Scuba gear

[davo99]

Hi thanks for everyones input.
Anyone recommend good dive sites around Balearics, Corsica etc??

Sadly marine life in the Med isn't a patch on say the Red Sea or Maldives, but some good cave, tunnel type dives around Menorca.

Some pics at http://www.sdconsulting.co.uk/scubapics

I'll let you know what diving Malta is like next week

 

[jfm]

Yup, few great dive sites, but there are some. I have a book (on the boat) that lists about 30 wrecks including a nice B17 Bomber in 20m or so off the Citadel at beautiful Calvi, in Corsica. Click thru the 5 pics on the homepage of http://www.divingcalvi.fr/

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I'm sure you or the owner has thought about it but can you get back on board easily with all your kit on? I'm guessing a 26m boat has something a little more substantial than the poxy boarding ladders we have on the size of boat I'm usually allowed on.

 

[Lozzer]

we have a hydraulic bathing platform that we can lower into the water.

Thanks for suggestions.

Clive yes it is a Princess and a very nice one.

 

[henryf]

In terms of try before you buy the main issue I found was getting the weight right, particularly because I was using a dry suit to make sure I was prepared all the year, (and because the first time I had to under the boat was in February. Why do you never have to go under in the blazing sun

The answer was to have plenty of weights on board. Given the emergency usage of my diving gear, I'm actually BSAC (from around 100 years ago), and PADI (if you can put your underpants on in the morning then you'll pass) certified, all I ended up with was a full size tank and a regulator. I don't use a BCD. I'm sure you will already be intending to but get plastic coated weights to reduce any chance of damage whilst on board.

When overseas I always use rental equipment and whilst some BCDs seem better balanced than others I've never struggled to find a neutral position. I think the manufacturers mentioned thus far are all going to produce decent gear.

The only other advice I could give would be to not let anyone know you have diving gear on board otherwise you'll be constantly under other people's boats

Henry

 

[BartW]

gear,
all major brands, Scubapro, Mares, Cressi, Apex, Suunto ...supply good equipment now aday's (yes specialised divers will have their preference)

about the tanks, have you considered 10l Carbon 300bar ?
they are light and compact, availability is a problem I have been told.

dive spots, heard good things about Corsica and sardegna, never dived myself,
but the best diving spots in the med I experienced are in SOF. the complete coast east from Marseille till Italy.
much better then, Spain, Malta, Croatia and Turkey.
there are good detailed books with accurate position, and advice about when to dive on the french south coats,
- best dives around Marseille
- best dives cote varoise
- best dives cote d'azur
- 100 wreck's around Marseille
and some more...
good luck and keep it save !

 

[colingr]

Sadly marine life in the Med isn't a patch on say the Red Sea or Maldives, but some good cave, tunnel type dives around Menorca.

Some pics at http://www.sdconsulting.co.uk/scubapics

I'll let you know what diving Malta is like next week

Get across to Gozo, Reqqa point is one of the best I've done huge reef down to 50+ metres. Also Xlendi bay, and the Inland Sea where you dive through an enclosed bay and out through a cave with a great drop off.

 

[Csail]

Need to ask swmbo but i bought her the full kit a year ago and she has never used it so might sell it.All top of the range kit.