Whats on the Christmas list??

Yep. It's a brilliant toy. Grip with your teeth and take the seabob down to 4 metres for a couple of minutes, or when snorkelling/swimming take a small rock in your hand (grab a few off the beach) and be able to swim down to a few metres depth for a bit then jettison the rock. Brilliant toy (bought as a present btw by a group of kind posters on here, for my birthday!). It is totally clobber free diving.

Just to be clear all the bits and pieces in the picture are peripheral. The bit you take swimming is just the yellow bottle with the black top (= regulator) and the grey rubber mouthpiece (plus a lanyard is you're a sissy). The rest stays behind.
 
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The bit you take swimming is just the yellow bottle with the black top (= regulator) and the grey rubber mouthpiece (plus a lanyard is you're a sissy). The rest stays behind.

Thanks jfm. I was wondering how it worked, and to what it was attached, so looked up some videos to learn that it just dangles from your mouth...Obvious I guess

Cant wait to give it a try and find out if my teeth are up to it..
 
Thanks jfm. I was wondering how it worked, and to what it was attached, so looked up some videos to learn that it just dangles from your mouth...Obvious I guess

Cant wait to give it a try and find out if my teeth are up to it..
Yep, dangles from mouth. Almost neutrally buoyant in water of course. If you can eat an apple you'll be ok!
 
Cant wait to give it a try and find out if my teeth are up to it..

You do need some very basic diving knowledge before you use one of those, to know when you should be breathing out. You also really need a normal size tank on board to fill it up. Great though for a quick explore around the boat, checking the anchor, freeing fouling from the prop etc.
 
You do need some very basic diving knowledge before you use one of those, to know when you should be breathing out. You also really need a normal size tank on board to fill it up. Great though for a quick explore around the boat, checking the anchor, freeing fouling from the prop etc.

Good advice Im sure. Its one of the things on the winter todo list to get at least the initial part of the training done with perhaps the open water dives completed when in warmer waters (wimp I know!)...
 
Thanks for the suggestions, the Christmas list is looking much healthier... in fact will need to spread stuff between Christmas and Birthday in May.... and even then only allow SWMBO to wrap and not to see the bills!!

One thing that I do have on the list is a folding electric bike. This hasn't been mentioned yet. Is it a good idea? Will it prove useful for shopping and get used around Mallorca or just get in the way? We don't have bikes at home so not the sort to cycle for fun, but imagine that having one (or two?) could be a bonus for exploring or collecting more Cava!
 
Thanks for the suggestions, the Christmas list is looking much healthier... in fact will need to spread stuff between Christmas and Birthday in May.... and even then only allow SWMBO to wrap and not to see the bills!!

One thing that I do have on the list is a folding electric bike. This hasn't been mentioned yet. Is it a good idea? Will it prove useful for shopping and get used around Mallorca or just get in the way? We don't have bikes at home so not the sort to cycle for fun, but imagine that having one (or two?) could be a bonus for exploring or collecting more Cava!

We 'upgraded' from folding Batribikes this season and now run two Bosch Bikes; haven't looked back. We found the Batribikes to be great fun, they work on the throttle only and while they don't fold to a tiny form factor, they were easier to store than our new bikes. Downside is that they don't suit touring, can't take a serious pannier and if I'm being entirely honest, they look a little silly. Still we racked up 800km in our 6 week trip last year; there's some video here
We moved them on through eBay this year and bought the Bosch Drive bikes, what a revelation. It's a different system, doesn't push you along, rather it assists the effort required by the cyclist. The beauty being that you can use the bike without any assist and there's little pay off and as you require, move through the assist settings to suit your fitness and terrain.
We circumnavigated Jersey on a lovely day this June, the battery lasted the recorded 60m and that's carrying me, a 200lb tubster.
If you want range, versatility and something a little more serious for doing more than shopping runs and light exploring I would have a good look at the options before you buy.
The only downside to the Bosch Bikes, (apart from price), is the form factor. They're no heavier but they are full size bicycles. I'm having a rack made for my tender garage and will post a video when it's done, next May.

But really recommend having some sort of bike for your travels.....

Oh, bike footage is at 1 minute mark on the video...
 
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We 'upgraded' from folding Batribikes this season and now run two Bosch Bikes; haven't looked back. We found the Batribikes to be great fun, they work on the throttle only and while they don't fold to a tiny form factor, they were easier to store than our new bikes. Downside is that they don't suit touring, can't take a serious pannier and if I'm being entirely honest, they look a little silly. Still we racked up 800km in our 6 week trip last year; there's some video here
We moved them on through eBay this year and bought the Bosch Drive bikes, what a revelation. It's a different system, doesn't push you along, rather it assists the effort required by the cyclist. The beauty being that you can use the bike without any assist and there's little pay off and as you require, move through the assist settings to suit your fitness and terrain.
We circumnavigated Jersey on a lovely day this June, the battery lasted the recorded 60m and that's carrying me, a 200lb tubster.
If you want range, versatility and something a little more serious for doing more than shopping runs and light exploring I would have a good look at the options before you buy.
The only downside to the Bosch Bikes, (apart from price), is the form factor. They're no heavier but they are full size bicycles. I'm having a rack made for my tender garage and will post a video when it's done, next May.

But really recommend having some sort of bike for your travels.....

Oh, bike footage is at 1 minute mark on the video...

Do the new ones power without peddling? - like in your video.

A new law comes into force in Jan next year.
I wonder what "plonker" dreamed up that law - I bet it is another EU law that we haven't had any input into.

The bikes that we have are these:-
http://www.asbikes.co.uk/

Note - see the above link - they are now "Sold Out" because of the change of law.
Pathetic - isn't it!!

These AS bikes are great value though!!!
 
Great video. The bikes do look like fun. Storage is my concern (no tender garage) so will need to fold to get in crew cabin when necessary. Has anyone tried the Gocycle? I saw them at SIBS. Again, not cheap! http://gocycle.com/product/
Tried one for a day and felt that apart from being overpriced, they are not for boating, lots of style....
Best solution for storage would be a Brompton with an electric post fit, they come in at half the price of a go cycle and store well.
 
Do the new ones power without peddling? - like in your video.

A new law comes into force in Jan next year.
I wonder what "plonker" dreamed up that law - I bet it is another EU law that we haven't had any input into.

The bikes that we have are these:-
http://www.asbikes.co.uk/

Note - see the above link - they are now "Sold Out" because of the change of law.
Pathetic - isn't it!!

These AS bikes are great value though!!!

No, you have to pedal. It's difficult to describe the sensation versus a hub bike, but the effort required is minimal depending on the setting and any hill is easier than versus a hub bike with small rims.

We had the throttle on the Batribikes, teenager didn't pedal once all summer! Mind you we were getting 60 miles from a 13 amp battery, he was getting maybe 35....
 
iPad pro plus navionics would be nice in the stocking. Also, SWMBO may accept it has more use than just a plotter ?

Ok so not wanting to show off but we got out ipad pros on Thursday and the first app we loaded was navionics.
It's would be a game changer BUT...they haven't updated the app to utilise multitasking, when they do it will be a huge step change.
Lovely bit of kit and anyone remember that you need the cellular version to make the most of the positioning....
image.jpg

Basic slide out is ok but when you can have a full width sites, say the marina website, alongside the app or your word docs for creating passage plans then things will get even better.
 
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iPad pro plus navionics would be nice in the stocking. Also, SWMBO may accept it has more use than just a plotter ?

I was going to go that way but the problem is that and Ipad screen is almost impossible to see in the sunlight. I have that combo that I use at home when thinking about places to go and it is very good indeed

Dennis
 
Good advice Im sure. Its one of the things on the winter todo list to get at least the initial part of the training done with perhaps the open water dives completed when in warmer waters (wimp I know!)...

There are 3 German run diving schools very close to Cala d"Or.

One in Porto Petro and the other 2 near to the Robinsons Hotel Complex just outside the town.

I use the large school at the end of the road leading to Robinsons to refill the bottle I keep on the boat.

Everyone there seems to speak excellent English and teach in English. I believe that it's a PADI training centre. (Spit, spit, I'm a BSAC class 2 diver from many years ago.)

Do agree with KevB's advice not to use jfm's breathing device until you have received formal training.

It's really an emergency device to enable a diver to get to the surface should they run out of air. A TRAINED DIVER SHOULD NEVER BE IN THAT SITUATION.

It only holds 3 cubic feet of air and I would certainly not allow my grandchildren to use one.

SeeBob(?) is a great toy but great care is needed when using it anywhere remotely near other boats as people do not see you until you pop up to the surface. (See Hurricane's post on his near escape)

Yes I accept you can use a DIVING surface marker but you will observe idiots in tenders going within 1 or 2 metres of the marker buoys.

Best place to snorkel or use a Seebob(?) is close to the cliffs where the depth can still be 20 metres deep.
 
There are 3 German run diving schools very close to Cala d"Or.

SeeBob(?) is a great toy but great care is needed when using it anywhere remotely near other boats as people do not see you until you pop up to the surface. (See Hurricane's post on his near escape)

Thanks Doug, thats really helpful. I will have a look at the options in Cala D'or.
I can imagine that care is necessary with the seabob.... although in my favour will be the fact that the thing won't reach anywhere near design speed pulling a lump like me!
 
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