Got a question for you guys who dive off your yak

I've been looking into getting a second yak for diving and fishing along the coast.I have the pa14 and as we all know access to water can be very limited.and hauling 138 pounds over nasty terrain I'm not gonna do.so I knida narrowed it down to two hobies and one ok the classic angler.if I can find good prices on the hobies which of the two would be a better plat form fir diving.the revo13 or the outback.I threw the ok in there cause if I can find one for under 500 used I'd probably go with that.but I'm seriously looking into the hobies.any .02 will be much appreciated thanks

Why just the hobies or classic ok?

The trident series make great dive platforms, so do some of the malibus, and some little yaks are great for short paddles/dives....

Just saying.....

Sincerely,

Jim

Why just the hobies or classic ok?

The trident series make great dive platforms, so do some of the malibus, and some little yaks are great for short paddles/dives....

Just saying.....

Sincerely,

Jim

I like the hobies for the mirage drive.I consider the ok classic cause I like the clean look.

You will likely be dealing with kelp at some point, I'ive never used a mirage drive, but, just something to consider.

You will likely be dealing with kelp at some point, I'ive never used a mirage drive, but, just something to consider.

Yeah that's why if I find a cheap enough paddle yak I'll get it.first time I went over kelp in sc it freak me out.mirage drive is doesn't function in kelp

Revo. Best of all worlds.
In the kelp pull the drive and put in the plug.
The only reason I say put in the plug is because that giant hole in your kayak seems to suck everything set on our deck into the ocean below.

Revo. Best of all worlds.
In the kelp pull the drive and put in the plug.
The only reason I say put in the plug is because that giant hole in your kayak seems to suck everything set on our deck into the ocean below.

my concern with the revo is that when you try to reenter with a weight belt itll roll,now do you guys take your belt off first and put that in the yak or do you just kinda leap in with all your gear on

leave it on.

Revo. Best of all worlds.
In the kelp pull the drive and put in the plug.
The only reason I say put in the plug is because that giant hole in your kayak seems to suck everything set on our deck into the ocean below.

my concern with the revo is that when you try to reenter with a weight belt itll roll,now do you guys take your belt off first and put that in the yak or do you just kinda leap in with all your gear on

It all depends on the diver.
I have no problem getting back onto my Revo w/ the weightbelt on.
If you take it off before you get on your kayak you really risk the chance of dropping it.
Make sure you have a tether for your mirage drive, pull it so it's out of the way and you'll have no problem.
If you want, during the 4 step getting back on process ( belly on, roll to your back, sit up, move your legs onto the yak) you can pop the belt when you are on your back. Makes sitting up much easier.
I don't wear my belt on my way out to the diving site. If you should happen to yard sale in the surf it is very hazardous w/o your fins.
When I kayak dive for abs I still take my dive float. I have a rope with a clip that hangs from my kayak about 2' into the water.
After I get my abs I clip my float to the yak. Get back on, get everything squared away, then lift the float onto the yak.
Super simple procedure and it saves a ton of energy by not having to hoist the float filled with abs from the water.

On my first yak dive I put some thought into reentry since it was the first time I'd ever been in the salt in a yak.  I decided to tether my belt onto the side of the yak opposite the side I was gonna get back on from.  I did a big sicissor kick (no belt on) and almost sailed over the yak.  But by luck (I'm not all that coordinated) I twisted in the air and landed butt first right into the seat.  My legs were over the side and balanced the wt belt on the opposite side.  Smooth, until I had to horse up 25lbs of lead hanging off the side of the yak.  Even tho that turned out well I could see some downsides and ever since the belt stays on, a good kick and pull and you're back in belly down without allot of tippage, the fins make a huge difference from a nonfinned reentry.

I still own a Mallotte paddleboard from the 70's, fiberglass and weighs about 55lbs.Sit on top and paddle away, easy to carry and has two hatches fore and aft for all your dive gear,even a place for your tank in front.Flat bottom front makes it super stable to dive off,very hard to tip over even when putting on all your gear. You can find them for anywhere from 1-3 hundred bucks depending on condition. The're slower than a plastic modern kayak but can be repaired with some resin and glass easily.I've carried mine down narrow cliff trails and launced it from the rocks MANY times.They are kinda klunky and funky but stable and faithful.,i've used mine for almost 40 years and still use it for diving and fishing.Compare that to the $$$ you'll spend on newer equiptment....It's also a great beginner craft because of its stability,just a little slow and slappy on the water.

Unless the kelp is very thick I have no problem paddle through it with the migrate drive in the horizontal position using the bungle hook that come with the Hobies.

Yeah I know about being in the water with a weight belt on and no fins.I fell in a hole that was about eight feet I almost had to dump my belt

i think im gonna get a revo.cause i have a pa so im gonna use the revo to bolt from spot to spot and ill be diving in the kelp at times also.im gonna be draging it around alot and gonna start beach launching also.so is the revo really the wet of a ride.ive been reading that you end up with a wet ass in the ocean?