Newbie ... Hi all ! interested in Hookah ...

[Bob & Sue]

We are a couple who have been coinshooting for 6 years . Do lots of car
travel around the US , and are beginning to spend more and more time in the water . So far , we are wading out to chin-depth , using Fisher 1280X , and Detector-Pro Diver machines .
Can we build / assemble , from buying various parts , a good , safe
floating Hookah system that will supply the two of us simultaneously ,
and for periods of 1-2 hours , working in depths down to 20' ?
This will be just about always fresh water , Minnesota lakes , swimming beaches .

Are plans / schematics available ?
Are classes / certifications necessary ?

I've read through older threads here , and just wanted to get some updated opinions . Thanks B&S

 

[bdahunter]

If you are out to chin deep and wondering what treasure lies just a little bit further out from shore then I suggest you look into buying a hookah from a reputable supplier. There are too many things that can go wrong with a home built rig that could cost you your health or your life. A few gold rings found in the water will give you enough jingle to pay for a two person hookah.

JMHO,

BDA

 

[Bob & Sue]

Thanks for the cautionary note . Further reading has brought me to
dealers selling "3rd Lung" products , and for a couple grand , that gear looks like just the ticket , for our needs .
It looks like all the safety issues have been worked out .
I think most of our work is going to be in water about 10 ft. deep .
Living in an area where we would be the only people with a machine like this , what are your thoughts on starting out without any opportunity to
go to a class , get some instruction , get any certifications , and so forth . Its obvious that such classes are beneficial , but will we be
placing ourselves in danger , in such shallow depth ? There are dive shops within a couple hour's travel time .... we'll need accessory gear too , so conventional classes are being operated in the region . Would classes like that , be necessary ??
Perhaps we could tag-along !!
B&S

 

[aquacop911]

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THE HOOKAH R260-3 BY AIR LINE. I DONE A LOT OF CHECKING AND FOUND THIS TO BE THE BEST FOR THE BUCK. IT ALSO HAS THE NEW 3HP HONDA MOTOR. CHECK THEM OUT, I THINK YOU BE BE PLEASED. WWW.AIRLINEBYJSINK.COM

 

[bdahunter]

Please get certified by a PADI instructor. You can drown in a glass of water and it's a worthwhile investment just for your own sense of self confidence.
I have a full set of scuba gear in my closet that I bought a few months ago but I won't use it until I am certified. It is tempting but just not worth it. The training is relatively cheap compared to the price of a tragedy. What would you pay to keep your spouse from drowning? Everything!
Get trained (it only takes a few days) and then go get a bunch of loot!

Good Hunting and Stay Safe,

BDA

 

[bdahunter]

n/t

 

[Bob & Sue]

can you give me another path ? Appreciate the help very much !!

 

[Bob & Sue]

or something specific for Hookah ?
What should a "normal" fee run to ?
How many "hours" would be involved ?

Thanks for the tips !!
B&S

 

[kaptainkosmic]

Breathing compressed air from a tank or a hookah can be dangerous without training. DON'T BE SORRY, BE SAFE!!!! Best of luck in your endeavors. Steve

 

[Bob & Sue]

n/t

 

[JoeSWFLA]

getting a tank hooka rig(snuba).Plus you can go on dive trips
locally or on vacation.Best of all, it greatly reduces your
chance of a fatal error.And you can rent your equipment for a
while till you make up your mind. Certification can run around
$300.Well worth it.Good luck,be safe, and HH Joe

 

[Heath]

So you want to go all the way under the water in search of lost loot?

I highly recommend some sort of hands on training course. Open water dive course such as PADI, will get you familiar with diving. I have a open water certification, and detect with a 1280x. I also recommend a good dive suit if your going to detect here in Minnesota. The waters here in northern Minnesota, Iron Range can range from 38 to 75 degrees depending on the time of the season.

The costs can range somewhere around $300 per person, and the gear is usually supplied, less swimsuit. The course takes several evenings of classroom and pool training(confined water training) and then usually a weekend for open water dive training.

Once your familiarized with diving and like it, you can apply the knowledge to the use of a hookah system.

There is plenty of time to sign up for scuba diving. The ice doesn't melt until about the three weeks before the fishing opener. The other option is to catch a hot deal down at the islands and take a course in wwwaaaarrrmmm clear 80 degree water.

Training and knowledge is the best way to dive. Lack of training in a panic situation can kill you. Plan your dive, dive your plan.HH

 

[Bob & Sue]

did you buy the floating , towed rig , or something that sits on shore ?

 

[Bob & Sue]

I've found some reading about PADI , and plan to visit a dive shop this coming week to see what they may be doing , as far as teaching goes .
We probably will ease into it this next summer with snorkel stuff , in
very shallow , near shore water .... just arm's length ....
If we do decide to purchase a Hookah system , we'll find some training
before we do use it .
When we look at the old mine pits over near Crosby , or up around
Hibbing .... They are places you don't want to dive without training and a group of experienced divers along with .
We land-detect all over Minnesota in the summers , with many trips from Bemidji , up through the Range ..... Aurora , Hoyt Lakes , Ely , Hibbing
and Virginia , up and down I-35 towards Hinkley . We even go up to Thunder Bay , and make the loop around thru Atikokan , and back thru I-Falls ......
Love all the small towns and back woods . We've enjoyed many trips to Duluth , and hunted all over the city parks and schools there .
We're just beginning to work in the water ... don't plan anything "energetic" , but do want to get in a little deeper ...
Appreciate your advice, and that of all the viewers..B&S

 

[Casper-1]

got some old coins in deeper water - barber quarter shown with old class ring -

this one is electric - quiet and no fumes but this model is heavy - I have to use a wagon to get it to the water - works great and is fun but don't get to use it as much as I had planned barber quarter and 1940's class ring

 

[Bob & Sue]

the pic is too shaded , with the sun behind.....looks like you have on
a wet-suit , mask , and a harness to secure the air line ....
Are you using a weight belt too ? .... Are you walking on the bottom , or are you in a prone position ? .... How much air line are you using , and how deep have you usually worked ?
Is that extra weight coming from heavy batteries ?
Bob R.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

looks like a keene. i'm thinking about getting one of those. tell me what you like and dislike about the unit. typical depths, # of divers, and average depths worked. any information would be greatly appreciated. thanks steve

 

[landman]

I lived 1.5 hours from the inventor of the electric hooka. He told me personally you can go down to 100ft. with it. I owned one back a few years ago. They are a bear to lug around. But once you are set up and in the water and down there its great! 2-3 hours on a batteries charge. Always has 2 batteries with me. At 1-15 feet down you can stay down practically all day. I never went more than 20-25ft below. You have to wear 45 lbs. of weight to keep you down there to work. At least I had to. Rmemeber the tank you'd normally wear and help in boyency control is not there.

 

[Casper-1]

I'm wearing a farmerjohn, a sweatshirt under it, and 60 lbs of weight. scuba mask, airline harness came with system - this is the largest portable system made I think. It is by Keene engineering and this one takes a marine battery - size of a normal car battery-weighs about 60 lbs alone. System can be used with a dual regulator for two people - you have to purchase that as an extra. I have a 30 foot and a 50 foot hoses for my system - they will make them to order for you. I wear dive boots. If stand on bottom and go prone to dig.

hope this helps

 

[Bob & Sue]

We are talking about these systems ... getting used to the terminology , and letting the "idea" percolate . I have more of an inclination to buy a gas-engine powered system .... although its noisy ,
we'll just have to see how it works out . We may be working off a pontoon quite a bit of the time ... sort of coasting up to a beach area , anchoring out a ways , and using the craft as a work-platform .
This would help keep us from interfering with other visitors in the beach areas.
We use farmer Johns with the jackets over the top , and so far , have just used deck shoes , or tennies ....
In the past few years , we find ourselves visiting beach areas when no one else is around .... and I would think we'll continue to do that , so the noise shouldn't be a big factor .... we'll just have to see how it goes . I don't think we'd enjoy lugging the batteries either !!