Today I acquired...........

[4String.]

According to the Head of Intelligence at home, and out of the 2 of us it was never likely to be me , today I've acquired some new rechargeable AA, AAA, and C batteries, which should put an end to the problem of my dive lights and camera strobe going flat after one dive. And there's also a bottle of gorgeous whisky been delivered as well:




Discovered Muckle Flugga whisky by accident last year when I took a load up to Shetland, and it's become my favourite drink, so OH bought me a bottle for my holiday . And hopefully a new diving regulator will arrive tomorrow . Just had my old ones serviced, and even though there's still plenty of life in them they're 20 years old , so I'll save them for shallower diving and make the new one my primary reg:


Scubapro Mk 25 "Evo" first stage, (the bit that screws to the cylinder), full cold water spec with more than enough low pressure and high pressure ports for me, and a swivelling turret to allow for optimum hose configuration, and an S600 second stage, (the bit that goes in yer gob). Super smooth delivery of air, adjustable knobs that I've never figured out , and a shiny piece of titanium on the front to make me look trendy .

My old regs are Scubapro and have performed faultlessly since I bought them new over 20 years ago, so the new one has a hard act to follow.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Scuba Pro makes nice equipment, doesn't get any better for sporting use. I still have a couple of suitcases full of scuba gear along with my Mark 7 honker Reg. and a couple of 45 cu. ft. tanks. It's been many years since I've been down below, and I probably won't be using any of it again; but my Niece loves the water so it might be worth saving some things for her. Think I'll have to have a look and rediscover what's there when the Wife and I go to our storage unit tomorrow.

 

[4String.]

Scuba Pro makes nice equipment, doesn't get any better for sporting use. I still have a couple of suitcases full of scuba gear along with my Mark 7 honker Reg. and a couple of 45 cu. ft. tanks. It's been many years since I've been down below, and I probably won't be using any of it again; but my Niece loves the water so it might be worth saving some things for her. Think I'll have to have a look and rediscover what's there when the Wife and I go to our storage unit tomorrow.

Iirc, Scubapro have/had the patent for diving regulators for many a year, and yes, they make top notch kit.

Still haven't got to grips with the American use of cubic feet for tanks, though. We always refer to them in litres, so I use either 12 or 15 litre 232 bar tanks, with a 3 litre "pony" for back-up. It's the same in my industry as well. My wagon operates at 44 ton gross, but you chaps would call that 100,000 lbs .

 

[Maker]

How do you get into diving? It's something I'd love to try out but there's obviously a lot of gear and knowledge to do it safely.

 

[Cobbler]

Iirc, Scubapro have/had the patent for diving regulators for many a year, and yes, they make top notch kit.

Still haven't got to grips with the American use of cubic feet for tanks, though. We always refer to them in litres, so I use either 12 or 15 litre 232 bar tanks, with a 3 litre "pony" for back-up. It's the same in my industry as well. My wagon operates at 44 ton gross, but you chaps would call that 100,000 lbs .

It was cu ft in general use when I trained, it was 1976 though! Actual capacity, not water capacity, BSAC tables were in metres though. Still got a Poseidon DV in the shed, well knackered now, hoses perished, but loath to chuck it even though it’s well beyond repair.

 

[snoozer]

How do you get into diving? It's something I'd love to try out but there's obviously a lot of gear and knowledge to do it safely.

I was told years ago the first step is to find a swimming pool with a deep end

 

[Nick DV]

And there's also a bottle of gorgeous whisky been delivered as well:


View attachment 245792

Discovered Muckle Flugga whisky by accident last year when I took a load up to Shetland, and it's become my favourite drink, so OH bought me a bottle for my holiday . And hopefully a new diving regulator will arrive tomorrow . Just had my old ones serviced, and even though there's still plenty of life in them they're 20 years old , so I'll save them for shallower diving and make the new one my primary reg:

Still haven't tried this one yet, but is definitely on my whisky wish list

 

[jimbo84]

How do you get into diving? It's something I'd love to try out but there's obviously a lot of gear and knowledge to do it safely.

Find a local school/club. Some do a "try dive" before you invest in the qualification to see if you like it.

I did my PADI openwater/drysuit with the local club, classroom lessons, swimming pool sessions then in the water (a flooded quarry in my case). I never owned any kit just a mask and gloves, everything else I hired cheaply from the club for any dives.

Went on a few dives with the club locally then we went on holiday to Malta and did some very nice dives there with a local guide/dive centre.

A bad bout of anxiety ended my relatively short diving journey and I've not been in the water for 4 years now.

It's a great sport, and a great thing to do and generally the people/clubs are friendly and very helpful and a good crack

 

[4String.]

Find a local school/club. Some do a "try dive" before you invest in the qualification to see if you like it.

I did my PADI openwater/drysuit with the local club, classroom lessons, swimming pool sessions then in the water (a flooded quarry in my case). I never owned any kit just a mask and gloves, everything else I hired cheaply from the club for any dives.

Went on a few dives with the club locally then we went on holiday to Malta and did some very nice dives there with a local guide/dive centre.

A bad bout of anxiety ended my relatively short diving journey and I've not been in the water for 4 years now.

It's a great sport, and a great thing to do and generally the people/clubs are friendly and very helpful and a good crack

Spot on .

Me and my ex first dived while on holiday in Corfu back in 1993. There was a large group of us that day and we dived in 3 "waves" , and I loved it from the moment I stuck my head under the surface. My ex struggled at first, as did one or two others, but she persevered and managed it in the end, and not long after we moved up to Oban where we got seriously immersed in the sport.

And it's not just the diving for me, I love the whole scene. As @jimbo84 says, divers are by and large a friendly bunch, and I've had some fabulous days out on the water in good company. Days such as one where we dived the wreck of the Thesis in the Sound of Mull with a group from Carlisle and spent the surface interval between dives watching Golden Eagles soaring through a clear blue sky. Not a breath of wind and flat calm water, that was a stunning day, and while admittedly it's not always like that, when it is there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

 

[Cobbler]

Are you still at Uni next year Maker, there is bound to be a club as part of the activities, they may well get assistance from the Uni with costs.

Edit, yes there is a club

https://www.bsac.com/club-life/find-a-bsac-club/sheffield-university/#contact

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Discovered Muckle Flugga whisky by accident last year

Never heard of that one. . Enjoy!!

Sounds like you've got a gem in SWMBO.

 

[Maker]

Are you still at Uni next year Maker, there is bound to be a club as part of the activities, they may well get assistance from the Uni with costs.

Edit, yes there is a club

https://www.bsac.com/club-life/find-a-bsac-club/sheffield-university/#contact

Yeah I've got another year. Just had a look on the Sport Sheffield website, looks like the "Give it a go" session shortly after freshers week is the only chance to sign up so I better remember, I might be able to persuade a couple of housemates to come too. Just need to remember at the time, I've been meaning to join the cycling and climbing clubs for three years.

 

[Cobbler]

I’m very much out of date now but, most of the clubs liked to take new members in the autumn, this allows all the training to be done over the winter with no pressure & ready for open water diving in the spring. Depending on how far you want to take it, it can get quite involved with boat handling & things allied to the diving.

 

[Maker]

We'll see how far I get, I've probably got enough expensive hobbies already.

 

[steviec_lj]

Ooooooooo



Boxes of goodies.



Brand spanking new, fantastic deal from @Tom Orrow L, a few extras chucked in for good measure too.

Parweld XTM211Di Multi Process Welder.
MIG, AC TIG, DC TIG & MMA in one unit, at half the price of the ESAB offering. It was this that pushed me to dropping brand loyalty, and the good things I’ve heard about the Parweld kit.

Came as standard with a Digital MIG torch, Digital TIG Torch and Gas Regulator. I added a foot pedal to the deal just because I could.

Sold the ESAB as we closed the deal on this too, so effectively only cost me £900, in fact thinking about it, I managed to sell quite a bit recently so it’s probably only cost me a couple of hundred and streamlined the workshop too!

Might look at a couple of the GYS units and treat the lads on the farm too..

 

[Chillitt]

5.5 square meters of tumbled travertine tiles, so I can finally get rid of the horrible 6" white ones that have been annoying me got years. Told a mate and he found me a bag of tile adhesive. Just sealer and grout to find then.

 

[Ruffian]

Ooooooooo

View attachment 245826

Boxes of goodies.

View attachment 245827

Brand spanking new, fantastic deal from @Tom Orrow L, a few extras chucked in for good measure too.

Parweld XTM211Di Multi Process Welder.
MIG, AC TIG, DC TIG & MMA in one unit, at half the price of the ESAB offering. It was this that pushed me to dropping brand loyalty, and the good things I’ve heard about the Parweld kit.

Came as standard with a Digital MIG torch, Digital TIG Torch and Gas Regulator. I added a foot pedal to the deal just because I could.

Sold the ESAB as we closed the deal on this too, so effectively only cost me £900, in fact thinking about it, I managed to sell quite a bit recently so it’s probably only cost me a couple of hundred and streamlined the workshop too!

Might look at a couple of the GYS units and treat the lads on the farm too..

I had heard about this all in one machine from parweld.
Does look epic.
Just awaiting to see what the retail and then realistic prices are.

 

[steviec_lj]

I had heard about this all in one machine from parweld.
Does look epic.
Just awaiting to see what the retail and then realistic prices are.

Just shy of £2k with what’s pictured.

Not ashamed to spend it either

 

[pcwizme]

Laser engraver / cutter number 4, this ones a little (400 x 430mm bed) cost about £180 from Gearbest, plan is to build an enclosure and use it at craft fairs and events to personalise items while people wait (sat next to it is a triceratops rear legs cut out and ready for packaging)

 

[bigegg]

A gallenhamp electric muffle furnace.
No pics, as it's still in the back of the car.
Sold as "spares/repairs" for £25.
First glance says it needs one of the element wires reattaching at the controller end (pulled out of junction box) - seller says its ok apart from that, but needed rid as he was "clearing out".

So i had a look round at his other stuff, and got this for a tenner:

Its a "churchill corona" bench drill in case the pics aren't clear.