I wouldn't do it. All the reasons Aradia gave are sound. It's just not a good plan.
I wouldn't do it. All the reasons Aradia gave are sound. It's just not a good plan.
I am also a scuba diver and I don't think diving in a tail is worth the risk. It might work, but the risks are too high in my opinion. If something went wrong, you might have to cut off your tail or leave it down in the water. Is it worth possibly loosing your tail forever? I can see possibly taking a breath off someone else, but only if it's one and you aren't too deep. Any more of depth or breathing and the nitrogen could become an issue. I have buddy breathed in a tail before in an eight foot pool, and I can say from expirence that it's weird and almost uncomfortable to breath off of someone else and after a while you have to come up for fresh air anyway. It can, however, be beneficial to help stay down longer, but I'd rather just learn how to hold my breath longer. The otter bay suits look cool, but the boyuncy is definately an issue. If you touch something under water, chances are it will hurt you. So having to put your knees down to look at something is not a good habit to have. But if anyone really wants to try scuba diving in a tail IN SHALLOW WATERS (I cannot stress that enough) there is a type of bc that is like a circle around your head and straps in the back. The tank is in front of you making dolphin kicking easier but they are hard to come by the last time I checked. The tank is, however, smaller than a normal one and can only hold so much air. The bc is clumsy on the surface but once you're under it's fine. Again, I strongly suggest not doing it.
Hugs, fishes, and mermaid kisses!
I still think that this is doable. I think the general concern is very well placed: anything outside of standard equipment and training should be approached with extreme caution. However, most of the concerns are inspecific.
I brought this up recently over dinner with some other divers, and they were rather blase about it. Without any leading on my part, their first responses were that so long as it was carried out by an experienced diver with caution, it shouldn't really be more dangerous than diving with a monofin. I pointed out that a monofin would be easier to get off, and they responded that a properly designed tail could be easily removed, and then added that they had trouble envisioning a situation in which immediate removal would pose a dire safety issue.
Again, I would approach it with more trepidation than they would, however that might be because I don't have as many dives as them. Anyway, I think its doable.
All valid points Capt Nemo but I still think the relative risks outweigh the pro's.
I mean, with dropping the weight belt at the line you're assuming you can find your way back to the line. Of course this assumes that your underwater navigation + visibility etc is all fantastic. It also kind of assumes you're happy to lie floating on your back until a boat comes to pick you up which i'd really rather not do if weather turns bad.
I disagree with your opinion on whether having to sit on the sand bottom anytime you want to look at something nor being improper buoyancy, I am a firm believer in hovering. I mean, if you're going to be constantly sitting on the bottom everytime you get tired then you're going to have a heck of a time getting back to the line that contains your weight belt with the bottom stirred up. And sure, you don't NEED a BCD and diving did happen before it started getting used but by that logic you don't NEED dive computers. Nor any advancements but my primary concern is safety so I use all the gear that will make me as safe as possible. I could dive without a working secondary, it has been done before but I am not the safest I can possibly be.
Could a super pro scuba diver complete a dive in a silicone mermaid tail = probably but I don't think its worth the risks :/
I'm still curious about this. I'm tempted to try it myself at some point just so we can get some answers.
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