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Less is best. No we do not carry extra bottom timers , since we
already have two or three - one on each buddy, and since we are not
operating in the "mortal fear" mode taught by the training agencies. We
use our other available tools to determine depth and time - simple
things like gas consumption, for example.
The clutter has to be kept down : the less crap on the diver, the
safer he actually is. The more clutter and crap, the more he is a danger
to himself and others. Picture some helmet-wearing, butt-mounting,
tripple computer toting stroke playing the bagpipes on his multiple
bondage wing inflators sailing up and down on the deco line, kicking you
in the face and making you seasick from watching his IANBTD stickers
twirling around.
For long dives where important things like what restaurant we are
going to eat dinner at come into play, some of us carry watches. I use
the 200 meter Iron Man , high rollers like Jablonski use the "G Shock".
He likes to use its timer feature to signal his deco stops, I carry mine
to be sure not to get out too late to make it to Lucy Ho's. Our problem
is that the timer rolls over so many times that we lose track of how
many 100 minute intervals have gone by - not a problem for most people.
Believe it or not, you can lose track. These are small watches, and I
usually carry mine clipped off in my pocket.
On the compass thing, I carry one on my wrist ( my non-scooter
wrist) so I can continuously check the bearing of the cave. It is a
reverse bezel Suunto held on with little bungee straps that reads the
direction I am heading. Same for ocean diving, I illuminiate it with the
cave light every so often so that it glows. This is also my "redundant"
survey compass. The real survey compass is a Sunnto Forestry version,
and I use a rubber band to hold it on my wrist while surveying. The rest
of the time it is parked in the survey book. Lanyards are a "no no" here
since they can get hung up and they especially like the scooter hub. A
rubber band just breaks. I hold the book, compass, and pencil in the
left hand with the light while running between stations.
Another big trick to dive gear is money management. The less
bullshit you get suckered into buying, the more money you have for real
redundancy, like extra reg sets, and the more money you have for the
really fun toys. For example, for the price of a set of bondage wings
and a computer, you can own a Mako scooter and a proper set of wings.
Figure it out. Besides, when you show up with a scooter, people think
you are a player. When you show up with bondage wings and a computer,
they know you are not.
It is the same in all sports. I was trying to be a nickel rocket
and use the same shoes for spinning as for my racing bike. My trainer
told me that I had to get the right shoes, since nobody would have the
confindence to ride behind me if they saw those shoes.
When you show up with ten computers and the other crap, you are
scaring everyone, and basicly saying, " I am a novice who is scared
shitless, a common stroke".
"Technical" divng means doing it right, not doing it with more
"tech" gear".
--
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