My Dive Gear - Chicago (Dry)

xDeep Zen Standard - BPW

• Large Stainless Steel Backplate (~13lb travel weight)
• 42lb Toroidal Wing \w Double shell Cordura 1100
• K-Type inflator
• Padded Backplate
• Crotch strap converted to single "DIR" style

General Opinion: Chosen because of the modularity and my intent to have a BPW layout that can dive both cold and warm in either skin/rashguard, 3mm, 7mm or Drysuit. And so far it has done it all. I originally had the "Deluxe" harness configuration, but found the buckles got in the way of streamline flashlight placement on the shoulder straps.

Aqualung Legend - Regulator(s)

• DIN 1st Stage
• Overbalanced diaphragm design
• Environmentally sealed

General Opinion: It's a regulator..nothing particularly awesome about it. It's comfortable in my mouth and breaths just fine (as far as I can tell).

Faber HP100 Steel Tanks (DIN)

• 100 cft volume / 3442psi nominal
• -8.4 lbs negative buoyancy when full
• -0.6 lbs positive buoyancy when "empty"

General Opinion: May be eventually converted into back mount doubles so they have modular Left and Right Pro/Convertable valve.

Divesoft - DNA Nitrox/Oxygen Analyzer

• Compact / Travel size
• Requires Bluetooth Phone to use...but I always have my phone

General Opinion: Super easy to use and have had no problems with the bluetooth integration with my phone

Perdix II + Air Integration

General Opinion: Great computer and love it. It is a highly customizable display and the two button setup is fairly easy to use, even with drysuit gloves.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 \w Oceanic+

General Opinion: It works perfectly fine as a non-Air Integrated watch style computer or as a backup to a more full featured dive computer. I wouldn't go out and buy the Apple Watch just for diving, but the Oceanic+ app works as advertised. The cost of a year subscription to Oceanic+ would require ~16 days of diving to cost justify. So you probably want the monthly or daily subscription instead.

Halcyon - Master SPG 2.5"

• Easy to read with 100-psi increments
• On a 22" rubber hose to keep it tight to the body and streamlined

General Opinion: It's big and easy to read and I prefer 500PSI as the start of the red-zone instead of 700PSI like some other SPGs.

Venom Frameless/Low Volume Mask (RX)

• Custom prescription lenses from See The Sea
• Have spare identical non-RX mask in different color

General Opinion: Works fine. I get mask squeeze during the first 10ft of decent, but once I equalize I'm fine for the rest of the dive. I get a VERY small amount of water in the nose pocket that I have to live with during the dive. This has been the case for every mask I've tried to use. Water near/in my nose doesn't bother me (water polo days kicking in) so it's virtually unnoticeable.

Stream2Sea Mask Defog

• Reef Safe
• Little goes a long way

General Opinion: Far better than soap/water mix or spit. Apply it before every dive (including the 2nd one of the day) and you'll see clearly.

Santi E.Lite+ (Semi Custom)

• Neoprene Socks
• Low Profile Apex Exhaust Valve
• Si-Tech Quick Neck (Silicone)
• Santi SmartSeals ring system (Silicone)

General Opinion: Fits me perfect and works great.

DRIS "Grey Dry Glove" - Size XXL

• Latex / Rubber without a cloth liner
• Substantially more expensive than other options, however these should last longer and they are way easier to put onto the Santi SmartSeal system than Showa 660's or other cloth lined gloves

General Opinion: Gloves worked as expected and do diminish my dexterity somewhat. Only complaint from folks is probably the cost. We'll see how long they last. I prefer to dive my 3mm wet gloves unless the temperature is expected to be below 55F.

Bare Ultrawarmth Glove (3mm) size Large

• Worn on most of my dives

General Opinion: My absolute favorite gloves so far. So nice, I purchased another pair just in case I loose one or I wear them out. It's like I'm not even wearing gloves and they can take me down to ~55F.

Forth Element "Rock Hopper" Shoe - Size 13

General Opinion: Have not dove them yet. But hopefully more ankle flexability than my original DUI Rock Boots

4th Element Arctic - XL

General Opinion:
Oh my....toasty warm. I got the two piece because I can take the top off in-between dives and cool off without getting fully out of the suit.

Refrigiwear Insulated Wool Grip Glove - Size XL

General Opinion: Rated for 10F with 40g of insulation and fleece lined for extra warmth. They fit perfectly in the XXL Santi glove but with considerable loss of fine motor skill dexterity like working bolt snaps.

H2 Short Bib 5/7mm or 3/5mm Hood (XL)

• If I'm wearing the drysuit I wear one of these hoods

General Opinion: It's a hood. Fits well and keeps my ears warm.

OMS Slipstream (XL)

• Negatively Buoyant

General Opinion: Very flexible and feel great on my feet

OrcaTorch D630v2 (Canister Light)

• 7deg beam
• 460/1500/4000 lumens

General Opinion: Perfectly usable light. Not super bright.

OrcaTorch D710 (Primary Light)

• 6deg beam
• 400/800/1700/3000 lumens

General Opinion: Great flashlight for the price. It goes with me on every dive on my right shoulder DRing.

OrcaTorch D580 (Secondary Light)

• 6deg beam
• 530 lumens
• Can take (3) AAA batteries

General Opinion: Chose this as my secondary because I can use AAA batteries with it. So if ever I have re charger problems, a quick swap of batteries and I have at least 1 flashlight working for the next dive. It goes on my left shoulder DRing.

Suunto SK8 Compass

• Convertible to wrist strap, bungee or retractable

General Opinion: I've used low quality compasses, wrist mount and several other configurations and the easiest for me to use as a beginner was the retractable compass that I could place in front of myself at virtually any angle. Once I got better at using it, it got converted to a bungee wrist mount and goes on my left wrist.

Highland Deluxe Wet Notes \w Graphite Pencil

General Opinion: Works fine. I have Minimum Gas calculations written in them for quick reference as well as emergency contact info in the back.

Trilobite

• Strap mount holster

General Opinion: Have used this to cut lost/abandoned fishing line. I keep it on my waist belt on the left side.

Halcyon - 6ft Closed End dSMB (XL)

• Red
• 50lbs of lift
• One way inflation valve so I don't have to "push" it in when inflating

General Opinion: Have not used it much yet

Halcyon - Defender Spools

• (1) 150ft Standard style Delrin
• (1) 200ft "Pro" style with the drysuit grip handle
• #24 White "cave line"

General Opinion: Have not used it much yet

Surf Fur Water Parka

• Hooded
• Hand thru pockets for dressing/undressing

General Opinion: There is not much worse than being cold and wet after a dive. Years of standing on the side of a pool in the wind during water polo matches taught me to invest in a good parka. For 10 months out of the year in Chicago I have this parka in my truck. I even loaned it out to a diver doing their checkout dives and shivering at the picnic table.

Neoprene Mat for changing on

General Opinion: Primarily for when I'm using my drysuit as I do not want the neoprene socks to get torn up more than they need to be from walking/standing on dirt or cement. I picked a cheap one on Amazon that was large. Works fine.