just not a bonairian shark... Lisa and I escaped to key largo for the weekend.

Ken, great shot..

Hey Ken, great pics. Annie B.

Ken, I've already stated on the other thread that sometimes I can be a dunderplonk, but is that a nurse shark? Forgive me if i'm wrong. Annie B.

yes... nurse shark. Saw 4 of 'em.

Ken great clarity...we dove key largo a few times in September...clarity was not that good for us and a little rough...how was the boats?

Here is a local Bonaire Shark

Walt great capture...your profile picture is amazing...I guess you don't need any weights!

Walt, I see you just have enough air for a night dive under the town pier. (but when I say night dive, I mean from sun set to sun rise... )

That is doable we do long distance, long duration dives. 2 to 4 hours are possible. The equipment we use would allow 10 hours. Just a little bit more time than I am up for most of the time.

Hmmm thats very interesting Walt!! For quite a while I've been thinking about doing a dive from Lac Cai to SeaHatch shrimp farm. And another one from south Baby Beach passed the piece of iron coast, get out just passed the first salt inlet bridge. Been thinking how I can tie up 2x80cft. to my BC but haven't been able to work it out. I have 2 regulator sets... empty one tank, then go for the other but I'm afraid it will cause imbalance when one is empty and the other full. And the other problem... try find a buddy!! LoL
With good current I've been able to cover about one KM. on one tank. Lac Cai to the shrimp farm is about 1600 meters. The other dive is about the same. Just thinking about these dives is a tease... imagine all the cool stuff you might see on the way. Corals south of Baby Beach are very nice, always a bummer having to get out when it just starts to get good. Would you consider renting a set out and be buddy???

Yes No problem Bas. I have been thinking about joining you some Saturday morning anyway, so now I have an even better excuse.

Hi Walt,

Was watching CNN for a bit yesterday and they were going on about terrorist attacks on US marine interests....citizens are being asked to report suspicious swimmers and scuba divers. Looking at your profile pic I believe you'd get reported in a heartbeat HaHaHa!!!
I'll look you up some time this week to exchange some ideas.

He Bas,

It is possible to rig two bottles together as independent doubles. You carry both on your back. Getting out-of-balance should not be a problem since you have to switch between bottles regularly. You don't want to drain one bottle and then having the second one fail on you.

Some vendors sell strap based systems to create independent doubles from any type of bottle. Dive Rite is one of them. But, if you have access to some tools it should be pretty easy to create on yourself.

I'm not very experienced with doubles and pony bottles. But when we did the Windjammer in March I had a 80cft bottle hanging on my side. It worked, but it is not what you could call "comfy". Getting in and out of the water was difficult as well. I felt like a severly overweight waggling duck. (-: I don't know how Walt handless his 10+ bottles.

Hope we can join you on some of these more challenging dives.

CU,

Peter

Heyy, that solves one problem... sometimes it's too easy LoL And very true you dont want to discover the other tank is failing half way... that would mean a long and rough snorkel!!

I have seen a few double set ups. Doesn't look so difficult to make, I think I have all the stuff to do it. Just a lil scared to screw up my nice BCD.

Sure you can join on these dives... whats keeping ya?? LoL

Bas

Independent Doubles are a lot more work in the water than Isolation Manifoilded Doubles and they are less safe. Hanging them on the back of a regular BCD is not a very good Idea either unless it was designed for it. Two reasons not to bolt them up to any BCD with mounting holes are the amount of lift available in most recreational BCD is not enough and most recreational BCD are not structurally strong enough to handle the extra weight and torque applied by doubles. I have seen several BCD cracked or torn by doubles. Including one of mine.

I agree Walt,

but for the travelers (like most of us not living in Divers Paradise), independent doubles is most of the time the only option available since you can use them with all types of resort bottles.

Even when you bring your own manifold and you are allowed to use it, you would be limited to the same set of bottles all the time.

Like I stated before, I'm not very experienced with doubles. But I do think there is an advantage (or even a must - Windjammer) using them on deeper or longer dives.

Looking for some advice here: Walt, do you think the Mares Synchro Power Tech is suitable for doubles? (enough lift, strong enough, etc.)

Peter

Peter I agree on deep dives or long duration dives doubles are a must have item. You can rent manifolded doubles on most major dive Islands. If you can't, then banding up your own independents is the next best thing.

Here on Bonaire there are at least 12 sets for rent. Including the following AL 80's, HP 80's, LP 80's, and HP 100's all with DIN Isolation manifolds.

As for the BCD you mentioned I am not familiar with it. But a general guideline would be. A Minimum of 50 lb. or 23 kilos of lift. Heavy-duty bag construction, Steel reinforced mounting holes for the doubles to bolt up to, D rings for a deco bottle/bottles and a crotch strap.

Walt,

I had a closer look at my BC yesterday. (-: The lift is no problem since I managed to get back from 180+ ft with two bottles.

The bag is cord. 1000, which should be sufficient.

I'm more concerned about the back plate. It is in plastic and seems rather "light". No reinforced mounting holes either. Plenty of steel D-rings though (4).

I'll give it a try next time in Bonaire and if I run into problems I'll be knocking on your door to rent some professional gear.