From m\v Aussie Made, Hookah dive hose and scuba regulator - 2014

January 2014 - Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)

Hugh and Barb on m\v Aussie Made gave us a Hookah hose and regulator. It was kinda a trade because I gave them a bunch of new fishing gear that I decided was better to give away than use.
Debbie became a vegetarian and I think it is smarter fro me to go to the fish market than butcher one on deck for her to look at.

 So Hugh decide after we talked about bottom cleaning that I could use the Hookah hose he had that he has not been using. It is old but a goodie. This will make it much nicer for me to replace zinc and clean down where I need to hold my breath. Otherwise it is putting on the tank and vest with tank pack. 

Our original setup for dive tank.

 The first issue was the first stage was not with the Hookah hose and regulator. The first stage is what connects the hose to the tank. So I tried with no success to remove the hoses from the first stage. That is the regulator, life vest infiltrator hose and the gauges. The gauges consist of a depth gauge a compass and a tank air gauge to tell you what air is left in the tank. OK so I shopped the internet to buy a second stage and have it brought down with a friend of Alfredo who helped us with our car (Ford Ka) registration. I thought I could get a first and second stage or the same setup as we have currently, then sell off the parts and break even or up some pesos :) That may work but it would take a while. We have a zinc that needs replacing now. Also I would need to buy plugs for the first stage and it was getting complicated. 

 I brought the Hookah hose and the regulator setup we currently have to "Vallarta Undersea" by the port in Puerto Vallarta and Armando who works there decided we should keep the gauges of the first stage and remove the other two items and then add the Hookah hose to the first stage. That way we know ho much air is left in the tank. So that's what he did and plugged the other openings up. Now we are ready to dive for zinc treasure! This was just 100 pesos which is about $8.00 USD. I do not usually post pricing but I have some so you can try to compare the cost of living from where you are. Now if I got the best deal or whatever is all in question so there are variables to the pricing but you get the idea.

Left overs we will use to make up a new first and second stage setup that we can sell here to get some pesos and shed some dive parts and get some storage space. Remember that when something goes on the boat, something needs to come off!

New setup with Hookah hose and regulator.

Dive, dive!