Hookah Recommendations

[R.Danneskjold]

As always, this is the first place I turn for info. I have searched the forums and found some info but looking for new info and opinions in regard to the safest Hookah System out there. Just using it on calm lakes.....15 to 20 feet. Any suggestions?

 

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[G1sammons]

Think all of this falls from regulation but does not mean its unsafe....
I use to work in a plastics plant year ago on a boxing line ..
We would box plastic pellets for many things some of which was used in the medical industry and some was food grade.
The only difference was the price and the labels we put of the boxes . They all came thru the same process there were made in the same reactor. Piped thur the same
Pipes and boxed in the same boxes yet the food grade plastic was twice the cost... As the regular stuff.. And the medical grade plastic was twice the cost as the food grade...

Some folks need those stickers and certification and some of us can do some research and look beyond that silliness and save some dollars...

 

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[G1sammons]

SGC, hookah divers are diving in less than 30 feet of water. There is no time limit to diving at those depths. CESA is also extremely easy from that depth. I think that anyone diving more than a few feet deep on either tanks or hookah should have some training, but the vast majority of SCUBA training is dealing with greater depth and off-shore issues that don't exist with hookah.

I have several of these and they don't have a sticker that say its oil lubricanted!! it has one that say oilless
I think your making a mistake from the decal that says oilless

 

[G1sammons]

I have several of these and they don't have a sticker that say its oil lubricanted!! it has one that say oilless I think your making a mistake from the decal that says oilless

Opps wrong qoute
I stand corrected it may be something from a different with this picture
But I do know the compressor is oilless ...

 

[Jason in Enid]

I have several of these and they don't have a sticker that say its oil lubricanted!! it has one that say oilless
I think your making a mistake from the decal that says oilless

Maybe I wasn't clear... I was just saying that the nortern tool website is mixing their images. Go to the link you provided and then use the enlarging square and put it over the compressor. You will see a sticker on the enlargement that isn't there on the regular image.

 

[aarthrj3811]

I used keen dredges for years..the only thing I found out about the air systems was to replace the air pop off value yearly....If you have ever had one of them hang open when you are under water it is bad news.....Art

 

[Scanman]

Brownies no longer use Honda's, but now use Briggs And Stratton. Briggs may make better engines now? but after all the grief I have had with them in the past, its Honda only now. The price difference from Hookah Max, Brownies and Airline is $550 bucks.

Gasoline/Petrol Hookah Diving Systems - Items - The Official Hookamax Dive Systems Online Shop

The F285BE Is The Least Expensive Hookah Diving System On The Market That Still Comes With All The Power And Quality |

Hookah direct drive scuba diving equipment sales. Hose diving hookah

No doubt if you build your own there is a greater price break, but the air quality of the Hookah Max concerns me.

 

[G1sammons]

Brownies no longer use Honda's, but now use Briggs And Stratton. Briggs may make better engines now? but after all the grief I have had with them in the past, its Honda only now. The price difference from Hookah Max, Brownies and Airline is $550 bucks. Gasoline/Petrol Hookah Diving Systems - Items - The Official Hookamax Dive Systems Online Shop The F285BE Is The Least Expensive Hookah Diving System On The Market That Still Comes With All The Power And Quality | Hookah direct drive scuba diving equipment sales. Hose diving hookah No doubt if you build your own there is a greater price break, but the air quality of the Hookah Max concerns me.

i never suggested to buy from hookah max Rather nothern tool and suddenly you and 2000 dollar difference!
Well if ya do some research as to what type of piston seal cylinder wall ect on all of them your fears of that compressor will go away
To assume any of them would be safe without research would be a mistake ..... Just because one says airline or brownies does not mean they are any safer ..
Do the same research on all of the and let that be your guide ! Just about any sales person will tell ya what they need to to sell ya some thing ..


So understand I don't have a dog in this hunt ! I checked out what I was gona be using for my own safety not because I was selling you something !

 

[Scanman]

I agree with you G1, I see no benefit of purchasing the Hookah Max, when as you pointed out, you can buy the same parts, build your own, and save alot of money.

This has been a good discussion, with lots of info, and options.

 

[G1sammons]

I agree with you G1, I see no benefit of purchasing the Hookah Max, when as you pointed out, you can buy the same parts, build your own, and save alot of money. This has been a good discussion, with lots of info, and options.

You need to try the diving thing .. It sure is a beautiful place under water. There's never a dull moment and so much to look at . And lots of lobsters to catch .. I believe there more fun to catch than to eat .. I could really kick myself for not doing it years ago plus there's lots of virgin detecting ground .. And don't believe you have to worry about getting permission on the bottom of a lake .

 

[Scanman]

Time for the activity is the only thing holding me back.If I had the time, I could justify the $ to give it a go. I got my Certification in 1978 at John Pennekamp State Park, what an awesome place to dive. I used to live in FL, and caught many Lobsters as a kid. I have not done any diving in years, but have a lot of great memories diving Fl, and HI. A Hookah would best suit my needs, and I have been looking at them for years. I now live in MI, we have a lot of lakes, that I am sure are a lot of goodies beneath the water.

 

[Irishgoldhound]

Is it true you don't need to be certified to dive with a Hookah?

 

[lost items recovery]

Is it true you don't need to be certified to dive with a Hookah?

Yes it's true!
Tanks only!

 

[G1sammons]

Is it true you don't need to be certified to dive with a Hookah?

Not unless you want to come out alive!

The truth is you don't have to be certified to dive at all !
But the smart guys you value there lives always get schooling when your putting you life at risk ..

There simply are some things that are not worth gambling with like your life !

And school is a lot cheaper than a casket.. And yes many have done it without schooling but many have died also ......

It's what you don't know that will get ya !

 

[G1sammons]

Time for the activity is the only thing holding me back.If I had the time, I could justify the $ to give it a go. I got my Certification in 1978 at John Pennekamp State Park, what an awesome place to dive. I used to live in FL, and caught many Lobsters as a kid. I have not done any diving in years, but have a lot of great memories diving Fl, and HI. A Hookah would best suit my needs, and I have been looking at them for years. I now live in MI, we have a lot of lakes, that I am sure are a lot of goodies beneath the water.

brrrr
I grew up in mi and know that water is cold cold cold!..
I remember my folks taking us to the sand dunes in hart and cutting us loose at the beech we ran wid open in to the water ... And that was the last time I got in that water ...

Wham in the world made ya move up there?
I left when I was 16 came back one time and man what a change ... Iv never been back since ....

 

[Irishgoldhound]

Lots of great info. I would definitely take some classes b4 diving!

 

[G1sammons]

Class room school is like 250 with your pool dives ... You won't be certified but at least you'll know what your doing ....
The certification is a private company and industry thing .. There's no legal requirement at all but most places wont sell you equipment or fill your air tanks without it ....

I think you'll dive 5 time in a pool with a instructor and learn all of your skill befor you go to open water...
Hookah is different. And because it's shallow people think they can't get hurt ... Or they can just stand up ..
Well it's the things you don't think about or know about that kill ya ..
Last summer a 15 year old girl died on her check out dive in 15 ft of water !

 

[dlt123me]

Excellent Thread. Learned a lot and will continue doing research. Thanks for all the informative information.

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

I have never used Hookah, but if I did - I doubt I would use one in a river, especially if the current is strong and there are snags.
When I buy something expensive, I always consider how many times I will be using it.
If I will only use it a few times and it is expensive, I prefer to rent.

However, if I use it often I buy the best equipment that I can afford.
Time wasted using ineffective/marginal equipment can never be recovered.

To get over sticker shock visualize the cost to you on a trip basis rather than a one
time cost by dividing the purchase and maintenance costs cost by the number of times that you will use the equipment. Often you will find that the best equipment is the best value. Especially when you consider consider the value of time lost using something that is marginal or not effective.

How long does the gas model run on a tank of gas for one diver? I assume it's louder than the electric model? That's a good price on ebay and I would like to have one myself. I started a dive class last night and didn't really know how expensive the course would be. The basic course price is reasonable, but by the time you add the booties, snorkel, mask, fins and a few other items, I had sticker shock. This is my Christmas gift to myself and I believe I will get the money back with what I find in the river. Next is a drysuit and then a hookah. Most of my detecting will be in water from now on and I'm gearing up for this. Hope you get a model you like, R.D. worldtalker, what is the longest time you've used the system you have? Is it comfortable using this over tanks and what's your average time underwater?

 

[meMiner]

I have used hooka and still have scuba. Both are great for detecting - either in deeper water (than somebody can walk) or in rocky areas that are hard to dig. The really nice thing with either method is you will get to spots that others cannot reach.

First, I recommend taking scuba lessons and getting certified, even if you only want to hooka. The reason is to have some training so you know how to react when "bad things" happen. Sometimes something simple, such as getting your mask knocked off, can become a problem. I was buddy to somebody at only 40' who spit out his reg when the cold water hit his face. An odd reaction, but panic does funny things. Being certified also means you can rent scuba gear while on vacation.

If you are thinking about hooka, make sure the components on the air compressor can handle the salt, if you plan on using it in the ocean. I recommend gas over battery for many reasons. One observation is a floating compressor is a hassle when there is a strong wind and high waves. On the other hand, on those kind of days the water is not always clear, so it is just a bad dive day. I like to be able to see what I am doing when detecting underwater.

Luck.

 

[dlt123me]

I have never used Hookah, but if I did - I doubt I would use one in a river, especially if the current is strong and there are snags.
When I buy something expensive, I always consider how many times I will be using it.
If I will only use it a few times and it is expensive, I prefer to rent.

However, if I use it often I buy the best equipment that I can afford.
Time wasted using ineffective/marginal equipment can never be recovered.

To get over sticker shock visualize the cost to you on a trip basis rather than a one
time cost by dividing the purchase and maintenance costs cost by the number of times that you will use the equipment. Often you will find that the best equipment is the best value. Especially when you consider consider the value of time lost using something that is marginal or not effective.

LOL.. Love your name... Totally agree... Also, if you ever decide to sell something, quality will always sell on the resale market rather than junk. I've found that if I can't afford the best right now, get the second best. I then continue saving up for the best and use what I could afford now. I then later sell the older item, which is a good deal for someone looking to save some money, and use the money recouped from the sale, along with my savings, and buy the best or upgraded item.

Has worked for me in the past and will work for me in the future. I always think of resale value when I buy something new.

Dennis