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Had to pick between a new comms unit or a better drysuit for a cold water job in Seattle.

The job was a month long on a pier inspection, water temp around 45 degrees. My old drysuit had a slow leak at the wrist seal, and my comms were the basic wired kind that crackle. I chose the new comms, figuring clear talk with topside was safer. It worked out okay, but I was cold and damp the whole time, which made the days drag. Anyone else ever had to make a call like that on a tight budget?
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4 Comments
sarahpark
sarahpark2mo ago
Ugh, that's rough. I once chose a new dive light over patching a fin strap, spent a whole dive holding my fin on.
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ruby659
ruby65927d ago
Yeah I read this article about gear failure being a huge factor in dive incidents. Like the author said it's never just one thing, but choosing between a broken seal and new comms is exactly the kind of choice that starts a bad chain. They had a story about a diver who ignored a slow leak in their mask strap to buy a fancy computer, and the strap snapped at like 60 feet. Had to buddy breathe all the way up while holding their mask on. Makes you rethink all those little gear choices.
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kelly.patricia
Picking comms over a drysuit is a brutal call. Being cold and damp for a month is a legit safety issue too, not just comfort. Tough spot to be in.
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taylor.william
Know that feeling, it's a real lose-lose.
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