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South Florida Expert Dive Instruction for all levels of diving |
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Tanks
- All cylinders must be current for hydro and visual inspection
- All cylinders must have proper gas content labels
- All cylinders must have a large MOD label
- All cylinders must have DIN valves (300 BAR for doubles and 200 or 300 BAR for stage tanks)
- All valves must be equipped with soft knobs
- Double cylinders (70 to 120 cf each, the larger the better, steel preferred)
- Isolator manifold or bar manifold
- Stainless steel bands for doubles
- 2 stage/decompression cylinders with rigging (40 or 80 cf aluminum preferred)
- Drysuit inflation 6 cf tank (if needed)
- A third stage/decompression cylinder is required for advanced trimix students
Regulators
- All regulators must be of modern design (no antiques!)
- All regulators must be serviced regularly and well maintained
- All first stages must have DIN connectors
- Primary regulator with 7 ft. hose and LP power inflator hose (24 in. or appropriate length)
- Secondary regulator with 26 to 28 in. hose with a close-fitting necklace
- Secondary regulator with a 22 to 26 in. high pressure hose and SPG (brass preferred)
- 2 stage regulators with rigging
- Stage regulators must be DIN with second stage on a 36 in. hose
- Stage regulators must have a SPG (brass preferred) on 6 in. hose
- Drysuit inflation regulator (if needed)
Backplate
- No plastic adjustments or quick releases
- Backplate (Aluminum preferred for steel tanks or stainless steel for aluminum tanks)
- Appropriate size wings (50 to 60 lbs.)
- Lift bag pouch (2 if using wet suit)
- D-rings (4 maximum, fixed style Highland ring preferred)
- Crotch strap with front and rear D-rings
- Stainless Steel belt buckle
- Weight system (if needed)
- Drysuit tank mounting system (if needed)
Instruments
- Dive computer (trimix required for trimix students)
- Backup timer and depth gauge
- Back up decompression information: computers, tables
- Compass
Exposure
- All exposure suits must have at least one pocket on right side (left side is optional)
- A well vented hood of appropriate thickness
- Appropriate gloves (if needed)
- Boots (preferably with thick soles)
- Wet suit (preferably made of non crushable neoprene)
Drysuit (if needed):
- Independent inflation system with tank mounting system
- Drysuit pee valve (highly recommended)
- Non-bibbed hood
- Swivel inflator with post compatible with BC inflator hose
- Appropriate undergarments
Fins
- Must be equipped with stainless steel spring straps
- Fin design must allow for effective sculling and frog kicking
Lights
- Primary canister style light with Goodman handle (HID preferred)
- Backup light
Accessories
- Jon line
- Whistle
- Small inflatable signaling tube
- Reel with at least 185-300 ft. of line
- Second reel with at least 400 ft. of line for trimix students
- Open bottom lift bags, preferably yellow 50 lb (2 if not using drysuit)
- Knife (titanium recommended), scissors and z-knife
- Mask (frameless with black skirt preferred)
- Backup mask
- Multi page wrist slate
- Stainless steel bolt clips
Equipment recommended
- Windows computer with decompression software (laptop recommended)
- Oxygen analyzer
- Helium Analyzer
- First aid kit
- Emergency Oxygen with mask
- Spare equipment, parts, tools and rigging
- Transfer hose
- Second backup light
- Strobe light
Equipment NOT allowed*
- Snorkel
- Weight belt
- Gaiters
- Hose protectors
- Color coded regulators or hoses
- Ankle weights
- Retractors
- Gadgets
- Single gas computers
- Leg mounted knife
- Large knives
- Custom formed mouthpieces
- Masks with tinted glass
- Plastic adjustments
- Quick releases
- Bibbed hood with drysuit
- Inflator pull dumps
- Butterfly or gate or double ender clips
- Transmitters that stick out from first stages
- Camera during training
- Tank nets
- Pony bottle
- Dual air alternate inflator
- Non-standard LP or drysuit inflator hoses
- Wings with bungee chord
- Reels with hooked handles
* Exceptions
In some cases exceptions are allowed only with the approval of your instructor.
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