams the glue held until after the soles wore out so no complaints there.
I've not tried weight vests as I like to keep weight towards my fins if possible, for surface swimming. If I remember rightly, you wear ankle weights so maybe try Magpies vest before buying one. I think deep divers like them because they keep them going down straight.
Snorkels- I also use a plain one. As you'll know, when you use one a lot you blow out water almost before you've noticed it's in. If you do find one that keeps out water in a rough sea, then I'd be keen to try one.
Finally on the weather, as I'm "posting while drunk" I'll stick my neck out and say I think our area, (North France to South Ireland) May get a couple of days of "vis" within the week. Lets hope so anyway. The weather so far has driven me to the bottle!

 

[spaghetti]

-bands: the Power 18 are available centimeter per centimeter: 20, 21, 22, 23 et cetera. Just find a source to buy from, but they Do exist. If you can't find the 22, pick 21 or 23 won't make so much difference after all.
-snorkel: I use the zoom pro and that's okay, I like it, but if you decide do NOT choose the clear (transparent) version. After a week mine became yellowish, and after months it became milky white. In case get the black or brown camo, but never in your life the clear one.
-weight back pack: I use the Seatec camo 3 kilograms, but it's also available in a 4 kg version. I am 100% satisfied with it: I don't even feel I'm wearing any harness at all. Absolutely no hassle, all the weight on the upper back. Just ask dave at spearo.co.uk (english seatec dealer) if there might be any issue related to size...I don't know...
I post a pic:

 

[azapa]

Snorkels. Can't find much on these. I have a simple old style rigid 25mm "J" tube and silicon mouthpiece. Wondering if either the Beuchat Active Tubair or the Omer Zoom will be an improvement.

Dave, I have the above mentioned, dry purge version,:
Activa dry purge BEUCHAT Snorkels Snorkels United Kingdom Dive Scuba store .com
and can't recommend it highly enough. I have tried many, but this is easy (0 resistance) breathing, easy clearing, and the chop never gets annoying. All my previous snorkels, in our rough waters, would always flood JUST on those last few deep, meditating breaths......:vangry I swear this never does. Also the orangey tip is a good safety plus, if not at all stealthy..

good luck on the gear purchases!

 

[Old Man Dave]

Thanks Guys. I've ordered some stuff.

Found some older threads including one from Mr X from 2005 about vests. There are more about than I realised. For better or worse I ordered the Seac Sub one. It's cammo with front pockets as well as back and looks value for money. Offers a lot of flexibility for messing about/adjustment. Gonna make my own weights to go in it.

Found some 18mm omer power bands at 22cm long, eventually, so that was problem solved.

Ordered the Beuchat Elaskin 4mm socks. Good to find someone who's tried them. Thanks Sunfish. If your going the GRP or carbon fin route (another thread) you need to think about sock thickness and fit. Carbons especially need a good foot pocket fit to transfer power and the right socks make a difference.

One of the things that started me thinking about a new snorkel was reading a Spearing book recently that mentioned how good the new drain valve versions were. Didn't really believe it but as Azapa has one decided I need to try it. Ordered the same one. Incidently Sunfish I currently use a piece of 25mm PVC overflow pipe siliconed into the top of my snorkel to extend it higher above the waves. Did it years ago and it worked well in rough conditions and so it became a permanent fixture.

Scubaland France had the Omer mini laser knife at a cheap price so ordered it. Hope it comes with straps as standard. They also had a standard immersion snorkel for 2.43 Euro's. Probably crap but just stuck it on the order for a spare. Can't lose at that price.

Just got to wait for it all to arrive. Christmas all over again.

Dave

 

[spaghetti]

Knife. In facts as Magpie said, the problem with the mini laser is that the velcro strap it comes with is not elastic. If you bend your arm (and contract biceps muscle) it becomes too tight, while if you relax the arm it slips down and that's annoying.
Nontheless, I'm still using my mini-laser with the factory straps: it's annoying butI'm trying to live with it.
If anyone finds a solution to make it better (i.e. fitting to it some elastic straps) please share the idea.

 

[Old Man Dave]

First part of my order came from Scubastore. Air mail from Spain in a couple of days, comprising the vest, omer bands and the snorkel.

The vest looks a good choice. It is one size fits all (and fits me anyway), has pockets in the front as well as back, has a nice cammo pattern outside and seems well made (especially for under 30 euros).

It takes flat weights which I didn't order as have plenty of lead and air freighting lead weight has to be stoooopid. Glad I didn't order them as they are quite thick plates (about 5 or 6mm) and weigh 650g. Was gonna cast my own but realised that if I just took some lead sheet 1.5 mm thick and cut some pieces the right size (they fit into velcro closing pockets) then I would have more flexibility. That's more flexibility in arranging weighing and literally more flexibility in bending the plates to the shape of my body. I used proper tin snips but even strong sissors could be used to cut the lead sheet. Each piece of lead sheet weighs 180 gramms and I have started with 2 in each (7) pockets. Makes 2.5kg or 5.5lbs. Theres room in each pocket for 4 plates so max weight is 5kg (11lbs). Will see how it goes, but first impressions look good. However it's only in the water will it really be tested.

Snorkel looks fantastic but no way to find out for sure without a few dives. Don't think sitting in the bath wearing it counts.

Omer power bands are direct replacement for the existing ones on my XXV Gold but gonna put them away in reserve as have set it up with an open muzzle and circular band to see how it goes this season.

Another package from Scubaland France to come yet but that's coming snail mail (post office) so maybe a couple of weeks to go yet.

Dave

 

[foxfish]

The vest looks great.

 

[ulysses]

I am using the Seac Sub vest for some years now and can confirm that it is very comfortable and practical for shallow water hunting.

HOWEVER, out-of-the-box it has one big flaw: the velcro strap that serves to attach the vest to your belt and thus prevent the vest from hitting your neck on a vertical descent will come undone easily.

The remedy is quite simple: you replace the velcro strap with a 4-6mm line (I have tried and would not recommend to use a bungee-line) which you tug under your belt and anchor with round float (like those for commercial fishing with a bore in the middle) or similar shaped plastic stopper.

Since pictures are better than a thousand words make a search on Pescasub.com La comunidad de la pesca submarina - Inicio, there you will find an entire thread on this particular vest with pictures of the suggested modification I described.

Cheers

 

[fcallagy]

Knife. In facts as Magpie said, the problem with the mini laser is that the velcro strap it comes with is not elastic. If you bend your arm (and contract biceps muscle) it becomes too tight, while if you relax the arm it slips down and that's annoying.
Nontheless, I'm still using my mini-laser with the factory straps: it's annoying butI'm trying to live with it.
If anyone finds a solution to make it better (i.e. fitting to it some elastic straps) please share the idea.

Just a thought on the knife with all the ipod paraphenalia out there you may be adapt one of the arm straps that are used by runners to hold the ipods while they run. these use velcro to secure it but the strap is also a little bit elastic and you might be able to use one.

 

[foxfish]

All in all I did not think much of my mini laser, nothing special about the knife itself & as has been pointed out the strap is naff. I did think about making new stretchy straps but chucked the knife in a corner never to be seen again.

 

[Magpie]

The remedy is quite simple: you replace the velcro strap with a 4-6mm line (I have tried and would not recommend to use a bungee-line) which you tug under your belt and anchor with round float (like those for commercial fishing with a bore in the middle) or similar shaped plastic stopper.

Thats a great idea! Solves the problem of the belt still being attached to the vest if you have to ditch in an emergency. Thanks for that mate, I'm off to chop the loop off my vest

 

[spaghetti]

Sure that's a brilliant idea. Merou backpack is made exactly like that:

 

[Mr. X]

... Incidently Sunfish I currently use a piece of 25mm PVC overflow pipe siliconed into the top of my snorkel to extend it higher above the waves. Did it years ago and it worked well in rough conditions and so it became a permanent fixture...

What an interesting idea.

Re. the Beauchat Tubair -- its quite good but nothing special. The main feature is the flexibility which I think is a good feature. Better when your snorkel gets caught on your float lines or brushes against rocks. I find a tiny bit of water often gets caught in the bottom the the J which annoys the hell out of me. It could be a smidge longer (but that might be because I'm quite large). Seacsub combat camo snorkel is somewhat flexible but is really much stiffer & therefore less effective. Apnea in Jersey were selling Beuchat Tubairs for about £9 when I got mine, half the price of the Omer Zooms & probably just as good, or near enough for rock n roll. I found my 30 year old Typhon snorkel last year, so with the Beauchat, Seacsub & my clear valve, semi-dry - I'm probably set for a few years!

Let us know how you get on with the gear. I never did get a weight vest - I managed to get comfortable with my belt. I need to add a little more weight this year - they had the perfect shape/size weight (a bit like the slotted RA ones) in PO last year, should have bought one:duh. I reckon camo on the vest is a very good idea: a cheap & easy way to upgrade to camo &, because it only covers a small area, it breaks up you outline -like the continental spearos that use mis-matched trousers.

I will be taking a closer look at gloves that include kevlar this year! Thought it was a gimmick before -- I have a different perspective now.

 

[azapa]

like the weight harness ideas, i really need to get weight of my belt too but am worried about emergency ditchings, the idea above looks good, but not keen on taking MORE buoyancy (probably very little effect though.

I have a weight harness in mind, that is 100% ditchable with weight belt. It is a little like an octopus, weight, plus rubber (sliced car innertube, of course!) straps, each strap ends in a large eyelet. The weight is placed on back, the eyelets brought together and a cord passed though them with a half bow (no idea what it's called, but, pull one end, and the knot opens) the pull to open end is then tied to the weight belt buckle.

on trouble, release weightbelt as usual, the falling weightbelt tugs on bow knot, releases "ocutopus" and whole thing drops off. I hope I have explained the idea. I thought of it looking at some of my kids car seats with the various loose straps, held in a center clip, all releasable with one press..

Ramble murmur ramble ramble, off to the beach now....

 

[Mr. X]

BTW Do the weight vests, esp. the fuller ones like the Omer Gilet, add any noticeable warmth? (I don't notice the cold much but it sounds like the skinny youngsters do).

CAMO
I've got a cheap blue camo vest that I use in the gym. I have thought about wearing over the wetsuit to break up my profile a bit. I haven't tried it yet though (conflictingly I am also trying to keep gear to a minimum). Looking through a couple of glossy spearing catalogs last year (Omer & Seacsub), it also struck me that all black is pretty good camo. I use a green camo alien mask with a black wetty, which is probably a bad idea, as the green contrasts with the black, showing straight edges, rather than blending in with it. The distinct camo lens rims further contrast with the rest of the mask, emphasising the eyes (bass are notoriously wary of spearos eyes it seems).

 

[Old Man Dave]

Second part of my order came from Scubaland in France yesterday. Quicker than usual.

Omer knife is small and sharp. Came with 2 very good elastic straps. Much smaller than my present "small" knife. Looked good value at 16 euros (£12).

Bootees really are stretchy and feel snug (in the bedroom). Cost more (16euros) than my normal 3mm cressi's but think they'll be warmer and last longer. If as is claimed they fit better and as I hope work better inside my Ice pockets then that will be a bonus. Time will tell.

Standard original beuchat 16mm natural bands for my 75 cm gun cost 7 euros (£5) which is so cheap you can't afford not to change them annually.

What about that immersion snorkel. At 2.49 euros (under £2) can't loose. It actually seems well made and comfortable. At least I now have a spare.

Soon as the weather clears I'll begin testing .

Dave

 

[Magpie]

Thats much quicker than they usually are, which is nice.

Are you sure thats a Mini Laser knife then because the sheath and straps are totally different to mine. Much better in fact! Are the straps the right size for your arm or your leg?

Thanks for the pic of the ball on vest Spag, I'd seen things like that before and always wondered what the ball was for! :duh