Posts by Dan

  • Custom Carbon Fiber Grip (For Mirage Pneumatic)

    You can attach or embed pics. Attachment is always at the end of the post. Both methods are explained in the pic posting tutorial. I prefer Photobucket, pics are never lost. Upload all your pics at once, then just grab the direct image link to post each, it's faster and easier than attaching/uploading to speardiver server. Waiting to see your build pics :)

  • Trying on open cell wetsuits inside out

    First a little information for those not familiar with open cell wetsuits. The interior of an open cell wetsuit is raw smooth neoprene. When smooth neoprene is dry it clings to skin, it's impossible to get into a dry open cell suit. Open cell wetsuits require lubrication to put on, as simple as water and hair conditioner. Once wet they go on much easier than a double lined scuba suit.


    Divers who come to Freedive Store for an open cell wetsuit will normally want to try it on and make sure they get the right size. I'm pretty good at recommending the right size suit based on the person's appearance, normally I get it right the first try. Beats washing and drying suits after..


    Experienced divers know the deal and have no problem getting into a lubricated wetsuit. Those new to it are sometimes hesitant. For this reason for a short time I used to let people try the wetsuits inside out. I know this is how it's done in some other dive shops. I stopped letting people try on suits inside out fairly quickly for the following reasons.


    First reason is the suit is much more likely to be damaged. Even trying it on right side out I have to watch inexperienced guys closely. They tend to grab the open cell interior and pull the waist of the wetsuit down, putting tears in the neoprene, and the same thing happens when they take it off. To prevent this I always explain how to grab the lined neoprene exterior only. When the open cell material is on the outside it's almost guaranteed they'll put a tear in it.


    Second reason is that an open cell wetsuit is all about comfort, and the contrast with a double lined scuba suit will be dramatic for those trying on open cell for the first time. If they try an open cell wetsuit inside out with the Lycra exterior against the skin, it will feel like a double line suit. Additionally a lined suit will never settle into place like open cell, it will always pull and constrict.


    Simply put if you don't try on an open cell wetsuit as it should be worn, you'll never get a true idea of how it fits and how comfortable it is, and you're very likely to damage it. Because of this I never let anyone try a suit inside out. I use unscented hair conditioner for lube, add warm water for comfort, provide a private change room and fresh towels for after the fitting. Damn it sounds like a spa.. :) I've had guys ask to try it on inside-out having seen it done in other places I guess, to whom I explain the reasons why I don't do it. Anyone who doesn't want to try on a lubricated open cell suit wet will have to buy it as-is, or leave it whatever they prefer.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkKrvnRJDm4

  • Roller Speargun Muzzle Kit from Speardiver

    The material of this muzzle is incredibly strong. I put it under serious stress in an attempt to make it fit speargun tubes that it wasn't meant to fit, in other words resting it on the floor and banging on the other end of the tube. I've also filed down one because I knew I will only route the line in one direction. It's extremely unlikely the line guides will brake off, you'll know this the moment you have the muzzle in your hands.

  • Oceanic F11 computer discount

    I don't know much about the functions but I can tell you the F11 was a more classy looking watch than the F10. The Oceanic F11 freediving computer is now discontinued. I was informed Oceanic have no plans to bring it back, and they didn't give any real explanation as to why it was discontinued.

  • Speargun accidents watch where you point it!

    Technically not an accident but interesting nevertheless. From Frontiers | Penetrating Brain Injury after Suicide Attempt with Speargun: Case Study and Review of Literature | Neurotrauma



    A 55-year-old Caucasian man with a history of depression and recently attempted suicide attempted suicide again using a fishing harpoon gun. The patient called Emergency Medical Services, but did not speak at approximately 10:00, presumably shortly after the event occurred. EMS reported to his home where they found him unresponsive with a three-foot fishing spear through his lower jaw/throat area and head, noting it to be an apparently self-inflicted injury. He was transported to a lower-level trauma center, where he was orally intubated after rapid evaluation. He was then transferred to our level-one trauma center where his surgical planning and procedure took place...
    ...on hospital day 23, based on the family’s interpretation of the patient’s wishes, and after approval from the hospital ethics committee, the patient’s code status was made DNR/DNI and eventually transitioned to comfort measures only. He remained stable over the coming days with resolving fevers and oxygenating well on room air. Eventually, he was discharged to hospice care at the request of his family, where without tube-feeds and other medical support, he passed away 33 days after the initial suicide attempt.