Gadgets vs essential equipment, when is it just excessive?

[Storker]

Yesterday, for example, I went diving several hours before dusk. Both myself and my dive buddy carried powerful lights. Upon descent, down to about 30 feet, we passed through a dense layer of plankton ... even at touching distances we could not see each other for the first several feet, but we could see each other's lights glowing through the plankton layer.

Sounds familiar. Just a couple of weeks ago, I and my buddy would've been separated if it weren't for my SOLA 1200. You literally couldn't see your hand in front of you in the top layer, and if I hadn't had my light turned on, my buddy would never been able to find me again. We continued the descent hand in hand...

At 30 feet, it was dark as a night dive ...

I haven't had it quite as dark during daytime, but yeah, generally it's pretty murky at depth. Without a light, everything is a dull, dark grey-green. A good light is necessary to see the cool stuff properly, whether it's in the open or it's hiding under rocks.

 

[mattia_v]

A couple of comments prompt questions - not trying to de-rail the thread, just making sure the points being made are clear to all (the OP, certainly, but also me ).1. Can you clarify the hose lengths / placement in this set-up. 2. And, when you refer to it as a 'PADI setup', what do you mean? Learned in a Padi course? Common for PADI shops / divers in your area? Just curious.

In reverse order:

2. By 'PADI setup' I mean 'Not DIR Long Hose', but longer octo, shorter primary. So a normal setup for PADI trained divers and pretty much every single rental place in the world.

1. Hose length is around 20-22", I think, on the primary second stage. The safe second is a 'standard' length hose for an octo (came as a set), and the braided inflator is I think about 15". The SPG (small, simple) is also on a relatively short, braided HP hose (just the correct length to reach the left hip D-ring). I'd need to measure the set to be precise, but it's a few inches off a few hoses. The first stage is an Apeks DST, with swivel and 5th port, and when mounted at about 45 degrees gives me very lean routing; the primary out where it needs to go, the secondary (octo) on the swivel port, aimed towards my right hip, and the inflator and SPG down the other side.

Pictures help, I think. I'm the one on the right, my buddy (girlfriend) has a different setup, with mostly rubber hoses in 'standard' lengths as supplied with most recreational setups; the hoses are all longer, stiffer, and routing is less elegant.

Untitled by Mattia Valente, on Flickr

 

[Colliam7]

2. By 'PADI setup' I mean 'Not DIR Long Hose', but longer octo, shorter primary. So a normal setup for PADI trained divers and pretty much every single rental place in the world.

LOL. Gotcha, now I understand.

1. Hose length is around 20-22", I think, on the primary second stage. The safe second is a 'standard' length hose for an octo (came as a set), and the braided inflator is I think about 15". The SPG (small, simple) is also on a relatively short, braided HP hose (just the correct length to reach the left hip D-ring).

So, you are using a common (if not universally standard) alternate hose length (usually ~40"), and have elected to use a shorter than common (usually 32-36") primary hose length, and a shorter than common HP hose for the SPG? Sounds like a good setup. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Seand03]

Thanks for all the suggestions! What I'm taking away from this is; swap comp hose and bc hose, shorten bc hose, get longer primary hose (maybe the flex one?), shorten octo hose, depending on price shorten comp hose (or go wireless), maybe add a pistol grip light.

I probably shouldn't think about a pony for myself but maybe get it for the wife due to all the extra hoses. If I'm really concerned about extra air for myself maybe mount a spare air somewhere out of the way and that would allow me to get to the pony bottle in case of a catastrophic failure. This would allow me to not have to worry about hoses tangling which is my biggest concern.

 

[rjack321]

If I'm really concerned about extra air for myself maybe mount a spare air somewhere out of the way and that would allow me to get to the pony bottle in case of a catastrophic failure. This would allow me to not have to worry about hoses tangling which is my biggest concern.

A spare air would be the ultimate useless gadget.

 

[Patoux01]

maybe add a pistol grip light.

I did not see that suggestion, but if there's something that shouldn't exist, it's definitely the "pistol grip light".

 

[Storker]

if there's something that shouldn't exist, it's definitely the "pistol grip light".

My first light had a pistol grip. Worked fine as long as I was holding it, but every time I let go of it to use my hand for something else, it started rotating around its tether, sending out its beam horizontally in a 360 degree arc. My buddy wasn't particularly happy with that.

 

[Patoux01]

Yes, adding to that they are needlessly bulky, completely prevent you from using your hand when the light is in use, and that gives a few of the reasons those things should not be used imnho.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

You guys are so unimaginative sometimes. The problem with a pistol-grip light is mainly where the manufacturer decided to put the attachment point. I know someone who did a quick modification to their C8 to put it at the back of the light ... so that when it's hanging the light points down instead of doing the spinning thing like something you'd see in a disco bar. Works great, provided him with all the light he'll ever need at a reasonable price. And he loves the light.

Nowadays there are a lot of inexpensive hand-held LED lights out there that are plenty bright, and that can do the job without having to modify them in any way. But honestly ... if you already own a pistol-grip light, or just like the form-factor, the fix is simple enough ... if it matters to you.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Storker]

honestly ... if you already own a pistol-grip light, or just like the form-factor, the fix is simple enough ... if it matters to you.

Very good point.

However, since my UK C8 pistol grip light is xenon, while my current ones (SOLA on a soft Goodman, and also the backup light on my harness) are LEDs, I'm letting my old UK light by itself in the attic