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For half of my diving carreer I have been using a BP/W with a continuous web harness with both a single and double tanks. I have become quite comfortable with it. Untill lately I have never tried to donn/doff it in the water. During my drysuit class I was required to do just that. What an eye opening experience. It was quite difficult.It got me to thinking. I know DIR doesnt advocate anything with quick disconnects and I was wondering what they do in a situation at depth where you might be entangled and need to remove your rig. I know cutting the webbing is an option but if you are deep you would want to put it back on for your ascent or deco obligation. I have been seriously considering a transplate harness because of this experience. I have also been lookjing into a GUE Fundies class and wondered if they would accept someone wearing a transplate harness. Does this get any easier with practice? Am I over analysing? What do you think? I am not sure what to do.
I am not sure if you *loose points* so to speak for using a harness with a quick release in a DIR F class. I do know you can dive one in that class.
if you practice trying to remove the BP, and this proves difficult IMO safety over manta. Buy a harness you can get out of, and go on with life. Some divers also wear their harness very tight. That is not all that necessary, and maybe just adjusting the shoulders to provide a bit more play may make the process of donning/doffing a bit easier and more practical.
Just get a weight belt buckle and put it on the left shoulder strap. All of the early before BC,s packs had some form of snap or buckle on the left strap. Handy both above and below the surface.
Notice the buckle just below the D ring on the left shoulder strap on my rig.
I suffered through much of the same before eventually becoming more comfortable. First, you need D-Rings just below clavicle for an easy thumb catch to effect the chicken wing exit which greatly simplifies the process. Secondly, many bigger guys such as myself have gravitated to stiffer webbing which Dive Rite has a good medium grade and Deep Sea Supply having a very stiff resin coated variety. Lastly, I would visit experinced LDS to gain assitance fine tuning final adjustments...
P.S. Entanglements....that's what dive buddies are for. If all else fails this will cut through webbing and anything else like for that matter...
There could be two or three things working against you.
1. Too much air in the wing at the surface will push the bp/w away from your body and restrict the arm movement. Try not to over inflate the wing at the surface.
2. Too much air in the drysuit at the surface also has the same effect and compounded with to much air in the wing makes it near impossible.
3. It could simply be that the straps are too tight, but if your able to get out of the rig on land easily look at issues 1 and 2.
***Contrary to belief, in an emergency if you were unconscious at the surface and someone didn't cut you out the harness, it's very easy to get the arms out. The same principal as point 1 applies, when you are on your back the bp/w is pushed tight to your body and will give more play in the harness and make it easy to get the arms out. When you have the right fit have your buddy attempt to doff your rig at the surface while on your back using the chicken wing one arm at a time. You'll probably be amazed how easy it is.
Just get a weight belt buckle and put it on the left shoulder strap. All of the early before BC,s packs had some form of snap or buckle on the left strap. Handy both above and below the surface.
Notice the buckle just below the D ring on the left shoulder strap on my rig.
I agree with the captain this works real well. I wouldn't have it any other way.
U/O
"We must plant the sea and herd its animals using the sea as farmers instead of hunters. That is what civilization is all about - farming replacing hunting." Cousteau, Jacques-Yves (1910-1997)
For half of my diving carreer I have been using a BP/W with a continuous web harness with both a single and double tanks. I have become quite comfortable with it. Untill lately I have never tried to donn/doff it in the water. During my drysuit class I was required to do just that. What an eye opening experience. It was quite difficult.It got me to thinking.
It was difficult because it's too tight.
Since you said this was a drysuit class, I'm assuming your previous dives were with a wetsuit. A drysuit is thicker, and requires larger shoulder loops, so you'll need to adjust the harness.
When sized correctly, you can slip out of it with very little effort underwater.
Terry
Last edited by Web Monkey; November 19th, 2009 at 12:59 AM.
...I have become quite comfortable with it. Untill lately I have never tried to donn/doff it in the water. During my drysuit class I was required to do just that. What an eye opening experience. It was quite difficult.
...
Does this get any easier with practice? Am I over analysing? What do you think? I am not sure what to do.
If, after adjusting and some practice, you still find it difficult to don or doff your gear, A TransPac will help but I chose the Apex WTXHarness as it can take a steel plate for doubles, has a two inch crotch strap and can be packed small and light for air travel.
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Originally Posted by captain
