Post by NASDSinTX on Jun 24, 2022 11:08:34 GMT -8
I got the bug in college back in the 70s. I made a friend who did some diving and he got me interested in it. I was a starving student and had no extra money for gear. So, someone gifted me a used tank and another gave me his old regulator (a Nemrod Snark). I think I picked up mask/fins from a local sporting goods store. But, I could suit up and be ready to go in about 30 seconds!
No BC and no weights. So, to actually stay submerged, I learned to kick down to the bottom and select a rock of a certain size. I'd then slip it into my cut-offs. Presto! A homemade weight belt.
I dove in Texas lakes for a few months before ever considering classes. I'd eventually get certified by NASDS in Abilene, TX. As I progressed from school to work, I picked up new, more-current gear (and real weights). I dove every chance I got until the early 90s. Eventually, a family and career took away my free time and I just gave it up. But, before it all ended, I'd logged bottom time on the California coast, Sea of Cortez, Hawaii, and South Pacific.
I'm retired now and have decided to end my three decade hiatus. I'm going through the PADI OW certification now to 're-learn' the important stuff. A few things have changed. Wow, dive computers are an amazing thing! I wish I'd kept my old regulators and my Nikonos IV. But, my old gear is long gone now. I now have the time and money needed to dive the islands and reefs that I could only dream about back then (when I was young and skinny).
Reading discussions here of gear and methods used back in the old days has already brought back many memories. Thanks for letting me join the discussions.
No BC and no weights. So, to actually stay submerged, I learned to kick down to the bottom and select a rock of a certain size. I'd then slip it into my cut-offs. Presto! A homemade weight belt.
I dove in Texas lakes for a few months before ever considering classes. I'd eventually get certified by NASDS in Abilene, TX. As I progressed from school to work, I picked up new, more-current gear (and real weights). I dove every chance I got until the early 90s. Eventually, a family and career took away my free time and I just gave it up. But, before it all ended, I'd logged bottom time on the California coast, Sea of Cortez, Hawaii, and South Pacific.
I'm retired now and have decided to end my three decade hiatus. I'm going through the PADI OW certification now to 're-learn' the important stuff. A few things have changed. Wow, dive computers are an amazing thing! I wish I'd kept my old regulators and my Nikonos IV. But, my old gear is long gone now. I now have the time and money needed to dive the islands and reefs that I could only dream about back then (when I was young and skinny).
Reading discussions here of gear and methods used back in the old days has already brought back many memories. Thanks for letting me join the discussions.
