SCUBA gear and boat cleaning...

[Brian D]

The Diver Down flag brought up another question. I am not a certified diver, nor do I want to spend a lot of money to get certified. But I do want to clean my own boat and do underwater inspections. Snorkeling doesn't work for me and I want to say under longer.Can someone confirm this statements: To buy a small tank and gear, do I have to have a certification? To refill a small tank, do I have to have a certification?I am in California by the way.Thanks

 

[Alex]

Air supply

Try this.

 

[Ross]

How about a good

buddy with a bicycle pump?

 

[Jack Hart]

Divin'

Please don't think I am on a 'rant' with the next few comments.As a diver I can say this. The risks are not worth NOT having the proper training. (And I am not talking about a couple hour "Resort" course that winds up getting a lot of people hurt or killed down the road when they get in trouble diving later on and didn't know what to do.)I like the idea of the Honda motored 'Hooka' unit, may wind up with one myself. But without dive training you could wind up in trouble.I fondly remember my training, everything we learned we either read about it, talked about it, did it or tested on it seven times. When a friend got in trouble a year ago on a dive, the training took over and I reacted fast and everything came out OK.Back to the original question, I have never tried to get tanks, gear or air without being asked for a certification card.Jack HartHickory, NC

 

[Kobi Maru]

SCUBA response

In order to rent or buy any SCUBA breathing apparatus from a commercial/retail store you must be a certified SCUBA diver and present your card to prove it. Also, to fill a SCUBA tank the same rule applies. This is for good reason... SCUBA can be very dangerous if the basic safety rules are violated. Even at shallow depths the results could be deadly.

 

[Franklin]

IMO...just more big brother stuff

Why is it that we seem to think we have to regulate everything? If I want to go scuba diving and put my life at risk then that's my business. Pretty soon I'll need a license to walk my dog because I could get hit by a car. Wah Wah Wah.

 

[wayne williams]

another idea

I have seen an electric hooka rig for about 1200. might be what you need. 50 hose. no fumes as with gas models. will try and find link.

 

[Barney Gibbs]

Sea Breathe

These guys have a 12 volt setup. You can only go down 25 feet max. So no decompression needed. Works great for cleaning and any maintenance.

 

[Franklin]

yeah....but for $1200

I would want it to do the cleaning and changing the zincs too.

 

[Jack Hart]

But good reasons for the regulations.

Franklin, not trying to get anything started here, however, just a small bit of info, if you are cleaning your boat ad do not clear your ears you can screw them up, even at boat cleaning depth. Also lets say you all of a sudden drop down to 15 or so feet, forget to breath coming up in a panic, there posibly go your lungs. (That means you may die from it.)So...it's not the regulation as much as it is the safety!Jack

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

Getting certified does not cost that much.

You can go to either PADI or NAUI to get basic open water certification. It is inexpensive, fun, and you do learn a lot. It will give you the needed skills. After that, you can keep taking courses to expand your diving skills.It has nothing to do with big brother. I have been a certified dive master for over 20 years, and also a assistant dive instructor for a good number of those years. I have seen some divers who were inexperienced, and do some very stupid things, and putting their lives and others in danger. Sometimes they don't recognize some of the warning signs, and injure themselves.True, people can still go diving without training, but they can't get equipment or tanks filled. I guess they may get a friend to do that for them. But I would not suggest diving without training.

 

[RAD]

Get certification

After getting a crab trap wrapped around my prop and keel at 2 different times I decided to get the proper training and certification I'm ready for anything and can enjoy my annual ST Croix vacations with underwater adventure other than sailing and sunbathing.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Franklin, the mere act of inhaling compressed air

underwater is dangerous. The sport of diving wouldn't exist without safety rules. There would be too many dead peoples' relatives suing the equipment vendors, for the industry to exist. Take a course, you'll see how dangerous it can be. Or just do a poll. Ask some divers.

 

[Franklin]

Missed the point

If someone injuries themselves or even dies, that's their problem, not the governments. This is where the government goes too far...deciding for the person what is good for him. As Jessie Ventra once said, government shouldn't regulate stupidity. If a man wants to go iceskating in 70 degree temps, then let him.

 

[Liam]

Darwin Award

Hey Franklin, Ever hear of the annual Darwin Awards?

 

[Liam]

Just Kidding

Actually I have been reading posts from Franklin for what seems like a long time and I believe that he is probably a pretty smart guy.I think that he just likes to say this sort of thing to shake it up a bit.

 

[Liam]

I take it back

Okay Franklin,I take back what I said about you.Anyone who would seriously quote Jesse Ventura...

 

[Liam]

Charge for it

Okay,So I agree that the Government can not regulate stupidity, but maybe they could charge for it.As there is no shortage, it may be a way of increasing revenue without raising taxes.Think of it. The greatest offenders would be forced to get second jobs to cover the fines so they wouldn't be out in the world getting in the way and causing problems.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Franklin, The government doesn't regulate scuba.

At least not the part of the industry that requires air-cards.

 

[Calif. Ted]

When co-workers would complain about

having to rescue people from the results of their own stupidity I would remind them that it's just job security. If the average IQ was going up instead of down half the cops, firefighters, medics, lifeguards, harbor patrol etc. would have to go into another line of work.BTW Brian, most divers in our area use a snorkel for the shallow parts and compressed air for the keel. The water is freakin' cold, 55 degrees, I spent everyday in it for decades but I hire a diver to keep the bottom clean now. Some of my younger dockmates still dive on their own boats with just snorkels but you should be very comfortable free diving before you put your body between the boat & dock.OSHA requires annual training & a pulmonary physical exam for anyone who uses compressed air professionally in addition to any other required certs.