#21308 - 06/14/06 09:35 AM
Re: Medical Clearance for diving
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STM
Expert Advisor
Registered: 10/15/01
Posts: 1616
Loc: Oregon, USA
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I can only speak of Top Dive's operation in Moorea, and guess that other Top Dive locations are run similarly. The farther afield of the Societies you roam, the less formal the dive operation may be.
No full suits on the rental racks. Only shorties. Full not needed (for that matter, shorty not really needed either) but if you get cold at 84F, you're a bit of a different case.
As to sizes for BCs and wet suits, one of our dive group is a female, maybe 5'-3" and about 100lb (maybe 90???) . . . anyway, she's tiny - has to backpack with kids equipment. They had BC and wet suit that kept her happy.
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#21309 - 06/14/06 10:37 AM
Re: Medical Clearance for diving
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maybride
Member
Registered: 01/16/06
Posts: 217
Loc: Virginia
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NMBound,
As others said, they only had shorties. I had my 3mm shorty and was fine. The BD fit fine (I'm 5'4, 36 in chest.
One thing to consider - when you got cold in the pool, were you swimming alot, or sitting on the bottom of the pool trying to clear your mask, etc.? Maybe gloves or a hood would help keep you warm. Also, you could get a 5mm pair of boots to wear with the shorty.
I strongly recommend ditching your regular luggage and getting a rolling duffle instead. You'll save lots on weight. Weigh your normal luggage by itself, it will probably be over 15lbs. The duffles are usually only 7-9 lbs.
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#21310 - 06/14/06 11:17 AM
Re: Medical Clearance for diving
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sst
Member
Registered: 12/07/05
Posts: 483
Loc: Texas
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Maybride - we brought everything.. Paid $67 in overweight fees, but we had brand new ScubaPro regulators and BC's (we had just upgraded) and weren't going to let them sit in the closet at home..
Mask is a necessity as you need a mask that fits.. I use split fins and won't dive without them - I did replace the one lost in Rangi, by the way. Amazingly enough ScubaPro allowed me to order one fin.
I checked every dive and the temp in May was never once below 84 degrees farenheit. We only dove with lycra skins and were warm. My iwfe traditinally gets cold at the 81 degree level, but even she was warm the whole trip, so I don't think you'd need a wetsuit, although everyone but us was wearing them.. No idea how they weren't coiming up with steam comng out of their suits, tho, as 84 degrees to 86 (max on our dives) is VERY warm..
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#21311 - 06/14/06 11:32 AM
Re: Medical Clearance for diving
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NMBound
Junior Member
Registered: 06/10/06
Posts: 5
Loc: North Carolina
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Thanks for all the great input!
Maybride-already ordered the rolling duffles based on some of your other posts! (Although the ex-seal said he refused to walk around with floral print, so I had to get olive  Good point about the standing still in the pool doing skills versus being active.
SST-cool new stuff is part of my dilemma as well. Was thinking of using the 12 hour flight from JFK to learn how to use our computers...Decisions, decisions.
STM-my fiance would definitely agree with you about the "different case"--thermostat control is a big issue in our household Might choose the wetsuit as the thing to leave behind.
After all the excellent advise received, will definitely try to get a Thalasso update posted when we get back (June 26-July 6 Tahiti-Intercont;Moorea-Intercont;Bora Bora-Thalasso.)
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#21312 - 06/15/06 12:05 PM
Re: Medical Clearance for diving
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STM
Expert Advisor
Registered: 10/15/01
Posts: 1616
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Rule of thumb on water temps:
At 80-81 F you are neither losing heat to or gaining heat from the water.
Above that, you will be gaining heat even sitting still. With exertion, you can overheat underwater even in your BD suit
Below 80 F, you will be losing heat to the water.
SST - in my case, I dove with the front zipper open on the wetsuit, otherwise I got hot. (Bubble collection when going down head first was an interesting effect)
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#21313 - 06/16/06 06:03 AM
Re: Medical Clearance for diving
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sst
Member
Registered: 12/07/05
Posts: 483
Loc: Texas
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NMBound - I'd DEFINTIELY use the computer. I've never dove without one and never will. Mines air integrated as well and the thing jsut makes diving so much easier as you'll know how much time you have air-wise and decompression-wise at what depth you are at.. Plus your computer stores all your dive info that you can retrieve to put into your log book after the dive - everything from starting PSI to ending PSI to temperature under and above to decompression time remaining and air time remaining etc.. Definitely use the computer if at all possible..
STM - front zipper open, huh? Never thought of that! I have a 3mm that I've never even taken on a trip. I imagine the bubbles int he suit would be interesting - especially when they escape and if people see a bunch of bubbles coming out of your suit haha.. They're gonna think you had chili for lunch..!
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