I'm thinking we're talking about different harnesses with different D ring positions. The lower d ring on my sms75 and a lanyard about 3" long allows me to put my ranks relatively low, with room under my armpits.
---------- Post added September 22nd, 2014 at 01:25 AM ----------
It might be worth thinking about how our configurations differ before accusing others of poor skills. Food for thought.
I think you'll find, if you read my post again, I made no accusation. I merely pointed out that "IF" the process of clipping and unclipping a boltsnap from the top of the cylinder is something you find difficult, then perhaps more skills practice is required. I stand by this statement and believe it to be true for anybody that intends to sidemount dive!
I disagree that your lower connection point and d rings have much, if anything, to do with the decision making process of whether or not you choose to clip and unclip cylinders to your chest d ring during land based carriage.
I believe it's agreed best practice, certainly amongst the vast majority of sidemount divers and instructors that I know of to aim for the most streamlined cylinder position possible. Which it's generally accepted, is in line with the body and with the valve just behind your arm pit. In this configuration (which is the configuration I'm referring to) when using bungee to hold the valve in the correct position, you would need ridiculously long and in my opinion unsuitable length of chord around the cylinder neck to be able to leave this clipped on to your chest d ring without affecting the position of the cylinder. To have a longer chord so you can leave them connected without affecting the cylinder, would in my opinion be in danger of being a safety issue with an increased risk of snagging and/or entanglement. Again this is my opinion and the thinking behind my reasoning.
This is why I disagree with the opinion that leaving then clipped during the dive is a good idea. I see no good reason for leaving them clipped during the dive, resulting in a less than optimal cylinder position, when it is so very simple to clip and unclip and allow yourself the best of both worlds, an optimal cylinder position throughout the dive AND secure connection taking the weight when carrying cylinders attached on dry land.
No accusations made, nor intended, just reasoned, fact based argument to explain why I disagree with the idea of leaving them connected and to verbally demonstrate why I see a much neater and more effective solution all round in clipping and unclipping.
These opinions are my own, and will remain the same until reasoned argument alerts me to something that I consider better, more sensible or safer. I'm open to change, but only when it's based on fact and logic and experience. My intention is not to expect others to do as I do, but it is to offer up reasoned, fact based argument in favour of the way I choose to do it and allow others to read it and make up their own minds.
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