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Post by diver1090 on Dec 4, 2023 8:53:57 GMT -8
Hello all, My name is Diogo, and I'm a recently certified SCUBA diver (Sept.2022) but before this milestone I had done plenty of snorkelling. My interest in vintage scuba is almost as old as my love for the water since my first pieces of equipment were some cressi rondine-style rubber fins and an 80s mask- and armed with these a much younger version of me opened up a whole new world. Despite the flashy new gear and the comfort I'm sure the new stuff brings, there's something about a double hose regulator and oval mask that just exudes an air of adventure. I've always been transfixed by the obligatory underwater scenes in Bond movies and deep down hoped to one day be able to have the skills and gear to dive in some proper vintage gear one day. Finding this forum is a godsend- I hope to ask plenty of questions here over time and learn from others. I've got my fingers crossed that I may be able to find some vintage divers in the UK who I could possibly get in touch with and even buddy up with in the future- that would be incredible. At the age of 23 I believe I'm in somewhat of a minority in this interest, but I could be wrong! Either way, I'd love to start building up a collection and work towards that distant dream of becoming a spectre frogman! Hope to interact with as many of you as possible, learn your stories and tips. The journey begins!
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 4, 2023 9:31:27 GMT -8
Yaaaaaaar--welcome aboard shipmate! Well sir, you certainly can write, can't you? You have a good vocabulary that is I'm in a San Francisco Bay Area, and I love the Golden State (California) My wife and I are big native flora and fauna geeks. Warning, old scuba gear is highly addictive: if you have a propensity toward obsessive-compulsions, try to sort out what you really want the most, otherwise, you'll end up with a garage full of old gear I'm a graphic and fine artist, as well as a moderately dyslexic-writer: I love history! Here's a self-prorate: Here's some of my gear/photography: Anyway, welcome, and never be afraid to ask a question Jaybird
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 4, 2023 9:39:13 GMT -8
Be careful... I know Phil, AKA Vance, ships internationally; consider yourself warned. He gets our younger crew hooked, but good JB
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Post by diver1090 on Dec 4, 2023 10:26:26 GMT -8
Be careful... I know Phil, AKA Vance, ships internationally; consider yourself warned. He gets our younger crew hooked, but good JB Thanks for the warm welcome, and some incredible pictures of your gear. In regards to your warning about a runaway collection- I’ll relish the day it actually happens! I’m currently collecting small bits- mostly masks, weight belts, fins and snorkels- to have a go at some vintage snorkelling. Owning a classic beavertail wetsuit and double hose reg would be a dream, something like the ones you posted. If there’s opportunity to eventually purchase some gear from other divers I’d be happy to look into it- I better start saving up on the meantime, just for shipping!
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 4, 2023 14:48:43 GMT -8
Diogo, how tall/big are you? If you're a medium, those types of suits are VERY easy to find, but if you're large, wellll, good luck mate! Here I am at Tomales Bay: Tomales Bay is noth of San Francisco, welllll, here: If you look at the map, you'll also see Drakes Bay, yes, that Drake, the English Pirate. My wife works for a company in the UK, and they always think that our beaches are all sunny and warm. It's nasty, brutal and COLD and WINDY! JB
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Post by diver1090 on Dec 5, 2023 0:58:04 GMT -8
I'm not familiar with how sizing works with older wetsuits but I'm 6'3 and 190lbs so perhaps a little on the tall side. I already use a beavertail combo/ two piece arrangement for freediving and scuba and I much prefer the integrated hoods on these.
Were older wetsuits lined inside or purely rubber/neoprene? I started freediving a while back and was introduced to open cell neoprene and it was fantastic, four hours in a flooded quarry and not a shiver.
It may be that as I eventually build up my gear the wetsuit will come- it's absolutely a requirement here, I'm far from the coast and limited to inland diving in quarries where water temps average around 66F in the summer and 42 in the winter. And let's not talk about visibility!
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cg43
Senior Diver
Posts: 90
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Post by cg43 on Dec 5, 2023 5:42:48 GMT -8
Hello frogman Diogo
Being a freediver you allready have the most important precondition's for a frogman ! You are the diver and not only the owner of diving gear . That's gives you the freedom to dive with nearly everything .
Next , you are certified and knows the basic's about scuba diving . There's not much that changes over the year's .
Very good you are used to dive in cold water and poor visibility .
All the specialties for diving vintage gear are easy to practice if you have the nessesary patient under water .
Greetings Rainer
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Post by diver1090 on Dec 5, 2023 8:40:19 GMT -8
Thanks for the welcome, Rainer.
I'll admit since joining this forum the bug has gotten to me- I've already been looking for gear and it is out there- the issue will be finding people in the UK who share an interest and may be willing to buddy up or offer some expertise on the matter.
It definitely looks like the bulk of vintage scuba interest is in the US- perhaps I'll hop over the pond one day and dive with some folks there!
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 5, 2023 9:18:01 GMT -8
Diogo, it sounds to me like you'd need an extra-large--good luck with that one bruddah!
How's your Spanish? I recall there's a pretty good sized vintage presence in Spain because that's where Nemrod was/is?
DRW, AKA David Richie Wilson, is in the UK: pick his brain, as he's about as nerdy as they come when it comes to old snorkel/free-dive gear and wetsuits. He's a polyglot too, so he can read things from all over the word to get his fix.
JB
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Post by vance on Dec 5, 2023 9:43:56 GMT -8
Hi Diogo, and welcome to the forum.
It sounds like you've caught the bug bad! We have a member in Belgium (spirou) who could be a closer resource for you, as well as Ranier (CG-43) from Germany.
You'll see my fingerprints all over this forum, so I won't post any of my gear here. I'm mostly into regulator restoration, rebuilds, and mods. Check out the many threads on a myriad of subjects available here.
Cheers, Phil
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Post by Tusker on Dec 5, 2023 14:21:19 GMT -8
Welcome to the party!
I suspect we’re only a few months apart, I’ll be 23 in February. Like JB said, ask questions! All of us — at least speaking for myself — are always learning, and questions are how we get there. Everyone has their own niche — it’s just about finding it. It sounds like you're interested in getting as accurate to a period as possible — that's a noble goal! If you're specifically after the SPECTRE look, I suspect you'll have a lot of fun tracking all that gear down.
Jacob
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Post by diver1090 on Dec 7, 2023 0:46:42 GMT -8
Diogo, it sounds to me like you'd need an extra-large--good luck with that one bruddah! How's your Spanish? I recall there's a pretty good sized vintage presence in Spain because that's where Nemrod was/is? DRW, AKA David Richie Wilson, is in the UK: pick his brain, as he's about as nerdy as they come when it comes to old snorkel/free-dive gear and wetsuits. He's a polyglot too, so he can read things from all over the word to get his fix. JB I’m originally from Portugal so I can get by in Spanish- I speak French and a little Italian too so I guess that puts me in a good position to reach out to folks closer to home.
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Post by diver1090 on Dec 7, 2023 1:09:17 GMT -8
Hi Diogo, and welcome to the forum. It sounds like you've caught the bug bad! We have a member in Belgium (spirou) who could be a closer resource for you, as well as Ranier (CG-43) from Germany. You'll see my fingerprints all over this forum, so I won't post any of my gear here. I'm mostly into regulator restoration, rebuilds, and mods. Check out the many threads on a myriad of subjects available here. Cheers, Phil Thanks Phil, I’ve spotted a few posts in French already, I think they were by Spirou- very interesting stuff. It seems there’s a lot more going on in the mainland which means I’ll probably have to take a trip out to the mainland one day
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Post by antique diver on Dec 11, 2023 20:37:22 GMT -8
Hi Diogo! Welcome to the forum... you will find it easy to make friends here that will try to answer any questions you may have.
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Post by diver1090 on Jan 2, 2024 13:47:31 GMT -8
Welcome to the party! I suspect we’re only a few months apart, I’ll be 23 in February. Like JB said, ask questions! All of us — at least speaking for myself — are always learning, and questions are how we get there. Everyone has their own niche — it’s just about finding it. It sounds like you're interested in getting as accurate to a period as possible — that's a noble goal! If you're specifically after the SPECTRE look, I suspect you'll have a lot of fun tracking all that gear down. Jacob Nice to meet you Jacob, it's great to see others my age interested in this. I've already began looking out for equipment and supplementing knowledge with folks here. I've already been given so much valuable information it's crazy. Happy new year, here's to plenty of diving for '24!
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