I've recently joined a Search and Recovery team and am in the midst of training. The county team does land, water and swiftwater searches/recoveries. Right now we're meeting at least twice a week for various training. Mostly for the newbies' benefits at the moment. The team trains a lot during the year and we already have the schedule for 2006 which is packed and certifcation trainings get added on. Soon the entire team will be doing excercises at the lake and river.
My questions is this: Do most of you use your own gear or the department's gear? I'm the only female diver on the team. All of their BCDs (back inflates), drysuits, etc.. are sized for big guys. I own all my own gear so most of it won't be a problem. I will use their tanks & AGA masks of course. It is just the BCD that I think I may have to use of my own. Thing is I dive a Hogarthian rig and I don't want to change anything on it. With their set up I would have to add at least a couple more drings on my harness (I have the one piece webbing harness). I need to really look at their BC set up closer to see if I maybe could add on and then detach. I guess since I'm continuing to take training in my personal diving I just didn't want to reconfig everything. Just wondering what the rest of you do. Thanks for any advice/thoughts you can give.
BTW, I'm having a great time in the training. I know things can change but I think i'm really going to enjoy this opportunity.
Gary thanks for the encouraging words when I PMed you a while back.
Mel
My questions is this: Do most of you use your own gear or the department's gear? I'm the only female diver on the team. All of their BCDs (back inflates), drysuits, etc.. are sized for big guys. I own all my own gear so most of it won't be a problem. I will use their tanks & AGA masks of course. It is just the BCD that I think I may have to use of my own. Thing is I dive a Hogarthian rig and I don't want to change anything on it. With their set up I would have to add at least a couple more drings on my harness (I have the one piece webbing harness). I need to really look at their BC set up closer to see if I maybe could add on and then detach. I guess since I'm continuing to take training in my personal diving I just didn't want to reconfig everything. Just wondering what the rest of you do. Thanks for any advice/thoughts you can give.
BTW, I'm having a great time in the training. I know things can change but I think i'm really going to enjoy this opportunity.
Gary thanks for the encouraging words when I PMed you a while back.
Mel