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#1043
South FL/Broward hookah owners
Elvis48 - 6/07/2010 10:14 PM
Category: Equipment
Replies: 9

I’m in North Broward county, FL and was looking into a hookah for lobster season/cleaning the boat and shallow reef dives, but was still a little hesitant to buy one without trying it out first. I was wondering if any locals (within a reasonable distance 20-30 min drive) had a hookah and would be willing to let me try it/rent it out, or maybe go for a beach dive with me if they’ve got a setup for 2 divers. I’ll likely be doing the Deerfield Pier cleanup this weekend and think it would be an opportune time to try it if anyone was willing/kind enough to let me do so.

Any info would be appreciated, if you know of any local dive shops or people willing to rent/lend one out.
Thanks.
#1119
sandiver - 6/08/2010 5:51 AM
you can make one youself there easy,i have one that we made just buy a high pressure hose [ at ] homedepot or lowes,put a regulator on and it works good .i have one that my 12yr old grandauter uses for scallops, and helps clean up the river by us.i just dont have a pressure gauge on it,just a 1st an 2st stage
#1043
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Elvis48 - 6/08/2010 7:38 AM
Thanks for the response, it sounds like a good idea, but (while still important) ease of mobility isn’t the main point I’m looking for, just more down time in fairly shallow water. With a single tank, I get about an hour(+ or -), and was hoping for 2-3 hrs each dive. As far as mobility/heavy lifting is concerned, I suppose I could do a dual tank setup, but highly doubt I’d enjoy the added bulk of a 2nd tank. And, I don’t want to be limited to a dock or 30-40 ft from a boat. I was thinking maybe 2 tanks up top on an inner tube type setup, but seems like there would be more potential for stuff to go wrong. Which is mainly why I wanted to just try out a hookah first.
#3936
seawolfdiving - 6/08/2010 11:59 AM
I have dived with a system made by Brownies Third Lung many times and found it to be very reliable. They make a variety of systems. Check them out at http://www.browniedive.com/
#12323
mike2424 - 6/09/2010 4:59 AM
there is a dealer in ft lauderdale off of fed and st rd 84 give them a try maybe they can help you out or hook you up with some one that has one good luck
#1321
Horizontaldiversllc - 6/09/2010 9:20 PM
hey there i have used a hooka rig for a while now cleaning boats there great as long as you have enough hose and dont pull the tank off the dock lol . ive done a average of 6 boats a day from 20’ to 130 ’
#477
smokincgarz - 6/13/2010 5:18 PM
With twin LP 85 and proper buoyancy you don’t even feel the difference in the water and you have that freedom you’re looking for without an umbilical cord. Steel tanks = no lead :)
#33
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SafeT - 3/17/2015 2:25 PM
I`m in Marathon and have a Hookamax Hooka rig, gas powered, that I have been using for 2 years now and really love it. 3 hrs or more at 30 ft with 2 experienced divers who are not "air hogs" You are more than welcome to stop by in the keys and try it out. We can run down to sisters creek and you can try it out. I differ with sandiver in that the pvc hose sold by Home depot are toxic and not suitable fro breathable air. Brownie, Air line and Hookamax are all using hose made for breathable air and are marked by the manufacture as such. My hoses are lettered as "breathable air safe" by the hose manufacture. Set up a time to give it a try, ahead of time, as I`m out sailing a lot in the spring and summer.
#72
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Fldivebum - 4/22/2015 1:21 PM
Be sure to NEVER hookah dive with PVC hose! Home depot hoses are for sure PVC and PVC is a known carcinogen! Breathing air thru a PVC hose increases your chance of getting lung,liver and other cancers by 10,000 times! Research it on line before you let some con man sell you something using PVC. Breathable air hose will ALWAYS have it printed on the hose. Lots of good hookah systems on the market to use and they all use quality breathable air hose. Ebay con men just want to make a quick buck and run, leaving you with life long health problems. I agree with safe T that spending a little more for a quality system is better that life long health problems. Some of these con men have even been informed that the hose they use is unsafe, but continue to sell it. That sounds like federal mail fraud to me…..
#72
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Fldivebum - 5/15/2015 11:38 AM
Steer clear of the guy going by GATOR GILL. That stuff is a scam. He is a home builder using off the shelf compressors that are saturated with oil(internally) and not made for breathing. His hoses ARE PVC and are NOT safe for human consumption. I know one of his customers that bought one, with the assurance that it was safe for breathing and was getting sick after diving. When he almost passed out underwater he asked me to check out what he had. Totally unsafe! We cut open the hoses and they are garage grade hose with a black lining, which is PVC and is Toxic! He sent it along with a letter, to the States attorney in Monroe county Florida for an investigation. Fraud and selling a known carcinogenic product!!!
This guy should not be in business, he should be in JAIL. How many unknowing customers of his are slowly dieing using this stuff? I hope the govt. requires a full recall of every one he has sold and requires a full refund to his customers… I say prosecute him and any other scammers who put divers lives at risk for a few bucks in their pockets...
Steer clear and buy a Brownie or other known quality hookah. Your life is for sure in danger, using this junk….