How to Make Dive Gear
The cost for scuba diving gear adds up over time. Since many divers are creative and innovative by nature, dive gear and accessories can be created using commercially available material and recycled supplies. Divers can and should invest money in essential equipment to ensure dive safety (especially regulators, buoyancy compensator devices and air supply). Dive accessories and supplemental gear such as a dive float, underwater slates and simple lift tube can be economically constructed at home and tested in shallow waters. The design considerations behind most dive gear are water resistance, buoyancy and durability.
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Things You'll Need
- Four pool noodles
- Polyester marine rope
- Scissors or dive knife
- Thin PVC or vinyl sheets
- Sandpaper
- Metal hole punch
- Split rings
- Auto or truck tire innertube
- Rubber tire adhesive bond
- Clamps
- Heated sealer (optional)
- Metal grommets (optional)
- BCD vent valve (optional)
Instructions
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Marker Float
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1
Cut the foam pool noodles into the following quantities and lengths:
Four, 2- feet long
Four, 1.5-feet long
Four, 1-foot long -
2
Insert marine rope into the center holes of the 2-foot long noodles and tie a knot between each noodle. Be sure to leave at least 1 inch of extra rope between each noodle and one foot of extra rope before the first noodle .
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3
Continue inserting the marine rope into the center holes of the 1.5-foot long noodles, leaving an extra 1 inch of rope in between and tying a knot between each noodle. Repeat with the 1-foot noodles.
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4
Place your 2-foot long noodles to form the outside of a square. Position your 1.5-foot and 1-foot noodles to form inside squares with sides parallel to the longer noodles.
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5
Tie and knot your starter end of rope to the fourth 2-foot long noodle to secure the outer ring. Tie and knot the remaining end of the rope to the last 1-foot noodle to secure the inner ring.
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6
Cut the rope and also cut four lengths of rope 4 feet long.
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7
Weave one length of rope around each corner to connect and secure all squares with a knot. Repeat with the remaining three corners.
Dive Slates or Notebook
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8
Cut PVC or vinyl sheets to the desired size and sand all edges.
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9
Stack the sheets and punch a hole through all sheets.
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10
Assemble and secure all pages with a split ring
Flotation or Lift Tube
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11
Cut the innertube in half to produce two tubes.
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12
Fold one end of one tube and seal closed using rubber bonding adhesive (repeat with second tube if desired). Clamp each end and allow to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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13
Attach a metal grommet through the sealed end, if desired, taking care that the metal grommet only penetrates the sealed section. Attach a second grommet through one side of the open end of the tube so that you can connect each end with marine rope to form a horseshoe shape.
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14
Install the BCD dump valve 2 inches from the sealed end of the tube, if desired, by inserting the top component into the rubber and screwing on the back (inside the tube). Make sure that only one layer of rubber is punctured.
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15
Fill one end of the tube underwater using your alternate air source (octo).
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1
Tips & Warnings
Configure a larger float by adding noodles to create a hexagonal or octagonal shape.
Create a longer sealed flap for the grommet on the tube by folding and sealing the open end to create a rubber flap measuring between 1 and 1.5 inches.
Use a heat sealer to produce a watertight seal in the rubber tube if available.
Scuba diving is considered an extreme recreational sport. Rely on manufacturer's tested equipment for life-sustaining gear (such as air sources, BCDs and emergency equipment).
Test your dive gear in a pool or in shallow water for functionality and integrity of watertight seals.
Remember to anchor your float before embarking on your dive.
Tether a lanyard to the slates and tube(s) or stow them in a pocket or pouch so these items don't float away underwater.
