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what do you guys recommend for Hookah units?

T

tvanwho

Member
For metal detecting in swimming holes? Cheapest unit I can find is made by an outfit called Scubapro.com but I have no idea if they are reliable or not? $799 for a 2.5 horse engine with reserve tanks, a regulator, and 50 ft of air hose and a basic face mask. Everybody else wants double or triple that.They have a 12 volt model too. Do you have to take a class in scuba to use these things or just gas them up and jump in the water? I need one to use with my 2.5 inch gold dredge too.Also, what to do about my eyeglasses? I can't see a thing without them?

-Tom V.
 
Scuba pro handles good stuff. The gas engine ones are reliable, and perform well. I'm not familiar with electric types, although I am building one that runs off a car battery.
Don'r even think about using air under water without taking a scuba class from a qualified instructor. The YMCA has been a good place to learn for over 30 years. Not every Y has a program, but look into it.
You can get a scuba mask with dioptic lenses pretty reasonable. Go to google and look for somehing like diving mask dioptic lenses, or what ever. Cost isn't too bad.
I just sold my Keene engineering hookah to a guy out in New Hampshire about a week ago. I'm getting too old to cart all that stuff around.
One thing to consider is that increasingly, more and more beaches are frowning on gas engine units .
They will let motor boats pollute the lake all day, but for some reason, a number of them don't want a gas rig in use.
Best thing there is to point out that your scuba rig is powered by basically a lawn mower engine, and nothing is injected into the water, like a boat motor exhaust is.
Good luck with your hunting.
Couple other points...
NEVER dive under anything that is between you and the surface air.
Use an anchor line on your hookah rig, they like to wander off.
Take a buddy along if you are diving deeper than say eight feet. When trouble happens, its always very sudden.
Good luck, and don't forget the scuba class first.
 
I would definitely get certified. They wont teach you to use a Hookah ( usually) but they will teach you the most important aspect of being underwater. How not to panic and what to do if something unexpected happens. Being safe in advance is No. 1. I can tell you that every year people drown down here in the keys during lobster season doing Hookah dives. I don't say this to scare you out of you idea... Far from it. I think it's great to break out and try a new idea, just make sure you are ready to meet the challenge. That's where the people who become statistics fail.Brownies, Airline, etc all make good gear, I would avoid no name companies with lower prices. I know some guys put their own machines together. Craigslist and eBay can be good sources for used gear. I wouldn't recommend a full face mask unless your working very shallow Btw. I would go with a low pressure regulator, a mask, and a spare air can. That way say if your hose breaks or detaches you can still breath while making ascent. Some of those cheaper units you're seeing are made just to clean sailboat bottoms. Make sure you get quality hoses. I am not a "pro" diver or hookah person, but there are those on here who are. Some of the guys on here like Scubadetector and Grumpyolman and others will probably have some good recommendations for you.
 
Diving is diving, where your air supply is on your back or on the surface. Take the class, you will be better for it. YMCA is no longer an option. They ceased all dive training a couple years ago. There are plenty of other agencies that teach a good basic scuba course.

I've never heard of ScubaPro selling hookah gear. Can you post a link?
 
That's NOT scubapro. First view of thier products is that they are crap. Looks like cheap, home-garage type air compressor attached to a hose and regulator. Google search resulted in a number of people complaining about them. I wouldn't spend my money on one. I have a T-80 compressor on my gold dredge. Great for a single diver.
 
Ok, thats the kind of review I was looking for.Where did you find the bad reviews at? I looked into getting a Keene P103c with 3.5 horse Briggs engine, and a T80 and a water pump., but Keene wants almost 1200 dollars for it and I can't hardly justify the expense plus it weighs almost 60 pounds? Seems I would also need the reserve tank, regulator, and a face mask to make it work.How much will those items set me back? I don't intend to be in water more than 10 feet deep max, and mostly less than 3 feet for gold dredging in creeks. You guys know of any used units? Keene also makes a Honda 2.5 horse unit with a T80 for around $900, weighs about 27 pounds but for some reason they don't list it in their catalogs. You have to ask for it.

-Tom
 
Do you already have a dredge? If so you could pick up a T-80 and a reg kit for a lot less than buying the compressor and engine. Otherwise, I would check Ebay and Craigslist for used models.

Yes, it would be best to have a reserve tank (good for a few breaths only). Every reg set I have looked at have been hose and reg combos. You don't need a full facemask. Put on a diving mask and stick the regulator in your mouth.

As for the reviews, I just googled scubapumps and complaint.
 
I plan to do the same thing, since I lost my claims in alaska I am now switching to shallow water,I pan to use the air pump from my 5"dredge, and use my dry suit shell, only problem now is i sold my infinium before I thougt of this lol, I only have my mxt, so I gotta get an underwater unit. I agree about the scuba course, my mining partner was certified so I was in good company. Got tis nugget in 7ft water. 16.9 grams, Rampart Alaska 2007
 
I bought mine from occto pumps and love it.Did pay more and got the bigger honda motor.I did not get certified. But one of the sites offers a online course to certifie you,It covers all that i could have wanted.But here if your lucky you can see your hand in front of your mask.So a parter would be more of a risk then help. But when you are going where its clear a friend would add to the fun.Just took my time in a clear creek and practiced removing and clearing my mask dropping my wieghts.This summer i will be ready to have some fun.HH
 
If you do not know the basic rules of diving with compressed air. Take a class. They are reasonable, taught in controlled conditions and will allow you to become proficient with emergency procedures. Dying is the least of your worries. It is the hospital bills that add up from some of the other injuries that will really hurt. I use a keen unit/T80 pump and a bail out bottle to hunt swimming areas and boat docks. Most of the time you will not be able to see your hand in front of your face, so you must be very comfortable in the water. Good luck and be safe! Pic1 Ring Search
Pic2 Found it!
 
http://www.keeneeng.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=ACS
A link to some decent gear
 
I use Scuba.com for my underwater needs great people and has always have been an excellent source of info for many products.
 
I have a beef with them. I recently bought a pair of Neoprene gloves from them for water hunting and even though I followed their sizing charts the size was too small. Being a frequent online shopper I called in figuring that they would send me a call tag for shipping and I could send them in. The customer service guy didnt really seem to care about the sizing chart mistake and said I would have to pay shipping back...(I already paid the shipping to btw). These gloves were only like $15.00 but with their shipping it was like $22. To ship them back the way they wanted it would have almost been the cost of the gloves. I mentioned this to the Customer Service Rep and he said..."You need the right size right?" LOL. I wnet to my local dive shop and bought the right size and threw the others behind the seat in my truck. OK...Im done ranting. The" Lesson" is they have great prices but, cruddy customer service. Buyer beware!

johnnywayne said:
I use Scuba.com for my underwater needs great people and has always have been an excellent source of info for many products.
Click to expand...
 
Sorry to hear Dig, I personally have never had a issue with them on many orders, but I'm just 1 order out of 1000's they do a day I bet.
 
If you want a first class scuba shop that sells online also (and sets the standard for mail order scuba!) check out ScubaToys dot com. They are hands down, the best mail order company I have ever used. They also are a huge B&M store just north of Dallas.
 
Go to www.vintage doublehose.com these people can steer you in teh right directiojn. They all dive double hose regs when searching underqater the bubles are behind you. I still use my 1973 Royal aquamaster and it breathes easier with teh new parts in it than my new 800 dollar palstic reg does.

There is a forum on that site, ask the questions they will point you in teh right direction.
 
I agree with some of the other post. Your first stop should be to get training in scuba!
 
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