Howdy from an oldy!

[Zookeepa]

Hi there,

Just wanted to introduce myself and say hi as hoping to be using the forum now I've found it to drain you all dry of useful info and just to catch myself up.

I've not dived for a couple of years now, but hoping to get back into doing some stuff. My thing of old is mainly technical diving having dived trimix, wrecks and deep, but for now it'll be a steady refresher making sure all my gear is still as it should be and making sure that after doing the sinking bit I can still get back to the top!

Hopefully it'll not be long till I can latch on to some trips though and get to see some of the good stuff.

Speak soon.

[Finless]

Hello 'you oldy'. What's old? I'm 50 and a half and am currently into 18 months of not having dived.

The reasons I stopped were not voluntary but I'm finding it hard to spend all the money getting kit and cylinders serviced in order to start again. Not to mention I don't know if my knees are strong enough for my twin 12s any more! :)

Welcome from a PADI interloper.

[Zookeepa]

I know the feeling on the kit servicing front. My gear is strewn accross the dining room at the moment and I'm trying to decide what to do regarding which kit to have what done with. On most of it there are small amounts of oxidation, so I'm a bit concerned it may all get written off, but I guess better that than arrive down below to find it not working any more.

It's surprising how a few years ago a twin set seemed a good idea and now it just seems heavy! I'm sure I'll get back into it and when we hit the water again it'll all be worth while.

[Finless]

On most of it there are small amounts of oxidationRust? Or do you mean 'crud' (limescale/similar)? Try wiping with a soft lint free cloth doused with some white vinegar. The main proplem, I imagine, will be with reg diaphragms and O rings and suit seals (esp if latex)?

so I'm a bit concerned it may all get written off, but I guess better that than arrive down below to find it not working any more.Sounds like a trip to the pool or somewhere shallow might be in order?

It's surprising how a few years ago a twin set seemed a good idea and now it just seems heavy! I'm sure I'll get back into it and when we hit the water again it'll all be worth while.I hope it will be worth while.

I'm debating getting my 12 ltr serviced or buying a new one or decanting from an in test cylinder to do some shore dives. The problem is that the Sussex coast doesn't have many good shore dive sites. :(

[Zookeepa]

Good idea with the white vinegar thanks. Most stuff is not too bad, but a lot of it is where you get the odd dink in the metal work from the bashings over the years. Too many cylinders, reels and other things to go clank all the time.

I used to use a whip to refill my cylinders mid dive, but it sometimes pays to have a bigger one for that. I used to have an 18L which although mammoth if you wanted to dive, makes a really good refill cylinder as you got quite a good volume from it. Working out which one is most cost efficient for you I guess.