4 replies to this topic

[Dive_Girl]

So I was chatting away with a friend of mine (Janna - a brand new SD member) the day before Thanksgiving when in mid-sentence there was instantaneous static. I thought our call had been dropped although the static was a new one of the cell phone...Turns our Janna was reaching into a rinse tub to grab her regs while talking to me when *KERPLUNK* there went the cell phone. Tried as she might to blow dry the phone and all - it was toast.

For me, the first dumb maneuver I can recall was stowing a box of new contacts in with my mask in my plastic mask box. The ink from the cardboard box the contacts came in had a caustic reaction with the silicone of my mask skirt. Upon arrival to Bimini and pulling the mask out, my mask skirt started to crumble. It wouldn't seal after that and I had to use an ill fitting rental for my whole trip! Lesson learned? Don't stow anything odd with my mask.

So although we've previously posted and shared stories of gear items we've offered up to the Dive Gods while on dives, I'm curious what gear, diving or other, you have inadvertently ruined while not on a dive?

Share your lessons learned to help others avoid the same mistake/misfortune!

[Capn Jack]

A couple of years back, my favorite DM buddy gave me a ration of grief about how much time I spent on the dock sorting out the things in my mesh dive bag that I didn't want to chuck into the rinse tank. Time that could be better spent sucking down beer in the little bar conveniently located next to the dive op.

So... I bought myself a dry bag for all the little things that don't agree with water - film, computer instruction book, log book, wallet, playing cards, dry t-shirt, fancy sunglass case, calculator, batteries etc.

Showing off, I was the first off the boat, and tossed my whole mesh bag, which now contained my new dry bag, into the rinse tub. Smiling at how clever I was, until I remembered I had not actually sealed up the dry bag.

New wallet - $20
New film - $15
New batteries - $12
New calculator - $18
etc....

humbled diver - priceless

Lesson - every time I open my dry bag, I close it immediately

[ScubaDadMiami]

In the days when cell phones were the size of lunch boxes, I did something similar to DG's friend. I left the phone in my boat while washing it down, thinking that the compartment would keep it dry. That was the end of that phone.

[drbill]

Well, I don't use cell phones so my dumb mistakes haven't involved them. Usually my dumb mistakes revolve around computers... or women! For example, the morning I'd spent editing a new episode of my cable TV show and then turned the system off without saving the entire morning's changes.

[jextract]

Nicolle, that's a pretty funny story. My best friend Phillip just told me last night that he's been out of touch because he dropped his cellphone in a toilet on a job (he's a professional touring sound engineer).