73diver
Diver
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:24 am
First Name: Ken
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:46 am

Hi Vintage Divers,

I started diving in 1973 at an NASDS school in California. The shop equipped me with a Water Gill At-Pac and the remaining equipment was Scubapro. Except for a mask and wetsuit, I still have the gear I started with. Maintenance and repairs have been made and I dive the old gear every so often. Some folks recognize the vintage 109.

I was wondering if ‘my style of vintage diving,’ i.e. single hose, is being performed by others.

FWIW: An aftermarket vendor made a console that accepted the Scubapro SPG, depth gauge, Ikelite compass and Scubapro SOS (bendomatic). Most At-Pac users that I encountered at the time adopted that console.

Regards

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antique diver
Master Diver
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:50 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: North-Central Texas

Re: Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:03 am

73diver wrote:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:46 am
Hi Vintage Divers,

I started diving in 1973 at an NASDS school in California. The shop equipped me with a Water Gill At-Pac and the remaining equipment was Scubapro. Except for a mask and wetsuit, I still have the gear I started with. Maintenance and repairs have been made and I dive the old gear every so often. Some folks recognize the vintage 109.

I was wondering if ‘my style of vintage diving,’ i.e. single hose, is being performed by others.

FWIW: An aftermarket vendor made a console that accepted the Scubapro SPG, depth gauge, Ikelite compass and Scubapro SOS (bendomatic). Most At-Pac users that I encountered at the time adopted that console.

Regards
I have an number of late 50's through 70's single hose regs that I enjoy diving with too!

Those consoles you mentioned were made by Pennform, which made variations to fit most every common gauge combination on the market at the time. Some of them were pretty large, and we used to joke that divers from our friends / competitor's dive shop could sit up on their big inflated At-Pacs and paddle them with their huge consoles.
The older I get the better I was.

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Bryan
Plank Owner
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Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:40 am
First Name: Bryan
Location: Wesley Chapel Florida
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Re: Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:29 am

antique diver wrote:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:03 am
we used to joke that divers from our friends / competitor's dive shop could sit up on their big inflated At-Pacs and paddle them with their huge consoles.
Especially the NASDS favorite Triangle version!

LOTS of people rebuild, service, restore and dive early Scubapro and US Divers single hose regulators.
Doing it right should include some common sense, not just blindly following specs and instructions. .Gary D, AWAP on SB

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captain
Plank Owner
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Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:32 am
Location: LaPlace, LA

Re: Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:36 am

To me vintage is not about the type of regulator but the total configuration, regulator, tank, backpack or strap harness, period correct fins and mask, depth gauge J valve,etc. No BC, safe 2nd, SPG or computer.
Captain

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antique diver
Master Diver
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:50 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: North-Central Texas

Re: Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:43 am

Bryan wrote:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:29 am
antique diver wrote:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 10:03 am
we used to joke that divers from our friends / competitor's dive shop could sit up on their big inflated At-Pacs and paddle them with their huge consoles.
Especially the NASDS favorite Triangle version!

LOTS of people rebuild, service, restore and dive early Scubapro and US Divers single hose regulators.
Yep, that big triangle was what I was thinking of for maximum propulsion! Also great as a "Shark-Shield" to hold up between you and an overly-inquisitive predator. :lol:
The older I get the better I was.

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antique diver
Master Diver
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:50 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: North-Central Texas

Re: Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:52 am

captain wrote:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:36 am
To me vintage is not about the type of regulator but the total configuration, regulator, tank, backpack or strap harness, period correct fins and mask, depth gauge J valve,etc. No BC, safe 2nd, SPG or computer.
Good point, Captain. I still love the simplicity of diving in warm water in cut-offs, with a single 38 in a strap harness, topped with only an Aquamatic or original Calypso reg. Can't wait until the water warms up for my summer nostalgia dive. I might even carry a little speargun.
The older I get the better I was.

swimjim
Master Diver
Posts: 1694
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:28 am
First Name: Jim
Location: Belgium WI

Re: Is there much ‘Vintage’ single hose diving?

Mon Mar 19, 2018 8:11 am

Hello Ken. I rebuilt a Scubapro Mk7 and an Mk1 last year and dove them at Fortune Pond. I also have an Aquamatic I like to dive up there on occasion. When it comes to lake Michigan though, I'm usually either diving my Kraken or going with modern gizmo's. I'm going up to Fortune on May 11 - 12th. The water will be pretty cold yet which may give the Scubapros a hard time. I'll give it a shot though if you come up.

Jim

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