So yesterday I managed to pretty much destroy my twinset rig through shear stupidity. What's worse I did this in front of my students having previously given them a lecture on stowing kit properly and not leaving stuff stood up on the benches.
Yesterday was a normal teaching day at our local quarry and everything went pretty well. Students were good and everything went according to plan.
We finished the last dive and I sat down on one of the raised benches to get out of my kit. Then the brain fart. I always turn round immediately and lay my rig down before anything else. Not this time. Whether something distracted me or not, I don't know, but I decided to walk off, remove my drysuit, chat, have a cup of tea, etc, all whilst my twins were precariously balanced 4ft off the ground. Not satisfied with this, I then sat on the opposite side of the bench to take my thermals off. In my dumbass mind I must have thought this thing I decided to lean against was a thoughtfully erected backrest for middle-aged divers, but no, it was my teetering twinset. Next thing BANG, as my rig dropped head first onto solid concrete.
I don't know what was worse, the sight of a twisted manifold, valves and both first stages, or the pitying look from my fellow divers. All joking aside, fortunately the valves or first stages, didn't shear otherwise someone could have been hurt, rather than just my pride and wallet.
I'm not yet sure how much it's all going to cost in repairs and replacements as I chucked it all in the car and can't bring myself to look at it but, by the time cylinders have been inspected as well, I'm in for about a grand.
Moral of the story, don't be distracted from your usual routine and don't think you're beyond the advice you happily dish out to new divers. One of our regular DM's even noticed my twins, but assumed I knew what I was doing as the senior staff member so didn't feel he should say anything.
Worst thing is I can't even use it as an opportunity to get new upgraded shinny kit, as my rig was perfect for me as it was.
Oh well, enough of the pity-fest.
Yesterday was a normal teaching day at our local quarry and everything went pretty well. Students were good and everything went according to plan.
We finished the last dive and I sat down on one of the raised benches to get out of my kit. Then the brain fart. I always turn round immediately and lay my rig down before anything else. Not this time. Whether something distracted me or not, I don't know, but I decided to walk off, remove my drysuit, chat, have a cup of tea, etc, all whilst my twins were precariously balanced 4ft off the ground. Not satisfied with this, I then sat on the opposite side of the bench to take my thermals off. In my dumbass mind I must have thought this thing I decided to lean against was a thoughtfully erected backrest for middle-aged divers, but no, it was my teetering twinset. Next thing BANG, as my rig dropped head first onto solid concrete.
I don't know what was worse, the sight of a twisted manifold, valves and both first stages, or the pitying look from my fellow divers. All joking aside, fortunately the valves or first stages, didn't shear otherwise someone could have been hurt, rather than just my pride and wallet.
I'm not yet sure how much it's all going to cost in repairs and replacements as I chucked it all in the car and can't bring myself to look at it but, by the time cylinders have been inspected as well, I'm in for about a grand.
Moral of the story, don't be distracted from your usual routine and don't think you're beyond the advice you happily dish out to new divers. One of our regular DM's even noticed my twins, but assumed I knew what I was doing as the senior staff member so didn't feel he should say anything.
Worst thing is I can't even use it as an opportunity to get new upgraded shinny kit, as my rig was perfect for me as it was.
Oh well, enough of the pity-fest.
