What's In/on Your Bc?

[Jim Lapenta]

EEzy Cut Trilobite right shoulder and waist strap. Back up light on right d ring.

When not diving a long hose set up there is an octo holder on the right chest d ring made from surgical tubing and a couple zip ties. Cheap, easy to replace, and won't "walk away" like the clip on ones do. Stay away from scum balls and the ones that push into the mouthpiece.

Everything else is in the pockets on my suits. I may clip a DSMB and spool to the right d ring or to the one on the back of the crotch strap. If carrying a reel it gets clipped off back there as well.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I'm really enjoying reading everyones responses. Thanks for sharing! Some of you are very minimalist, others are very well prepared, and others are in between the two.

SMB+spool, knife, scissors, canister from main light, backup light. Sometimes i also hang a big reel, a hammer, a camera, or the compass when needed. Also have spare mask in my drysuit pocket.

For your secondary air source, i am in the long hose camp, and i enjoy this for many years. My advice would be to give it a try, it is very nice.

For traditional octo I would clip that kind of rubber ball into which you put the mouthpiece on a d-ring that would keep the hose as streamlined as possible. It's nice that it keeps the mouthpiece protected, so it will not get dirt inside.

Do you have a picture you could link me to which shows this long hose configuration that a few members have also recommended below you? I'm a visual person....Thanks!

Mostly garbage I find on the bottom of the sea. The worst was New Year's morning off the coast of Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach after the fireworks the previous night. Please don't release Chinese lanterns. They just end up on the reef.

As for stuff I bring: SMB + spool, trilobite cutter, light(s), and snorkel (depending upon location). I also just picked up a wet notes notebook.

The other thing I might consider but don't own yet is a Nautilus Lifeline.

So sad about the trash--that's like when we go hiking. Have you used the Nautilus Lifeline before? I never have (and have yet to see one in real life) but the LOB I'm going on gives one to every diver. It will be interesting to see/feel.

Usually a little air

I usually had my line cutter in my left pocket, torch clipped to my right chest dring and a smb and spool on my right bcd waist dring. Not much in the way of pockets on my Scubapro Nighthawk which I think is good as old end up like a Christmas tree!

Touche on the air. Good one! I have a Ladyhawk so I think we are in the same camp by way of pockets. Trying to figure out what my options are given the limited number of D-rings and not looking like a holiday tree.

That's a really good one that I keep forgetting to do (for like 18 years). Thanks for reminding me.

Yes! I got a double sided one engraved at Petsmart.

 

[eelnoraa]

Do you have a picture you could link me to which shows this long hose configuration that a few members have also recommended below you? I'm a visual person....Thanks!

I must warm you, once you venture this direction, there is no turning back in a good way.

Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

 

[outofofficebrb]

I must warm you, once you venture this direction, there is no turning back in a good way.

Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

I'm a little hesitant to click now....! @Colliam7 also recommended it, too. (I'm going to go sneak a peek!)

 

[DiverDownD3]

I must warm you, once you venture this direction, there is no turning back in a good way.

Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

Last weekend was my first dives with a long hose. Worked on buddy swimming with it and then we did a buddy swim ascent from 65'. Night and day on the ease of use compared to trying to swim together using a short octo. I'm not going back

 

[Doby45]

Last weekend was my first dives with a long hose. Worked on buddy swimming with it and then we did a buddy swim ascent from 65'. Night and day on the ease of use compared to trying to swim together using a short octo. I'm not going back

Describe how you did this "buddy ascent", do you mean that your buddy was breathing on your gas on the way up? If so, I fail to see how the long hose made it that much easier. If you are sharing air and ascending you should be in contact with each other as in you holding your buddy's BCD. I am a huge fan of the long hose and as with EVERYTHING in scuba it is a tool and has it's place. The intent of the long hose is to allow air share in confined spaces that will NOT allow you to exit side by side, such as a cave or wreck restriction. Keep using the long hose but do not let the length allow you to get sloppy in your skills.

 

[RandomGuy1]

Describe how you did this "buddy ascent", do you mean that your buddy was breathing on your gas on the way up? If so, I fail to see how the long hose made it that much easier. If you are sharing air and ascending you should be in contact with each other as in you holding your buddy's BCD. I am a huge fan of the long hose and as with EVERYTHING in scuba it is a tool and has it's place. The intent of the long hose is to allow air share in confined spaces that will NOT allow you to exit side by side, such as a cave or wreck restriction. Keep using the long hose but do not let the length allow you to get sloppy in your skills.

I wasn't taught to be in contact with your buddy on an air share ascent. The buddy should have a firm grip on the hose, but you should each be maintaining your own buoyancy and no need for holding on to each others BC.

 

[Doby45]

SDI teaches that if you have my air, I have ownership of you as in hands on, of course this is also when possible. If you are exiting something inline then of course you are not in contact, but if you are sharing my air, the dive is over and we are in a controlled exit of the watery environment.

 

[rivers]

SDI teaches that if you have my air, I have ownership of you as in hands on, of course this is also when possible. If you are exiting something inline then of course you are not in contact, but if you are sharing my air, the dive is over and we are in a controlled exit of the watery environment.

There is more than one way to skin a cat. Contact is nice, but it is not always necessary, nor is it always grab the BC and up you go. On a long hose, it tends to be a light grip on the back of the arm if you're swimming towards the exit. On ascent, it's face to face, but not usually gripping onto one another. With suitably experienced divers, it's not exactly difficult. With a new diver, yeah, keep a hand on them.

 

[Storker]

On ascent, it's face to face, but not usually gripping onto one another.

I might be overtly paranoid, but if my buddy is breathing off one of my regs, I prefer to keep a grip on them.