Diving at DVinfo.net

Dave Robinson · November 8th, 2007, 03:54 AM

Hi all,

I know this is off topic but I've noticed there are a few divers on this board. I was just wondering about details: Diver organisations represented? Dive level? Equipment used etc...

I'll start.

I'm a member of the SAA and as such a member of CMAS. I'm an Open Water Diver / CMAS 2*. I'm also a member of PADI and Advanced Openwater with them.

I dive mostly around North Wales which is cold but the visibility is sometimes very good, and there's plenty to see. Ofcourse I holiday in Egypt! ;-)

I'm a firm believer that if you go diving the equipment could save your life so don't go cheap as such I used Aquatek Dry Suits, Poseidon Xtream Duration Regulators and Greenforce Torches, also, my computer is a Mares Nemo.

I have done some diving at night, which could help with the current UWOL challenge but I don't own any particular good underwater camera gear. Just my Panasonic GS75 and an Epic Housing, which isn't weighted so I need to invest in some roofing lead to help get it down! If anyone is ever planning to visit North Wales the two inland dive sites I have to recommend are Vivian Quarry in Llanberis and Dorothea Quarry in Caernarfon. Dorothea has been in the media alot due to quite a few casualties there, but at the end of the day, it's only water and in itself not inherently dangerous, it just happens to be very deep. Dont let the medias depiction of the "Quarry of DEATH!!!!" put you off. Typical tabloid sensationalism.

Anyway that's me as a diver hope to hear from more of you guys soon.

Tata

Dave

Markus Nord · November 8th, 2007, 04:30 AM

Hi Dave and everyone else…

I’m a PADI Dive Master and IANTD adv. EANx diver. I worked as a diveguide and videographer in Thailand during two years and it was there I found my passion; to educate people about the environment and wildlife. Me divegear is tech oriented ‘cause I do also dive caves (this is a Swedish divegroup that I dive and video with, sorry the website are in Swedish but this is the link to our video archive, the last three are my productions). So the gear I’m using is twintank and Apeaks regs(Interesting that you Dave use Swedish gear and I use English…), Ursuit redQ drysuit and some times stage tanks/deco tank too (cavediving).
The video gear I use are XL2 (3xWide or 20xStock), Gates housing, 2x35W Xenon light (homemade).
Because I dive in cave I’m pretty calm about nightdive, the thing I would suggest before any one goes in the water in night are; 1 Know the spot, don’t go diving is a spot that you don’t know in daylight. 2 don’t go deep (if it is not the only way of getting the shots you what). 3 If it is a divespot that have lots of current, make sure that you know the way back and know more that one exit point if go get lost from the primary exit point. 4 (most important) IF it dose NOT feel go in any way, DO NOT GO DIVING! For safety, always keep some one on the surface as a lookout.
Nightdives are really cool, the sea change totally compare to day. Everything gets really spooky, I love it!

This is me… and my thoughts about diving at night in cold conditions (I love when the ice cold water bites in to your cheeks).

Markus Nord

John Miller · November 8th, 2007, 11:17 AM

Hello,

PADI Instructor. Diving since 1992 (originally certified NAUI when living in Texas). Lots of underwater video. Currently use a L&M Mako housing (with all the trimmings) for a Sony DCR SC-100 miniDV camcorder.

Feel very fortunate moving from the UK to North Carolina 10 years ago. Now I am just 3 hours from some of the best wreck diving in the world with fantastic visibility and sea life. I especially love the Sand Tiger sharks that like to come within a couple of feet - more so when the video lights are on!

Lo-res sample on youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tnOuDMFQe20

John.

Mat Thompson · November 8th, 2007, 03:35 PM

I'm a BSAC member and 1 day away from Sports Diver. I've been diving for about 18 months and done about 25 open water dives. I've done a few hours with the club UW rig, its only a Hi8 rig but it's given me a good taster to UW video.....and definitely want more !

I've never done a night dive however about a month ago we dived off New Haven and the weather hadn't been great for a week before. We got to 23M and it was ZERO vis....and I mean pitch black zero, not even the torch helped much because the light just bounces off all the crud! It was certainly an experience....but as we said at the time it can only get better :-)

Nice footage John..you must have been excited....and nervous!

Catherine Russell · November 9th, 2007, 09:13 PM

John!

Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, WOW!

My name is Cat Russell and I am landlocked here in Colorado, USA. That footage was amazing! I have, all tolled, logged maybe less than 6 hours of snorkeling all my life, but I sure appreciate footage like that (the You Tube one)! The closest I've come to a shark is several years ago I worked as an atmosperic scientist at NOAA and did several "scientific ship cruises" with work. We would be out at sea for 6 weeks at a shot and we always begged for a "swim call". It never happened, on all the cruises I've been on because on a previous cruise, at the end of a study, crystal clear day, mirror water... they allowed a swim call and immediately after everyone jumped in the water, a shark honed in... all got back to safety but before pulling in one girl into a patrolling raft they had a tug of war with her and the shark... they pulled her in, but the shark got her leg from the hip.

Why do the fish swim with the shark? Everywhere it went, so did the fish?

Just wondering, and thanks!

Cat

P.S. Mat: Leave it to you to be so multi dimensional! ;-)! How many other subjects are you master of?

Hubert Hofer · November 10th, 2007, 08:01 PM

hi Dave,
I've been diving since 1965 in lakes & oceans. Lakes are relatively straight forward whereas the ocean, boy, that's another caper. Where I am there are very strong currents & that requires some thinking especially for solo diving. I know I'm gonna get flak here but I prefer to dive without a buoyancy compensator because of the drag. Equilibrium is no problem as I use the same equipment every time which causes me absolutely no problems with buoyancy.
I usually start the dive 15 minutes before Slack Tide which gives me pretty well no current during the dive. If the current is a little strong I use a ski rope attached to the anchor chain. If the current is very strong I have a cold beer instead. This requires some planning also when the strong currents are on for several days.
happy diving

Dave Robinson · November 13th, 2007, 09:38 AM

Anyone here ever dived in Iceland? My girlfriend and I are interested in checking out the Silfra crack.

Vidar Vedaa · November 22nd, 2007, 03:12 AM

Ther is a film on divefilm.com for the all ho love nature.DivefilmHD by
Chuck Niclin`s episode 11.It´s realy a impressive film and so colorful.
And some fantastic macros.

VV.

Weblink:http://divefilm.com/

Download free iTunes for Ipod TV

_______________

Dave Robinson · November 26th, 2007, 10:47 AM

Click this link.

You will understand why I want to film the Silfra.

http://www.dive.is/Diving_Iceland.php?page=Silfra

Dave Robinson · November 26th, 2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hubert Hofer

hi Dave,
I've been diving since 1965 in lakes & oceans. Lakes are relatively straight forward whereas the ocean, boy, that's another caper. Where I am there are very strong currents & that requires some thinking especially for solo diving. I know I'm gonna get flak here but I prefer to dive without a buoyancy compensator because of the drag. Equilibrium is no problem as I use the same equipment every time which causes me absolutely no problems with buoyancy.
I usually start the dive 15 minutes before Slack Tide which gives me pretty well no current during the dive. If the current is a little strong I use a ski rope attached to the anchor chain. If the current is very strong I have a cold beer instead. This requires some planning also when the strong currents are on for several days.
happy diving

To be honest I've never heard of anyone diving without a BC. How do you attach the cylinder to yourself? Do you use some kind of wing design without the bladder fitted?

To be honest although it is frowned upon I do enjoy diving solo too. Although when I'm filming I tend to dive with a buddy to help carry some gear, and also hold on to me so I can remain stationary and still have two hands free.

Dave Robinson · November 26th, 2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Miller

Hello,

PADI Instructor. Diving since 1992 (originally certified NAUI when living in Texas). Lots of underwater video. Currently use a L&M Mako housing (with all the trimmings) for a Sony DCR SC-100 miniDV camcorder.

Feel very fortunate moving from the UK to North Carolina 10 years ago. Now I am just 3 hours from some of the best wreck diving in the world with fantastic visibility and sea life. I especially love the Sand Tiger sharks that like to come within a couple of feet - more so when the video lights are on!

Lo-res sample on youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tnOuDMFQe20

John.

Hey John, how close are you to Pensacola? (sp?)

I was watching a tv show about the Oriskany (sp?) Looks like a brilliant dive for the techies. Definitely something I want to investigate in the future.

Ron Chau · December 27th, 2007, 03:24 PM

I'm a diver doing about 3 trips a year, mostly in the Caribbean.

I have a Sony FX7, Gates housing and halogen lights for night and macro shooting.

Low resolution sample videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...9E1AB5C89781CB

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...12AFC6D5A84235

High resolution videos on divx stage6:
http://www.stage6.com/Belize-Scuba

http://www.stage6.com/Cocoview-Roatan

Would love to get some feedback and/or critiques.

Cliff Etzel · December 27th, 2007, 04:33 PM

I'm probably the exception to the rule for you bubble blowers.

I freedive while shooting video - in essence - I dive to about 10-15 meters on a single breath and shoot. I was doing this with a pair of TRV950's with a Light & Motion Bluefin 950 housing but I just transitioned over to a pair of HC7's and will be accepting delivery of an L&M Bluefin HC7 with wide angle port.

Train 5-6 days a week for shooting video while freediving using many of the techniques from Umberto Pelizzari's "Manual of Freediving" as well as practice a modified primary Ashtanga yoga series for added flexibility and breath control. I'm an IAFD Level III Freedive Instructor as well, although I haven't taught much since the demise of the organization I trained through.

Hoping to get a chance to dive and shoot footage of whale sharks and mantas next year. Did some shooting of Manatee's while in Florida first week of last month - very memorable experience.

Rick L. Allen · January 6th, 2008, 09:16 AM

Hello All,

I'm a trimix diver with Sony Z1 in an Amphibico Phenom housing, L&M HID lights, etc. My favorite dive spots are North Carolina and Truk/Chuuk lagoon. Sharks, shipwrecks and the Blackbeard/Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck are my specialties.

www.nautilusproductions.com

Bobby Arnold · January 8th, 2008, 01:29 AM

PADI Dive Master

I have some of my local Southern California dive videos (shot with the Sony HC7) here: www.mydivinglife.com/ScubaBob

November 8th, 2007, 03:54 AM	#1
Dave Robinson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Conwy, Wales Posts: 208	Diving Hi all, I know this is off topic but I've noticed there are a few divers on this board. I was just wondering about details: Diver organisations represented? Dive level? Equipment used etc... I'll start. I'm a member of the SAA and as such a member of CMAS. I'm an Open Water Diver / CMAS 2*. I'm also a member of PADI and Advanced Openwater with them. I dive mostly around North Wales which is cold but the visibility is sometimes very good, and there's plenty to see. Ofcourse I holiday in Egypt! ;-) I'm a firm believer that if you go diving the equipment could save your life so don't go cheap as such I used Aquatek Dry Suits, Poseidon Xtream Duration Regulators and Greenforce Torches, also, my computer is a Mares Nemo. I have done some diving at night, which could help with the current UWOL challenge but I don't own any particular good underwater camera gear. Just my Panasonic GS75 and an Epic Housing, which isn't weighted so I need to invest in some roofing lead to help get it down! If anyone is ever planning to visit North Wales the two inland dive sites I have to recommend are Vivian Quarry in Llanberis and Dorothea Quarry in Caernarfon. Dorothea has been in the media alot due to quite a few casualties there, but at the end of the day, it's only water and in itself not inherently dangerous, it just happens to be very deep. Dont let the medias depiction of the "Quarry of DEATH!!!!" put you off. Typical tabloid sensationalism. Anyway that's me as a diver hope to hear from more of you guys soon. Tata Dave

November 8th, 2007, 04:30 AM	#2
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	Hi Dave and everyone else… I’m a PADI Dive Master and IANTD adv. EANx diver. I worked as a diveguide and videographer in Thailand during two years and it was there I found my passion; to educate people about the environment and wildlife. Me divegear is tech oriented ‘cause I do also dive caves (this is a Swedish divegroup that I dive and video with, sorry the website are in Swedish but this is the link to our video archive, the last three are my productions). So the gear I’m using is twintank and Apeaks regs(Interesting that you Dave use Swedish gear and I use English…), Ursuit redQ drysuit and some times stage tanks/deco tank too (cavediving). The video gear I use are XL2 (3xWide or 20xStock), Gates housing, 2x35W Xenon light (homemade). Because I dive in cave I’m pretty calm about nightdive, the thing I would suggest before any one goes in the water in night are; 1 Know the spot, don’t go diving is a spot that you don’t know in daylight. 2 don’t go deep (if it is not the only way of getting the shots you what). 3 If it is a divespot that have lots of current, make sure that you know the way back and know more that one exit point if go get lost from the primary exit point. 4 (most important) IF it dose NOT feel go in any way, DO NOT GO DIVING! For safety, always keep some one on the surface as a lookout. Nightdives are really cool, the sea change totally compare to day. Everything gets really spooky, I love it! This is me… and my thoughts about diving at night in cold conditions (I love when the ice cold water bites in to your cheeks). Markus Nord __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

November 10th, 2007, 08:01 PM	#6
Hubert Hofer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Torres Strait - Australia Posts: 76	Diving hi Dave, I've been diving since 1965 in lakes & oceans. Lakes are relatively straight forward whereas the ocean, boy, that's another caper. Where I am there are very strong currents & that requires some thinking especially for solo diving. I know I'm gonna get flak here but I prefer to dive without a buoyancy compensator because of the drag. Equilibrium is no problem as I use the same equipment every time which causes me absolutely no problems with buoyancy. I usually start the dive 15 minutes before Slack Tide which gives me pretty well no current during the dive. If the current is a little strong I use a ski rope attached to the anchor chain. If the current is very strong I have a cold beer instead. This requires some planning also when the strong currents are on for several days. happy diving

November 22nd, 2007, 03:12 AM	#8
Vidar Vedaa Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: bergen norway Posts: 235	For diver Ther is a film on divefilm.com for the all ho love nature.DivefilmHD by Chuck Niclin`s episode 11.It´s realy a impressive film and so colorful. And some fantastic macros. VV. Weblink:http://divefilm.com/ Download free iTunes for Ipod TV _______________ Last edited by Vidar Vedaa; November 22nd, 2007 at 03:48 AM. Reason: Forgot the link

December 27th, 2007, 04:33 PM	#13
Cliff Etzel Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 325	I'm probably the exception to the rule for you bubble blowers. I freedive while shooting video - in essence - I dive to about 10-15 meters on a single breath and shoot. I was doing this with a pair of TRV950's with a Light & Motion Bluefin 950 housing but I just transitioned over to a pair of HC7's and will be accepting delivery of an L&M Bluefin HC7 with wide angle port. Train 5-6 days a week for shooting video while freediving using many of the techniques from Umberto Pelizzari's "Manual of Freediving" as well as practice a modified primary Ashtanga yoga series for added flexibility and breath control. I'm an IAFD Level III Freedive Instructor as well, although I haven't taught much since the demise of the organization I trained through. Hoping to get a chance to dive and shoot footage of whale sharks and mantas next year. Did some shooting of Manatee's while in Florida first week of last month - very memorable experience. __________________ Cliff Etzel - Photographer Website \| Blog

November 8th, 2007, 11:17 AM	#3
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	Hello, PADI Instructor. Diving since 1992 (originally certified NAUI when living in Texas). Lots of underwater video. Currently use a L&M Mako housing (with all the trimmings) for a Sony DCR SC-100 miniDV camcorder. Feel very fortunate moving from the UK to North Carolina 10 years ago. Now I am just 3 hours from some of the best wreck diving in the world with fantastic visibility and sea life. I especially love the Sand Tiger sharks that like to come within a couple of feet - more so when the video lights are on! Lo-res sample on youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tnOuDMFQe20 John.

November 8th, 2007, 03:35 PM	#4
Mat Thompson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 1,397	I'm a BSAC member and 1 day away from Sports Diver. I've been diving for about 18 months and done about 25 open water dives. I've done a few hours with the club UW rig, its only a Hi8 rig but it's given me a good taster to UW video.....and definitely want more ! I've never done a night dive however about a month ago we dived off New Haven and the weather hadn't been great for a week before. We got to 23M and it was ZERO vis....and I mean pitch black zero, not even the torch helped much because the light just bounces off all the crud! It was certainly an experience....but as we said at the time it can only get better :-) Nice footage John..you must have been excited....and nervous!

November 9th, 2007, 09:13 PM	#5
Catherine Russell Trustee Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lyons, Colorado Posts: 1,224	John! Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, WOW! My name is Cat Russell and I am landlocked here in Colorado, USA. That footage was amazing! I have, all tolled, logged maybe less than 6 hours of snorkeling all my life, but I sure appreciate footage like that (the You Tube one)! The closest I've come to a shark is several years ago I worked as an atmosperic scientist at NOAA and did several "scientific ship cruises" with work. We would be out at sea for 6 weeks at a shot and we always begged for a "swim call". It never happened, on all the cruises I've been on because on a previous cruise, at the end of a study, crystal clear day, mirror water... they allowed a swim call and immediately after everyone jumped in the water, a shark honed in... all got back to safety but before pulling in one girl into a patrolling raft they had a tug of war with her and the shark... they pulled her in, but the shark got her leg from the hip. Why do the fish swim with the shark? Everywhere it went, so did the fish? Just wondering, and thanks! Cat P.S. Mat: Leave it to you to be so multi dimensional! ;-)! How many other subjects are you master of?

November 13th, 2007, 09:38 AM	#7
Dave Robinson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Conwy, Wales Posts: 208	Anyone here ever dived in Iceland? My girlfriend and I are interested in checking out the Silfra crack.

November 26th, 2007, 10:47 AM	#9
Dave Robinson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Conwy, Wales Posts: 208	Click this link. You will understand why I want to film the Silfra. http://www.dive.is/Diving_Iceland.php?page=Silfra

December 27th, 2007, 03:24 PM	#12
Ron Chau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ny, ny Posts: 204	I'm a diver doing about 3 trips a year, mostly in the Caribbean. I have a Sony FX7, Gates housing and halogen lights for night and macro shooting. Low resolution sample videos on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...9E1AB5C89781CB http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...12AFC6D5A84235 High resolution videos on divx stage6: http://www.stage6.com/Belize-Scuba http://www.stage6.com/Cocoview-Roatan Would love to get some feedback and/or critiques.

January 6th, 2008, 09:16 AM	#14
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 535	Hello All, I'm a trimix diver with Sony Z1 in an Amphibico Phenom housing, L&M HID lights, etc. My favorite dive spots are North Carolina and Truk/Chuuk lagoon. Sharks, shipwrecks and the Blackbeard/Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck are my specialties. www.nautilusproductions.com

January 8th, 2008, 01:29 AM	#15
Bobby Arnold Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Laguna Beach, California Posts: 52	PADI Dive Master I have some of my local Southern California dive videos (shot with the Sony HC7) here: www.mydivinglife.com/ScubaBob __________________ Sony HDR-HC7, Gates HC7 Housing NiteRider HID Pro20 Lights WP25 W/A & FP25 Flat Port