Hi

In order to periodically inspect the hull and check our mooring I am thinking of learning to dive and buy some second hand equipment for this limited type of diving.

There are plenty of dive courses over the weekends that cost a few hundred, so I will attend one of those first.

However being a total diving newbie I would like to know what equipment is required for this type of diving once I have completed the course, how much you should pay for second hand equipment and whether there are certain bits you should buy new. As far as I can tell you need;

- wetsuit
- goggles
- snorkel
- tank (type, size ?), something to hold tank
- belt
- regulator (type, size?)
- BCD
- fins

If your main purpose is to clean the bottom, and maybe some light recreational shallow dives - forget about SCUBA diving. Look up powerdive. This is a simple electric hookah system that is cheap and easy to use. And does not need to be certified (although some knowledge would be handy).

Cleaning the bottom of a boat with a SCUBA tank/BCD etc is cumbersome.

As a diver I would agree with Grumpy - if it's just for hull cleaning or anchor checking or mucking around in relatively shallow water whilst around the boat, go with hookah. Scuba diving is a very cool activity but it has more potential for danger; most divers never dive alone due to those risks and solo diving is considered foolish. I would not recommend diving on your own until you've done quite a few dozen dives and further training (certainly Advanced but preferably Rescue). I've seen divers who've done two courses in a row in Asia (technically they'd be called 'Advanced Divers') and a dozen or two dives and are terrible divers, quite out of control and a risk to themselves and their buddies. Those people diving on their own would be suicidal.

Diving off a sailboat is a little trickier than off a dive boat or off the shore due to the high freeboard and the weight of the gear (tank plus weights plus wet gear). You wouldn't have any of that with hookah, except a weight belt, and it would also be cheaper. If you get a hookah setup, hopefully you can get one that two people can dive with. If I was a sailor first I'd be going with hookah, but I just happened to learn diving earlier. Don't dive much these days - it's hard to have more than one expensive, time-consuming hobby!

Of course, if you want to dive in order to do scuba dives for pleasure then go for it; it's an awesome thing. You can see some amazing things (here are some of my photos - www.flickr.com/photos/weedyseadragon/sets/72157614437444729/ ). But I'd do a Try Dive with a centre ('Padi Discover Scuba Diving Experience') first to see if you like it.

Thanks for the info gents!
Will investigate the hookah system.

Hi keensailor,
For hull cleaning and shallow diving, here's an option that works for me :

" Quality Italian high-flow piston 1st stage. 3 low pressure and 1 high pressure port. Purpose designed for reliability and low maintenance. Classic full feature 2nd stage provides reliable dependable performance. Durable polymer construction with soft purge cover. Air supplied by 15 Meter hose."
www.diveimports.com/shop/index.php

Excellent quality. Connect directly to your tank. For hull cleaning I just use mask, fins and rashie - no BCD. You may need a weight belt depending on your physical characteristics.

But, DON'T do any diving without proper training.
regards,
Allan

Hi savannah,
It has a standard first stage regulator (ie high pressure) for connection to a standard air tank - so unsuitable for connection to a compressor, sorry.
regards
Allan

The only thing I'd point out is that if you use a scuba tank with an extra long hose it's still scuba diving and therefore subject to all the risks associated with scuba due to the extra pressure of the air you're breathing. There has been a known fatality from someone ascending with held breath from the bottom of a 2 metre deep pool!!

I have no education regarding hookah. I understand you're still breathing compressed air so the same risks apply. Assuming that's the case I'd want to do scuba training first.

www.mast.tas.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Hookah-article-.pdf

Safety aside, hookah seems more convenient and portable. Practically unlimited air for when cruising versus limited tank capacity. Storing heaving tanks that can become missiles on a yacht would require a sturdy, secure attachment point. Getting the bloody tanks to and from the shop / car / boat is a hassle; they're heavy.

Search the scuba forums for hookah, I'd suggest.

Further to the above: the pressure of the air that you're breathing (from the mouthpiece) is governed by your regulator, and should be exactly the same as the ambient water pressure. This is the same mechanism whether you are using scuba or hookah.