Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Combat Cord

If you use a back plate it is very likely you have either bought a more expensive version of a harness or using a continuous webbing solution. There is either a bit canvas with Velcro on it holding your BCD hose and low pressure inflator in place or rigged up with some surgical tubing to do the same. Both methods work just fine.

Enter Combat Cord. It is an excellent alternative. Perhaps it is an ideal replacement for the aforementioned. In case of an emergency you are left with extremely durable cord. Bar the emergency and it acts as a perfect keeper of the two hoses. One of the benefits is that it fits around the webbing, BCD hose and inflator allowing easy access to raise them above your head. It slides up and down so you do not have to undo the velcro to allow trapped air to release. After 300 dives of testing/using, my Combat Cord has not lost it's color nor has it frayed. Unfortunately I have not had an emergency which required deployment, but will continue to dive with it should the occasion present itself. Actually, I hope the situation does not come up, but definitely recommend Combat Cord.


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Oceanic SWIV SPG


I'm not the usual "Dive Gear Review" contributor, but there are a few items I've been meaning to voice an opinion about.

SPGs.  An extremely important piece of equipment.  You're not much good on a dive if you don't know the pressure of the contents of your tank (we're in the 21st century, so no more J-valves for us!).   As a working dive instructor, I've always opted for a mechanical SPG, as opposed to a transducer linked to a dive computer.  The reasoning behind this is twofold: mechanical SPGs are not as expensive, but I've also seen far cases of the transducers failing.

Or so I thought, until I replaced my old Sherwood SPG (many years of use) with an Oceanic SWIV.  A quick online search shows it retailing for between USD 75 to 106.  After the first one flooded after less than 10 dives, I thought I might just have a defective product.  I replaced that one with another one on a console I used to use.  Another 5 dives, and that one also failed.  At this point, I'm not happy.  No pressure gauge, no work.  I had to replace it with a THIRD one (given to me by a friend, brand new, who was getting rid of her spare parts), until the new one I ordered could be shipped down.  When that one failed, I put my other backup old old Dacor, until I could get a new one got delivered (it can take up to two weeks, minimum, to get anything shipped to the island).




Before people start jumping down my throat about dust caps and flooding regulators, that definitely isn't what happened.  After the first one failed, I had my regulator (1st stage Scubapro MK2) fully serviced, and had the o-rings on my (new) high pressure hose inspected.

So...moral of the story: three thumbs down (one for each bad SPG).

Next up from me:  the successful replacement.

(cross-posted to The Coconut Tree Telegraph)

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Boat Coat

Here in Roatan we spend much of the year diving with 3mm suits or board shorts and a rash guard. That is all we usually need. The water temperature ranges from 80 + F  in the summer to   76 + F during the rainy season. Although some of us still do not use wet suits during the cooler months it gets chilly when you come out of the water. At times, with overcast and wind it becomes downright cold. Enter the boat coat. We bought a bunch of these for the entire staff at Coconut Tree Divers. They are a must have goodness of warmth when you come up from one of those dives. You do not even have to come out of your wetsuit, if you are using one. Simply throw this puppy on and you will skip the whole freezing during the surface interval bit.

We bought them from Trident and paid about $100 per coat. The brand was iDive. In a Google search the following came up from scuba.com. At the time of this entry, it was selling for $44. That is a steal and I highly recommend adding it onto the list of items to bring with you during the rainy season.

picture from Scuba.com
 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Akona Caicos Mask

This is the mask Coconut Tree Divers uses as a rental. It is an excellent entry level choice. Really, you could just skip the mention of entry level all together and say it is a good reliable mask. LeisurePro sells them for about $20.00. With all the different types of people that come into Coconut Tree Divers it is hard to find a one size fits all mask. This one has come up real close to fitting the bill.
 
If you are in the market for a new one, do not feel as though the more money you spend the better the mask. There is no direct correlation regarding more expensive = better mask at all. Read prior reviews on this blog as that has been debunked through hours of underwater use. The Oceanic Pioneer is a prime example as is the Oceanic Shadow, expensive and comfortable but not built to last. Yeah I did just use that line.  
 
Rental gear at our shop is used and abused. Not by all customers, but indeed by some. Kind of like the people who rent cars and run them to the ground. If it does not belong to them, some simply throw things around with little regard to their function or that other people will be using them. Case and point for the Akona Caicos mask. With all the abuse they receive through our shop, they are still providing divers hours of viewing pleasure and comfort.
 
As with most new masks, remember to clear off the coating manufacturers put on them to keep them from scracthing. You need to get that off to help prevent your mask from fogging up. Use a lighter to burn it off, provided it is tempered glass. They usually read Tempered or have a letter T to signify that. You can also use SoftScrub, which is used to clean tiles. When we introduce new masks here at the shop both methods are incorporated. We burn the inside of the lenses with a lighter, rinse them and follow up with a vigorous scubbing with SoftScrub.
 
Hope that helps.
 
Due to suggestions provided by websitegrader.com we are incorporating the Coconut Tree Telegraph blog and the DiveGearReview blog into one. We have also recruited to new writers, Diego and Kaela. They are both doing their PADI Divemaster training here with us and have long ties to Roatan, West End and ultimately to Coconut Tree Divers.
 
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
 
And by all means, if you enjoy the blog sign up. Have a great day!
 
 

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Dive Rite Classic Reel







When setting out to buy your own gear, it can be overwhelming with all the things you "should" get and those you "need." In the end, you don't need anything as most places have rental gear. Some will nickel and dime you for a snorkel, weights, mask ect. At Coconut Tree Divers you pay $35 per tank and that includes all your gear. If you have your own gear then the dives are $30 per tank. The point being that you can rent the gear, but it is nice to have your own.


Where does a reel end up in the things you need list? For us it is quite high as we do drift dives on a regular basis. For cave, tec, and  wreck divers it's a must. In our divemaster trainee program we make sure they know how to deploy them without being pulled to the surface by the surface marker buoy. If you are headed down to do your PADI Divemaster course with us, you will need one. It can be as simple as a finger reel, but you will need one. Gone are the days of wrapping 20ft of line to a 2 lb. weight. It's gone from our shop anyhow.  If you end up getting separated from your divegroup it is not a bad idea to have your own signaling device. In a high boat traffic area you are better off sending the marker buoy to the surface before you reach it and hopefully avoiding getting run over. It happens, and having a signal device floating on the surface is no guarantee that some yahoo will not head your way. At one point Rags had to push off the oncoming boat whose captain was paying no attention. And yes she did have an SMB deployed. For the most part, boat captains in Roatan respect them for what they represent, Divers Below. That’s my case for purchasing a reel and marker buoy. This review boils down to an endorsement of one that has been with me for over 4 years.
The Dive Rite Classic Safety Reel can be purchased at; DiveGearExpress for under $45. It has over 100 ft of line. You can now choose the color from white or orange for the line. There’s nothing better than an orange and blue reel, is there?  I’m rooting for the Florida Gators tonight against the Volunteers.

What you might be careful with is the lock down screw. It’s what keeps the reel from unraveling. If you unscrew it too much it will come right off. It's a pain when it comes out all the way as it's made of plastic. After a couple of time of going back in the plastic gets chewed up. Luckily you can purchase them  for about a $1. Apparently this has been addressed in the newer version of the DR Classic Safety Reel. The other consideration is for the actual SMB. How you attach it will help you stay streamlined and keep it from getting caught up while diving sites like Canyon Reef and Hole in the Wall. I use a wrist band and attach it to the reel itself.

If you find these useful, please the time to join the DiveGearReview  Blog. Thanks and have a spectacular day. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Big Blue CF 250 with Goodman's glove


Big Blue, who are they? We had never heard of this dive light company, but Jose first gave them a try by purchasing the CF250 light with neoprene glove for easy hands free operation. At 250 lumens, this light has a double o-ring seal, magnetic switch, a twisting bezel that focuses the beam angle from 6 to 31 degrees, AND it only uses 3 AAA batteries which when freshly charged, will run for over an hour and still shine brightly!

A few months later Marco and Rags also purchased the same light. We have never had any problems with them even after more than 500 dives each. We have them with us on every single dive...divers love it  when you are able to show them the true colors of the reef, even during the day!  It also makes pointing out critters much easier (this is where the narrow beam comes in handy!), without having to get too close to the sensitive coral formations - always a good thing when following the Roatan Marine Park regulations of not getting too close to avoid any incidental damage!

These lights are also great if you are taking pictures or video underwater the hands free operation the G-Glove makes focusing your camera during macro photography much easier.

That's from Jose Silva who is closing in on 1000 PADI Certifications (now en route to Maui with 35 certifications to go!).

The only gripe with the light is the Glove's longevity - the Velcro (tm) attachments do wear out after a while.  It is an excellent concept that, surprisingly enough, has not been adopted by other light manufacturers. It's amazingly useful and comfy. When you need light simply flip over the switch.

Other lights also use double O-ring technology as does this one. To turn them on you unscrew the light. If you keep going they shut off. Keep going after that and they flood. Yikes, that was dumb is when I realized my awesome Hollis light failed. That's a user error I accept.  Was looking for something different this time (duh!). Hence copying Jose and his "light." We give it double OKs.

We purchased a charger and we reuse batteries over an over. We no longer worry about whose batteries they are. The lights have undergone lots of testing, under "live" conditions. Easy conditions in fact. That's why we live here, silly. Again, if they can't work here, how can they work elsewhere? It's not like Monty does the 430 ft Trimix dives every month, not yet anyhow.

The solution for the failing Velcro (tm) on both the palm of your hand and the wrist is as follows; The hand strap can be kept together by wrapping duct tape.  At the time of writing, it has been holding up for over a week. This is after six months of daily use. I do not take the light into confined water on a regular basis. If I had tweet this review and you trusted the content above, it would read something like; The Big Blue CF 250 is a good acquisition.  The wrist Velcro can be folded over itself as shown in the picture.

The cost of the light was about $135 back when we bought them. Today September 12, 2012 it is selling for about $89 atLeisurePro. Be warned, there are some crappy reviews on there, which are quite ridonculous. It does not turn on by unscrewing it. Regardless, we promised to keep these honest.

We are gearing up for the Roatan Fishing Tournament this week-end. As of this entry I had son, little William Alexander.  Thanks for reading. Join the blog and let us know if there is any particular set of gear you would like tested and reviewed. Best wishes from Roatan. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at;  Coconut Tree Divers

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Hollis S-series Bladder

Two of us use this Hollis S-series bladder, Jose and I. We bought them at about the same time, roughly over a year ago. To date and over 500 dives on each bladder, earn it the double OK. Better yet, the thing is well made.

For those who are thinking about switching to a back-plate, I highly recommend it. With a jacket style BCD, the bladder wraps around your body. As you add air, it fills up around and squeezes you depending on how much air is being added and how snug it has been adjusted to begin with. The jacket style bladders allow for a higher range of motion, meaning that the air can shift from one side to the other throwing off your buoyancy a bit. At times air gets trapped on one side and does not shift over to the BCD hose side. Granted one can become very efficient at controlling this. It is more of a comfort thing when it comes to back-plates. Either jacket or wing,  divers should remember to hold their BCD hoses at the highest point which may include getting into a vertical position to allow expanding air to vent, or any air for that matter.

This really was not meant to be a sales pitch for why one should purchase a back plate, but if you are looking for this type of set-up the Hollis S-series bladder is an excellent choice. The previous bladder I had was a Dive Rite. It unraveled at the seams within 5 months of use. The craftsmanship of the Hollis is heaps better than the Dive Rite. The BCD hose on the Hollis is double stitched and has a bit of protective material sewn to prevent tearing right where it attaches to the bladder itself. The Dive Rite seems to have been put together and never tested. The same thing happened to one Rags, a fellow instructor here at Coconut Tree Divers, used as well a previous instructor. Stick to the the Dive Rite regulator but not the travel wing. This is coming from someone who uses dive gear six days a week. If you plan on using it once a year, don't worry about it.

I purchased my wing from LeisurePro as did Jose. Should you have any questions feel free to contact us via our website.

As of this writing, I am expecting my first child to be born any day now. I will let you know if it turns out to be William Alexander or Gabrielle Alexie.


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Mares JAX Custom Mouthpiece


If you dive, chances that you are using a mouthpiece are at about 100%. If you have your own reg, and you use it regularly chances that you’ve replaced the mouthpiece are also pretty high. Initially divers tend to clench down on the mouthpiece. In time the tabs crack off.  Not to mention that the diver ends up with a sore jaw. Enter a custom mouthpiece. The Mares store down the road here in West End sells them for about $30. It’s quite a lot when you compare it to $5 the standard mouthpieces cost. You know what they say, once you go custom mouthpiece you don’t go back. 
How long do they last? The current one on my reg has lasted over two years. Having one on your reg for 15 years when it’s not being used is not an accurate comparison.  That’s just to cover the heckler who says he’s had one for over 200 years. You know the one who goes to work uphill and then goes home uphill again.
Tree, our equipment manager changes mouthpieces anywhere from 2 a week to about 10. The spike is in direct correlation, we believe, to new divers who chew them up. 
The custom mouthpiece is really comfortable. It gets a double OK. For someone with a small mouth, you might have to trim it. Feel free to comment on your experience with this mouthpiece or better yet, join the blog. 
Thanks for coming and happy bubbles.
Here is a description of the Mares JAX Mouthpiece found at DivingDirect

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dive Rite First Stage "bulletproof"


As a new diver you will eventually start buying your own gear. Walking into a store can present endless options ranging from more affordable options to not so affordable. We want, as always, to provide an honest guide to help your decision making when it comes to those purchases. The cost, in the end is not really the issue, it is the longevity and performance of the gear that is.

For the last seven years Coconut Tree Divers has been using the Dive Rite 1200 series first stage. In the words of Tree, the equipment manager, it is bulletproof. To date we have 27 in service on the rental rack. They are regularly maintained which includes; taking them apart, cleaning them, replacing O-rings, lubricating and putting them back together. It is all easy to do, although the recommendation is to let a qualified person take care of this for you. If you work in the industry and you do not have access to a "certified tech" they are simple to work on. You need to have the tools to take them apart
and the service kits.
The shop offers four dives a day. The morning boat leaves at 9:00 AM for a deep dive (30m/100 ft. or more) followed by a second dive at around 11:00 depending on the previous dive time. Usually they last anywhere from 45 minutes to 70 minutes. The morning boat gets back to the dock at around 12:30 pm with the next boat going out at 1:00 and 2:30 pm respectively. Afternoon dives are usually limited to 18m/ 60 ft. The point of all this is that the regulators get used constantly. At times, they go from the hands of one diver to the rinse tank and then another diver or student. Usually we add to that a couple of night dives. The Dive Rite first stage is a work horse. They are not very expensive and they are very reliable. When a particular piece of equipment works reliably, the staff ends up adopting it. Several of us have switched to Dive Rite first stages. Coconut Tree Divers has a total commitment to the safety of its divers. A quick read on TripAdvisor will show among several common themes, safety. With that in mind, we stand behind the Dive Rite first stage.


Monty our commercial diver and  Tec Instructor also uses these first stages for Tec dives and as rental gear for the Tec courses.

Bottom line, the Dive Rite first stage receives double OKs.

For a product description visit DiveGearExpress.com


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS

Some divers love taking underwater pictures as do the staff at Coconut Tree Divers. The question arises time and time again as to which camera and housing to buy. We were looking for an entry level camera for the new underwater photographer. Also, for a solution to use as a rental camera that would not break the bank. With that mentioned, we also wanted a camera that took good quality pictures. Finally we wanted something that was easy to use.

Enter the 12.1 mega pixels Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS Digital Elph. As of this writing the Camera can be purchased via eBay for $150.00 or less. It is a small and compact point and shoot, likely the standard these days. The housing we selected for this camera is a Canon WP-DC36. It retails on Amazon for $190. There are several waterproof cameras but as of late they are limited to about 33 feet. There is plenty of life at that depth, but our morning dives are generally down to 100 feet. The afternoon dives max out at 60 feet. Until these depths increase we will continue purchasing housings for our cameras.

Originally we were thinking of purchasing the Canon PowerShot G12. That is an excellent choice, but quite more expensive. Jose, our in house photographer started searching and purchased an SD1300 for himself. It has worked superbly. It is extremely easy to use and provided you put a big enough SD card in it, video is also available. As part of our Divemaster program we have started to get DMts who are further along in the program to take pictures. We want them to experience taking the pictures and uploading them to social media sites. Also to be able to put together movie clips which may also be shared online or on a flat screen at the shop. Many of the shots on our Facebook page come from this little camera. We are not implying that the more expensive solutions do not work, simply that this one does. As someone trying to purchase all your gear, the dollars add up quickly.

It has an underwater setting. The flash can be turned on or off with ease, macro mode is available and the video mode is also accessible underwater. Some cameras don't let you switch. This camera gets a double OK.



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Cressi AquaPro


As one can imagine a diveshop uses BCDs a good amount. At Coconut Tree Divers our business succeeds as a result of fun divers, new diver training, and continuing education. There's a whole lot more regarding why we are successful and that has to do mainly with our customer base, their satisfaction and the high volume of them who return. The point being that it doesn't come from high volume of gear sales. In any case, the gear we do purchase takes a beating as it goes straight to the rental rack. We get to find out what works, what doesn't, and what will we consider buying more of. When we first received our order of about 15 Cressi AquaPro BCDs a little over a year ago, there were doubts as to how they would perform and last. It did not seem as though they were made with longevity in mind.



Our BCDs get used about four times a day, seven days a week. The sizes we end up using the most are XS, SM, MD. We definitely use LG and XL but not as much as the others. It just so happens that we ordered five of each the more popular sizes. This week we ordered more of them. The current ones are not being replaced, they are simply taking over the racks. 

Among the features of Cressi AquaPro are the integrated weight fold out pockets.   Another popular BCD we have used is the Oceanic OceanPro. The pockets on the Oceanics get lost quite easily and they break just easy. Replacing them becomes an unnecessary expense when compared to the Cressi BCDs. This Cressi allows you to put your weights in the pocket, fold it up and clip it. In case of an emergency the clips are easily undone and the weights fall right out.


Another good thing from a rental perspective is that they display their size on the shoulder strap. They have big letters aiding whomever is outfitting customers for a boat dive or confined water quickly. The drawback is that once these letters fall, there is no back up letting you know what size it is. Oh, and the letters do fall off.


They have several dump valves. There is one at the end of the BCD hose, another on the right shoulder, and a third just above your right butt cheek. These all have lanyards that have been cleverly threaded through a loop in the material for easy dumping of excess air. Unfortunately, those long lanyards get caught and ripped right off. In the end they serve simply as dump valves for those who fill their BCDs to capacity. Someone who purchased one of these BCDs would likely care for it more than the usual rental gear user, thus they would likely last longer. That's for you to decide.

We were concerned about the inflators. They too have lasted the test of 100s of dives. They are a bit slow at inflating, but not a show stopper. They are not that complicated to take apart and clean either.

They also have a white lanyard used as trim for aesthetic purposes. Most of those are falling apart. It didn't happen to every BCD but to quite a few. We fixed that by cutting them with scissors. In the end they have have some minor glitches, (i.e. the sizes coming off and the aesthetic trim not lasting) but they are an excellent value for the cost.

If you are looking for a jacket style BCD that is not going to break the bank. The Cressi AquaPro may be just what you are looking for. Google has them listed for $230.


Monday, January 23, 2012

ScubaPro Seawing Nova Fins


These fins get tremendously positive reviews in lots of places. It is in part why DiveGearReview was created. Giving the reader honest feedback, not fluff or the result of someone buying ad space on a magazine.

The write up on these puppies goes like: "Seawing Nova combines classic SCUBAPRO fin technology with the latest innovations in hydrodynamic design and cutting edge materials. This fin has the power, acceleration and maneuverability of a paddle fin with the comfort, efficiency and effortless speed of split fins. The articulated joint allows the blade to pivot and the entire blade is able to generate thrust. Clean water blade geometry for optimum propulsion. Water is free to flow onto the working section of the blade, drag is reduced and thrust increased. Variable pivot control ribs insures that the most efficient angle of attack is maintained across all strengths of kick. Ergonomic foot pocket with extended heel plate insuring ultimate power transmission with less leg strain. Heavy duty marine grade bungee strap system for easy to wear comfort. Durable Monprene construction making Seawing virtually indestructible. Available in black and white."


All this talk of articulated, hydrodynamic, acceleration, maneuverability, comfort and ability to generate thrust is quite intriguing. Then you look at the price tag for them, on average $200 and one thinks, they must be amazing. Check out Divers-Supply.  They just might be what they advertise for the week-end warrior. Not so for those who plan to do more than say, 10 dives a year. 


A friend bought a pair for himself and his wife before coming down to work full time as instructors here at Coconut Tree Divers. This Canadian couple is all about excellence in dealing with customers and students. The attitude spills over to their gear. Hence, the choice of spending $400 on two sets of these Seawing Nova Fins. To be fair, they supposedly come with a lifetime warranty. Nice, if you have a ScubaPro shop who will replace them every 200 dives. Like clockwork, the two sets of fins tore in exactly the same spot on each of the four fins. Not bad for accelerated articulation... blah, blah, blah. They get two thumbs down, way down. Perhaps one could purchase three sets and have them on a return rotation schedule but I am a dive instructor. In Roatan, Honduras it would take ages for them to get replaced. In the meantime one would have to use the reliable shop rental fins. By the way, what is the difference between a dive instructor and a table? The table can support a family of four. Guess who will not be buying three sets for the rotation thought. 



If you already have a pair, good luck. If you are not planning on doing much diving, they will likely work out well. If you are thinking about purchasing them, here is the the deal, the value of these fins is not worth the price tag. You decide.